Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-03-14
HOW NAM HAIRLESS WAS KILLED,
Germany. 353rd Infantry.
A. p. 0. 761, A. E. f.

January IL. 1913.
Dear Miss Hairless:
l have taken the liberty of open
ing one Of your letters to your bro
Their, as l wanted the address of one
Of his family. From his letters I
conclude that he is West Virginian.
l am one too. the only one in this
regiment as far as / know. So !
doubt If anyone else from his home
state know OF his sad fate.
He came to this company, Co. E.,
363rd Infantry. in September, from
the hospital. and was with us over
on the Saint Mihiel front and up in
the Argonne. One day-or rather
one night-forty men from this com
pany were detailed to carry ammu-
milton up to the front line compa-
MES, about three miles ahead. who
were lighting a bitter fight in the
banthiville woods. near Bauthi-
vile, France, about forty miles
northwest OF Verdun. While they
were Carrying up this ammunition he
was fatally wounded by the heavy
shell fire that constantly swept the
only pah leading up through the
woods. He was carried back to
the dressing station. and day or
so later we were notified of his death.
l did not know your brother, as
ne was only with us about a month,
and was on duty with the company
part Of the time. And as far as 1
can learn none Of the company had
known him before he was transferred
to US. But he seems to nave had an
,n1l
fellows who came to know him in
mat short time. He met his death
performing very dangerous but
important mission.
am at present in command of
the company. and as l am the only
man here who by any possible
chance might ever be likely to sec
some Of his people, I feel it my duty
TO write to them. or rather to you.
who Will pass this on to the others
TO whom this will be of vital in
terest.
He was wounded about October
23rd, but l sannot give the date of
his death, which must have been at
the hospital.
] extend to you my fullest sympa-
thy but congratulate you as the sis
ter of the brave soldier who gave
HIS lie tEat the peace we non en-
JOY might come so quickly.
Sincerely.
FRANCIS NJ. MORGAN,
ist Lieut.. 1863 Inf. A. p. o. 76l.
American e. T..
Home address. Ravenswood, W. Va
and Charleston. w. Va.
ms brave young soldier who thus
maze the supreme sacrifice for his
country was brother OF Mrs. James
NJ. Cunningham. or Lew,sburE.
Main Hairless, a colder in France.
included in the casualty list OF last
Saturday. us being among the killed.
was brother Of Miss Ruth Har-
less OF "42 Campbell Ave. S. w. The
ohiciai casualty list gave his post Of
lice as Lewiston, w. Va. and Mrs.
May Cunningham as next of kin.
nut ii turns out that she resides in
Lewisbrrg. w. Va. and is a sister OF
The dead soldier. the mixing of the
post, Office address has given his
relatives no end of trouble, as they
nave never received any official in
formation from the War Department
concerning his death, due possibly
10 the fact that announcement was
sent TO Lewiston. Every effort has
been made recently by his relatives
TO have min located. Not having
neard from him since October 18TH.
they were fearful that he might have
been killed. The first intimation
relatives had OF the truth was when
the papers on last Saturday publish
cd his name. but owing 10 the post
Office being wrong. some doubt was
entertained. The postmaster at
Lewiston was wired for information,
ana assured those making inquiry
mat there was no one there by the
name who had been indicted into
the arDIy. Private Hairless was
wounded in July but the family re-
ceived NJ notification Of the fact un-
Ill he had recovered and wrote about
his wounds himself. Later he was
wounded again The last
letter reserved from MIN was writ
ten three weeks before the signing
Nf the arInistiGe He was drafted
from Giles County, his home being
At Zurich: was trained at Camp Lee
md was among the first of the Sc
'ectivc men TO go to France. Be
SIDES his sister, Miss Ruth Hairless
f Roanoke. he Is survived by two
listers, Mrs. May Cunningham. of
Icwlsburg, w. Va. and Mrs. r. j.
t0gers Of KimballtOn. Va. ana one
'r0ther, X. A. Hairless of Norfolk. 49,