The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-05
Father mistaken by Loss of
Son ''fOr His Country"
"He Had My Consent To Go; /
Am Not Sorry"
THREE FROM OKLAHOMA
All Farmers Until They VOIun-
teered To Serve in Army.
Most Parents Already Notified
by War Department.

Glidden, Ia, Nov. ST am proud
of my boy if he has given up his life
for his country" D. Hay, father of
Merle D. Hay. 81, one of Americas
first three soldiers to die for his coun-
try, said today when informed that his
son had been killed in France by the
Germans.
Mrs. Hay. mother of the dead hero.
apSed when told of her sons death.
Young Hay enlisted in the army the
ninth OF last May, shortly after the
declaration of war, according to his
father.
He had been working on the Hay
farm but couldn't work after war was
declared.
He had my consent to go and I am
not sorry said his father today. Il
won't object to his brother going, tho
just now he is too young
Young Hay has brother, Basil, is,
and a sister, Opal, IA.
News Reaches Oklahoma Homes.
Oklahoma City, Okla, Nov. .
Parents of three Oklahoma youths
stated this morning they were proud
of their sons. whose names were men
toned in the first casualty list, re-
sulting from actual fighting against
the Germans in France All three of
the boys were farmers until they took
up arms to fight for democracy.
Then l can yet hope" was the ex-
preston of Mrs Elizabeth Haines, of
Woodward, Okla, wnen given first IN
formation that her son, Corporal Ed
win H. Haines, was listed as wounded
81 am proud of him. He first tried
to join the naval forces, but couldn't
He is only eighteen. Then he Joined
the army. I have not heard from
him since the last day of August.
did not know that ne had been pro-
NOTED to corporal"
ha 70
until he went into the army last May"
said Sam Kendall, father of Private
Vernon H. Kendall, Roll, Okla, re-
ported missing.
81 heard from him about a week
ago. am proud that he is doing MS
duty"
Son wounded Before.
Il heard from my son last Thurs
day." said James L. Box, Altus, Okla,
father of George Box, reported
wounded. He spoke in his letter of
being wounded in the arm. I thought,
of course, that he had been wounded
in practice. 1 can't understand wheth
er the wound he referred to is the
one meant in this report today. He
said that he had been in the hospital
and 1 took it that the wound was re-
ceived some time ago"
The parents of Privates Kendall and
Box had both been notified by the
war department. Mrs. Haines received
her first word of the listing of her
son as missing from the press.
Fears German Treatment
Chicago. Nov. 5.-A tear choked
voice answered telephone at the res
idence of William C. Oberst, step
father of Merchel Godfrey. 1t was a
woman's voice and there was no need
to ask if she had heard
Yes" she said, a telegram came
from the war department at o'clock
this morning. Do you think it is
right? 1 thought maybe it might be
he-was killed, you know, and they
did not want to say so right off,
The reporter treasured her He
answered that the list of killed was at
hand and that her sons name was not
among them.
"Oh, yes; but I don't know: maybe
it would be better if he had been, the
way those awful Germans treat pris-
onerS. He's my only boy"
Godfrey is 20 years old; was en-
ployed by the Western Electric COM
pany and was among the first to enlist
upon declaration of war
st. Joe Boy Among Captured.
st. Joe, Nov. 5.-Frank E. McDou-
gal, mentioned among those missing
or captured by the Germans on the
French front is a son of r. L. Nc
Dougal, real estate man of this
place. He enlisted in the infantry
branch of the regular army five
months ago and went with the second
lot of troops that sailed for France
June u. He is 10 years old. While
he has not been home since enlistment
his parents have heard from him reg
ularly and in his last letter received
last Saturday he spoke of being in
good health.
He has a brother, John, four years
his senior. also in Y. NJ. c. A army
work and stationed at Fort Dodge, Ia