The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-06-03
EUGENE M'KIBBIN
FIRST MADISON SOLDIER TO BE
KILLED In ACTION
In FRANCE.

4. McklDDln received a message that
their son, Eugene, had been killed in
France. This is the first Madison
boy to be killed in battle. Tears
filled the eyes of men, and women
breathed a silent prayer to God for
help when they heard the news. The
whole community u his loss
and sympathizes with the brave, pa
%triotic, loving parents, and with the
three splendid sisters. He was their
son, their brother, and was our boy.
Eugene Crawford McKibbin was
born at Forest River, N. D., April g.,
1896. He was killed May 81, 1918.
He was just a little past % years of
age. Later his parents lived at East
Grand Forks, Mimi, and at Morgan,
Mimi, where Eugene started to
school. The first year he was in
school he made two grades. After
wards the family moved to Marshall,
Mimi, where he completed his grade
work and one year of the high school
work. Here, at the age of IL years,
he united with the church. Later he
was active in the Y. M. C. A. work.
and was a leader in all activities of
young people. He was particularly
versatile in inventing amusements
for his young companions. He long
ed for company and had many
friends, both as a child and as a
young man. He loved the outdoor
life and was greatly interested in
this big, real world of ours. He was
particularly aff~ectionate in his home
life. When Rev. McKibbin was away
from home he " returned, il
Eugene knew it, be Ii early or late,
but what he found him there to meet
him. He adored his father and they
were companions. He was a chum of
them. He loved his mother with an
intensity that was pleasing to see.
He entered the Madison high
school in September, 1912. took the
last three years of the course here
and graduated June 3, 1915. He
was active in all high school affairs.
He was assistant business manager
of the 1915 Inter-Lakes and vas the
president of his class. His sister,
Ruth, graduated in the same class
with him and there existed between
them a close fellowship. We remem-
Der him well as a high school boy.
He was always cheerful. always our
teous, full of energy and very quick
to react. He seemed to take a de-
light in doing things. He was often
asked to help with some school work
or enterprise and he responded with
evident pleasure. One day in the
physics class he was placing a draw
ing on the board and turning around
saw me watching him. With his
characteristic smile and twinkle in
his eye, he said, Professor, what do
you think of that?" He had a well
developed sense of humor. Knowing
that we like a good story he took
particular pains and pleasure in tell
ing us the good ones he heard.
After leaving high school he at
tended Coe college at Cedar Rapids,
la. Here he joined the regular army
december z, 1916. He had some
, cousins in the Canadian army and he
had expressed a desire to join up
there. His mother visited him a few
days before he enlisted. He told her
he would like to go to New York and
enlist in the flying corps, but she had
no idea that he was going to enlist.
He joined before telling his folks and
since that time none of them have
seen him. He spent the winter and
spring of 1917 on the border near
Mexico. Early in June his contin-
gent left the border, and arrived in
France June 26. 1t was the first
American contingent to land in
France, and the first one to take part
In the great struggle.
One rainy, dreary, dark night the
following November he and his COM
rades marched into the trenches and
the exhausted French troops marched
out. Being that part of the army
known as the regulars, they were
destined to be the first to bear the
brunt Of the battle. He was IL
months and one day in active service
in France and during this time he
only had M furlough of eight days.
He belonged to the headquarters