Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-05-15
MAN WHO WORKED IN
AUDUBON KILLED In FRANCE

A number or our people VIII re-
member Paul O'Beirn, the young
man who for year or more worked
for e. E. Bailey before being draft
ed into the service more than
year ago. He was a splendid young
man and had many friends in Au-
dubon. Official word from the
war department was sent to his pa
rents at Gravity, Iowa last week and
on last Sunday memorial services
in his memory were held in that
city Rev. Proctor, pastor of the
Methodist church of this city was
called to deliver the memorial adj
dress.
Many people here will be interest
ed in how this young man came to
his death and we are publishing
letter that was sent by pal of
his to his parents, which is as fol-
lows:
Dear Mrs. O'Beirn, Gravity, Ia.
Your letter of inquiry was re-
ceived today and in answer to your
request | shall tell you about the
early acquaintance with Paul.
| Soon after he was sent from
| Camp Dodge to Camp Travis, / met
| him while dressing his arm, sore
caused by vaccination, while in the
camp. | learned that he then lived
near my Uncle Dick Walkers home
near Conway, and that he knew my
two cousins, Maggie and Daisy, quite
well. Naturally we became close
| friends, and dearer than ever after
we got to France. was in COM
pany with him many times before
we were ordered to the front, and
every time he would speak of his
father and you he also mentioned his
sister. AS luck would have it l
was put in charge of his company, as
chief medical officer and we went
over the top side by side on the 18th
of September. Both of us were in
the best of health and spirits, even
though we were navarro of the dan
ger. Both of us took off our per-
/ sonal belongings and put them in
the same pile moment before, and
of course We never saw them again,
for everything for miles around was
completely destroyed.
| Went. through the days struggle
without receiving any wounds but of
course both of us were exhausted for
sleep and water and hungry too
Our organization reached our objec-
tive the 18th, and was ordered to
hold the line until relieved, during
which time we were losing men ev-
cry day, and on the night of Sep
TENDER 26th one of our battallions
made a raid on the Germans, and we
were ordered to hold the line at any
cost, which was very difficult.
! Paul was messenger carrier at this
time, very dangerous job, but the
lieutenant always counted on Paul
as the best and most reliable man in
the company, and when Paul took a
message he knew it would be deliv-
cred, so that is how he was killed
He was not in dugout, but carry
ing message to an outpost. The
Germans were Smelling us very heav-
lily with big guns We had little
holes in the ground for protection,
but they didn't serve us well because
We lost seventeen men form our
company. Paul was with two other
soldiers when a big shell fell direct
ly on them, killing all three. Paul
never spoke a word after being hit.
The piece of shrapnel struck him in
the left temple; his body was not
mutilated at all. / was among the
first to him after the fatal blow. He
| was W Tic rear
with seven others and buried near
little town Just west of st Mihiel.
The best i remember his grave was
in good condition when was wound
ed. He wore a silver tag or two
around his neck which bore his Sc
rial number. One was left around
his neck and the other was tackled
on the cross at the head of the grave
with his name on the tag and cross.
/ shall never forget Paul for he
saved my life on two occasions be-
| fore this. Needless to tell you how
/ regretted his loss; / lost one of the
best friends | had on earth when
Paul was killed and you have my
deepest sympathy in your bereave-
ment, and / hope this will be of
some comfort to you.
| desire to remain your fast
friend,
CHAS. H. MYERS,
Edmond, Okla