Vandergrift High School - Spectator Yearbook (Vandergrift, PA)

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THE SPECTATOR IN MEMORIAM In the Vandergrift High School Service Flag there are about forty stars. Two of them are of gold, in honor cf two of our number who have given “the last full measure of devotion”—Charles I e Roy Felker and John N. Wherry, Jr. ' In behalf of the class of 1919 and the class cf 1917 we wish to take this orrortunity to express our deepest regret in the loss of these members, and to extend our sympathy to their immediate families, relatives and friends. Charles Le Roy Felker Several years ago, when his father moved from Vandergrift. Le Roy Felker remained to carry on his studies in the Vandergrift High School. He worked in Murphy’s Drug Stole for several years, where he came into contact with a great many townspeople and gained many friends. He was a lover of nature, and nothing appealed more to him in his spare time than to stroll out over the hills or to take hikes through the country. He was especially fond of studying plants and animals, and several of his friends had finally induced him to make nature-study his vocation. Had he remained in Vandergrift, Le Roy would have graduated from our High School, but the call of his country came first. War was declared on April 6, 1917 ar i Le Roy enlisted in the Marines the latter part of the month. He was among the first to go from Vandergrift. He was eighteen years old at the time of his enlistment. He was first stationed at Philadelphia and was later transferred to the Fifth Regiment, Fifty-fifth Company, United States Marines, which was reviewed in Washington, D. C. and in New York City before going to France. In June 1917, he sailed for France with the first contingent. He was a member of the first United States Army to set foot on foreign soil. Le Roy was in France a year before the United States started the final drive which ended the war. All remember the drive the Marines made about July 18, 1918, which opened the 11 way for the United States Armies. Le Roy Felker participated in this fight and was severely wounded on July 19. About the latter part of August, word was received that he had been wounded, but no further word was received until December, when his father learned through a Red Cross hospital that he had died on July 20. Thus ended the career of a young man whose future seemed most promising. John N. Wherry, Jr. John N. Wherry. Jr., was a member of'the class of 1917, and enlisted on May 7, 1917. He was eighteen years, eight months, and one day old at the time of his enlistment. He was sent from Pittsburgh to Columbus. Ohio on May 10, and from there was sent to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. From here he was sent to Fort Bliss. FI Paso, Texas, where lie was assigned to Ambulance Co. No. 3, of the Medical Department of the First Division. He was then sent with his company to Vicksburg, Mississippi, to the reunion of the soldiers of the Blue and Cray. From here his Company was sent to Fort Oglethorpe and then to a port of embarkation. John sailed for France about the fourth day of December 1917. The ship arrived in a French port the day before Christmas. He was in Europe a year, and his duties carried him through France into Luxemburg and Germany. On the eighth cf January 1919, word was received by his parents that John had died on December 26. 1918. while with the army of occupation, in Germany. His death was caused by tuberculosis and meningitis, which were thought to have been contracted from a gas attack received while removing wounded soldiers from the Argonne Forest to Field Hospital No. 3. John took an active part in the affairs of the high school and was very much interested in high school sports. He was on the Varsity football team for two years. He was among the first to go from Vandergrift, and he lived to see the war brought to a victorious conclusion.

