The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-08-16
SEEKING
 SOLUTION OF 2,000 MYSTERIES

iHe AHiericdn AeBlon IS carrying on the search for solutions to more than 1000 individual death and disap- pearance mysteries among soldiers and sailors of the American Expedi- tionary Forces. These are cases where official action has run it's course and terminated with the all ways brief and sometimes conflicting reports of missing in action" killed in battle" or presumed to be dead" In each case it is claimed that defin- ite or detailed information has not been received by the family of the soldier or sailor in question.
 How many more than 2,000 such cases there may be is not known, but the American Legion Weekly has re- cefved that number of letters from the kin and friends of missing men. There are instances where it ap- pears that men sailed for France and lstraightway disappeared from the face of the earth No conclusive word ever lhas been received of their fate. There are cases by the score of men re- ported 'wounded'' or slightly wound led" and no other word, until, months Flater, perhaps, the curt official an nouncement of t'presumed to be dead" Cases, are reported of men re- ported dead, then wounded, later mis- sing later returned to duty" But the tL1en nave not come nome. mere are cases of where men have been report led dead on a certain date, but mem bers of their families received letters written by their soldier kin's own hand at later date. There are cases where families have received unoffi- cial report that their soldier kin was seen alive after the date of his off, cia1 demise.
 By far the largest class of letters, n f~ovr nI1 --t1 ar mothers seeking word from a com rade who was with her son when he fell The War Department-whic considering everything, has been re- markedly accurate in accounting for fcasuafties-has reported the date and place Mother desires simply such de- tails as will enable her to reconStru~' tin. her mind-so many write-c.lc scene in which her boy made the great sacrifice.
 The ~Rol1 Ca1P' Department in the ,American Legion Weekly where these Communications are published is the most poignant personal column in the world. Every item carries it's burden of human sorrow or breathes a hope Ithat will not die. It is column which. in bald brevity, sums up the 11eroisn of the manhood of America and the trials of those who stayed
 
 lon the search for those who did not come back The greatest human in terest stories in the world are told in pscant paragraphs such as these:
 S4th Aero Squadron-Homer Key EBox 116, Holdenville, Okla, would like to- hear from someone who knew sLieut- Raymond J. Saunders, and who could give details relative to his k.I T, ,~, F. sburied- Last seen in combat with F enemy planes over Breul1is, about 1 5 miles northwest of Verdun, Oct 22 1918.
 John w.. Hotz formerly seth Co. 152nd Depot Brigade, Camp Upton lN. Y- Who knows whether he went to France and was killed or pulled through Address Miss Gertrude Hotz !435 Second St., Brooklyn. N. Y.
 Missing in action-Private Leonard EDelbert Philo, 95th Co.,, Sixth Mar. ines. Reported wounded in Soisson: drive, July 19, 1918. In Septembel l1919 mother received notice tha s.'Philo Lionard' had died and vs' .buried in France. She does not believe lit is her boy-- Comrades are reported ito have seen him alive and well il
 
 Mrs. H. w. Johns, 107 Glenwood Ave. lBattle Creek, Mich.
 309th Inf, Co. M.-Iieut- Duncan Campbell, wounded Nov- 1, 1918; diet tNov. 4; no news after leaving frs dressing station. Information wanted by wife, Mrs. Campbell, 19 w 9t1 ,St-, New York City.
 HN Q-ff T lthe parents of Joe H. Johnston vii communicate with I. M. Adams, I tEast Verona Ave-, Pleasantville, N ,J-, they may receive a Testament ant three snapshots belonging to Johnston which were found on a battlefield il iFrance.
 35Sth Inf, Co. M.-Will the soldie who was with Sgt John w. Smalle when he charged machine gun nes and was killed near Vilcey, Franc Sept 12, 1918, write Florence F. Der ney, 404 Walnut St., Alexandria, Ind
 126th Inf, Co. I.-Wi1l the ser geant who was saved by Pvt Home whisler. on Oct. 9, 1918 at Romagn write to Ministers mother, Mrs. Mar rnformation concerning her son death wanted by Mrs. Whistler.
 18th Nurses Unit-Ruth G. Morgan Hast heard from on way to France August 1918. Information of her fat desired by F.. B. Bauman, Box 36. FTemingsburg, Ky.
 Missing in action-Pvt Arthur HiI S61st Inf, wounded in October Argonne and seen walking off tn field. A buddy saw him in a hospits in France. Since then nothing hs been heard of him. Family fears T. is a mind case in some hospital an has heard rumors that he is undt treatment in the United States. At dress cousin, W. R. Cawthra, 10 Cla St, Worcester, Mass.
 109th Inf, Co. B-Pvt. Charl pames Hunt, wounded, gased, cal tured and reported died of wound Mother would be grateful for ar particulars taken of the engagemel in which her son was wounded ar taken. She also wants to know wh