Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-06-10
Nicolo Alongi, Formerly Member Of
Company c in This City ana
Orderly to Captain Martin,
Killed In Action.
WITH THE RAINBOW DIVISION
Meets his Death While Americans are
StOrming Cantigny in Recent
Drive.


given among those killed in action
on the west front in yesterdays dis
patches, was formerly a resident Of
Hamilton county and enlisted in Web
ster City in the spring of 1917 in Com
pany C, where he acted as orderly to
Captain A. M. Martin. When he enlisted,
however, he gave his residence as the
old home town of Priggi in Italy, and
for this reason he was not listed
among the Iowans. His father lives
in Priggi and the son carried war in
surance in the fathers favor, which
was an additional reason for giving
his residence as the old Italian town.
Killed at Cantigny.
Alongi was transferred to the Third
Iowa, along with some hundred other
Hamilton county boys who were sent
to the famous Rainbow division, which
went to France early in the war. The
Rainbow division was one Of the divi-
sions that stormed the important
town of Cantigny on the western front
during the recent German drive and
Alongi was killed during the fighting
in which American troops wrested
this town from the Huns. Particulars
as to his death are lacking, but Ham,
ilton county people who knew Nicolo
Alongi know that he, died bravely with
his face toward the enemy.
Came Here From Jewell.
Alongi came to Webster City from
Jewell and enlisted while Company c
was in camp at the old fair grounds.
He had worked year for J. B. O'Con-
nor in the restaurant at Jewell and
made. his home during that. time. with
the O'Connor family. He had also
worked for the Northwestern railroad
and for one season worked on the
Gaylord Sevdy farm near Jewell. He
was an ambitious young man between
90 and 90 years of age and never asso-
ciated much with the class of Italians
who worked on the railroad. He was
very we'll liked in Jewell and was
thoroughly Americanized. In fact, he
was born in America.
His Last Letter.
The last letter received hereabouts
from Alongi was received just this
week by Mr.. and Mrs. J. B. O'Connor
and is as follows:
Somewhere in France,
April Is, 1918.
Mr. J. b. O'Connor.
Dear friend: Tonight will write you
few lines to let you know how we
boys are getting along. We are all
we'll end feeling fine. We just came
out of the trenches and are now be-
hind the lines so are not quite so busy
and have little time to write. We
do not get much time when we are in
the trenches. But we sure show the
huns a good time while we are there.
This was the second time in the
trenches for us and life there is
whole lot different from what l sup
posed it would be. We cannot smoke
at night unless we are in the dug
outs. We have some great friends in
the trenches. They are rats, as big
as cats, and they play with you at
night One of them ran into me when
I was standing up and nearly upset
me. They like our bareback and car
ry it away a package at time.
l am still orderly for the officers
and like it fine. see by the Record
you had quite fire in your restau-
rant and that you have been sick.
How are you now? hope you are
better when you receive this letter.
l suppose most of the boys have left
Jewell by now for / see lots Of them
we're called. l have not met any boys
hat are over here from there since l