The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-22
FRANK GEM
FIRST LOCAL
man TO Die
! IN BATTLE
Former Palladium Employe
Dies Hero Death in France
on August 5-Message Re-
ceived Last Evening. a..
ENLISTED IN MARCH, II

Richmond is mourning its first wal
hero.
Frank F. Gem was killed in action
oH August 5, somewhere in France
T41e sad intelligence came to his mo.
ther, Mrs. Jessie Gem, widow, 2O4
South Fourteenth street, Wednesday.
The message said:
1--WE deeply regret to inform you
that Private Frank F. Gem, infantry
ia officially reported as killed in ac-
tion August 5. HARRIS, Acting Ad-
jutant General"
Hank" had friends by the hun,
dreds in Richmond AS a high school
boy he was one Of the most popular
students in the institution Affable,
likeable, with the proverbial smile
that never came Off" cheerful under
every circumstance, he paved way
into the friendship Of his companions.
Was Determined to Serve.
AS an employe in the stereQtyping
department of The Palladium. Gem
was the life of the room. Sally after
sally of wit speeded the work during
the rush hours and kept his associates
smiling when the dead line" Of edi-
tion-time approached. Roy Dennis, an
other employer, speaks in highest
terms of the young hero.
Today he is mourned at home by his
former associates, and by hundreds
who knew him only as a jovial, happy,
cheerful young man.
Gem was ordered to Camp Taylor
on March 27, 1917, and assigned to
Company E. 112th Infantry. Other
boys In the company were Frank Lich-
tenfels, Harry Long, George Stein and
herbert Weisbrod.
Four weeks later the boys passed
through Richmond on their way to
Camp Upton, n. Y. 1t was the last
time his friends here saw him. A week
later his company embarked but Gem
owing to a defective foot, was detain-
ed. Periodically enthused with the
cause and determined to see action.
Gem, after five examinations finally
was passed by the surgeons and upon
hfG arrival in France was reioiced to
be assigned to his old company.
Son Of Late o. c. Gem.
A letter received late Monday under
July date said he was we'll but un-
able to give details. His mother is at
Cedar Point, Ohio. and his sister, Mrs.
Z. ]. Dykeman Is visiting at Indiana
Lake, Mich. They will return home
tonight. His father, the late d. C.
Gem. was for many years street COM
missioner of Richmond, and widely
known as Republican party worker.
Other relatives are Mr.. and Mrs.
Leo Zeyen, Miss Josephine Flemming,
c. w. Gem and John Gem.
A letter from Gem received here in
July said:
Just few lines to let you know
that | am all right and feeling good.
! expect you wonder why l can't write
more, but | can't because | can't tell
anything that is going on here, After
! hear from you l can write more as
1t will give me chance to answer
some of your questions. | hope all Of
you are all right and we'll Give my
regards to all"
First to Fall Overseas.
When news Of his death came to
his old associates on The Palladium
staff they could hardly believe 1t. He
is the first of their associates to pay
the supreme sacrifice overseas. Mem
ory took them back only short time
10 the days when he wheeled forms
in1o position for the steam table, made
matrices. poured the metal and helped
clamp the plates on the press. 1t was
not so long ago that his jokes and bits
of humor eased the work and speeded
it's completion. 1t seemed incredible
that one of the number had found a
heros death on French soil
Today his old associates in all de-
partments of the plant count them
selves happy to Rave been his friends,
revere his memory and pay tribute to
his bravery.