The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-04-17
JACOB kuNSASSER
DIED IN france
Min0t Soldier Who Left Here in Oc-
tober. 1917, After Participating
in Several Battles, Succumbs
to Influenza.

Of the first draft contingent, died of
influenza in France. A letter was
received from the army chaplain who
attended the burial, by Mrs. N. w.
Smith, sister, who resides sixteen
miles southwest of Minot. The young
mans mother lives at Outlook, Mont
and he is also survived by six sisters
and three brothers. He had taken
part in some of the hottest battles in
the war.
The letter from the chaplain which
is very interesting, follows:
Somewhere in France, Oct. %, IS.
To the Relatives and Friends of
Private Jacob Kleinsasser.
Dear People:
AS the chaplain who officiated at
the funeral service of him, whom you
love and mourn, it may be of some
comfort to you to hear from me. In
every instance, we always try to have
a chaplain of each mans own faith,
Catholic or Protestant, to minister
to him Everything possible was
done by the nurses and doctors to help
save your boy. But the disease that
gripped him was too virulent. We
are all sorry that this had to be, and
extend to you our sympathy in this
hour of sorrow that has come into
your life and home.
We held our little funeral service in
the hospital chapel where his COM
rades and friends were gathered. His
coffin was decorated with France and
American flags. After the service,
the procession formed The firing
squad marched ahead, the clergy, the
hearse, the pall-bearers, and the es-
cort following. When we went thru
the streets the French and American
soldiers stood at attention and saluted
in respect to the dead and those who
had paid the great price. After the
commital service at the grave, the
bugler blew taps over the grave As
the echo of those long drawn-out, sad
notes returned to us. from the hills
and as we saw the setting sun in the
west, it made US think of the folks
at home and our own native land. I
am sure that every soldier heart goes
out to you in sympathy.
The cemetery in which your loved
one is buried is French-American
military cemetery, of which our Cent
raj Records Office keep a record and
photograph. The number Of his grave
is IA, and his serial number is 368O236.
He died on the 14th day of October,
1913. We have put up little cross
at his grave with his name, rank, or
ganization, serial number and date of
his death. The French women, they
who have lost father sons, brothers,
nephews, uncles and husbands, show
their sympathy to the distant mothers,
sisters, wives and daughters of Amer
lea by decorating the graves with
flowers and keeping them beautiful.
These women of France show most
beautiful and wonderful spirit.
My poor words may be of little
comfort to you for the absence of one
whom you will never again see and
for the voice that is still. l do not
know your name as write, but |
gather it from the letters you have
written, or from some little pocket
testament which he carried in his
pocket, given him by a mother or
wife, or pastor, or loved one. AS l
see these treasures and read your
letter, l feel as though l know you
and that you are my brother, my
sister, especially, as I stand beside
the grave of your loved one. May
God be with you and bless you, COM
fort you in your home, and help you
to feel that the spirit, the invisible
part of ourselves, the soul which we
cannot touch, but which we know
within ourselves as life, cannot die,
but lives on. And may the suffer-
ing and sorrow which our nation must
bear, help us to realize the precious
value of life and help our nation to be
stronger, nobler and more virtuous
than ever before, In our prayers
out here in the distant fields of
France, we always remember the
folks at home, our country and our
flag, and we pray that the Kingdom
of God may increase among us. May
you find help and comfort in Him
who alone can be your stay and help
in troubles. -
Very sincefely yours,
JOHN p. JACKlNSEN, :
Chaplain.