The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-09-30
AN ADDRESS WHICH WAS PRE-
PARED AND READ BY MAR
TIA LAROCQUE AT ARCO
1855 BURIED IN FRANCE
43,909 HAVE REQUESTED THE
GOVERNMENT TO RETURN
THE BODY TO THE U. S.

When the armistice brought to
sudden close, the worlds greatest
conflict, America found the graves
of her dead scattered throughout the
length and breadth of France, thou
sands were lying on the battlefield
area, thousands were found along the
main line Of communication, as we'll
as near the principal war hospital
centers. And again, near camp or
training stations where her boys re-
ceived their brief, and perhaps some
Of them their only training before
going forth to meet the veteran ene-
my. Small groups Of graves, some
times only one, would be found in
some quiet spot where, perchance.
her soldier, battle worn and nerve
racked. had been sent to seek rest
that he might renew his strength
for some still greater endurance.
And so our Quartermaster corps
forces found that these burial places
reached far into the thousands. Then
commenced the great and sacred task
OF concentration of these precious
bodies into cemeteries which were
selected or established for that pur-
pose.
II one could visit the cemeteries
of France, we would "look upward"
standing mute and salute the gold
star heroes who gave their lives for
humanity's sake and that the world
would be a safer place for their
mothers, wives and sweethearts to
reside in
Has our country done all it could
to repay the supreme sacrifice of its
sons who lie inferred in a foreign
land? That is what the mothers
are asking today and a great cry has
arisen. Where is his grave? VIII
they bring him back to me?
Those who wish full Information
as to how to proceed to secure their
loved ones remains, which will be
returned at government expense,
should write to Lieut.. Col. CHI rles
c. Pierce, Graves Registration Ser
vice. War Department, Washington.
d. c. He will willingly answer all
questions He has working force
at present of some two hundred and
fifty clerks, and about twenty-five
are stationed in the Paris office Of
the service.
The Graves Registration Service,
was organized Immediately follow
ing our participation in the war
and placed under the direction OF
the Quartermaster Generals depart
ment ON May 81, 1917. Colonel
Pierce, retired Chaplain and the
cheif specialist in mortuary affairs
OF the army. was called back into
active service and placed in charge.
This appointment gave him not only
the command of the new division.
but made him also general superin-
tendent of all American military
cemeteries in France.
On August Z, 1917, the completed
plans of the General Staff for the
organization of the G.. II. S. units
We're published. and Col. Pierce be-
gan the recruiting of the first unit
from his Philadelphia home. Each
unit comprised two officers and fifty
enlisted men. Pending the estab-
lishment of the permanent organiZa-
ton a temporary Burial Depart
ment was organized by the army In
France under the direction of the
division along lines suggested by
British experience. Later, the Bur-
ial department was merged with the
Graves Registration Service.
To the Graves Registration Service
was assigned all duties connected
with the keeping Of records, moving
the dead, up-keep OF cemeteries, and
furnishing information to relatives.
The first units of the service that
went to France often worked under
heavy shell fire and 1t is due in large
measure to the heroic conduct of the
men that temporary cemeteries were
established and proper burial given
the fallen. Citations for heroism for
members of the units were most fire.
quent and one incident in particular
deserves special mention. General
Pershing sent the following letter OF
| recommendation of the work and
conduct Of the members of the Head
quarters Advance Group No. l,
Graves Registration Service. in
which he describes the work per-
| formed by these men under heavy
shell fire and gas on April 20, 1913,
at Mandres:
On April goth. End Lieut.. Moor