The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-12-16
THOMAS RAY ATHA
KILLED IN ACTION
Was Only Member of First
vi. Z. Church's 80
to Go.

Word was received Saturday even
ing Of the death Of Thomas Ray ANA ANA.
Tiled in action on November 4tn.
INST seven days before the signing Oh
+i1e a-S771istice. The news is especla4ly.
cad because this boy, just u years o1
Sge is tn. only son and the e!oeSt
ef9fIa ~ M and Mrs. Jacob H. Atna'
Ss1S craff,n street. The parents 10
S.otha-. With three. small sisters. nao
Seen xcaitinS anxiously for leIS eI
eovi1,, 4ust when their son and nrot'1 TS..
s.,s,1.7 errfye- It was hoped that oy
W. >.i1ance he might get nome LoI
800 S,,,.;s..-oas last week the Rea CEo SJI
us lei 10 find out il posslole AZ. az
t,,ot co11ld he learned regaro 1tdsSo;E r
I'LL nr 1etter has been FecetsS So
ooSs Ann since october. Word c .1.ae
1 Ios. Instantly nom washington tn,r I.
aLn .,O AtSo'e mans was not on 90
yo s,,e141g LIST and the parents SnSn
81 60 a5ded heart and watched ca s
800 Liter Howeyer, Just a lev u 10 ,
t t - telegram was received sG.,1n5
Sat III, oras Ray AtI1a had been klilSo
S S5 4tb. sc particulars ES-'e
been received as yet.
Avery pretty little home was In PEI per
.Fect order here awaiting for the son,
l = mo+ber. ycung in spite of having .
[1--ovn cen. had been preparing eZNttS
Saintias for the Christmas season au ~
S1onine- again hope. In talking ABOUT -
his T4orninr she said: II want every
bodv To Know that my son was always
6raye-neVer afraid OF anything ~
ali. He oji not walt moment "4en
fbe thought first came to all OF US tnae
# was right for a boy to go and ne gu
listed lasG December when scarceE
d wears OF age. He belonged to CON-,
5any D, the 5th regiment, Unlte y
States 1Aarines, and until the 18TH o1
october this gear had never receiver eal
a scratcG;. He was three monthS oN
paris Island, South Carolina IN trsl. ILL.,
ing, and never complained put 0nS ."
inst one time he wrote that soiole[ )
life was q days life. But he hao MAJ sS.l.-
ed about ten miles and was very
tired
In writing home, this boy asked
only for candy, saying he did not nee I1
anything else because he was wen sn
provided with everything Wh1le IN
training he won a medal 1or goou
narksmanShip and came next to pest
in scaling walls. He was flrst IN 9 aS.
+T1al battle last June 9Th and as IaF
as IL kIlO"a NSShS 4AOS SASH4 -
nntiI the day be was killed. He wrote
concernins battle and joyingly sa1d;
s.Fritz hasn't got me yeti" He had
been in France since tbs March. A PIC
tnre vic has been received by his
mother shows young Atha and George
Toothnnan Of this city sitting together
with a small toy lamb between them,
Both afe laughing The picture was
sent through HOFFMAN OF Cleveland
! avenue Rho hasn't returned to the Guy
vet. At the time it was received. Z
lew weeks ago, a letter from Tooen'
man stated that Atha was in the nos
p;tal having his throat treated but tn ma
he would be back IN line before toe
pictures were finished and that ne
cause of this, Toothman attended g
the maiIinS OF this one to his motner
It VIII s1ways be priced very mgniS
HIS motuer thinks that perhaps nav
ing Ms flEoa& tteate6s 14eane asr so1
had.been gassed.
Before leaving Fyafrmont At1Ss Fss.Slz
ed at the Mining Machinery conapsslL
Eoffice . clerk. Ho vas 3 youlll ~.
~ Eool allid d 81 ealgS lons