Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-07-31
Chaplain Confirms Death.
Carl L. FirOr Dies OF Multiple
Gunshot Wounds.

Carl L. Firor Dies OF Multiple
Gunshot Wounds.
The following letter has recently been
received by Rev and Mrs. NJ. l.. Firor
of Sabillasvil!e.
Westminster House,
Bloomington, Indiana.
July %, 1919.
The Reverend NJ L and Mrs Firor,
Sabillasville, Md.
My dear Reverend and Mrs. Firor:-
Within the past week there have come
to me two letters from you, one of them
at least coming via Paris. Since my re-
turn nave been away from home each
week and cons. quently hire has been
delay. recognized at once the name of
Carl L., Firor because | had dispute at
the Hospital with the recording Sergt.
over he proper way to spell the name
and finally fourd that | was right. His
number was 8, ll2.l7 He was admit
ted to Evacuation Hospital Ia on Sept.
%, 1918, died Oct. ] and was buried on
Oct. the 2 His body lies in the French
Military Cemetery at Fleury- Aire.
Meuse. The grave is No. 33, Row 2 of
the West American plot. The cause of
death was multiple gun shot wounds.
1t was my sad duty to lay away the
bodies of 52l men almost all Americans.
The hospital force was so rushed that
the entire matter of grave digging was
left to the Chaplain and also the matter
of the caring for the bodies.
There were times when nearly the
whole day was spent in the cemetery,
the morgue and the receiving ward. The
hospital had LOO beds. During one
twenty four hours we received l 300 men.
These had to be attended to and sent to
operating rooms or prepared at once to 60
aboard the evacuation train en- route for
a base hospital. Carl was one of the
1900 men. l saw him with wards full o
Others as passed through. 1t was not
until | came to care for the bodies in the
morgue that really was near the poor
and | now recall his face when look at
the picture you sent. We had no cas-
kets, but each man was carefully sewed
in his own blanket. With tend .r heart
| tried to see that each face was as the
loved ones at home would have had it,
One Identification tag was left inside the
blanket, and the other was nailed to the
cross which marked the hea ID of the grave.
The cross also bore On little plate at
tached to the point where the arms cross
little indelible metal plate giving the
name, number, organiza ton, dates of
death and burial and number of grave
There was always service which was
growingly tender for the Chaplain.
There were brief passages of Scripture
and three prayers, one for the loved ones
at home, one for our native land and one
for the soul of the departed
From my own funds l purchased an
American flag made in Paris. 1t is the
most precious remembrance | have of
those hard days it has floated over every
American laid away. While the Chap
lain stood at the foot of the grave a
soldier stood at the head and held in the
breeze the emblem we all love.
You would have heard from me weeks
ago but have been waiting for the prom
ised negatives of the cemeteries.
1t is my hope very soon to be able to
write to each family enclosing little
picture of dear spot and with it some
account of the services and any facts |
have about the man in each case | am
so sorry not to be able to give you any
definite word of the last honors.
The hospital was well manned with
surgeons and nurses and every man had
the best care that could be given him.
Before the men were out from under
the anaesthetic they were in comfort
able bed in ward in almost all cases.
Nav God himself give you comfort in
your great loss, and may some of it
come through the knowledge that your
two lads gave their lives to the greatest
cause the world has known In war.
Sincerely Yours,
T. r. White.
Presbyterian Student Counselor.
Indiana University
Ghaplaip "A r r. Evacnatiop uospito