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

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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

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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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ilie funeral, as so much was thought of Lieutenant Hanlon. His coffin was decorated with an American hag, and big designs of roses and lilies presented by the officers of the Hegiment. The tuneral took place at 9.30 in the morning of a fine day and the regimental band played going in and coming out.’’ Please accept the deep and heartfelt sympathv of the Red Cross in your great sorrow. Second letter from the American Red Cross. We know that you have already received from the War Depart- llie sad news of Lieutenant Hanlon’s death. We have just received a few more details concerning this Officer ' s death and burial which we know you will be grateful to have. Sergeant Banner tells us that: Lieutenant Hanlon was killed at Chateau-Thierry. 1 have seen his grave at Chaumont in the American Cemeterv. Chemical War- fare Service Headquarters ' Training Station was named Hanlon Field in his ho nor, and a stone set up at the entrance of the field. It is just a plain stick of granite. He was our first officer to be killed and he was one of the finest.’’ We are also told bv Private Percy E. Cram that Lieutenant Hanlon was killed by concussion but did not suffer. He was buried in the American Cemetery at Chaumont, with military honors. Private Henry B. LeFort also tells us that Lieutenant Hanlon died without suffering, apparently. He said that Private William Fisher carried him hack to the First Aid Dressing Station. He said that Lieutenant Hanlon was hit while warning his men to take cover, and that he exposed himself in order to consider the safety of his men. We fell that your grief will he softened by these beautiful tributes to the memory of this brave officer. The Red Cross extends to you its deep sympathy in your loss. Third letter from the American Red Cross. There is no greater tribute to a man than can come from those who have been with him constantly and have braved with him the horrors and dangers of a war such as this has been, and as we have received a few additional words concerning the death of Lieutenant Hanlon, we shall write them to you. Private John W. Estabrook tells us that: ‘T sav, ' Lieutenant Hanlon in his coffin at the Company Head- quarters before they took him to Cliaumont. He died on the stretcher going to the dressing station. He asked the two boys who were carry- ing him for a drink of water. He did not complain of pain. They 31