Franklin and Marshall College - Oriflamme Yearbook (Lancaster, PA)

Page 18 text:

ORIFLAMME 19 CORPORAL JACOB Q. TRUXAL, Jr. Corporal Jacob Q. Truxal, Jr., was born in Greensburg, Pa., April lvl-, 1896. He was educated in the public schools of that place and was graduated from Greensburg High School in 19141. In the fall of that year he entered Franklin and Marshall Col- lege where he spent three years until the call came to the service. While in college he was an active member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, President of the Diagno- thian Literary Society, President of the Student Senate, Assistant Track Manager and an Editor on the 1918 01111-'mmisli-: Staff. ln June, 1917, Corporal 'l'ruxal enrolled under the provisions of the Selective Service Act and while not chosen to enter the service innnediately, he was given the opportunity to leave with the first contingent of thirteen men from Greensburg. This he did and on Sept. 6, 1917, he entrained for Camp Lee, Petersburg, Va. When he arrived in camp, no companies had as yet been formed, but when this was accom- plished, he was assigned to Company l, 8rd Battalion, 320th Infantry, as Acting Mess Sergeant. Following the winter in Camp Lee, he embarked in May, 1918, for service over- seas. After moving about from place to place his division was placed on the Arras sector in what was then a relatively quiet front. Prior to his death, he had been in the front line trenches once. On August 12 he was ordered up again. On August 13th the Germans sent over a heavy barrage in the van of a raiding party, and Truxal, who prior to embarkation had received his rating as corporal, made an attempt to station his squad in a position of safety. In this execution of his duty he was killed instantly by a German shell. In all of his military life Jacob Trnxal had a keen sense of the seriousness of the work he had undertaken. Not being adapted by nature to the life, and loathing its burdens, he understood the sacrifice involved and made a firm resolve that if he must die, it would be that others might live. Singular as it may seem, he had a. premoni- tion before leaving this country that he was to die, saying in one instance that he did not expect to return. At another time he said.that he would not be a moral coward, that if he came back, he would be a hero, otherwise he would die. Ile died but he also died a hero. In all his life Truxal was a noble Christian, a loyal friend and a devoted comrade. His memory will linger long in the hearts of those who knew him.

Page 17 text:

CORPORAL JACOB Q. TRUXAL, JR

Page 19 text:

CAPTAIN PAUL JAY SYKES