OBIT: Pvt. John "Jack" Horning PFEIFFER, 1944, Meyersdale, 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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JOHN HORNING PFEIFFER

Pvt. John (Jack) Horning Pfeiffer Laid to Rest with Military Honors

  The body of Pvt. John (Jack) Horning Pfeiffer, news of whose untimely death 
saddened many hearts a week ago, was laid to rest with befitting military honors 
in his home town Tuesday afternoon, August 15.
  He had been stationed at Camp Livingston, Louisiana, for six months, and since 
July 31, had been engaged with his company with field problems, requiring long 
hard marching in tropical heat.  He was on an approach march with his company 
when he was overcome by fatigue and heat prostration and fell unconscious to the 
ground.
  He was a genuine soldier and marched to the very limit of his endurance, never 
losing step with his comrades in arms before he dropped unconscious out of the 
ranks, never to recover his senses of strength to carry on again.
  He was stricken on Tuesday evening, August 8, and was taken to the station 
hospital at Camp Polk, La., because the place where he fell was nearer to Camp 
Polk than to his own camp.  So complete was his prostration that all efforts to 
rouse him from his stupor failed, and his brave young heart ceased to beat at 
5:30 o'clock, Thursday morning, Aug. 10.
  His parents were notified of his serious illness on Wednesday, and they, in 
turn, wired his sister, Mrs. Robert Lepley, of Abilene, Texas, to go to him at 
Camp Polk, but he passed away prior to her arrival there.
  His remains arrived here by train last Sunday afternoon, escorted by Cpl. 
David Smeltzer of Camp Polk.  The body was prepared for burial by W. C. Price & 
Son.
  Many relatives and friends called at the bereaved home to express their 
sympathy and respect, and the esteem in which the young soldier was held was 
further shown by dozens of beautiful floral tributes sent to the Pfeiffer home.
  On Tuesday afternoon the body was removed to Amity Evangelical and Reformed 
Church, of which Pvt. Pfeiffer was a member, where the remains lay in state from 
two to three o'clock after which impressive funeral services were conducted by 
the pastor, Rev. Nelson C. Brown. Attendance at the funeral was very large.
  Interment was made in Union Cemetery, where final military rites were 
conducted by officers and members of Charles E. Kelly Post, American Legion.
  He was carried to his final resting place by fellow soldiers, now home on 
furlough: Sgt. Robert Clapper, A/T Robert Barber, Pvt. James Dunne, Sgt. Paul 
Gnagey, Lt. Parker Rumgay and Sgt. Herbert Horning.
  Chaplain Tom E. McKenzie of Charles E. Kelly Post conducted the American 
Legion ritual at the grave.  Sgt. J. B. Hummel was in command of the color guard 
and firing squad which fired the customary volleys as a last mark of honor, and 
Bugler Nat LaCavera sounded taps which brought the ceremonies to a close and 
signified that the fallen soldier was now at rest until the resurrection 
reveille.
  John Horning Pfeiffer was born in Meyersdale July 13, 1925, a son of Harvey A. 
and Henrietta (Horning) Pfeiffer.  In addition to his parents, he is survived by 
two sisters, Dorothy, wife of T/Sgt Robert Lepley, of Abilene, Texas; Mildred of 
Cleveland, Ohio, and two brothers, Lt. George, of the Army Air Corps, stationed 
at Napier Air Field, Dothan, Alabama, and James, at home. 
  An honor student and member of the National Honor Society, he graduated from 
Meyersdale High School in the class of 1943.  Six months later he entered the 
armed forces.  He received his initial training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and in 
February was transferred to Camp Livingston, Louisiana, where he was located 
until his clean, useful and promising young life was sacrificed on the altar of 
war in the service of his country.

Meyersdale Republican, August 17, 1944