Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-07-10
BLUE STAR TURNED TO GOLD

BLUE STAR TURNED TO GOLD
One of the largest funerals ever
held in Trego county was that which.
took place at Ogaliah last Sunday
afternooIa in memory of Private Mar
tin Lofstead, son of Mr.-and Mrs
Swan Lofstead, who died at. the Wal
ter Reed Military hospital at Wash
ington, d. c., Tuesday, July 1st- The
body was prepared for shipment at
the hospital and was accompanied to
OgalIah by Sam Swiggett as the gov-
ernment representative and by his
mother, Mrs. Lofstead, who had been
called to Washington the week before
and was at the bedside of her son
when death came. The remains were
given full military burial and about
fifty of the soldier boys from this
county were in attendance besides the
hundreds of sympathizing friends and
neighbors The services at the church
| were conducted by the Rev. Broadcast
and Lieut.. j. C. Coldiron, of this city.
was in charge of the burial.
Private Martin Lofstead was truly
a Trego county boy having been born
| and raised n@Ogallah township. He
was twenty-four years old and was
among the first army Of young men
who registered for service in the world
l war. Although farmer and badly
needed on the home farm, he asked
no exemption and was one of those
who left this county in the fall of
1917 for Camp Funston He was as
| signed to Co B. 14u regiment Of the
| famous thirty-ffth division and train
ed and served with it until September
| %, 1913, when he was wounded IN
the right leg and right arm from
shrapne1 in the Argonne fight. With
| this wound came many months of
suffering and 3 long struggle between
| life and death for the brave soldier
boy. The wound in the leg gave the
| great trouble and it was amputated
! at the hip joint. It was also necessary
| for him to undergo many other small
| er operations. He sent word to home
| folks that he was wounded and CON
fined to the hospital, but in order to
save them worry, and especially his
mother, he did not tell them of the
seriousness of his condition nor of the
operation until after he had been
/ brought back to the United States
1 and had been visited by friends from
/ this county who were in Washington.
4 He felt determination to get well
/ and made brave fight. His cheerful
/ disposition won him special attention
and friends among the surgeons and
nurses at the hospital. He was a pro-
Tossing christian young man and his
faith in God was great aid to him
| in his suffering. His fight for life was
| determined but after he finally real
| lied that he could not win he sent
word, not asking, but suggesting, that
his mother might come and visit him
Previously he had not wanted them
to come, believing that he would be
/ able to come home and visit them.
Sam Swiggett, former, Trego county
citizen, frequently visited with Priv
4 ate Lofstead and speaks highly of the
/ sterling qualities and cheerful dispos-
| ition of the young man. Another star
| in the service flag has turned to gold
and there is another soldiers grave to
decorate but the memory of the most
excellent qualities of Private Martin
Lofstead Will not pass from the hearts
of his many friends in this county
who unite as in extending sym
pathy to the bereaved parents, broth
ers and sisters of a departed soldier