Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-06-26
Carl Lawrence Firor Dead.
Death Due Wounds Received
About Sept. 20. 1913.

Since the receipt of the official tele-
gram on February 9th, announcing the
death in action October 2. 1918. of Carl
Lawrence Firor, son of Rev. and Mrs.
M. l.. Firor of Sabillasville, the family
have received conflicting reports from
officers and comrades. Many of these
reports have given great cause for hope
that Carl might yet be living. For sew
era months untiring search has been
made, and every clue followed. Many
letters from friends and former parish
toner's have been received, and for the
information of these and all who are in
terested the following letter is published
American Expeditionary Forces,
Office of the Chief Surgeon,
Service of Supply.
June 9, 1919
Mrs M. L. Firor,
St. Johns Parsonage. Sabillasville,
Frederick County, Maryland.
MY dear Mrs. Firor:
The Chief Surgeon has directed me to
acknowledge your letter, and to answer
it as completely as possible from the in
formation available.
1t is greatly regretted that false and
inaccurate information is given out from
time to time by individuals connected
with the military service. Much of your
uncertainty and false hope has come from
this.
Your son, CARL Firor 3, ll2, III, 3l5th
Ambulance Company, 3O4th Sanitary
Train, died in Evacuation Hospital No
ia, at Fleury-surAire (Meuse) from
multiple gunshot wounds, received in the
performance of his duty. The record of
Evacuation Hospital No. ia is very def
mite and cannot be controverted. | hope
you will pardon the bluntness of the
above, but it seems kinder thing to
make you feel certain than to allow you
to continue to hope.
His division was in action on Septem
Der 28th about three miles north of Mont
faucon, in the Argonne, but was reliev-
ed by the 3rd Division between then and
October LIST. 1t is probable that your
son was wounded September goth or 3Oth
and that he was temporarily cared for in
First Aid Station. He was admitted to
Evacuation Hospital No. 114a short time
before his death.
have substantiated your record of his
burial by personal request of Graves Reg
istration Service. The record furnished
me is the same as that sent you. | was
informed, in addition, that the burial
service was in charge of Chaplain Thorn
as B. White, Red Cross chaplain. The
date was October End.
With regard to the reports received
from members of your sons command,
1 would say that during so critical and
trying a time as the relief of division,
company records of necessity are some
times somewhat inaccurate and that con-
fusion arises in the minds of comrades as
to dates and places.
The official record in the Medical De-
partment personnel files show that his
commanding officer dropped him from the
rolls on October 18th without specifying
the cause. 1t seems probable that no
one in his unit knew just when he was
sent to the hospital since an Ambulance
Company is often widely dispersed while
.evacuating wounded.
The other information can only be ex-
planned as the imperfect recollection of
your informants, or through mistake in
the identity of the man who was miss
ing.
1t is with deep regret that l give you
this information. You have the comfort
of knowing that his work was that of
minstration to the suffering and that his
end came in service which required no.
bility of spirit and supreme courage.
Yours in deep sympathy,
FRANK R. ROSS,
Maj. San. Cps