The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-06
Supreme Sacrifice
For World Liberty

On December second the sad infor-
nation reached Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob
LePere of Pennington that their son,
Sergeant Walter Henry LePere, had
been killed in action, on October 9th,
while engaged on the western front in
France. The Government Message
stated no further details except to say
that a letter would follow.
Walter Henry LePere, oldest son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob LePere, was
born on December s, 1891. Had he
lived until the 9th of the present
month he would have been 27 years
old.
When state of war was declared
to exist between the United States and
Germany on April 5, 1917, Walter
was a student in Cumberland Univer-
sity, Cumberland, Tenn. Within a
few days he wrote his parents that
they need not be surprised to see him
at home at any time. They at once
interpreted this to mean that Walter
would enlist in some arm of the SER
vice and offer his all for America and
world freedom. In the meantime,
Jack and Oscar, his two brothers, both
then students in the Pennington High
School, made the same decision and
together the three enlisted in the
United States Marine Corps on May
5, 1917. This was at time when the
U. s. Government was needing men
so badly and before the General Draft
Law was enacted.
They went to Paris Island for train
ling where Walter qualified as "Sharp-
shooter. He was then transferred
to Quantico, Virginia, where his train
ing was completed. Early in Sep
tember, 1917, he went overseas and
was assigned duty in France. By
mid-winter of that year he was ac-
lively engaged in the front trenches,
and experienced many Of the hard
ships of active military life in that
terrible struggle. Several of his let
ters home told of his experiences, but
always without a murmur, or sim
gle note of dissatisfaction.
In June, 1918, he was present when
Frank Tucker, of Flat River, fell in
action. He was with the Marines
when they won immortal glory at
Chateau -Thierry and Belleau Wood
and checked the Huns in their threat
ened advance to Paris. He saw all the
men next to him on both sides fall in
this conflict. Their places were filled
by others only to fall again and leave
him fighting alone. He was slightly
wounded in the arm by shell frag-
ments, and his outer clothing were
riddled by machine gun bullets but he
was dEsle to keep up the fight until the
victory was won.
Later in the summer he received a
minor wound and was sent back to
dressing station to have his wound
dressed. Before arriving at the sta
ton, however, he decided that his
wound was not serious enough to pre-
vent his further participation in the
conflict and attempted to return to
his company. He inquired of an in
fantryman the location of his division
and was informed that they had cap
tured near village. Walter at once
advanced to the village and entering
a room laid aside his gun to give at
tention to some papers that appeared
to be German documents. He had
been misinformed about the Ameri-
cans having captured the village, and
while examining the papers he heard
a noise at a door in the rear. On
turning around he found Boch COW
ering him with gun and had no al
tentative but to surrender as his own
arms were out of reach. He did not
remain inactive for long, however, as
he knew that months and probably
years of suffering were before him as
a prisoner in Germany. He quickly
sized up the situation and jumped
through shell hole near the floor and
made his escape while the "highly
trained" Hun was getting ready to
think what action to take. The Huns
covered his retreat with a shower of
machine gun bullets, and he had to
pass through the barrage thrown out
by both the Americans and the Ger
mans, but he reached his own lines
safely. Later the village that he had
visited fell into the hands of the
Americans.
The last letter received by his home
folks was written on September 18th
and related some of the experiences
narrated above.
Before entering the Cumberland
university, waiter ndu aCleu Us as
sistant cashier of bank at Manches-
ter, st. Louis county, and was taking
special training~in business manage
ment. He expected to re-enter the
banking business when the training
was finished, had not the war changed
his plans.
He was faithful and active mem
Der of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, and had for some time been
Superintendent of the Sunday School
in that church at Manchester. After
enlisting in the Marines he wrote his
parents not to worry about him for
moment, for if it should be his lot to
fall in the service, he was prepared
and willing to go.
Sergeant Walter H. LePere had
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