The Washington herald., 1920-08-17
1000 "Mystery" Soldiers Being Sought
By american Legion for Relatives;
Many Reported "Dead' BeieUed Alive

The American Legion is carrying
on the search for solutions to more
than 1000 Individual death and dis
appearance mysteries among SOL
diers and sailors of the American
EXpeditionary Forces. These are
cases where official action has run
its course and terminated with the
always brief and some times con-
fiicting reports of missing in ac-
ton" killed in battle" or pre-
sumed to be dead In each case
/ it is claimed that definite or de-
tailed informal ton has not been re-
ceived by the family of the soldier
/ or sailor in question.
How many more than 1000 such
cases there may be is not known,
/ but the American Legion Weekly
has received that number of letters
from the kin and friends OF miss
ing men. There are instances
where it appears that men sailed
for France and straightway disap-
peared from the face of the earth.
No conclusive word ever has been
received of their fate. There are
cases by the score of men reported
f wounded" or slightly wounded"
and no other word. until months
later. perhaps. the curt official an
nOunCement of presumed to be
dead" Cases are reported Of men
reported dead. then wounded. later
missing. later returned to duty. But
the men have not come home. There
are cases where men have been re-
ported dead on a certain date. but
members Of their families received
letters written by their soldier
kin's own hand at later date.
Kayh 20 HaN
received unofficial report that their
soldier kin was seen alive after the
date of his official demise.
Gold Star" Mothers Anxious.
BY far the largest class of letters,
: however. are those from Eold-star
mothers seeking word from a com
rade who was with her son when he
fell. The War Department-which
considering everything, has been
remarkably accurate in accounting
for casualties-has reported the
date and place. Mother desires
simply such details as will enable
her to reconstruct in her mind-so
many write-the scene in which her
boy made the great sacrifice.
The roll call department in the
American Legion Weekly, where
these communications are publish
ed is tho most poignant personal
column in the world. Every item
carries its burden of human sorrow
or breathes a hope that will not
die. 1t is a column which. in bald
brevity. sums up the heroism Of the
manhood of America and the trials
of those who stayed behind and
day by weary day carry on the
search for those who did not come
back. The greatest human interest
stories in the world are told in
sCant paragraphs such as these:
Gath Aero SQuadron-Homer Key,
Box 116, Holdenville. Okla. would
like to hear from someone who
knew Lieut. Raymond J. Saunders.
and who could give details relative
to his death in France and where
he was buried. Last seen in COM
bat with twelve enemy planes over
Breullis, about fifteen miles north
west of Verdun. October %. 1918.
John W. Hotz. formerly seth Co.
152nd Depot Brigade. Camp Upton,
n. Y. Who knows whether he
went to France and was killed or
pulled through Address Miss Ger
trude Hotz, 435 Second ST, Brook
lyn. N. Y.
Missing in action-Private Leon
ard Delbert Philo. 95th Co. Sixth
Marines. Reported wounded in
Scissors drive. July 10, 1918 In
September, 1919, mother received
notice that "Philo LEONARD" had
died and was buried in France.
She does not believe it is her boy.
Comrades are reported to have seen
him alive and well in the fall of
1918. Address his sister. Mrs. H.
~
tie Creek, Mich.
309th Inf. Co. M-Lieut. Duncan
Campbell, wounded Nov. /, 1918:
died Nov 4; no news after ieav-
ing first dressing station. Infor-
nation wanted by wife, Mrs. Camp
bell, 19 w 9th St, New York City.
104th or 194th F. A, Bait. F.
If the parents of Joe II. Johnston
will communicate with !. NJ Ad-
ans, 19 East Verona Ave. Pleas
.antville. n. j., they may receive
Testament and three snapshots be-
longing to Johnston. which were
found on a battlefield in France. -
35Sth Inf, Co. M-Will the SOL
dier who was with Sgt John w.
Smalley when he charged a ma
chine gun nest and was killed near
lVilcey, France, Sept. IL, 1918, write
Florence f. Barney. 404 Walnut
St, Alexandria. Ind?
126th Inf, Co. will the SER
geant who was saved by Pvt. Ho-
mer whistler on Oct. 9. 1918, at
Romagne write to whisler's moth
er, Mrs. Mary E. Whistler, Hills
boro, o., r. F. D. IL? Information
concerning her sons death wanted
by Mrs. Whistler.
55th Nurses Unit-Ruth G. Nor
gan; last heard of on way to
France August, 1918. Information
of her fate desired by E. B. Bau-
man, Box 1854. Flemingsburg. KY.
Believed To BE Insane.
Missing in action-Pvt. Arthur
Hill, 361st Inf, wounded in octo-
ber in Argonne and seen walking
off the field. A buddy saw him in
"a hospital in France. Since then
nothing has been heard of him.
Family fears he is a mind case in