Lt. Gaston Dortch Killed in France, 1918

“Lieutenant Gaston Dortch Killed in France, from The Laurinburg Exchange, Nov. 7, 1918

Son of late Col. W.T. Dortch and Deputy Marshal Eastern District

Lieut. Gaston Dortch, son of the late Col. W.T. Dortch of Goldsboro, was known by a number of people in Laurinburg, having been here at Federal court a number of times. The Raleigh News and Observer of Tuesday tells of his death in France:

Lieut. Gaston Dortch has been killed in action in France, according to a cablegram to his mother at Goldsboro from Ralph Faison, a brother-in-law, who is also serving with the American forces overseas.

Lieut. Dortch entered the second officers’ training camp at Fort Oglethorpe, was commissioned and assigned to the 119^th Infantry, then in training at Camp Sevier. He was first with Company A, but before the 119^th went across he received a transfer to Company B, which was the old Goldsboro company when the 119^th was known as the Second (N.C.) regiment.

Prior to entering service, he was Chief Deputy Marshal in the office of his father, Col. Dortch, United States Marshal for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He was appointed chief deputy in December, 1913 and remained in that position until September 1, 1917, when he went to Chickamauga Park.

In his home town, Goldsboro and in Raleigh, where he lived for nearly four years, Lieut. Dortch had innumerable friends. He was an alumnus of the University of North Carolina and a noted athlete during his college days. He was within a few days of his 26^th birthday when he met death fighting the battle of democracy.

Surviving are his mother, four sisters and two brothers, one, Hugh Dortch, who is also overseas with the American army.