One of the first general engagements in which United States forces participated, cost the life of one of our boys. Private John Edwin Hall, son of John Edward Hall, Sr. of Newton, gave his life at Chatteau-Thierry in France, that memorable battle which first turned the Hun hordes back from their headlong rush toward Paris. Private Hall died on July 25, 1918, as the result of wounds received in that action.
John Edwin Hall Dead In France. A telegram was received Wednesday by J.E. Hall, Sr., proprietor of Hall’s Cafe, from his sister, living in St. Louis that his son, John Edwin Hall, Jr., had died in France, July 25, 1918.
Mr. Hall had a card from Edwin in June that he was seeing hard fighting with the U.S. Marines, he being a sharp shooter in Co. 74. He was at the time he wrote on a vacation. In July he had a letter from the Chaplin of the Company, saying that Edwin was badly wounded and had been taken to a hospital, but the Chaplin wrote encouragingly that he thought he would recover all night.
No other word was received until the telegram, Wednesday, telling of Edwin’s death on July 25th. Mr. Hall sent a telegram to the Adjutant General for further information.
Edwin was 24 years old and went over seas in March. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to Mr. Hall in the loss of his son, realizing that he laid down his young life for the defense of Liberty. The Marines were the first American troops to do real fighting. The Newton Journal, Newton, Kansas. Friday, September 13, 1918. Page 1. (c) Harvey County Genealogical Society. (Additional information published in the Newton Kansan, August 22, 1922. Anniversary Edition Page 92).
