Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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Paxton High School Reflector 15 arose on the Mexican border, his company was mustered into the Federal service, and he was sent to Texas for training and participation in such act»V3 service as the exigencies of the situation might require. He remained here as a member of the 3rd Indiana Infantry until about Christmas when, no longer needed, he was given an honorable discharge. WItn this backgroud of military training and experience, covering nearly a year, it is not strange that Elam should be among the first to seek some form of service in the Nation’s greatest hour Of need. He therefore re-en- listed. and was assigned to the Lilly Base Hospital branch of the service—a department of the service in some official way affiliated with Red Cross work. He was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, and later to Ft. Riley. Kan- sas for training. About the first of January, 1918. he made application for entu.nce into the Third Reserve Officers’ Training Camp, and was accepted. He was assigned to Camp Funston. Kansas, where he now is undergoing the most trying, yet wonderfully effective training for an officer’s commission. Lieutenant Charles Cunningham, '11. Charles Cunningham, after graduating with the class of 1911, entered the Wesleyan Law School, and was duly graduated therefrom in 1914. Soon thereafter he successfully passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and began the practice of his profession in Paxton, his home town, where he was ra’dd.v winning a reputation as a successful attorney at law, when the war with its varied opportunities and attractions changed, for a time, at least. ! r pians for a career in professional Ufe. He made successful application for admission to the Second Reserve Officers’ Training Camp at Fort Sheri- dan. i nd was duly graduated therefrom in December with the Commission of Second Lieutenant. He was assigned to duty at Camp Dodge about the first of December, and was still there at the last report. Ralph Wascher, ’ll. Ralph Wascher, like so many others of the Paxton High School repre- sentatives. decided not to await the uncertainty as to the workings of the se- lective draft, especially as to the time of getting into the service and the as- s -mnent thereafter. He therefore, some time about the first of October, en- listed in the Signal Corps, and was ordered to report for training at Fort 1 ea enworth, Kansas. October 19th. He was then assigned to Co. C.. Fifth Field Battalion. He is now a first-class private and motorcycle orderly. He was given leave of absence for a few days during the holiday week, which he spent in Paxton visiting with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. A C. Was- cb-r and in exchanging pleasant greetings with his many Paxton friends. He reports that he is enjoying the vigorous training that he is being oiven to insure efficiency when he is called upon to take part in the “Big C.ame” over the sea. Recent word has reached relatives that Cheater Birkett «a'£h. 'v f- and Leonard Asperaren are now at an eastern port ready to embark tor France.

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14 Paxton High School Reflector rado. where he had for a number of years been engaged in some branch of the public telephone service. He was immediately assigned to the 19th Com- pany, Infantry, at Fort I,ogan, Colorado. After about three months’ training at Fort Logan, he was transferred with his company to Madison Barracks, New York City, evidently to be in readiness for transport to France. On February 14th, a letter was received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Ferris, informing them that he had safely arrived in France. He gave a graphic description of the exciting journey through the submarine danger zone. His letters at all times reflect a strong, bouyant spirit of patriotism, along with a full realization of what it all may mean to him. CLASS OF 1911. The class of 1911 has sent five of its twelve boys to participate in the World War, or as it may be more appropriately named “The War of the Na- tions.” Two of the five are already in France. In till® particular, the Class of 1911 is distinguished above all others. The two who represent this class in Frarce are Sergeant Lvnn Corbly and Lieut. Gustaf Lindstrom. Sergeant Lynn Corbly, '11. Mr. Lynn Corbly enlisted early in September as a special quarter- master clerk, and was assigned to Fort Eer.jamin Harrron where he was given the rank of Sergeant. After being on duty here for about a month he was transferred to Fort Jay, Governor’s Island, N. Y. During the greater portion of the time he was at Fort Jay, his chief duty (and a . ery responsible one) was censoring the U. S. mails at Hoboken, N. Jersey. On December 2nd, lie left for France. He has been assigned to im- portant clerical work at one of our Army Supply Stations there, an 1 reports that he has comfortable quarters, and is very well satisfied with his work. Mr. Corbly after graduating from P. H. S. entered ilie University of Illinois and graduated from the law course in 1915. Until hi: enlistment, he was successfully engaged in the practice of his profession at Champaign. Lieutenant Gustaf Lindstrom, ’11. Gustaf Lindstrom was a successful applicant for admission to the first Reserve Officers’ Training Camp at Fort Sheridan. He completed the course and was awarded the commission of Second Lieutenant in August. He was then assigned to duty somwhere in the East .and what seems to be authentic information is to the effect that he is now in France. Elam Stewart, '11. Elam Stewart’s military career began in 1915 or '16 while he was at- tending school at Valparaiso, Ind., by his joining a company of Indiana Mili- tia that was organized among the students of the University. When troubles

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16 Paxton High School Reflector CLASS OF 1912. The graduating class of 1912 numbered in its membership eleven boys. Five of these have either enlisted or in some other way entered the U. S. army service. These five are Kenneth Hathaway, Swan Swenson. Frank Mor- gan, Donald Moffett, and Wendell McCracken. Corporal Kenneth Hathaway, Class of 1912, the First Paxton Boy to Land in France With the First U. S. Expeditionary Army—Sailed from America Oct. 18, 1917, and Landed Nov. 1st. Corporal Kenneth Hathaway of the graduating class of 1912. has the honor of being the first soldier boy from Paxton to land in France A few brief months have brought to Kenneth Hathaway a variety of new and unex- pected experiences. At the breaking out of belligerent activities along the Mexican border, he enlisted as a member of Battery F which was organized at the Univer- sity of Illinois. For three months or more he was stationed with his com- pany at San Antonio, Texas, but saw no actual service. A short time after the re-opening of school at the University, in September he, with others con- nected with the work of the University, was given honorable discharge. In July, of the present year, after the declaration of war with Ger- many, he re-entered the Artillery service and was stationed at Fort Sheri- dan. Ill, until about the first of September. He was then sent to Garden City Training Camp. Ix ng Island, and from there dispatched to France, Oct. 18th. arriving “somewhere in France” Nov. 1st. The last word from him indicated that the time was rapidly approach- ing when his division would be placed on the firing line. No doubt, before this appears in print he will have won the special distinction and the new honor of being the first Paxton High School graduate to fire a gun in France in the cause of humanity and of liberty universal. Later.—Feb. 21. 1918.—Word has been received from Kenneth Hathaway, who is in France, that he is now in the trenches with other members of the Rainbow Division. Swan Swenson, ’12. Swan Swenson taught school in Ford County one year after his gradu- ation from high school. In the fall of 1914, he entered Franklin College, Ind., where he continued his studies until the call for volunteers to take training in the U. S. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. His application was accepted, and he entered the camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. As a result of an unusually weak voice he failed to receive a commis- sion. He however, found his way into the service as the result of the se- lective draft and was sent to Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Within e few days Swan was promoted from private to corporal and a little later from corporal to sergeant. At the opening of the third Reserve Officers’ Training Camp, Swan was given his choice of the rank of Head Sergeant or of re-entering