The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-05-22
GEO. MACKAY JR. POSSIBLY
A PRISONER IN GERMANY
Main Facts of His Enlistment and
Army Career Up to the Time He
Was Reported Missing

Crisis could only be very small IN
cident, therefore | possibly erred in
not giving correct information to the
press relative to my sons participa-I
ton in what / consider the greatest |
privilege granted American citizens,
that of fighting the battles of our
country for freedom and civilization, |
but now feel you will pardon me if /
give you few facts to correct some
errors appearing in the press which
are in conflict with the information |
have given Georges friends.
Soon after the world war started,
George while yet in college decided
with his cousin and college friend
to go into the war on the British side
as an engineer and was arranging on
the Canadian side accordingly, when
his brother Robert confidently advised
me of his intentions. / then wrote
him that situated as he was then
with our own country neutral but
likely soon to become involved he
should complete his studies and
while proud of the stand he took on
the principles of right he should wait
until his own country needed him,
and when that time came | would be-
glad to have him go.
He yielded in this instance but the
moment our country declared war he
at once wrote me reminding me of
Imy promise and at the same time tell
ing me that Lockwood, Green & Co.,
in whose service he was then employ
ed on large works as resident engi-
neer, wanted him to finish the work
he was then engaged on, which in
volved over a million dollars in con-
struction.
i l then advised him that / consider
ed that his best plan would be to
write Senator Fletcher, giving his
age and experience, requesting that
he file the same with the proper de-
lpartment, advising that he was ready
to go where and whenever called
upon; then try and finish his work
! with Lockwood, Green & Company,
unless called upon sooner. This he
promised to do but later chatting I'M
der delay, he again wrote the engi-
} neering department at Washington
} and was informed that while his ap-
plication was filed that his age was
against him, he being only twenty
five years, and that thousands of en-
/ gineers of more mature years and
experience were ahead of him in the
I engineering department.
Il He then tried for the officers train
ing school and was turned down or
account of color blindness. He i'm
! mediately filed application in the
South and again failed. He then trieC
t the navy and failed and got satisfac'
I ton at that time for immediate serv'
ice and he Immediately left for At.
+ Ianta, failing there. He then went tc
Washington, writing from there thai
it seemed to him America did MOI
want his services and that he deter
mined to go where possibly England
a or France would give him show anC
:, wanted to tell his brother Robert tx
! be ready to go with him if he wished
to go to France. As finding no othel
= way he felt confident he could ge
over there if he had to shovel coal OF
one of our ships. The next day, how
ever, l received a message from
: Washington that through his begging
: and pleading he got into the Rain
Z bow division and secured place alst
: for his brother Robert, and both wen
? to Camp Mills and then across tt
France with their friend, John Chazal
! His promotion was rapid to master
engineer, senior grade. He was ther
elected as one of over forty candi
dates from different American engi
neering regiments for an officers
: training school in France. Only
{ twenty-five of these finished thu
4 course and but seventeen passed fol
Recommendation for commissions, ant
; George was second, being only abou
six tenths of point below the high
{ est, who was a graduate of Yale o.
: the 1909 class and had been one yea
with the Canadian army and si1
Q months with the Americans.
: George was recommended for !;
{ commission and was then on tn,
: waiting list when the great misfor
: tune befell him, that the following
> telegram was the first notice given
: me of: -
9 Washington, May Is, 1918.
: Mr.. George MacKay, Ocala, Fla:
: Deeply regret to inform you tina
Master Engineer Senior Grade Geo
L. MacKay, engineer, is officially re
= ported as missing in action Apri
: 10th. Will report first information
= received. Mccain,
Il ''The Adjutant General
= Last night | received a letter from
y a lady whose husband was in tn
= same regiment and good friend O
? my son, and as / have not the LADY,
Il permission to publish either her let
ter or name, merely give an excerp
q from her husbands letter as it refer
z to George, as follows:
e George MacKay of Ocala, VIII
e will be reported missing soon, is
great friend of mine and is of on
{ regiment He was the next maste
i engineer in rank to me and died o
I was captured during his duty. TIL
French have awarded him the eros
of war. 1t is not sure he is dead an
i | rather believe he is captured"
q The above is self explanatory an
a only goes to show that the America
q boys will do their duty.
1