The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-08-10
CORPORAL HOWARD
DIES FOR FREEDOM
PleasantviIIe Boy Who Enlisted In a
Pennsylvania Regiment, Killed in
France in the Last Big Drive.
LAST LETTER TO HIS MOTHER.

Mrs. Mary Howard, who resides at
so W. Merton avenue, P~leasantville,
has received word hat her son, Fran
els Howard, who was a member of a
Pennsylvania Regiment, was killed
in service in France.
Corporal Howard enlisted in the
First Regiment, National Guards of
Pennsylvania, shortly after the regi-
ment returned from duty on the Next
can border in 1916. First serving as
a sentry in various parts of Pennsyl-
vania, the latter was trained for over
seas service at Camp Hancock, and
sailed for France on May 2, last.
He was twenty years of age, of fine
physique and disposition and was well
known in Pleasantville, Atlantic City
and Philadelphia. He was especially
fond of his mother and since his ar
rival in France has SEN her many en-
couraging letters. In one he told of
many of the men who had been in the
service "over there" for four years
without casualties and looked forward
to seeing Berlin and returning home in
the near future. The last letter re-
ceived in July was dated June IS,
1918, was very lengthy, encouraging
and indicated that he was On the fir
ing line.
Mrs. Howard received two tele-
grams, one announcing the death of
Howard, the other announced that Ser
geant Edward Joseph Dwyer, a broth
er of Mrs. Towards, who was in the
same company with her son, was
wounded in action and is in hospital.
Both men were in action during the
drive around July Is, according to the
kilograms.
Mrs. Howard stated that the boys
apparent purpose in life was to make
her happy and that in his thoughtful
ness he did not overlook taking out
the maximum amoun of insurance
on his life allowed by the Government
for his mother as beneficiary.
The following are extracts from his
last letter:
Somewhere In France"
June Is, 1918.
Il write a few lines hoping to find
you well and happy as this leaves me.
Excuse me for o. writing sooner,
mother. as we have been on the move
ever since we landed and l could not
find time to stop and write. When l
did get time l was too tired to write.
We had a fine trip V e and made a
good landing.
we were all treated fine by the
English and French people. Are work
ing hard and just finished a four day
hike for a better position. We expect
to take over our bit of the trenches
very soon and then you will hear what
the old First can do.
Are having fine weather and have
no complaint. 1t is hard to get to-
bacco here and if you can please send
me some in a small parcel Do not
send money as we do not need it.
Save the allotment until my return, SO
that l will have a few pennies. How
is everything in dear old Atlantic
City? When it gets dark l just sit
down and dream of Pl%easantville and
Atlantic City and sure would be glad
to get down on the Boardwalk again.
This is some country, but | believe in
seeing America first, and any part of
it would look good to me now Tell
all of my friends and relatives I send
my love to them and after l take a
look around Berlin I will be back and
tell them just how it happened. Well,
dear mother, l am going to close now,
so don't worry, because l am well and
happy and hope to e you Don
"FRANCIS."
The mother is bearing up bravely,
satisfied that her o made his saeri-
flee in heroic manner for his country
and the cause of democracy.