Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-09-27
GAVE LIFE IN SERVICE
Frederic J. Walsh, u. S. Navy
Died at Great Lakes Sat-
urday, Sept. 21st.


of Mr.. and Mrs. w. J. Walsh, died at
Great Lakes Naval Training Station
Saturday, September 21st, victim Of
the epidemic of Spanish influenza and
pneumonia which ravaged that camp
The remains were brought home Mon
day and funeral services held Wednes-
day morning.
Fred, rs we all knew him, was born
at Eagle River April 28th, 1892 He
grew to youth and manhood and lived
here continuously until the time of
his enlistment in the navy. He gradu-
ated from high school in June, 1917
and since that time had been en-
deavOring to enter the naval service
of his country. Immediately upon
finishing his school course he took the
competitive examination for midship-
man at Annapolis, Md, and passed
with high standings. His physical
condition at the time, however, kept
him from entering the service, but he
persisted and in July of this year was
admitted to the Naval Training Sta
ton at Great Lakes. He entered
camp there July 10th, and quickly
passed through the preliminaries of
the rookie. His aptitude for the
work and his likable manner paved
the way for steady advancement in
the service. In the two short months
he was at Great Lakes he had, with
four others out of class of 153,
qualified for the signal service, and
he was about to receive a transfer
into the government survey school
when stricken with the disease
twelve days before he passed away.
Throughout his illness his determina-
tion to win out showed a marked
Characteristic of Fred's makeup, and
it was that determination which en-
abled him to live four days longer
than did most of the lads afflicted
with the disease. His condition be-
came worse and the authorities sum-
moned his mother, who went down to
the station Tuesday of last week. She
reached his bedside and spent the last
few hours with her only son, who
passed away at 6:21 Saturday evening.
Five other jackies in the same ward
and eighty in the same base hospital
succumbed to the disease that eve
ming.
The remains arrived in Eagle River
Monday evening, the train being five
hours late The fag-draped casket
was met at the train by the entire
school and many friends who followed
it to the home. 1t is customary when
one Of Uucle Sans boys passes away
to send an escort of six fellow sailors
TO guard tbs remains until it reaches
it final resting place. On account of
the epidemic at the station and the
strict quarantine maintained there
this honor had to be omitted
Funeral services were held Wednes-
day morning, all business places clos
ing to do honor to the first Eagle Riv-
er lad to give his life while in the
service. The caslxet, wrapped in the
Stars and Stripes and banked with a
wealth of floral offerings, rested be-
Meath the trees on the lawn of his
home, and scores of townspeople from
little tots to gray-haired men and
women passed by to pay their last
respects TO the lad they had known
so we'll At 10 o'clock the cortege
left the home and moved slowly to St.
Peters Catholic church. Never was
more impressive sight seen in Eagle
River Headed by the band playing
the funeral march, ''Star of Gold, +"
the entire school, some $50 in num-
Der, preceded the hearse, each leader
of his class bearing the national en-
blem. Six Schoolmates of the de-
ceased acted as pail bearers and the
honorary escort was composed of Sergt.
Charles e. Thompson, Phelps Corp.
Edward p Glow, Camp Grant, Corp.
Herman Rade and Morton Cook of
Eagle River-men who are and have
been with the military forces of the
nation. Delbert M. McGregor, form
er seaman at Great Lakes acted as
color bearer.
Low requiem mass was sung at the
church by Rev. Fir. Toplak, following
which the funeral procession moved
to the cemetery. Short services were
held at the graveside and as the re-
mains were lowered the band played
america. When the casket reached
it's final resting place the bugles, with
plaintive notes, sounded '"Taps' and
Fred was laid to rest in the land for
which he had given his life.
Fred was likable chap, typical
American from the time he first
toddled the streets until his passing
He was bright lad, liked by all for