OBIT: Rae F. HERRING, 1919, of Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ LT. RAE F. HERRING IS DEAD IN FRANCE Well-Known Altoona Young Man Fatally Hurt in Railroad Shops at La Rochelle Second Lieutenant Rae F. Herring, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Herring, of 2012 Fourth street, died at base hospital No. 39 at La Rochelle, France, on January 9, of injuries received in an accident in the railway shops in that French city on January 4. Official word of his death was received from Washington on Wednesday, together with a letter from Second-Lieutenant George G. Nigh, a comrade officer of the same command, the Thirty-ninth transportation corps. Lieutenant Nigh's letter apprised the parents of the young soldier how the accident occurred. He said that Lieutenant Herring was on duty at the railway shops in La Rochelle; that he had gone under a car that had been raised by a derrick to make an inspection of some repairs being made, and while he was so engaged the car fell on him. He was removed to the base hospital, where it was discovered that he had sustained a broken back and internal injuries. He lived until January 9, when he passed away. He was conscious until the last and conversed with his brother officers. He requested that they write to his parents and also that the testament presented him by the First Church of Christ be buried with him. Lieutenant Herring was born on August 10, 1887, at Saxton, Bedford county, and entered the employ of the P.R.R. in this city at the age of 17 years as an apprentice. He later worked as a draftsman in the car ship and then in the passenger shop. Before his enlistment he was night foreman in the steel shop in the car shop department. He enlisted on August 27, 1917, going to Columbus, O., and later to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., where he was assigned to the officers' training school. He was later transferred to the engineers' regiment formed at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill. He arrived in France December 28, 1917, with rank of second lieutenant, dating from September 8, 1918. He was a member of the Church of God, the P.O.S. of A. and Alexander commandery. Surviving are his parents, two sisters, Mrs. G. W. Nonemaker and Miss Ella E., and one brother, James Leffard Herring. The funeral took place on January 10 from the company headquarters at La Rochelle and full military honors were accorded him, the entire regiment taking part in the services. Interment was made in the La Rochelle cemetery. Altoona Tribune, Friday, January 31, 1919, page 10