The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-11-29
DIED A HEROES DEATH
DENIAL Wagner Shot While
Fighting For Humanity
STORY, OF THE TRAGEDY
Fell Victim Of Shell From Huns;
Companion Relates
Details


their daughter Miss Bertha, relative
to the death of their son, DENIAL
who was killed in action in
France. The many friends of Mr..
and Mrs. Wagner and the dead SOL
der will be interested in the com
Marshalltown, Iowa. November "a,
191S.-Dearest Mother and Father.
There is so much to write you that
scarcely know where or how to be-
lin. l guess I'll leave out the mi
nor details of what happened to me
and tell the things you are inter-
asted in.
Through the kindness of Emma
md Irene l was able to go to Des
Moines. Right away l telephoned
Aunt Eve to see if they had been out
Fort Des Moines. She said no not
ct but that Uncle Charlie had
appened onto an overseas man who
vas in DenZars company. Uncle
Jha-lie had him come out there and
ay nights when he was on leave
ON Camp Dodge. He showed him
ne snap shots they had of DENIAL,
nd told them all about him and
ow much everyone thought of
email.
This is what he said: On the
orning of August l The 168th were
He'd upon to take hill No. PIP at
ateau Thierry. DENIAL was with
en-, of course. The boys faced a
d line of machine guns they
I just imagine a street lined wit.
h'ne guns set one up tig' t
5ainst the other). The boys had al
siy taken three miles of German
und. They rushed the guns and
5bed the gunners. Dorman says a
I'll burst and twenty five men fell
never to rise again. Three OF
boys were together, DENIAL, Ro-
Dorman (whom talked to at
fort-this a combine of what
ok and Dorman told me and Eve)
d another fellow. This first fellow
Us wounded first, then Dorman
ed to move on and was wounded
IgR the right arm badly He called
so DENIAL saying f"For Gods sake,
% MT get up they will get, You sure. :
i1aen DENIAL answered, ,t'.Tll drop
2 ack in this shell hole" JUS; ol er 9
ght raise of ground and he. did
,be1t' ,Dorman. started back for, aid
d nd when he was only q, block away
% she'll fell, in the shell holerowhere
NAL was lying.
Cook said, he, was instantly killed
iurs the shell, struck in his side and
de was buried, wrapped in a flag not
jpF from oQuentinl Roosevelt's grave
D atween SSergia and Chateau Thierry
18th boys emphasized the fact OF
ice very, high regard in which he
sas held by all the boys in COMPANY
ST. DorIian said DENIAL didn't have
N enemy in the company and was
cry well liked by all the men. He
as in the same squad with DENIAL
nd Milton was with them all the
ime except when they were in Eng
lud. Dorman and Milton had boxes
he same time DENIAL received ours
both yours and mine in March. He
old how they enjoyed them and thai
hey had things to eat for a week.
l asked him if he thought the
>odies would be returned and ht
aid he didn't see how they could
or of course they We're buried 80
DON after death as it is customary
n war; So many have said. how
yer, that probably the burial place.
here will be kept at Chateau
Fhierry and 4 monument place.
here for them all with the grave!
narked. Everyone says that mil
ions will visit that spot and pay tri
butte to the men who fell there |
seems also too much to rob the bod
es of that resting place. They sa.
he Rooseveits want their sons bod,
eft there where he fell but they hope
o go there if they. keep it there
Let us hope to go. Dornlan vii
end us DcDZa's nnTIber.
Our hope of his earthly return il
blasted, but the glory and peace 0
his eternal life is insured and
won't be long until we follow.
Dorman said he would try to com
to see us end tel you more but Ii
hasn't recovered from shell shocl
and gas yet He can't even read yet
When Milton gets back want yo
TO see him right away l told hin
row We felt about feeding the Hun
and he said: ~ dor't blame you,
and oh! wish you could have see
the flash of his eye when he said i
ITO the boys who have been owe
there Him stards for cverythin
| horrible and cruel. He said ''the
would not 10 as much for us" Whe
you see them you realize how gladl
| they went to fight those devils an
how willingly they gave their live
to fight the Hun.
Mr.. Dorman was such nice cha
with such a kind mouth and expires
| sive eyes. There was no boast {
brag about him, just honest trutl
When he is stronger ] can ask hi
more l am writing Mr. Cook also
I 1T was hard trip but was wort
it for felt when l talked to him tn;
/ l must be as brave as women
| England, France ard Belgium ar
it took plenty of nerve. l was
exhausted slept last night but todi
i am so tired
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