Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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more than Avould that of any otlicr man in the whole army, for he was admired and respected by everybody. I liaven’t gotten the full details yet, but as soon as i)ossihle I will, and I’m going to try to write Mr. Hanlon a letter, which I will enclose with this one and get you to address and send to him as I haven’t got his address. I don’t know much about writing such a letter, but I hope it will help to make him as happy and as ])roud of the Lieutenant as he should be. {From the same.) Your son. Lieutenant Hanlon, was killed in action four nights ago by the bursting of a German high explosive shell. He was with his men on a working party and was crossing a field that the enemy artil- lery was tiring on quite heavil3 He lived only a short while after the shell hurst, and was in no pain. Yhile he was still conscious, he asked whether anyone else was hurt. He died just after he was carried into the dressing station. Together with one of the men of his platoon who had helped carry him to the dressing station, I had the privilege of escorting the body to our regimental headquarters, where Captain Carlock arranged for the funeral. He secured a zinc-lined casket and had the body embalmed. Major Dougherty, a Catholic chaplain, who, I understand, has already written you, conducted the services. The whole post was turned out, and he was buried with full military honors. Over the grave was erected a cross made by one of the men in the Gomi)any. The burial took place in the American Cemetery at General Headquarters, A. E. F. 1 want to try to tell you how we men of the Company loved and admired the Lieutenant, and what an inspiration he was to us. The feeling throughout the Company is that we have lost our best officer and best friend. He was really and truly the sort of officer you read about; brave, fearless, dashing, and has done much to uphold the morale of the men by his cheerfulness and by his si)lendid exanq)le. You can indeed be proud of him, and 3 )11 must know that every man in Compaii}’ B, of the 30 th Engineers SAunpathizes with 3 )11 in 3 0111 ' loss. Extraets from letters from the American Red Eross. In such a grief as that which has come to 3 ou in the loss of Lieu- tenant Hanlon, we feel that it would be an intrusion to trv to offer comfort, but we know that j)ride will be mingled with 3 )111 ' sorrow as you read these eloquent testimonials which have been sent to us by our Red Cross rei)resentatives abroad. So maim of his comrades have welcomed this oiiportunity to jiay high tribute to your son, that it seems as if each individual testimonial were a little flower of love woven into his memorial wreath. 29

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much. 1 talked to him at six o ' clock last evening, little thinking that it Avonld he the last time that I would see him. His only thought then was his concern lor the safety of his men, hut he had the usual cheer- fulness about himself. Joe was a brave hoy and as clean cut a ty])e of American manhood as ever existed. He was a clean, true Cdiristian to the end and never neglected his religious duties. He went to confession at every oi)])or- tunity and never forgot his prayers to the Almighty who has seen lit to take him from us. Joe was killed in action by a shell, with three of his men. At the present time censorshij) forbids me from giving you the details. In the future I hoj)e to be able to give you the location, etc. The Major is sending Joe’s body to the interior where he will be buried on a hill overlooking one of the most beautiful valleys of France. He will be buried by a detachment of our regiment with full military honors —a fdting tribute to a brave lad, well liked by his men and brother otlicers. From Lieutenant Horace E. Hatt. I know what sorrow is yours at the present time in the loss of your son, Lieutenant Hanlon, and while the words of a comi)lete stranger to you may not express much, I nevertheless cannot allow the opportunity to be missed of exi)ressing to you the sentiment of every man and otiicer of this Regiment. Lieutenant Hanlon was not only a most etlicient otiicer, but was the admired and respected friend of every soldier who met him. We all admired him, not only for his courage, but because he was a clean, moral, and upright man. He died as a true soldier, endeavoring in every way to encourage his men and yet to shelter them as much as l)ossible. His examj)le and si)lcndid conduct will ever be an inspiration to us all, and he will rest as a rich jewel in our heart’s treasury. Lieutenant Hanlon died fighting for the ])rinci])les in which he believed and exenpilitied in his daily conduct and actions. It is true that you arc grief-stricken, but amid your sorrow your hearts should swell with pride at the thought that when your son’s soul was laid bare it was white and magnificent, and that his life and death arc and will be an inspiration to all who knew him. From the Serejeant of Lieutenant Hanlons Compamj, F. A Smith, to his father. Dear Jud 1 his is a letter of bad tidings which you ]:)robably will have heard before you get this. Lieutenant Hanlon was killed last night by a (lerman H. L. shell. 1 he men of his comjianv feel his loss 28

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Private F. W. Le vis gave the following repoii lo one of our Red Cross searehers in Franee: ' Lieiitenanl Hanlon of Ihe llOlh Fngineers, now Isl (fas Regiment, was killed by shrapnel and buried at Chaumont. Hanlon had only ])een over a short time, but was very popular. After his death the men used to say: ‘That is one for Joe’ every time they put a shell in a gun. A gas exi)eriment field near Chaumont was named for Hanlon.” From Private Albert R. Hieks, our Red Cross representatives re- eeived the following information : “Lieutenant Hanlon was killed by a direct hit of a six-inch shell. They buried him at Hanlon Field, near Chaumont (about five kilo- meters from Chaumont). The Field was named for Hanlon. He was the first man killed in the regiment. He was a fine, brave lieutenant and loved by all of us.” Private John L. Davis gave the following account to one of our Red Cross workers in France: “I was with Lieutenant Hanlon. R happened up at Chateau- Thierry. A shell exploded and he was hit by shrapnel in the left shoulder. He was in charge of a platoon, taking it up to the front line. It was late in the evening, after dark, and I was nearly within speaking distance of him. I attended his burial at Chaumont, where he was buried in the American Cemetery. Yhen I get back I will look his father up in Raltimore and I can tell him more.” From Private Chaunce} Goff we have the following reiiort: “Lieutenant Hanlon was killed in action in Chateau-Thierry, on July 30. They buried him at Chaumont. He was one of the best otticers I ever knew.” Private Maurice L. Rainey gave the following description of Lieu- tenant Hanlon’s burial : “I attended Lieutenant Hanlon’s funeral which took place about one kilometer outside of Chaumont in an American cemetery, about the first of August. Tbe grave is a separate one near those of other otticers, close to the fence surrounding the cemetery. A Catholic priest read the service and Lieutenant Hanlon was buried with full military iionors, with three companies of the 30th Engineers attending.” “Lieutenant Hanlon came from Raltimore, I think. He had a fine reputation in his Company, and everyone sj oke well of him. A gas ex])erimental field outside of Chaumont was named ‘Hanlon Field’ in iionor of him. Chaumont is in the Dc])artment of Haute Marne and Lieutenant Hanlon’s grave is but a little way from the Marne river. A holiday was granted to the 3()th Engineers so that they could attend 30