Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-06-09

Robert n. Schsich. co. X, sS3rd
Inf. Co. L, I+Oth Inf, 4. e. F.

R06er n. Scnatcu, 90. NJ, o0Jro
Inf. Co. L, I+Oth Inf, 4. e. F.
Robert Henry Schaich, eldest son
Of Mr.. and Mrs. II. l.. Schaich Of
this community. was born near Morse
In johnson county, Ia, Oct. 21,
1895 and died In the service Of his
country among the American Expe-
dictionary Forces IN France June II,
1918 Of pneumonia. The body was
laid to rest temporarily near Epinol,
Colby, France, where the hospital
was located in which he was being
cared for during his fatal illness.
From thence at the request OF his
parents the national authorities have
transported 1t to final rest In the
halIowed ground In his native land
near the home from whence he start
ed to make that supreme sacrifice IN
behalf of democracy and world
peace.
The casket in which his remains
are sealed arrived in New York form
France on the transport wheaton"
in which was the caskets OF thou
sands of others who were being
transported to their native land for
Refinement, on May II. The pres
idept Of our nation with other gov
eminent officials were present when
the bodies of these silent heroes were
removed and before great concourse
of peoples pronounced an eloquent
eulogy over a representative casket.
Of
this casket was unloaded and under
the escort of soldier was started
for its final destination. At Chicago
IL was transferred to the charge OF
CORPORAL Matthew j. Irwin, OF Co.
A, sd Infantry, now located at
Camp Grant, who accompanied 1t to
the residence of the parents, deliver
ing his trust into their hands last
Saturday afternoon. At their re-
ouest and invitation he has since been
their guest and is here this morning
as the representative Of our heroic
army to see and hear the last SAD
rites with which his comrade VIII at
last truly rest in peace, no more to
be disturbed by wars alarms.
After removing from iowa to Da-
kota for brief residence, Roberts
parents returned to Iowa and about
sixteen years ago removed 10 thls
community where Robert was reared
from childhood to manhood and from
whence he started on that long ex-
pedition which ended in eternal VIC
tory and triumph for him. He at
tended the public schools and was
urged to take higher education by
his parents but he was home boy
who loved the farm and the STOCK
and he firmly declined to leave 1t ana
them and quickly assumed a man $
part in the home affairs. But though
devoted to his home and his COM
munity and content there he had a
broad view of life and was interest
ed In world affairs and when the
World war began he watched its de-
yelopment with great interest ana
when in April, 1917 our great presl-
dent and nation saw that neutrality
was no longer possible If the world
was to be kept safe for democracy
to be protected from the outrages and
invasions to which western Europe
was being subjected, and congress de-
clared a state of war to be In eX-
istence between this county and Ger
many, Robert grasped the situation
and desired to volunteer at once. But
his father and father, while sym
pathizing with the cause and proud
of his high sense Of duty were ma
turalIy 10th to see him go and per-
suaded him to wait until he was call
ed in his turn under the selective
draft. He dutifully submitted to their
wishes and though when the draft
came he had opportunity to step
aside honorably, he declined to do so,
saying to his pastor, Fred b. Benson,
the words which Brother Benson
quoted at previous memorial ser
vice: "If I take advantage of these
things and step aside, could never
live it down; my duty to my coun-
try is greater than that I owe par
ents or friends, much as l love them
ALL" In his conversations with his
mother he expressed in many ways
this high vision of duty and his clear
understanding Of the issues at stake !;
also of the necessity to go and light
the foe on foreign fields that our own
land might not be invaded.
Following the selective draft, on
Sept. 20, 1917, he was sent to Camp
Funston and assigned to Co. X, 353rd
Infantry. Here he took his training,
suffering with others but uncom-
plainingly, the hard discipline, the
Affections and the illness with which
we are all familiar both from sight
and reports. In April, 1917, with
thousands of others, he was sent to
New York, leaving that port the
23rd of that month and arriving in
England on the Sth Of May. With
others of his company he now be-
came a member Of Co. L, 140th In
fantry; he formed q close friendship
with a young man, Milton Oest-
ereich, who after Roberts death
wrote a consolatory letter to his par
ents from which we quote as show
ing the regard held for him by his
comrades in arms: while we were
making the voyage Robert took the
diphtheria and was in the hospital
until we landed, when he again
Joined the company. From that time