Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-04-14
DUE ATTENTION
FOR 'DONNELL,
SAYS COL. RICE
Usual Military Details We're
Carried Out, He Declares,
In Funeral Arrangements
To The Herald:

Your issue of April 18th contain
ed story concerning the death and
burial of the late Quartermaster Ser
geant Patrick O'Donnell, a retired
soldier, which is so at variance with
the actual facts of the case that
am impellod TO request that you pub
lish the following statement:
Your article would lead one not
acquainted with the facts TO believe
that the military authorities at Fort
Brown manifested no interest in this
highly respected and retired soldier
and would have permitted his body
to have been taken 10 the potter's
field i'm pair Of overalls, had it not
been for the timely Intervention of
the representatives of the Volunteers
of America and the American Le-
gion.
The only difficulty encountered in
this case was caused by the lack of
government funds with which to pay
the transportation of the body from
Brownsville to the nearest nationa,
cemetery, at San An'onio, Texas,
and this transportation would have
been paid from personal funds of
officers at the post had not this
representative offered temporarily to
pay this transportation, with the per-
sonal guarantee of the adjutant that
the money would be refunded from
the estate of the deceased, or from
other funds.
All arrangements for the funeral,
burial, etc, were promptly made.
and-while the lack Of funds for
transportation was discussed with
Sergeant O'Donnell's friends-there
was never doubt about the ship
ment of the body to the national
cemetery at San Antonio, but slmp-
~ question as to who would adj.
vance. temporarily, the expense of
the shipment.
In order that you may judge as 70
whether the military authorities neg
lected the soldier or gave him the
honorable and respectable ceremony
due him, ! Wish TO advise you Of
these facts:
Sergeant O'Donnell died at the
station hospital mt Fort Brown on
April 10. 1922. after he had rcceiv-
ed all the care that the medical pro-
fession could give during a period
of six weeks. He was 50 years Of
age.
Immediately after the death, the
post surgeon notified the command
ing officer of the date and hour Of
death; that the adjutant general of
the army had been notified; that the
undertaken under government con
tract had been notified: and that the
person named rs the nearest friend
Of the deceased had requested burial
i'm national cemetery.
The quartemaster was notified Of
the death. and he Immediately Sc
cured caskct and clothing for the
deceased, the undertaken already
having embalmed the body. The
quartermaSter also furnished an
American flag to place on the cas-
ket.
radiogram was sent to Fort Sam
Houston, requesting authority 10
shin the remains To the nearest ma
tional cemetery. and a reply by radio
advised that no government funds
are available for the transportation
of the remains Of retired soldier
adding: "Interment. however, may
be made in national cemetery here,
if desired"
The post chaplain was notified to
take charge of the funeral, 70 be
conducted from the station hospital
morgue at o'clock. The band was
Instructed TO report. mounted. at
at that hour; the commanding off
Ger of Troop A was notified TO re-
port with his troop at the same hour,
and the quartermaster was notified
to prepare for transportation at that
time.
The deceased was clothed in a
complete suit of clothing, not over
alls.
All of the above arrangements had
been made prior to the arrival of
the representative of the Volunteers
of America and the American Legion
who called To inquire about these ar
rangements.
When the representative of the
Volunteers of America and the Am
errcan Legion arrived at the post
Mt ! 80 p. m, Tuesday. he carried
with him a blue uniform coat belong
ing to Sergeant O'Donnell. and re-
auested permission to place this on
the body, which was granted. The
service coat was thereupon removed
and the blue coat placed on the body.
This representative stated that ne
appeared on behalf of the American
Legion and that he had heard that
there were no government funds with
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