The War Comes Home to Ainsworth

As we've seen, in July 1917, Clarence Goodrich and his younger brother Harold had both volunteered for the Indiana National Guard, which was drafted into the regular army the following month; by December of that year, both young men were at Camp Shelby in Mississippi (where Harold celebrated his 20th birthday), and by the summer of 1918 both were in France. Their parents still had their eldest and youngest sons, Arthur and Howard, living at home with them.

I don't know what became of the divorce proceedings Caroline Goodrich reportedly began against Charles early in 1918, as I've heard no more about it. Perhaps they made up their differences and saved their marriage.

They received several letters that summer from their boys in France. In the middle of June Harold wrote to say that he expected they would see action very soon. In a letter dated July 15, Harold announced that he had been in battle.

That letter reached the Goodriches around August 13 — the day they received a brief telegram from the government: Harold had been killed in action on July 18. No further explanation.

As usual in such cases, there could be no funeral, no laying their boy to rest, as his remains were somewhere in France. But no doubt the Gazette spoke truly when it said the family had "the deep sympathy of the community."

And with no news of Clarence, for the moment they could only presume — hope — he was still alive.


Sources:
♦ "Ainsworth Boy Killed and Hobart Boy Injured in War." Hobart News 15 Aug. 1918.
♦ "Harold Goodrich Killed in France." Hobart Gazette 16 Aug. 1918.