Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-01-10
HIS MAJOR PRAISES
LIEUTEANT VAN WORKS
Tells How State College Graduate
Was Killed Leading Patrol to
Maintain Contact Between
Companies

yalor and bravery is the award given
to Lieut.. Howard II. Van Voris of
the 364th infantry, 91st division,
who died on the field of battle at
Meulebeke, Belgium, on October 81.
Il willing martyr for the cause Of
freedom. In the face of a whitening
German fire and disregarding all
warning he personally LED a patrol to
learn the position of enemy troops.
Lieut.. Van Voris was one of the
most prominent OF TacOma's young
men, beins active in business and So
cial life. In January of last year he
married Miss Gladys e. Maddox the
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph
Maddox of sos North NJ street, IT,
coma, Wash.
He received his training at the
| Preside and after receiving his com
mission was assigned to c company
364th infantry, as intelligence offic-
er. He was a graduate OF Washing
ton State College.
Mrs. Van Voris has received the
following letter from Major Heumph-
reys of the 3G4th, praising in the
highest terms the manner in which
Van Voris met his death. The letter
reads:
In attempting the melancholy
task of writing about the great loss
the war has brought upon you, and
expressing the deep sympathy of all
| the officers of the regiment, | must
tell you that our keen regret over the
loss of Lieut.. Van Voris is tempered
by pride in his courage and fine
achievements as a soldier.
THE night of October 80 Lieut..
Van Voris undertook the difficult
| task of finding place on the map to
which none of us knew the way, over
roads which were constantly shelled.
lie succeeded and brought back or
ders to attack the enemy at down.
This attack was begun on the morn
ing of October 81 and resulted in
driving the enemy several miles
across the Scheldt river During the
forenoon of October 81 we had
stubborn fight and had great diff
Guilty in learning how our right flank
company was progressing. After sew
eral runners had been sent for this
necessary information and brought
none, Lieut.. Van Voris volunteered
to take patrol and learn what was
going on.
AS he passed the front lines he
was cautioned not to cross a certain
hill on which he expected to find the
right of our lines; he was warned
that our troops were not there and
that the hill was swept by German
fire. Such was his disregard for his
own safety that he determined to
push on and he personally took the
most advanced position in his patrol.
After penetrating beyond our front
lines he was tsruck by machine gun
bullets and instantly killed.
He was one of the bravest men |
have ever seen. He thought of moth
ing except doing what he could to
insure the success of our attack; he
was a splendid example of a leader
whose performance of his duty was
not modified or abated by the pres
ence of the enemy or the thought OF
danger, or lessened by fatigue.
The lieutenant was buried where
he fell, about one mile south of Wac
regem. His burial was directed by
the regimental chaplain, who held q
short burial service, bravely disre
garding the shells which were still
falling nearby on November |. His
grave is plainly marked so thai
! Identification will be easy.
Il have written you these details
because l thought you would want tC
know them, rather than having the
tormenting uncertainty of conject
IRE. For your loss there is no con
ISOLATION, but we extend our sym
pathy. In time, hope, your grie
will be lessened to the point where
you can share our feelings of pride
in him as a splendid soldier, who's,
qualities | like to believe are alsc
those of a good American"
Lieut.. Van Voris, son of Mrs. A. /.
Yates of Asotin, Wash, came to W
S c. from Asotin high school anc
= graduated with the class OF 1917. We
OF the student body and faculty who
70 remember Howard sympathize with
, the family in their loss but feel proud
to have known one Of America
greatest heroes in the world war.
\ posthumous award of a media
was made to Lieut.. Van Yoris for hi,
exceptional bravery.