World War One and White County, Indiana

From the Atlas and Plat Book of White County, Indiana - 1920

           WHITE COUNTY'S war record has ever been white. Whenever our country called for soldiers White County responded quickly and in full measure. In the great wars of the past White County sent forth more than her allot­ment and in the war from which we have just emerged, she did her full duty both at home and abroad. So anxious were her young men to go to their country's defense that White County has the distinction of being one of the three counties in the entire United States not required to furnish any soldiers under the first draft. White County's quota was more than filled by volunteer enlistments long before the draft was made.

WHITE COUNTY honors her soldiers, whether they wore the khaki, or the blue, or the sacred emblem of the Red Cross. They all fought the good fight, and all share in the glory of the victorious achievement of American arms. All that we can say and do today is inadequate to express our sense of pride in them, in their gallant deeds, in the soldiery records, both of those who went abroad and those who served in the reserve army. All that can be said will not fully speak the pleasure and satisfaction of having the boys back, to make once more a part of the community life. When they went away, a shadow fell over the entire community. When they returned, the entire populace rejoiced. They are all home now - all who are to come - and have again taken up their vocations in civil life and to them the hand of helpfulness, of sympathy and of pride is extended by every citizen of the county. But some went away who will never return. Twenty-nine of White County’s boys gave up their lives for their country. Some sleep on foreign soil and some in their native land, but all rest in heroes' graves. For those who will return no more, there are tears, but also pride and honor. They will be forever mourned and forever honored. To die for one's country is the noblest death and the families of those who died in support of the American flag can find consolation in the thought that their sons have given their all on the field of honor and that White County will not forget them. So long as Amer­ica and White County possess such sturdy and stalwart young men, such devoted patriots, there need be no fear for the safety of our country glorious ideals.

IN REVERENT tribute, therefore, to the warriors of White County, who paid the blood price on the battlefields in their country's righteous cause; in honor of the brave soldiers and sailors who rallied to the call and went forth ready and willing to make the supreme sacrifice in the preservation of American liberty; in homage to the young women w perils of land and sea to nurse and care for the wounded; in respect to every man, woman and child of this community who never failed during the trying moments of the war or hesitated in response to the demands of the nation and of humanity, we dedicate this effort,

THE MONTICELLO HERALD COMPANY.

THE ARMY OF THE DEAD

We record with sadness, White County's gold star list and bow our heads in reverence and memoriam to the brave young warriors who died in the service on the battlefields or passed away from sickness in camps or from other causes.  The roster of White County's army of the dead follows. 

• ARCHER, WALTER F., Monon, Indiana. En­tered service May 3, 1918. Died January 28, 1919, at Newport, New Jersey.
• ARRICK GEORGE R., Monticello, Indiana. En­tered service August 5, 1917. Died September 13, 1918, at Lakewood, New Jersey.
• BARNHART, VIRGIL, Monon, Indiana. En­tered service August 26, 1918. Died October 8, 1918, at Camp Custer, Michigan.
• BARNHART, GLEN, Monon Indiana. Entered service June 19, 1917. Died November 16, 1918, in a hospital in France.
• BEAGLE, JOHN ERNEST, Burnetts Creek, In­diana. Entered service August 31, 1918. Died Oc­tober 13, 1918, at Camp Dodge, Iowa.
• BERNS, DAVID I., Brookston, Indiana. Entered service August 5, 1917. Died October 11, 1918, at sea.
• BROWN, CHARLES O., of Monon, Indiana. Enlisted September -, 1917. Died December 13, 1917, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
• BUNELL, ROY BARTON, Wolcott. Entered service November 26, --. Killed in action Sep­tember 16, 1918.
• BURKS ROY JEFFERSON, Monon, Indiana. En­tered service --. Died February 5, 1919, overseas.
• BURNS, TROSSIE VERNON, Monon, Indiana. Entered service July 25, 1918. Died October 13, 1918, at Camp Taylor, Kentucky.
• CURRIE, JAMES ROSCOE, Brookston, Indiana. Entered service April 9, 1918. Died October 14, 1918, on board ship U. S. S. Alabama.
• FISHER, ROBERT LYNN, Chalmers, Indiana. Entered service July 1, 1918. Died November 8, 1918, at Otisville, New York.
• GOODWIN, DR. GRANT, Monticello, Indiana. Entered service June 25, 1917. Died December 20, 1917, at Monticello, Indiana.
• GRAHAM, EDWARD, Burnetts Creek, Indiana. Entered service July -, 1917. Killed in action in Argonne battle, October 6, 1918.
• GROSS, ALONZO WESLEY, Wolcott, Indiana. Entered service June 30, 1917. Killed in action July 18 1918.
• HAGLE, MARVIN TRUMAN, Idaville, Indiana. Entered service June 27, 1918. Died October 5, 1918, at Kankakee, Illinois.
• HUGHES, WILLIAM M., Moron, Indiana. En­tered service August 5, 1917. Died September 29, 1917, at Bowling Green, Kentucky.
• HUGHES, EUGENE M., Monon, Indiana. Entered service May 3, 1917. Died in France August 8, 1918.
• HUMPHREYS, RICHARD EVAN, Wolcott, In­diana. Entered service May 28, 1918. Died Octo­ber 4, 1918, at Great Lakes Naval Station.
• MILLER B. FRANKLIN, Brookston, Indiana. Entered service February 18, 1918. Died May 7, 1918, at Camp Merritt New Jersey.
• KOCHEL, EDWARD C., Reynolds, Indiana. En­tered service July -, 1917. Died December 26, 1917, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
• PORTER, RAYMOND VICTOR, Reynolds, In­diana. Entered service June 1, 1917. Died Octo­ber 15, 1918, in France.
• REECE, WILLIAM, Monticello, Indiana. Entered service May 28, 1918. Died October 4, 1918, at Liverpool, England.
• STOUT, DANIEL A., Monon, Indiana. Entered service May 22, 1918. Died October 9, 1918, at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.
• SWANSON, JAMES EDWARD, Idaville, Indiana. Entered service September 2, 1916, in Canada. Died September 10, 1918, at Etaples, England.
• VAN METER, STEWART GERALD, Monticello, Indiana. Entered service A28, 1918. Died August October 6, 1918, at Camp Colt, Gettysburg, Penn­sylvania.
• WILLIAMS, THORNTON O., Reynolds, Indiana. Entered service May 28, 1917. Died May 28, 1918, at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
• WINKLEY, CHARLES T., Monon, Indiana. En­tered service - . Killed in action September 28, 1918.
• WOLF, BERNARD DOYLE, Monticello, Indiana. Entered service September 5, 1918. Died October 10, 1918, at Camp Taylor, Kentucky.

 “There was music, mirth and sunshine; but some eyes shown with regret; And while we stun with cheer our homing braves, O God, in Thy great mercy, let us nevermore forget the graves they left behind, the bitter graves.”

-Robert W. Service