Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-04-30
YORK BOYS IN WAR

There Is urgent need for effective
means of keeping track Of York coun-
" bows in the service OF the United
States in such n way that their rela-
tiyes and friends and the public gen.
orally may be able to trace their for
tunes and locate them at any time.
Many people throughout the county
have been feeling this need OF late.
and there has been pretty general
consideration Of the best way to go
about the matter.
The local boards at Yorkville and
Rock Hill have records OF all the
drafted men sent to the camps. and
also OF the drafted men VINO nave
volunteered in different branches OF
the service: but there are many men
under twenty-one and over thirty
one. in the army and navy about
whom the local boards are able to
give no information. Also the records
of the local boards with regard 10
any soldier, become silent after the
Induction OF the soldier in the service,
and the interest Of friends and rela-
tiyes extend beyond that.
Among those who have been giving
most thoughtful consideration to this
subject is Rev. DR.. E. E. Gillespie OF
Yorkville. He has been talking the
matter over with different people. and
the more he has talked 1t the more
convinced he has become that there
is need for such cooperative effort as
may be necessary to remedy the situ-
alton.
IL am going to try to have some
thing DONE" said DR.. Gillespie. In dis
cussing the subject with The Enquir-
er yesterday. II have been thlnKing
about the matter q great deal. and
am persuaded that the best thing 10
he done Is TO bring about a county
wide organization that will be equal
TO the undertaking.
For one thing. II occurs to me that
il will be worth while for us to get
a big service flag with star for ev-
cry York county soldier and hang
II up In the court room. But OF course
that will only be a start. We must
not only have q star on the flag Tor
every soldier: but we must have for
each soldier a complete record. This
record should begin with the soldiers
name and former address. Next. II
should show the date and manner OF
his Induction into service. or the
branch OF the service into Wnlcn ne
was inducted. Then 1t should con-
tinue to keep track OF him. showing
his transfers, his promotions. his
decorations, his fortunes and misfor-
tunes. This record. think. should
be filed away in the archives OF the
county for present and future refer
ence.
"Of course all this is going to re-
ouire a great deal Of labor and per-
haps some expense. but ! am per-
suaded 1t Is well worth while, and
am persuaded also that the parents
and other relatives and friends Of the
soldiers will give the undertaking all
necessary support"
Discussing the matter further. DR..
Gillespie said that he thought the
best way OF carrying out the under
taking he has In mind is to perfect
countrywide organization. II occurs
TO him that this organization should
include the pastors Of all the various
churches, with each pastor undertake
ing to furnish necessary information
In regard to the soldiers going from
within the bonds Of his congregation.
"Yes, I realize that the work l have
outlined" DR.. Gillespie assured The
ENQUIRER, involves quite a large
amount Of work. II means filing cas-
es and q card index system, and pos