Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1918-11-24

Killed in action in France, Corporal
S. Morris of Mesa, has given his life
to his country.
A brief telegram to the mother
brought the sad information that her
son was killed in action on October 81.
'Dode" Morris, as he was called by
his many friends and relatives, was in
Quoted into the United States army
September 10, 1917, and left with the
Maricopa county contingent for Camp
Funston on that date. Although he
left a widowed mother and little child
of three years, he asked for no exemp-
ton, offering himself freely on the al
tar of human liberty. He selected the
field artillery and became a member
Of Battery c, 340th field artillery, and
began intensive training at once.
He was a splendid specimen of
Americas young manhood; was an
athlete and baseball enthusiast, playing
| behind the bat in his home teams. as
well as in the Junior league in Arizona,
Texas and California
He came home on a brief furlough
| January 5. last, spending a few days
with his loved ones and friends. He
was wrapped up in his beautiful little
| brown eyed, black-haired daughter,
Maxine and they made beautiful pic
ture, her little three-year old fingers
| clinging to her khaki clothed papa's
| hand, looking up proudly and lovingly
| into his beaming face as they walked
| down the sidewalk in Mesa for the last
time. January 9Th, last, Ight-hearted
and joyous, little thinking of the trag
| cdy that would follow. But no one
| looking into his manly eyes could but
| feel that here was a young American
who was ready for any eventuality in
| the defense Of his country and the
right.
on January u, last, he was trans
ported from New York for somewhere
| in France" A few days before leav-
| ing Camp Funston little Maxine was
summoned by her father for a last
visit. and accompanied by her mother,
from whom "Dode" had become es-
tranged, she visited her soldier papa
for a few hours, bidding him a sweet
| goodbye waving him a fond farewell
as the train left. the depot carrying her
soldier papa away to fight and con-
| quer the terrible Hun.
His mother and friends received a
number of letters from him after ar
irving in France, all breathing the
| spirit of devotion to the cause for
which he was willing to offer up his
! life. His letters were full of hope and
| courage and of praise for beautiful,
brave France, though her sides were
torn and bleeding from the terrific as
saults of the Huns, and words of ad-
miration for the brave men and women
of France, who had suffered so much
in the past four years.
His last letter to his mother was
dated October IA, 1918, and was full
| Of hope for a speedy victory and a re-
turn home of the troops. He was well
and had enclosed his Christmas card
He told her that he did not fear death
was not afraid to die" but don't
worry, mother dear, the war will soon
be over and the world will be free
again"
Joseph Smith Morris was born al
| Mesa, Arizona, on the 3rd day of Jan
uary, 1889. and was % years of age his
last birthday. He was the son of Hy-
rum B. Morris, who died in December
1915, and Eliza S. Morris, and leaves
besides his mother and child, three
brothers and three sisters. One of his
brothers, Lawrence, is in the United
States army. somewhere in France,
but is in another company and divi-
sion.
Mrs. Norris and family are almos
Frustrated with grief, yet smile through
their tears; but it is doubly hard, a
"Dode" is the second son who has made
the supreme sacrifice in foreign lands
her son Eddie Morris having died whil'
on a mission preaching the gospel il
the Samoan islands on the 18th day o
| 1f,x-
the supreme call, having fulfilled tn
great test: mo man hath greater low
than this, that he lay down his life TO
| hi fr.in dc