The Washington times., 1922-02-25
ARMY HONORS4
ROMA VICTIMS
At BURIAL HERE
Bodies Laid to Rest in Airing
ton With Military
Cortege.

With full military honors the
bodies If four of the victims OF the
Inflated Roma were buried at II
o'clock this morning in Arlington
Cemetery.
Official Washington paid tribute
as the bodies OF the four soldiers
were lowered into their final resting
place. The bodies inferred were those
OF Major Walter II. Vautsmeier,
Capt. Dale Mabry, Master Sergt.
James Murray and Staff Sergt. Lee
NJ. Harris
Secretary OF War Weeks. who IL
out of the city, was represented by
Assistant Secretary OF War iona
than Mayhem Wainwright, and Sec.
rotary DENLY, head OF the navy, was
represented by Admiral w. A. Mof;
felt. Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick.
chief Of the air service, led the pro.
cession Of mourners.
Twelve non-commissioned officers.
buddies OF the victims of the Roma
collapse, served as honorary pail
bearers.
Six of those selected were from
Boiling Field, members OF the Nineth-
ninth squadron. They were: Vernon
G. Leary. Frank Moore. j. w. vii.
liams, Floyd Fox. Joseph Valdrusis
and J. w. Butcher.
The other six selected honorary
pail bearers were members Of the
First Air Park squadron. were
Harry Kashe, George Tommins, Jas.
per Carlisle, Alfred Steffen, Abner
Mason and Fred Strong.
Escorted From Norfolk.
Members OF the funeral cortege
were met at the Seventh street docks
this morning by Major Patrick and
his staff. including former comrades
from Boiling Field.
A special military escort accom-.
panied the bodies from Norfolk to
| Arlington. There were Mai or Oscar
Westover. honorary guard over the
| body Of Major Vautsmeier; Lieut.. B.
T. Burt, a survivor Of the disaster.
acted as honorary guard to Captain
Mabry, commander OF the Roma.
Lieut.. J. A. Smith. a member OF
the Roma crew. but who was not
aboard at the time OF It's fall. acted
as honorary guard 10 Master Ser
geant Murray. while Sergt. John
Gabriel. a member OF the Roma crew,
acted as honor escort for Sergeant
Harris.
The military burial was simple and
touching. The bodies were lowered
to their graves in the order Of their
rank, the escorts standing with
bowed heads around the grave.
Following the military service for
the four. the body OF Major Vaults.
meier. a master Mason OF Pensacola.
Fla, was turned over 10 the New
Jersey NH NH mhm mhmh mhmhh
Jerusalem lodge and Masonic sery-
ices were held.
Wreathes were placed on the
grave OF each OF the four by Mrs.
Andrew ]. Campbell. representing
the Washington War Mothers.
Served for 81 Years.
The last body to he lowered into
the grave was Sergeant Murray.
known as the hard luck buddie" OF
the army aerial service.
Murray. according 10 his comrades
won a majorship during the world
war. only TO lose his rank when the
Government reduced the emergency
officers. He re-entered the ranks in
preference to becoming n lieutentnt
in the quartermaster corps.
A few weeks ago he came 10 Wash.
ington on the Roma's official test
flight. at the time she was turned
over to this Government. While here,
he was badly injured in a motorcycle
accident. He recovered sufficiently to
reach Norfolk just in time TO Join
in the last flight when he met his
death, after having served in the
Government forces twentytseven
years.
Twelve non-commissioned officers,
buddies OF the Roma catastrophe,
all members OF the air service, will
serve as honorary pail bearers.
Six OF these are from Boiling Field,
members OF the Ninety.ni Squad
ron. They are: Vernon C. Leary,
Frank Moore, J. w. Williams. Floyd
Fox, Joseph Valdrusis and J. w.
Butcher.
The other six selected honorary
pail bearers are members Of the
First Air Park squadron, Harry
Kashe, George Tommins. Jasper
Carlisle. Alfred Steffen, Abner Mason
and Fred Strong.
Members of the funeral cortege
were met at the Seventh street docks
this morning by Major General
Patrick, chief Of the air service. and
his staff, including former comrades
from Boiling Field.
The special guards, accompanying
the bodies from Norfolk, included
Major Oscar MISSIONER, OF Langley
Field; first Lieut.. b. T. Burke, first
Lieut.. J. A. Smith. Sergt. w. F..
Fitch and staff Sergt. J. G. Gabriel.
Secretary of the Navy DENLY and
Secretary OF War Weeks, will be
represented at the services at II
O'Clock by members of their staff
Floral tributes have been sent by
the heads Of both departments.
Wreaths also will be placed on
the graves Of each OF the four
victims by Mrs. Andrew J. Campbell,
representing the Washington War
Mothers.