DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Conger Reynolds correspondence, January-March 1919 | 1919-01-19 Conger Reynolds To Daphne Reynolds Page 2

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Conger Reynolds correspondence, January-March 1919

1919-01-19 Conger Reynolds To Daphne Reynolds Page 2

get the location; the sergeant in charge had gone away somewhere. So I had simply to search. While at the task I encountered Captain Watson and a friend at the grave of Lieutenant Miltonberger. They joined with me in the search. At the very last I found Homer's name on a small pine stake grouped with ten or so more at the end of a long plot. Evidently all of the men had been buried side by side there. Without a graves registration officer or a blue print of the plot to guide me I could get no idea of the exact location of Homer's grave. It might have been any one of the dozen. There was no marking to show where the individuals lie. And the burial took place more than three weeks ago! There was not a flag, not a cross, not a flower on the plot. Moreover, I heard that the men were being buried there with no ceremonies: no escort, no final salute, no blowing of taps, the courtesies that at the front even in the time of battle are accorded every soldier who can be buried at all. It is awful. I stood there and boiled inside with grief and anger. Captain Watson, more vociferous, cursed the officials whose duty it is to look after burials and swore he would start an investigation of their conduct. He will, too, and as he has a lot of influence, the responsible persons may get what is coming to them for their neglect. I certainly will write some letters myself that will wake some somnolent

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get the location; the sergeant in charge had gone away somewhere. So I had simply to search. While at the task I encountered Captain Watson and a friend at the grave of Lieutenant Miltonberger. They joined with me in the search. At the very last I found Homer's name on a small pine stake grouped with ten or so more at the end of a long plot. Evidently all of the men had been buried side by side there. Without a graves registration officer or a blue print of the plot to guide me I could get no idea of the exact location of Homer's grave. It might have been any one of the dozen. There was no marking to show where the individuals lie. And the burial took place more than three weeks ago! There was not a flag, not a cross, not a flower on the plot. Moreover, I heard that the men were being buried there with no ceremonies: no escort, no final salute, no blowing of taps, the courtesies that at the front even in the time of battle are accorded every soldier who can be buried at all. It is awful. I stood there and boiled inside with grief and anger. Captain Watson, more vociferous, cursed the officials whose duty it is to look after burials and swore he would start an investigation of their conduct. He will, too, and as he has a lot of influence, the responsible persons may get what is coming to them for their neglect. I certainly will write some letters myself that will wake some somnolent