Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-11-02
Headquarters 317th Labor Battalion,
q. Nj. Corps, u. S. A, A. e. T.,
Via New York.

/ New Albany, Ind.
Dear MADAME: No doubt you have
| received from the War Department
! news Of the death of your son. Henry
W. Richardson, who died at sea July
10, 1918, from an attack of acute
Pneumonia.
| am writing to you at this time
; in reference to your bereavement for
the reason that l want to say words
of comfort to you in regard to your
boy, and for the reason that his
comrades have in mind q method by
which his untimcly passing and your
supreme sacrifice may be common
grated and made part Of the history
of your home town.
The life of Henry Richardson,
while he was in the military service
OF his country was one that might be
cmulatcd by any soldier Of the war.
He was clever, energetic, obedient,
and conscientious in his work as q
soldier. His character as Il whole
man was mover more clearly deter
mined than when the certain ap
proach Of the c1d was revealed to
him and he viewed it with tho same
unselfiSh concern as any other event
OF a great war.
Mentally conscious to the very end
he displayed that true Spartan spirit
Of man who goes to meet his Maker
unaShamed OF the life left behind
and unafraid OF the great unknown
to be encountered beyond this vale
Of tears.
As we know Henry Richardson in
the 317th Labor Battalion, he was
a soldier of whom his comrades were
proud and Il man Of whom his race
may we'll be proud. He enjoyed the
confidence and respect Of officers and
men alike, and no event of this great
war will be more keenly regretted
by them than his untimcly passing.
wish to explain why he was
buried at sea, and his remains not
sent home to you. We were en-
barkcd on Il chartered transport not
equipped with the necessary equip
mcnt and material to take tho body
to Il seaport for burial. and the
burial at sea was tho only solution
Of the problem. 1t is by no means
an ignomnious burial and is the
ideal Of many brave hearts who have
sailed the seas for centuries and
carried liberty and freedom to the
four corners OF the earth.
The service was attended by all on
board. His favorite songs were sung
and at $50 p. NJ, July 10, 1918,
all that was mortal Of this good
soldier and brave man was committed
to the deep and his spirit went back
to God, who gave it.
Now. the soldiers of this battalion
wish to erect Il monument to their
comradc in his home town and | am
writing TO you to ask where you
would like to have it erected. If You
have Il family plat in the cemetery,
| wnnll thDi :, {rnn1 Il1rr
1t will be 4 marble monument wits
suitable Inscriptions. If yuu awe
no such family plat, | would %'.ggest
that you acquire one. link the
comrades will attend 60 ,he cost if
YOU have not th" leans and wish
them to do 60.
avn writing to Major Luedko Of
tUc FIRST Provisional Infantry Rcgi
mont of Camp Zachary Taylor, Ken
lucky. who was the former command
ing officer OF Henry Richardson,
asking him to take up the matter OF
having this monument erected, let
ting the contract, etc. ] am asking
him to como to see you, or to send
scmc one to see you on this subject.
When they call, you will be able
to tell them where you would like
to have such IL monument as we have
proposed to provide, erected, If you
have any choice as to who shall be
given the contract, you may express
your choice to them.
There arc several things III con
ncctiOn with this matter that Will be
explained to you from time to time.
| wish to inquire if YOU have heard
anything from the Bureau of War
Risk Insurance. Henry Richardson
carried insurance for $4,000 with
you as the beneficiary. This policy
will be paid TO you in monthly install
mcnts OF $57 so covering a period
of twenty years. He had pay due
for one month and ten days which
should be paid to you by the Quar-
tcrmaster General Of the Army. If
you have not heard from these, mat
tcrs, ask Major Luedke to write a
letter about them for you.
When the war is over and We all
come home. / hope to come back to
Louisville, Kentucky to muster out
this battalion. l hope to have this
monument in place by that time in
order that the comrades Of your son
may visit the spot selected by You
and pay homage to his memory |
also hope to meet you at that time,
and will take q personal interest in
anything that may be done to remove
the sting OF the loss that you have
experienced.
Very respectfully,
CAPT. CHARLES c. CHURCH,
317th Labor Bait, @. NJ. c., U. S. A.
\. j.. T., France.
The following is the inscription
suggested for the monument:
Greeted in Memory Of Henry w.
Richardson, Company A, 317th Labor
Battalion, Quartermastcr Corps,
United states Army. Died and Bur
: led at Sea, En- Route to France; July
10. 19l&. Age 80 years.
"This monument was erected by
his comrades as memorial to the