The Delta independent., 1919-01-17
MOTHER OF CLAIM BOY HAS
NO WORD FROM GOVERNMENT

AlOlu6E 6CElO06 I4AS ~ SAAO A4AC><A@%-AA7
ism Of our war department has come
to light in connection with the death
fof Harry A. White, of this city.
Harry was wounded on November
n, and died from his wounds Novem-
'ber 18th. More than 60 days have
now elapsed and up to two days ago
at least. his mother had received not
one word from the government, either
concerning his injury or his death
On December 9. nearly 80 days after
his death, a member Of the Home
Communication service Of the Red
Cross advised Mrs. White of the death
and funeral services This is all she
has heard except the letter which
her son himself wrote two days after
his injury.
Below we print the letter from the
Red Cross department, which seems to
have been written in the spirit Of
friendship not from an official stand
point. since the writer naturally as
sumed that the mother had been ad
vised through the war department:
'Tn reference to Harry A. White.
Pvt Co. I. 355th Infantry. No. 28461s5
U. s. Base Hospital No IS.
A. E F.. A. p. o. 767.
Mrs Margaret White, Delta. Colo
RADIO.
! Dear Mrs. White: The authorities
will have notified you of the death Of
your son Harry in this hospital on
November 18th. and I am taking the
liberty of writing you briefly. in my
capacity as representative of the
Home Communication Service of the
american Red Cross. just to reassure
you that everything possible was done
to save your boy. He came here on
November 11th. suff ering from two
shrapnel wounds in the left thigh, and
was obviously very i'll when he arriv-
ed Both physician and nurse gave
him careful and constant attention, in
their efforts to bring him through. and
he seemed grateful and apparently
did not suffer greatly. but his strength
was ebbing fast. and at 1885 ON the
evening Of the following day he quiet
~ passed out, without struggle. and
very suddenly at the last
There were few little personal be-
aongings. = pocketbook. some letters.
and medal. that VIII be forwarded 10
you through tie regular channels
And you doubtless know that he was
. member Of B. p. o. Elks. Lodge SsS.
No. 1885, OF Delta, Colorado.
They gave him military funeral.
in the little American cemetery, just
outside the city Of Nantes. among
green fields and trees. re coffin. COW
cred by the beautiful American Nag.
being carried by his comrades. who
stood at attention while the chaplain
read the brief. simple, military burial
service: then salute was fired over
she open grave. and last OF all the
sweet bugle notes of Taps" floated
out across the qiet spot, from the
woods nearby-the last earthly good
might" to a soldier. The grave is
marked by plain white cross. bear
ing his name. which will thus be hon.
orei by all who read it there, both
now and in the years to come. as that
of one who gave his all. when all was
hest and sweetest with promise. for
an ideal which he recognized as
greater than the life of any one man
or any number of men. You viii be
glad to know that the place is kept
bright and fresh with flowers from
the gardens Of the French women of
the neighborhood. who love to pay this
tribute to the American soldiers who
Ihave fought side by side with their
own. on the fields OF France. for the
liberty Of the world. which has now
been won. though at 40 great price.
These French wives and mothers. by
what they have suffered In more than
four long years, understand the cross
that II laid on American women. and
they. chow their sympathy by this act
OF love and courtesy. realizing how the