"He Won't See France"

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This August 1918 list of local men bound for the army training camps contained some familiar names. Frank Booty was the son of Constance McClain Booty Chester; I don't know whether he was living apart from his mother and stepfather, or the News simply didn't bother to acknowledge Ainsworth's existence. Edward Louis Gruel was, I believe, the 21-year-old son of Ainsworth's John and Louisa Gruel. We've already seen George Sauter trying once again to take a rest before going off to war. And we've seen Fred Rose, Jr. in uniform; now I know why.

George's sister Lizzie came down from Grand Rapids with her second husband, Alfred Epps, probably to bid her brother farewell. Now both Sauter boys would be in the army.

The shipment of men leaving on August 26 for Camp Sherman in Ohio included Frank Booty and Edward Gruel. On the 28th, George Sauter and Fred Rose, Jr. were among the 30-some men who left for Camp Custer in Michigan. The local draft board (which included former Hobartite Lewis E. Barnes) appointed George "Marshal" of the group by — his responsibilities included arranging transportation to the camp (they traveled on the Michigan Central Railroad) and otherwise having "full charge of the quota." Three men failed to appear at the designated departure time, but they would be "apprehended," the Gazette assured its readers.

Just as George was leaving, Augusta Sauter Fiester received a letter from his younger brother, Edward, now near the front, with a hopeful message: George would "never see France" — the Allies were "going so strong" that the war would be over before he got out of training.

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Word came that our flyboy, George Severance, Jr., had been doubly honored since going overseas. First, he and the rest of his company had been received by the King of England before leaving for the front. More importantly, he had been promoted to lieutenant.

George had been "on the firing line in France since May 25," according to the Gazette. "While we are not permitted to say exactly where his company is fighting, we are pleased to learn that he was with the first American soldiers to plant foot upon German soil."


Sources:
♦ "Boys Leave in Good Spirits." Hobart Gazette 30 Aug. 1918.
♦ "Boys Off to War." Hobart Gazette 30 Aug. 1918.
♦ "Crown Point District Quota Called for August 26th." Hobart News 22 Aug. 1918.
♦ "Hobart Boy Honored." Hobart Gazette 30 Aug. 1918.
♦ "Hobart Boys Leave for Different Cantonments This Week." Hobart News 29 Aug. 1918.
♦ "Local and Personal." Hobart News 29 Aug. 1918.
♦ "Local Drifts." Hobart Gazette 23 Aug. 1918.