The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-05-01
It. VERNON SW|HART
KILLED IN GERMANY
WAS THE VICTIM OF A RAILWAY
ACCIDENT
Was a Splendid Type of the American
Soldier and had Won Honors
on Field of Battle

of Lieutenant Vernon Swihart re-
ceived a telegram from the u. S. War
Department announcing his death.
The telegram came Monday evening
and was in effect as follows: Mrs.
George Swihart, Clio, Mich, we re-
gret to inform you that your son,
Second Lieutenant Vernon G. Swi-
hart, was accidentally killed by an
express train, April 18th, 1919"
The telegram bore the proper official
signature.
The blow was a stunning one to
Mr.. and Mrs. Swihart, who were
gladly looking forward to the early
return of their son who had safely
passed through many battles and who
had achieved unusual distinction in
active service. He was, moreover, a
son worthy of any parents warmest
love and deepest pride, and when the
war was over, and his safety seemed
assured, to realize that he had sud-
denly been snatched away by the
merciless hand of death was disas-
ter which only they who have
experienced some similar bereave-
ment can appreciate. The sympathy
of everyone will go out to Mr.. and
Mrs. Swihart and their son, Thurlow,
in the great affiction. which has come
upon them.
Vernon was soldier of the finest
type, modern Chevalier Bayard,
without stain and without re-
proach." He was a member Of the
Flint Company of the Michigan Ma
tional Guard and when war with Mex
leo was threatening he was taken into
active service with the other members
of his company, being first sent to
Grayling, then to Texas, then to
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, and once
again to the Texas border. In
this location he saw considerable SER
number of months he was sent over
seas, and entering an officers train
ing camp, his previous military exper-
fence and close application to study
soon won him a commission as sec
ond lieutenant. Soon after gaining
his commission he was assigned to ac-
tive duty with the 355th Infantry and
shortly after this while in command
of a patrol that was making night
time excursion into "no mans land"
he participated in fight with a Ger
man patrol in which several of the
latter were killed and wounded and
the first prisoners taken by his reg
iment were captured, his own men
coming off unscathed. For this ex-
ploit he was mentioned in general
orders, that is to say, the commenda-
tions of his commanding general were
read before every regiment in the en-
tire division. This was signal honor
for the young soldier, and his subse-
quent service in the severe fighting
in which his command engaged was
of character to lend added lustre to
a career so auspiciously begun, in
deed, those who knew of Vernon's
soldierly qualities were of one mind
that if he remained in the service he
would soon achieve further promo
ton. But all Of these ambitions are
now ended and there is left to his
friends only the inspiration that must
come from his pure, brave and loyal
life and to his sorrowing parents, ad-
apting the words of the immortal
Lincoln, "only the solemn pride that
must be theirs to have laid so costly
a sacrifice upon the altar Of free
DOM"
When Vernon's last letters were
written he was stationed at Saarburg,
Germany, where he was on the staff
of the colonel Of his regiment, and for
some time had been acting as intelli-
gence officer, very responsible po-
sition.
At the present time it is very
doubtful if the details Of the accident
which caused Vernon's death are
known, even at the War Dept, but
a letter has been written to the
colonel of his regiment and it is quite
likely that within the next four weeks
some one of his comrades who has
personal knowledge of the sad affair
will write an explanatory letter to
Mr.. and Mrs Swihart. At the pres
ent time it is not known if the re-
mains can Immediately be brought
home, but this will undoubtedly be
done in the near future.
z Vernon was "a years Of age, hav-
ing been born in the city of Saginaw,
Oct. 20, 1895, in which place he con-
tinued to reside with his parents until
six years old, when the family re-
moved to Clio, where they have since
made their home. Vernon passed
through all of the grades Of the pub
lie schools of Clio, graduating with
the class of 1912. He was member
of the M. P. Church, Of Clio, and of
the Christian Endeavor Society and