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Page 34 August 2017 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com

1918

by James Rada, Jr.

The First Emmitsbur gian to fall in WWI

The United States entered World War I when Dearest Mama,
Congress declared war against Germany in April
1917. At that point, the fighting in Europe had been As I am about to enter the big fight for
going on for nearly three years. Democracy it is my desire now, whilst I have
The Weekly Chronicle ran editorials supporting the opportunity to pencil you a few lines
the U.S.’s involvement, and also began running briefly, and bid you, Papa and all, a sincere
articles that summarized the war events of the week. farewell and may our dear and most precious
The June 8, 1917, Chronicle ran a front-page God always protect you in this life, and
display of the first area residents to join. Francis
Elder, Joseph Felix, Joseph Adelsberger, Benjamin knowing this, I will die cheerfully for a good
Topper, George Wagerman, Louis Stoner, Clarence cause, if it to be His holy will, otherwise it will
Myers, Charles Sharrer, Carroll McCleaf, and Earl Photo Courtesy of Findagrave.com be the happiest moment of my life when I can
Weikert enlisted in Company A, First Regiment of once more kiss those motherly lips. If the worst
the Maryland National Guard. Frank Bouey, Quinn happens to me, take the news, courageously be
Topper, and William Bowling enlisted in the army, and brave!, as I am going to try and be. If I come
Simon Klosky enlisted in the Aviation Corp.
To get the Emmitsburg men to the departure point, through O.K. I will write at once and let you
the Frederick County Exemption Board arranged for know.
rail cars of the Hagerstown and Frederick Railway Hoping for the best and trusting I will
to convey all of the men from Frederick City to see you all on earth, or that we will meet in
Thurmont to meet the Western Maryland Railroad Heaven. I am your most affectionate and
train to Baltimore and eventually to Fort Meade. loving son.
“There was no fuss and feathers, there were Francis X. Elder
no public ‘sad farewells’ – at least on the part of
Emmitsburgians – when these boys started on the first lap of their journey. The American Expeditionary Force, commanded by Gen. John J.
They received their orders and, like the soldiers they are, obeyed them Pershing engaged in the largest and bloodiest battle of the war. Germans and
without a murmur, without a word of criticism. We feel assured that all of Americans fought along the Western Front from September 26 to the end of
Frederick County’s assignment will be up to the standard; we know that the the war on November 11.
squad from here will give a good account of itself; for the personnel of that Even as Elder had written his mother, he had been engaged in the
squad ranks A1. Each man in it has a clear conception of the responsibility Meuse-Argonne Offensive. During this battle, 28,000 Germans and 26,277
that rests upon him, each man is much in earnest – determined to do his full Americans would die.
share. These selectmen – that’s the name, and an honorable one – and also Elder fell on October 11.
those from Emmitsburg who heretofore volunteered their services to their Not knowing this, his family continued to wait for word from their son
government, will not be forgotten by those who they have left behind,” the and praying that he was safe. It wasn’t until November 18, a week after the
Chronicle reported. war ended, that the Elders learned Francis had not survived.
The Emmitsburg doughboys went off to train and fight. Pvt. Francis X. A Western Union telegram arrived that read: “Deeply regret to inform
Elder had been in France since June and had fought in several engagements you that Private Francis X. Elder Infantry is officially reported as killed in
since then. action October Eleventh.” He had been buried in the Cousevoye Woods by
Pvt. Elder wrote to his family and kept them up-to-date on what was Father McLaughlin, who was his company chaplain.
happening with him. In October 1918, even as World War I was winding He had been the first man from Emmitsburg to enlist in the War to End
down, his company once again prepared for battle; he wrote to his mother: All Wars, and he was the first man from the town to die in the war.

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