Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-01-07
they ALL LOVED
THIS SOLDIER
eSNca. Res Of the Late Anton Bernatz
" q. cry Fine Letters to Mr.,
-s. Wm. Bernatz.
PAY HIGH Z. CUTE
70 THEIR CONRAD
One OF the Writers Was With Anton
When He Was Wounded, and
Administered First Aid. -.

+ Sometime ago VIM. Bernatz wrote
to r. F.. Sullivan, OF Paducah, KY
who was comrade of his son An
ton Bernatz in the army in France
to find out ii he had or knew any
thing about Anton's personal effects
and Mr.. Sullivan's reply will be
found below. Another letter also
came from comrade from Phila-
delphia. Both writer's laud Anton
and pay him high tribute as man
and soldier.
| Paducah, Ky.
11-19-1919
Mr.. VIM. Bernatz,
4 Decorah, Iowa.
Dear Sir: In reply to yopr letter
Of the 18th about your sons per-
sonal effects, did have them, al he
was the best friend had in the
army. and in my squad he and
kept our things together. bat we
didn't have much, just what We
could carry on our backs. had his
things In small brown bag that
he got from home. There were some
pie tins and toilet kit and few
clothes. / intended to, send them to
you, but on July IS, 1918. was
wounded and lost everything ] had.
as we'll as his. l. intended 10 write
10 bis mother. but lost her ali .ess.
was wounded bad. have been in
hospitals ever since. II hur. me
more than can tell when heard
Of Anton's death. ! loved hir,; he
was the best man ! ever had IN my
squad. He was my gunner and as
bsave as they get to he. We were in
an old house fixing something 10
eat and .as shell hit the L0.,sa. /
Twas lucky that time didn't ge. hit,
and I didn'tothink Anton was hurt
bad. ] dressed his wound md tent
him to the hospital. In three days
heard he was dead cryei Wien
! heard 1t and from then on went
after the Huns and killed meny
and every time I would kill one
would say There's another for k,ll-
ing my pal" got many, bu- they
got me at last. wish could lmve
sent you the few little lh;rgs I had
of his, but it was impossible. All
Of you have my hearts sympathy.
l know you loved him, l did, and
ne was a good brave boy lio you
get his insurance? remember he
didn't want to take any, !,nt ! got
him to take it. II can 10 anything
for you any time will 9 glad to
+, do it.
Yours very truly.
r. F. SULLIVAN.
! Philadelphia. Pa.
11-6-19.
Dear Mr.. Bernatz:- ~
Just arrived from France SO I Just
thought would write few lines
to you. Would like to know if It
is true about Anton, II ne died Of
his wound which he received on the
Somme Front. It struck me hard
when / heard that he was dead anil
buried somewhere in France.
chummed around with him as soon
as he arrived at Douglas. Arizona
with Co. M. 18th Inft. and he was
sure true pal to me. and when we
arrived in France We organized
four machine gun companies and
] was transferred to company ana
he still stayed with that company.
But met him once and he told me
4 that he was lucky so far without
getting scratch. Just came In
from the hospital after being gas
iced. and he told me II he only could
90 through the rest without getting
lhurt or wounded he would meet me
back In the good old U. 8. A. But !
guess ! will give up all hope now
after hearing the sad news that !
Will never get to see him again. ]
can say this much that he was a
good. clean cut soldier from the frst
day ! met him until the last day.
when I bid him good bye and was
transferred to another outfit. 80 was
sure sorry. to leave him, but that
some day he and ! would set dis
charged together and we would
have swell time. ] Just wish ]
could see him again. but do hope
he y, In better place and taken
we'll care Of. He was we'll likbA b.
everybody IN the compA1S IA n
j ways told No NJ would "a q m
I With him " mat his ps6pie S$@j
|Say ! ~1Iss6aas ont for ! Iittls tri1