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Friday, February 15, 2019

Family of John D. Mizelle Learns More About His Death Overseas, 1919

From The Enterprise, Williamston, Martin County, Feb. 14, 1919

Letters from Red Cross

The family of John D. Mizelle had never received any information other than the announcement from the war department that he had been killed on Sept. 30th, until last week when the following letters were received from the American Red Cross and a nurse in an English hospital. It is indeed gratifying to the bereaved family to know how their beloved son and brother died. The letters from the American Red Cross follows:

My dear Mrs. Mizelle,

It is with deep sympathy we are sending you the enclosed letter. We hope it will bring you some comfort as it was written by one of our Red Cross workers who was with Private Mizelle at the last.

We feel you would like to be assured that every respect was according this soldier, he was buried with full military honors, and an American woman went to the grave as a representative of his family. Fellow soldiers formed an escort and stood at attention beside the flag draped coffin while taps were sounded.

We know we can say nothing to lift the burden of your great sorrow, but trust your pride in the knowledge that he did his share to help bring this great struggle for liberty to a victorious end will be a source of comfort to you.

The Red Cross extends its heartfelt sympathy to you in your bereavement,

Very sincerely yours,
D.R. Castle Jr.

The following is the enclosure spoken of in the above letter, as written by the English Red Cross nurse in attendance upon Private Mizelle at the time of his death:

Private J.D. Mizelle was admitted here (receiving hospital) on September 30th, and I regret to say that he died the same evening at 8:45. He was very seriously wounded in the head and was unconscious at the time, so he did not suffer. I hope that it will comfort you a little to know that he died here, and not in enemy hands. He has been buried in the military cemetery near here.

With deepest sympathy,
(Sister) A.S. McMillian

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