The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-06

81 l uOll hllOW VI dIly UeLCc1
way for my boy to have died."
Mrs. Anna Gradin, mother of
Lloyd W. Spetz, the first soldier
from Bismarck to sacrifice his
life for democracy, said last
night. ...t
She received a telegram con-
tanning the announcement Of her
sons death, yesterday afternoon.
It was signed Mccain, the ad-
jutant general" and read: Re
greet to inform you Of the death
of your son Lloyd w. Spetz, COM
pany K 18th infantry, in action,
March l."
Lloyd wanted to enlist in the
navy, at the time of the Vera
Cruz trouble, but l did not en-
courage him. Afterward he
spoke of enlisting in the navy
many times. l told him that if
ever the need should come he
might, but that l did not want
him to go when there was no
necessity. IT,. .g 49,.
Employed by Grocery
He stayed home, employed by
the Bismarck grocery company.
On April 9Th, when war was de-
clared on Germany he. came
home and told me he was really
needed: consented, He was a biz
boy, "a years old; but he wanted
me to give him permission. to do
things. just like when he was
Mrs Gradin.. an American mother
brushed her eyes with handkerchief
then said with trace OF pride in her
voice: He wanted, to 20 yery much,
He told me he was no better than anv.
one else, and America: needed him."
but she knew that he had proven
himself better than many. t-.1
{" Don't Fight With Teeth"
MS teeth were not in good condi.
ton He was afraid he might not
pass the examination. He had bridge |
Tor some defective teeth. but 1t didn't
mt well, although it would stay in his
mouth for a few minutes at a time, |
without slipping out. When he went
down to be examined he nut tho I
bridge in his pocket. /
i"sT don't have to fight with NV
teeth" he said. Jf nj os--
'"Captain Murphy told me afterward
that Lloyd took the bridge out of his
mouth after a successful examination
and put it back in his pocket, with
the declaration that he meant to fight
barbarians, and they could use their
teeth in the fight, but he wouldn't.
t"He didn't want to be crippled. Be.
fore he left he told me that if he was
very seriously hurt he wanted to be
killed. @f : 80 ere
II Bought Liberty Bond.
For q few months he was mem.
her of Company A of the national
guard, stationed at the Missouri river
bridge. then he was transferred to
Camp Greene, at Charlotte, then we
received letter from him, dated at
Camp. Mills, Dec. O. He wrote that he
had bought fifty dollar liberty bond,
and had taken out the soldier insur.
ance. The letter was part written in
ink, but was, finished in pencil,
ut May be Last Letter"
He was earger to 60 to France and
had written in a, sort Of happy way
that he would be leaving Camp, Mills
soon. Then. we got an undated card
from him in the American Expedition
airy; forces, via New York. It ended
with we are taking q "trip tonight
After that / got another letter, which
] sent to his sister Esther. who is a
student at the University OF Mime.
sofa. She is coming home tomorrow.
WhenI sent the letter to her l wrote:
Don't destroy Lloyd . letter: 1t may be
the last one I'll have Is . 1
Lloyd sent me. picture Of $4,000
soldiers when he was in one OF thel !,
camps asking il Il could pick him out
Itwas lonesome and blue, this after
aoop, sol. calledslp 4 frisads ard &aksEt
n ker to come 6SSss yrkSn the mss4l
,Anker boy came, was frightened and
lid: 'Loyd's been killed."