The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-11-12
A TRIBUTE TO A
BRAVE YOUNG SOLDIER

Mr.. and Mrs. E. w. Crosby of
Belleview have received from Capt. R.
A Cuthbert, of whose company their
brave boy, Frank A. Crosby, was a
member, the following letter, telling
how the gallant young soldier fought
his last fight France, Oct. 2.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Crosby: You
have by this time learned of the death
of your son, Corporal F. S. Crosby of
my company. who was killed in action
on Sept. 80 1t is with great deal
OF sorrow that / have to write to you
of the death of your son, but am
sure that you are very anxious to
know about it and / hope that you will
pardon the appearance of this letter.
The battalion to which my company is
attached was undergoing quite a
heavy strafing at the time from the
enemy artillery and Corporal Crosby
together with two other lads were re-
turning to their gun positions from
mess when a shell struck very close to
them. All of the lads made dive
for number of small holes which
have been dug all over the hillside and
it was supposed that no one was in
jufed. As soon as they could the two
lads who were with your son ran for
their gun position, not noticing that
your son did not come with them. Aft
err an hour or so, however, when he did
not come, search was made and
your son was found lying in one of
those small holes. He had been hilled
instantly and / really don't believe
that he ever knew what struck him.
Evidently he had been struck as he
fell into the hole and there were no
marks of any kind on him with the
exception of very small hole behind
his left temple. Please excuse me for
giving these details but 1 know that
you would want to know that he WA
not mutilated in any way and that he
did not suffer before he died.
Corporal Crosby has been one of
my best men. / have found him will
ing and anxious to do everything
within his power to help in doing the
work which we have had to do. He
has had the respect and affection Of
everyone who knew him and was in
every way a fine example of the Am
erican soldiers fighting in France. ]
know you cannot help feeling the sor-
row which his death will cause you
but | do want you to feel that he has
died in cause which is as great as
any which our country has ever
fought for. 1t is sad indeed that so
many of our lads have had to be sac
rifced in this way but it is one of the
fortunes of war and as long as we
must die some time, in way it is a
privilege to be one of those who have
given their lives in a cause such as
this
Corporal Crosby has been buried by
our chaplain and the personal things
which he carried have been placed in
charge of the chaplain and will be
forwarded to you at some time in the
future His grave is located on a
small hillside.
I am very sorry to have to write
this to you but were in your place /
| know this information would be well
coined You have indeed the sympa-
| thy of the officers and men of this
company and | can say that his death
| has caused as great deal of sorrow.
| Any information which | can give you
later will be gladly given and in case
you wish to write to me just address
the letter as you have addressed sim
liar letters to your son.
| Sincerely yours,
r. A. Cuthbert, Capt. NJ G.. Co.