The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-06-20
BODIES OF DEAD HEROES
NAY Be BROUGHT Home
Relatives Asked Whether They Wish
Remains Sent Home or Not
Government Pays Bills.

AUJuLduC 1cIlcIdl HIccIloi 10 SSHe
ing out information which he has re-
ceived from the war department rel
alive to the final disposition OF the
bodies of American soldiers who fell
in battle overseas. The families OF
the deceased officers and men ana
civilian employees who have died
abroad are asked to let the war de-
partment know what they desire to
have done-wether to allow the re-
mains to lie in foreign soil or to have
them returned to this country for in
terment in either national cemeteries
or in the family burial plot at home.
The exact date when the work OF
transfer of bodies will begin cannot
be announced at this time but notice
will be given when the time arrives.
The information contained in the
following memorandum which General
Greenan has prepared from war de-
partment instructions, will be of inter
est to a goodly number of Montanans
as follows:
"The war department desires to as
certain the wishes Of the families OF
officers, enlisted men and civilian en-
ployees, regarding the permanent dis
position of the bodies of those who
have died overseas. The representa-
tives~ of the deceased are being called
upon now for an expression of their
desires regarding the final disposition
of the bodies.
ut cannot be stated now just when
the work of the transfer of the bodies
to this country will begin, as it must
be deferred until the conditions, in
GLIDING that of transportation, a
rant the undertaking. Due notice will
be given through the public press.
at is not deemed practicable to
grant requests for relatives, friends,
or undertakes to go to France to SUI
perintend the preparation and ship
ment of, or to accompany bodies back
to the United States. You will appre-
ciate that there were over $4,000 cas-
ualties abroad, and to permit even n
representative to cross in each case
would require a great deal of trans
portation both on the sea and abroad.
Upon arrival they would have to de-
pend upon the grave registration units
for information and assistance, which
would only interfere with these units
in following any systematic plan of
sending bodies home. Furthermore,
these representatives would occupy
space on returning ships which should
be used by soldiers.
Details Hard to Obtain.
"Organizations have been formed
known as grave registration units,
whose duty it is to look after burials
to care for the cemeteries9and to pre-
serve Identification records.
"Details concerning the death Of our
soldiers are not ordinarily received by
the war department. 1t is believed
that you will appreciate the fact that
as a rule it will not be possible tc
furnish details. Many of the mer
were killed during darkness, or on a
smoky, dusty battlefield, and no wit.
nesses are available. You can rest
assured, however, that everything pos
sible is being done to relieve the anx-
iety of the relatives of our soldiers
who have made the supreme sacrifice
in the great of liberty.
"In case the remains of a deceased
soldier are returned to the United
States they will be inferred either al
the former home of the deceased OIL
at a national cemetery, according t.
the wishes of the one authorized t.
direct the disposition of the remains
and all expenses, including transporta
ton, casket, shipping case, flag, AM
the preparation of the remains TO,
shipment, will be paid by the United
States. Hire of a hearse and othe
burial expenses incurred at the hom'
of the deceased may be paid, on ap
plication by the relatives, by the bur