John Schaplowsky, who left the patriotic American home of his father, Fred Schaplowsky on June 24 last in answer to the summons of his country to forever put down Prussian militarism, has made the supreme sacrifice by giving up his life that we might after his passing enjoy the liberties we have enjoyed but which were threatened with curtailment.
John was a member of the 351st Infantry, the same regiment to which Earl Bookwalter was attached although in a different Company. After leaving here on June 24, they went to Camp Funston for a stay of four weeks, being then transferred to Camp Dodge, Iowa. They finally left Camp Mills, Long Island, about the time all Harvey county was celebrating the Old Settlers Picnic on August 8. Reaching England August 25, they were switched from one Camp to another and on September 6, they landed on French soil.
A message from the war Department on Tuesday of last week conveyed the sad news to the father and brothers and sisters that John had died on October 16, 1918 in a French Hospital with the influenza.
In giving up his young life in that way, he served his country just as well as though slain on the field of battle. His death causes the first gold star to be placed on the Halstead service flag and all are hoping that it will never be necessary to add another. It is promised that in the due course of time, the body will be returned to Halstead and when it fiinally rests in the City Cemetery, the burial place will be a sacred spot to all true Americans and until the end of time will be a spot to be strewn with flowers on each succeeding Decoration Day.
John is gone from us forever, but his willingness to serve and to do his bit will stand out as a pleasant memory to those who knew the readiness with which he accepted a place in the line as one of the Country’s defenders. He did not seek an easy berth but accepted cheerfully what came to his lot, even though it might have meant death in the trenches.
John wrote home for the last time on October 9 and two days later, Ben Koehn, of this city, a member of John’s Company wrote to friends here that John had a very bad cold. This probably developed into the pneumonia which took his life.
He was of the same class of boys who spread terror into the ranks of the German army and whose presence caused an earlier termination of the war than was anticipated. The Halstead Independent, Halstead, Kansas. Thursday, December 5, 1918. Page 1. (c) Harvey County Genealogical Society.
