New Britain herald., 1918-04-29
Sergt. SokoWich, Corp. Paulson,
PVtS. Lindgren and Barnes Fall
ALL WERE YOUNG MEN
Private Lindgren Leaves a Wife and
Infant Baby in New Britain-SoIxo-
witch is First Nom Commissioned
Officers to Fall.

-Four more Company I boys have
fallen in actual battle, according to
dispatches from General Pershing
who reports that Sergeant Joel Sok-
owich, Corporal Arthur j. Paulson
and Private David F. Lindgren, all of
this city, and Private Frank Barnes of
Plainville, were killed in action at
the battle of Seicheprey on April 20
in which the New Britain soldiers dis
tinguished themselves for bravery
and during which action Captain Al"
fred H. Griswold, who led the boys to
victory distinguished himself.
Thus far it would appear that for
mer Company I of this city has been
hit as hard, if not harder, than any
other unit in the 102d Regiment.
This would also indicate that the
New Britain boys have not only been
under heavy fire on several occasions,
but also have conducted themselves
with the GOODNESS and courage of sea-
soned veterans, which they now are.
Reports from the battlefront praise
the morale and individual bravery of
the Connecticut men.
SoLowich a Seasoned Soldier.
Sergeant Joel Sokowich, formerly
Of Company T, was the son Of Mrs
B. Sokowich of Sc Willow street and
is the first non-commissioned officer
in either of the two local units to die
on the field of honor He enlisted in
Company I about seven years ago aud
at the time of his death was serving
his second enlistment. He saw SER
vice with Company I on the Mexican
border two years ago this summer
and was regarded as an excellent SOL
dier. Before coming to New, Britain.
Sergeant Sokowich served a while
with the United States Marine corps,
the "soldiers of the sea-, and the ex-
perience he gained in that branch OF
the service made him an invaluable
member of Company I. An all-round
soldier who knew no fear, Sergeant
Sokowich was a favorite of both Off
GERS and men. He was an especially
skillfuI drill sergeant and it was he
who did much of the work in break
ing in the new recruits last spring
and summer. Although he was thor
oughly American, Sergeant Soko-
wich was familiar with the language
of his parents and this greatly in
creased his efficiency in drilling the
numerous recruits who f1ocked to the
colors but who could not understand
English as we'll as the native born.
Sergeant Sokowich was % years Of
age and besides his mother, he leaves
several step-sisters.
Corporal PauIson Killed.
Corporal Arthur Paulson, another
non commissioned officer Of old Com
pany I, also fell at the battle of
| Seicheprey His parents are Mr.. and
! Mrs. David Paulson of IA Smith
| street and besides his mother and
| father, he leaves several brothers and
| sisters. The soldier was about 10
| years of age and before joining the
| colors was employed at the Stanley
| Works.
Lndgren Leaves Wife and Baby.
Private David F. Lindgren was the
| son of Mr.. and Mrs. David Lindgren
| of so Woodland street and was one
| of the numerous boys yet in their
early teens who flocked to the re-
| cruiting office when the first call for
soldiers for overseas service came.
| Private Lindgren enlisted In company
! / on June 80 of last year, being only
| II wears of age at the time. He was
| attached to the headquarters COM
| panv of the 1O2d Regiment as a dis
patch courier, it being his duty to
! carry dispatches from the headquar-
| +are TO the officers in the front line
and if is presumed that he fell while
! a+toro nting to deliver such a message
! amid a hail of shot and shell. When
| Private Lindgren marched away from
| New Haven early last fall to sail for
! France he left behind him a fearful
Young bride of few months and to-
! dav there mourns for him In this
| Continued On Ninth Page. H.