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10 THE SPECTATOR Sergt. Donald Bladen. ’16, Is now at Rahway, New Jersey. Sergeant James Bortz, T7, was with the S. A. T. C. at Bucknell University. Corporal Avard Brinker, ’17, is now at Camp Mills, N. Y. “Skinny” landed in the United States February third, after spending an active year and a half in France. Private Thomas Ceraso, ’17, was in the S. A. T. C. at Pitt. Private Wallace Cowan, T7, was with the S. A. T. C. at State College. Private Clair Clepper, T9, arrived recently in the United States after spending some time in France. He was woundqd slightly. He is now at home. Private Mateer Darbaker, T6, was in the naval unit of Michigan. Private Henry Fletcher, ’20, is still in France. Private Guy France, ’20, is in France. He has been cited for bravery in action. Corporal Thomas George, T7, is now stationed in Virginia. He has been in the service for two years but was not sent across. Private Frank Gigliotti is now in France. He has been severely wounded. Private Arthur Gumbert, T7, is now on his way home from France. He was expected to arrive about the seventeenth of February. Private Frazer Horne, T7, is at S. A. T. C. at Andover. Sergeant Samuel Henderson, T7, is at Camp Huston, Texas. He has been in the service on this side for almost two years. Private Arthur Hilty, T7, is honorably discharged from the service. Private William Hodge, T8, was with the S. A. T. C. at Muhlensburg. Corporal George A. Hunger, T7, is with the famous Tenth Regiment in France. Private Ralph Hodel, T8, was with the S. A. T. C. at Pitt. Private William Dock, T8, was in the S. A. T. C. Naval Unit at Pitt. Private Floyd Mohney, T7, is in France. Private Russel Mohney, T8, was the Pitt. S. A. T. C. Private Louis Morris, T7, is in France. He was severely wounded and is now helping in one of the government post offices. Corporal Frank McGregor, T7, was in the S. A. T. C. at Bucknell. Private Merle Yerty, ’20, is at Camp Normoyle, Texas. First class Fireman, Ralph Mclntire, ’21, is expecting to leave for France. Second-class Seaman, John McKim, T8, was in the Naval Reserves at the University of Michigan. Private John McMahon, T7, was with the Allegheny College S. A. T. C. Private George Owens, T8, was with the S. A. T. C. at Pitt. Sergeant Joseph Patton, T7, is still in France. Private Neil Patton, T8, was with the S. A. T. C. at Pitt. Private Judson Prugh, T7, was in the Naval Reserves at the University of Michigan. Private Harold Richey, T8, was with the S. A. T. C. at Allegheny College. Private Eugene Schall, T7, is on his way home from service in France. Private Allen Snyder, T7, was in the S. A. T. C. at Worchester. Corporal John Townsend. T7, has been honorably discharged from the service. He arrived home from France February third. Private Lawrence Walthour, T7, has been honorably discharged from the service. Private Karl Watt. T8, was in the S. A. T. C. at Bucknell. Private Rudolph Wherry, T8, Is In France. Sergeant-Major Guy Whitacre, 16, is now in New York. Corporal Roy Yerty, T7, is now with the Ammunition Train, stationed ten miles across the Rhine, somewhere in Germany. Charles St. Clair, one of our former teachers, is at Cape May, New Jersey. Lucius Ward, another of our former teachers, is also in the service.

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12 THE SPECTATOR LITERARY FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE George Washington, the first President of the United States, was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, February 22, 1732. At the age of sixteen he was n ode surveyor of the large Fairfax property in Virginia. He camped out in the forest and was in constant danger from the Indians. When the French and Indian war broke out, he was sent by Gorvernor Dinwiddie to warn the French, and his vigorous defense of Fort Necessity gained him, when only twenty-three years of age, the post of Commander-in-chief of all the Virginia forces. He later served in Braddock’s campaign, and at Fort Duquesne. After his vigorous campaign he married a wealthy widow and settled down at Mount Vernon, living the life of a Southern planter for twenty years. He was several times a member of the Virginia legislature, where his friend, Patrick Henry, called him the greatest n:an in the assembly. In 1774 he was sent to the Continental Congress. He was elected Commander-in-chief of the army when the Revolutionary War broke out. He hastened to Cambridge and took command of the army, July 2, 1775. When the convention met in Philadelphia. in 1778, to frame the Constitution he was its presiding officer, and when the time came, under its provisions, to elect the first president, there was only one choice in the country; Washington was made first President of the United States. His good judgment was needed in the forming of the new republic, and gradually with Washington’s aid the new government was constructed. He made his farewell address in 1796 and returned to his Mount Vernon home. When the difficulties with France threatened war, Washington was again called to the command of the army. He died amidst all these military activities and the entire country mourned hia death. These words of John Marshall’s, spoken in tribute of Washington at the time of his death, are well remembered throughout the nation. ’’First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Gladys Agnew—T9 ---oo---- THE GREAT HEART Among the great men of our nation's history, Abraham Lincoln stands out distinctly as an American who was in sympathy with, and who loved, his country. Lincoln started at the very foot of the ladder and won his way to the top. When his trial came, he knew intimately the class of people he was going to pilot. The first anecdote recalled, which gives him the name of “Honest Abe”, is the story of his starting out early one morning with his axe on his shoulder, his small sister, Matilda, following him, against her mother’s orders. The child slipped up behind him and throwing her arms about his neck, drew him backward to the earth. As he fell, his axe cut her ankle. While they were administering first aid,” the child wondered how she could conceal her disobedience from her mother, but her brother advised the simple truth. During Lincoln’s career as a lawyer he won the good will of many. If his client was poor, he often refused payment for his services. During the Civil War, it was a cause of great sorrow to President Lincoln to have to punish soldiers for misdeeds, and if no reason for pardon was evident, he was willing to find one. Whatever he was doing, the fate of the sentenced soldier was on his heart, and he pardoned many because of their tender age. On Friday, which was chosen as execution day, he was often heard to remark that a boy was to be shot that day, and he hoped he was not wrong in allowing it. Many instances,