Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-09-21
Viola Boy Who Persisted in Great
War is Brought Home

!
The body of Lieutenant Justin w
Dake, son of DIR. and Mrs. A. j. Dake
who was killed in France, was brought
back to Viola and inferred with full
military honors at the old home last
Tuesday afternoon.
From complete sketch of his life by
Lieutenant Basil Kanable in the Viola
News, we quote:
Justin VIM. Dake, son of DIR. A. j
and Elizabeth Dake was born at Wood.
stock, Wisconsin, August IL, 1896
When he was very small, his parents
moved to this village, and here he
grew to manhood. During his high
school days he took an active part ii
athletics. He played on both base
ball and basket ball teams and was
ranked as one of the best. During
his Senior year he represented oul
school in the league oratorical contest
and in 1913 he was graduated as Vale
dictorian of his class. Up to that time
he had the highest average of any
student who had ever graduated from
this high school. In September of the
same year he entered the Normal
school at Lacrosse. Here again he
demonstrated his ability as an ath.
lete when he played in the Normal
base ball team and won the silver cur
given by the school to the tennis
champion of the year.
After his graduation he accepted a
position as principal of the Warren
High school, and while here he Joined
Co. X. of the National Guard. Short.
~ after returning home from school
duties, the Mexican trouble arose, and
he was called to join his Co., which
left FOR the border about the middle OF
July. Previous to that he had beer
made Corporal and August 18th nc
was promoted to Sergeant. The
Guard was ordered home about the
middle of December and Justin i'm
mediately accepted a position in the
LaFarge schools.
The American Legion Post at War.
rens was named after Lieut.. Dake in
memory of him.
A short time before war was de-
clared the Co. was ordered out but
Justin was i'll with pneumonia at the
time, he was unable to report until
few weeks later even then his condi-
ton was such that he should not have
been in service. In July the Wiscon-
sin troops were concentrated at Camp
Douglas and in August moved to Camp
Macarthur at Waco, Texas. In Feb
ruary 1918, his division left for the
eastern coast TO embark for overseas
arriving in France early in March
They moved to the training area, Ri
viera Les Posses. Here he was select
ed with one other man from his COM
pany to attend officers school leaving
the middle of April for Langres. He
received his commission the 9Th day OF
July, 1918, ranking fifteenth in his
platoon. He was Immediately assign
ed to Co. G.. 354th Inf. SO Div, then
in the training area at Chambroncourt
August 5th he left with the Div. thru
Toul to Bruley, then to Minorville.
One of his brother officers in writ
ing to his parents of his first big at
tack, said, al saw Justin all through
his first big drive-the St.Mihiel, Sep
TENDER 12-13-and he was drawer than
80 per cent of the seasoned veterans
could have been. He helped us all
keep cool which was mighty necessary
as nearly all of our men and officers
had never been in big attack before.
| heard a high ranking officer say,
'Dake doesn't weigh very much but
every ounce of him is Soldier and
that tribute / want to pay your son,
saw him for two months under fire
and never saw him anything but the
cool level-headed officer he was. /
have seen him spend his own sleeping
hours attending toso sick or wound
ed man in his platoon, but he always
seemed to have strength enough to
carry out any mission. His Captain
used TO say he didn't know what would
have become of his Co. except fol-
Lieut.. Dake, and l personally know
that Capt. Cubbison was serious when
he said it.
In the attack of November End
near Barricourt, France, Lieut.. Dake
of Co. G. fought with his platoon with
consumate skill against a 4Seong en-
envy machine gun nest. His fearless
ness end disregard of personal danger
was fine example of bravery for his
men, so inspiring them, even after ne
had fallen, that they fought with ex-
traordinary skill ana bravery. He
was recommended for distinguished
service cross by Gen Pershing.
Justin died at the age of % years
months and 21days, leaving to mourn
their loss his parents and three sisters
Merle, Miriam and WiGifred. He was
member of the local Masonic lodge and
of the Congregational church of this
place.