OBIT: Ray E. FIRL, 1945, Summit Mills, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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RAY E. FIRL

Recently Discharged Veteran Killed By Stray Bullet While Bear Hunting

  The bear hunting expedition of four Summit Mills men resulted in tragedy last 
Monday when Ray E. Firl, 28, was killed, supposedly by a stray bullet from an 
unknown hunter's gun.
  Firl, a World War II veteran, who received his discharge about four weeks ago, 
after more than four years of army service, left for Potter County on Sunday 
with his brother-in-law, Russel Yoder, William Yoder and Glenn Sechler.  They 
arrived that evening at Cross Forks from where they started out early Monday 
morning to try their luck at stalking down a bear. The party split up, each one 
going a separate way with plans to meet at a particular place at noon, for 
dinner.  But Firl did not appear at the rendezvous at the appointed time, and 
after they had waited several hours, the others became alarmed and started out 
to find him. They continued to search all that afternoon and all night, and on 
Tuesday morning called for help from the nearest town.  
  A searching party was organized and the woods and hills were scoured.  It was 
late Tuesday afternoon when his dead body was found.  Investigation showed that 
a bullet had entered near the left eye and came out the back of the head.  Death 
must have occurred instantly.  His own gun had not been discharged.
  The body was removed to Coudersport, where it was taken over by W. C. Price & 
Son, Meyersdale undertakers, and brought to Meyersdale Wednesday evening.  The 
dead hunter's companions, the two Yoder men and Sechler, remained in 
Coudersport, the County seat of Potter County, for the inquest to be held 
Thursday or Friday, after State Police have made a thorough investigation 
concerning all hunters in the Cross Forks area Monday.
  News of the fatal accident was relayed to the victim's mother, Mrs. Ida Firl, 
through the State Police office at Somerset to the Meyersdale police, one of 
whom carried to message to Summit Mills about 10:30 Tuesday night, first 
stopping at the home of a neighbor who called Ray's brother, Carl, to receive 
the message.  It was Carl's sad duty to break the news to his mother and 
sisters.
  Ray Firl is survived by his mother, four sisters, Mrs. Paul Trexal, and Miss 
Ethel Firl, living at home; Mrs. Russel Yoder and Mrs. Merle LaRue, of Summit 
Mills, and three brothers, Lloyd, of Summit Mills, Earl of Central City, and 
Carl, living at home.  His father, Samuel Firl, passed away about three years 
ago.  Ray was engaged to be married to Dorothy Zimmerman of St. Paul.
  Funeral services will be conducted Sunday afternoon at St. Paul's Evangelical 
and Reformed Church by the pastor, Rev. George Ely, assisted by Rev. Kenneth 
Ashman of the Brethren Church.
  Ray E. Firl participated in ten months action on the Western front in Europe, 
and was injured shortly after V-E Day when a jeep he was driving in 
Czechoslovakia struck a land mine.  He had both legs broken and a severe head 
wound, and was hospitalized for some time overseas, but finally was brought back 
to the Army General Hospital at Martinsburg, W.Va., where he received his 
discharge about a month ago.
  He served with the 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, mechanized, as a 
technician fifth class.  He received a bronze star with a citation "for heroic 
achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy from 29 
March 1945, to 3 April 1945, in Germany.  As driver of the lead vehicle of his 
reconnaissance platoon which was spearheading a combat command, he displayed 
unusual fearlessness and intrepidity, constantly proving an inspiration to the 
men of his platoon.  Always eager to close with the enemy, T/5 Firl's advance 
was so rapid that the enemy could not restrain it, resulting in the platoon's 
capture of more than 300 prisoners and the destruction of many enemy vehicles."
  Firl was inducted into the Army Jan. 19, 1941.  Besides the Bronze Star he 
received the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart and three battle stars on his 
ETO ribbon.

Meyersdale Republican, November 29, 1945