Burlington "Y" Man Blinded in Service

From the Polk County News and Tryon Bee, March 21, 1919. To see a photo of DeRoy R. Fonville, go to http://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn94058240/1919-03-21/ed-1/seq-1/#

Southern “Y” Man Blinded in Service. . . Says It Will Take Time for Public to Realize Value of the Red Triangle Service to American Fighters

So unusual was the service rendered by DeRoy R. Fonville of Burlington, N.C., in his Y.M.C.A. work overseas that Major General L.S. Upton has written him a personal letter in appreciation of his efforts.

Mr. Fonville has returned to his home after 10 months service with the Y.M.C.A. He was with the Fifth and Sixth Marines and the Ninth and 23^rd infantry at Chateau Thierry, Soissons and St. Mihiel. 

It was while he was in a trench waiting to serve the Marines while they “pushed off” that a high explosive shell blew particles of rock into his eye, blinding it. The same shellfire killed James A. Birchby, a Y.M.C.A. secretary from Pasadena, Cal., and wounded another Red Triangle worker, Thomas W. Wilbut Jr. of New Britain, Conn.

The letter of appreciation that was sent to Mr. Fonville by General Upton read as follows: “I have observed your work as Y.M.C.A. representative of the Ninth Infantry for some time and wish to convey to you my appreciation of the uncomplaining and soldier-like manner in which you have undergone all without the glory that is attached to the profession of arms. The work which you have done had added greatly to the contentment of the men and thus to the efficiency of the command.”

“My experience gave me an appreciation of American men and what they can go through,” said Mr. Fonville. “Our division was a shock unit. It never went any way but forward. Our division alone captured 12,000 prisoners. Those men appreciated the Y.M.C.A. and understood the difficulties it had to contend with in getting supplies up to the front. I have no complaint to make about losing the sight of one eye, that is war, but it bewilders me to have known what I do of the work of the ‘Y’ in France and then come home to learn of the criticisms being circulated here. I believe that in due time the full appreciation of the Y.M.C.A.’s work for victory will be general.”