The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1918-11-28
Gave Life Bravely and Cheer
fully in Great Cause of
Humanity.
MET INSTANT DEATH
ION Eve of Battle Kept Com
panions Amused With
Jokes and Banter.
"He gave his life as he had lived

"He gave his life as he had lived
it; bravely and cheerfully."
News of the manner in which Lieu
tenant John A. Long, son of County
commissioner and Mrs. John ID. Long,
|Of this place, has been conveyed to
|the family through the kindness and
consideration OF a brother officer, in
the person of First Lieutenant Everett
Dc. Hunt, who spent the night before
The battle with Lieutenant Long under
the kindly shelter of and old door,
the only shelter he and his three COM
nnions could find in downpour of
rain.
Shortly before the division OF
(which Lieutenant Long was a member,
left for the east to ship for France,
Mr.. and Mrs. Long made trip to
Camp Lewis for the purpose of visiting
their son and while there became ac-
PAINTED with the other officers and
heir families, to some of whom refer
snce Is made in the letter which fol-
ows. Although the loss of the be-
eaved parents is extremely poignant
be esteem in which he was held by his
brother officers and the men of his
sAmmand, the cheerfulness with which
be made the supreme sacrifice, should
Mitigate their grief to some extent.
He died as he had lived; bravely and
heerfully." The letter, written by
Everett Il. Hunt, first lieutenant in
antry, U. s. A., who recently returned
o the United States, and now con-
iected with the Development Bureau,
lt Camp SheridaN, Ala. The letter
follows:
My Dear Friends-For several weeks
have wanted TO write to you and yet
hesitated In my own mind l was
pertain that your boy, one of my closest
friends had made the supreme sacri-
ice, yet the hopes that it was not true
Was so. strong that L refrained from
writing. However it is true and l feel
I no less than l would my own brother.
How / wish that / might he with
|ou and tell you in person of his last
lays. He gave his life as he had
lived 1t, brayely and .cheerfully. Since
had to be, l am glad that he died
Instantly and without pain. He was
truck in the head by fragment of a
Ugh explosive shell
The last time / saw John was the
light before he died. We were laying
forest, drenched to the skin with
bin. 1t was cold and we had no
better. 1t Betterton, John, myself
nd Sgt. Russell of my company were
1 huddled together under door
hich we had found and put up for
lelter. Sleep was out of the question.
bin and Lit. Betterton kept us amused
ffh "a steady stream of jokes and
inter-. l left them before daylight
q moved over to my platoon nearby
lat, was the last time we were to-
< ther.
Dur division was one of the sixteen
plerican divisions which attacked
ptember %, a few wiles northwest
Nerdun. John was in command of
pioneer platoon and with them
the German wire to enable us tc
through. / was behind them and
low that it was nobly done. The en-
re- attack lasted nine days and ended
BAR the Village of Gesnes near which
bhn is buried
1t Mcmillan of our regiment was
le first to inform me of Johns death.
was In charge of a party collecting
ar dead. met him In the woods near
here he had collected about thirty of
nr men. We talked but a few min
tes as the Germans were even then
Popping shells around us. You may
fnd the spot ON your map by looking
pr Mount Facon. A few miles north
8est of this Is small forest called
# the French the Bois de Cierges.
8ere and nearby are buried several
Kindred of our men.
Your loss l assure you is no less
aB our own. Though my mother
Id known John but a short time he
q become son to her had not
en- at home five minutes when she
ked about him and burst into tears
hen ! told her the truth. She. has
fitten to YOU and perhaps asked for
picture. 4 had told her that / had
ne. III she has not please send heI
to be cherished by us both alike
am going to send you one of mine
base place II with his and remember
as one Of his closest friends.
fou enquired about 1t. Betferton
1t Coffee. The latter was taken
h hospital with pneumonia after
third day. l have not heard from
since but since his name has not
eared ON the casualty list we may
sure that he recovered. 1t Better
Is also a casualty. In company
p phe Of my corporals ne was look
Tor me one night I'm an outpos.
somehow they got beyond us and
Is. iiit" machine gun few feet