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HEINZ, Lionel R. 1894-1918

HEINZ, RATHBONE, MCARTHUR

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 9/7/2010 at 16:39:15

Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
4 Oct 1918
Page 12

Soldier Death News a Shock

Mother of Lionel Heinz Unaware That Son Was Ill Until Final Message

Lionel Ridel Heinz died at the base hospital, U. S. marine corps barracks, Philadelphia navy yards, at 11 p.m. Wednesday. Pneumonia was the cause of death. Word that he was critically ill did not reach relatives here until after the message of his death, owing to the parents having recently moved.

Lionel R. Heinz enlisted in the U. S. marine corps at the Waterloo recruiting station, June 6. He was assigned to a machine gun battalion and has been taking special instruction in this line at Philadelphia. he had been expecting to go overseas soon. This was Private Heinz's second term in the marines. He was in this branch of service two years, most of which time he had spent on the Pacific coast. He was born in Oelwein, April 21, 1884 (sic), and prior to entering the service, had resided in Waterloo 15 years. he was a member of the M. W. A.

Surviving are his mother, and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Rathbone, and little brother, Nathaniel Rathbone, Castle hill; his father, Gus Heinz, Los Angeles, Cal, and his grandmother, Mrs. A. McArthur, Waterloo.

Relatives have requested that the body be shipped to Waterloo for burial. Funeral arrangements have not been made pending the arrival of the body.

Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
5 Oct 1918
Page 11

Lionel R. Heinz is the first marine soldier to be brought home for burial. Lionel Heinz died of pneumonia at the base hospital, marine barracks, Philadelphia, Wednesday night. He had been ill about a week. He enlisted in the U. S. Marine corps, at the Waterloo recruiting station, June 6, 1918. He was assigned to Philadelphia for special training. He finished the machine gun course and had qualified as air pilot and was expecting to be sent overseas. Recently, he sent to a friend here, a medal which he had received for completing his training satisfactorily.

Funeral services for Private Heinz will be at the Walnut Street Baptist church at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Rev. J. B. Smith, assisted by Rev. J. R. Macartney, will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview. Complying with the government request, the casket, which comes sealed, will not be taken into the church.

Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
7 Oct 1918
Page 9

Comrades Send Floral Tribute With Body of Lionell Randal Heinz

The body of Lionell Randall Heinz, who died of Spanish influenza at the League navy yard, near Philadelphia, arrived here yesterday. Funeral services will be conducted tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Walnut Street Baptist church, Rev. J. R. Macartney officiating. In order to hold the funeral it was necessary to secure a special permit from the state board of health, city officials having ruled that no public funeral services might be held for victims of Spanish influenza.

It was announced today that the casket will not be taken from the hearse into the church. The mother, however, was permitted to view the body when it was removed to the mortuary of E. F. Kistner. It was dressed in regulation naval uniform. Accompanying the casket was a beautiful floral design from the members of the company to which Heinz was attached.

It is planned to have soldiers and marines act as pallbearers at the funeral. Burial will be in Fairview cemetery.

Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
19 Oct 1918
Page 8

Mother's Memories

Tribute on Death of Soldier Son a Solace to Mothers.

In writing to Mrs. Rathbone, concerning the death of her son, Lionel Heinz, who died at the marine barracks, Philadelphia, a former friend of his says:

"His friendship constitutes one of my most beautiful memories. The old crowd can never forget the things he did for our enjoyment, and we will always be conscious of the vacancy his death has caused. Every one of us loved him. I have never heard a word of anything but praise for him, and it is true that none knew him but to love him.'

"I realized in the few years that I knew him that he possessed a rare nobility which was almost too splendid a thing for this earth. Such as Lionel never die. Altho he is no longer visible to our eyes yet you, as his mother, must know that he is not gone. He will live in your heart now just the same as he always has, and there will always be a spot in the hearts of his old pals which will be sacred to Lionel and which no one else can touch. I felt that I knew him perhaps better than most of the others, so it is only natural that the spot in my heart should be larger than theirs. I know that I've lost a noble friend and you a splendid son, but the world's loss is greater than ours.'

"This world will never see him again, but you and I will. Our separation is only temporary for some day we will go thru the same beautiful experience. We must rejoice that he has gained so early the thing for which we all live, immortality."

(Contributor note: WWI draft registration card for Lionel Heinz provides the year of birth as 1894, and only the middle inital R. - J.C.)


 

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