"They gave that their lives to make the whole
world free.
They recked not to what flag they were assigned--
The Starry Banner, the Cross or Fleur-de-lis;
Their sacrifice was made for all mankind."
Died of Wounds
PRIVATE LEE GEHR . . . Garage Employee at Portage
Born in Brodhead. Entered service Aug. 3,
1917. Assigned to Co. F, 128th Infantry, 32nd Division. Trained
at Camp Douglas and Camp MacArthur. Sailed from Hoboken on S.S.
Covington, Feb. 18, 1918. Landed at Brest, March 8. Trained at
Prauthoy (Haute-Marne). Transferred to Co. F, 16th Infantry,
1st Division; from Cuicy to Gondrecourt, March 21, 1918. Saw
service in Montdidier-Noyon, April 24 - July 10. Battle of Cantigny
about May 24. Soissons about July 18. Wounded July 20, and died
before being taken from battlefield.
Died of Disease
PRIVATE RALPH ELLIOT HOLCOMB . . . Clerk
Born at Monroe, Wis. Entered service Dec.
7, 1917. Assigned to Battery C, 13th Field Artillery, 4th Division.
Trained at Camp Greene, N.C. Sailed from Camp Mills, May, 1918.
Landed at Brest, June, 1918. Trained near Paris. Operated with
the Sixth French Army in the Offensive near Noiroy and Hautevesnes
from July 18-21. Aug. 3-12 he saw service in the Vesle sector.
His entire left side severely wounded on Aug. 13 near Chateau
Thierry. In base hospital NO. 21 and transferred to other hospitals
until he embarked for U.S., Dec. 26, 1918, from Brest, on S.S.
Kansas. Died Jan. 5, 1919, on board ship, which docked at Newport
News. On Jan. 7, body was sent to father's home in Monroe. It
arrived Jan. 12. Buried with full military honors, Jan. 14, 1919.
Died of Disease
PRIVATE JAMES LEE SWANN . . . Construction Workman.
Entered service Feb. 27, 1918, at Appleton,
Wis. Attached to Headquarters Casual Detachment, Aviation Section,
Signal Corps, March 7 and transferred and assigned to the 3rd
Prov. A. S. Per R. S. O. 25, Par. 1, March 27, 1918. Taken ill
and sent to the Post Hospital at Vancouver Barracks, Washington,
April 6, 1918, where he died of pneumonia, April 24, 1918. His
body was brought back to Brodhead, where it was buried with full
military honors on May 1, 1918.