Letters read in the Christian church Sunday by Mr. Mewborn, from the comrades of Lt. Clifton Bissett.
Letter from Captain Giddens:
Co. K. 119 Infantry, American E.F. France July 18, 1918
Charles F. Bissett, Wilson, N.C.
My Dear Mr. Bissett:
It is with deep regret that I am writing you of the saddest incident of this war to our company so far. You doubtless have received the Government announcement that Cliff was killed in action last night. We have just received the confirmation and our company is in mourning.
We loved Cliff. He was always one of my favorites from June 19th, 1916 when he enlisted to go to Mexico with us, I say he was a favorite and this is true from the fact that he was always a good soldier, always ready and willing to do his duty and lived up to the last a typical example of what true Military Discipline should be. “Willing obedience to all orders given and in the absence of orders the execution of what the orders should have been.” This I can say was his true life not only as a soldier but citizen. I dare say that when he received the order to take the part he was assigned in last night’s fight, he did so fully believing that the time for him to do his Christian Duty had at last arrived and when his orders called him to the Great Beyond, he obeyed the order willingly and as we mourn he is “Over the Top” in the Great Beyond where all is peace.
We mourn with you and his mother, his wife, brothers and sisters in this great loss, but we should be happy that he has done his duty well, and realized that while we continue this struggle for a Christian Peace he is rejoicing on the other side, happy in the reward he has earned. His STAR has turned to GOLD and his record will be our guide as we continue the work he was called to leave.
Company K will cause the Germans to pay a thousand fold for each of its members who are killed.
With sincerest sympathies and best wishes,
Yours truly,
Louis D. Giddens, Captain, Co. K
-=-
Company K. American E.F. France, July 19, 1918
Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Bissett, Wilson, N.C.
Dear Friends:
Since coming into the service in 1916 we have had varied experiences, disappointments, encouragement, little real pleasure and some sorrow, but the greatest sorrow has just come to this company in the death of Cliff. It is true that he has not been with this company since his promotion but we claim him just the same, and thinking that you would find some consolation in this great loss to know that it was possible to bring his body out of the firing line and give him a Christian burial, we write you.
He was killed yesterday morning (July 18th) at about 5:00 o’clock during a severe battle. He died as he has lived since we first knew him, as a soldier “in the line of duty.” There was no suffering, he simply passed out, from the living soldier to the reward of a Christian Soldier having always done his duty.
His body was brought back of the lines last night and today the older members of this company with Capt. Giddens and Lieuts. W.H. and W.E. Dunn (his old friends) went to the plot assigned to the U.S. Army and Sgts. Dempsey, Morton, Hibbard, Whichard, Corporals Aycock, Norton, Ferrell, Gardner, Godwin, McNair, Mechanics Pittman, Adams and Privates Ferrell, Strickland, Cooper, Avery Williams, Bgl. Claud Williams and Private J.H. Barnes prepared his grave. Our regimental Chaplain, Capt. Robeson reading the burial service after which Bugler Claud Williams blew TAPS, the grave was closed and as the roar of the enemy artillery pealed forth their challenges, we left the sacred place and returned to our posts of duty where we shall cause the enemy to repay many times the loss he has caused.
We grieve with you and shall always remember Cliff.
Tom, Cliff’s brother, was present at the funeral.
Company K
No comments:
Post a Comment