FLETCHER, Lester L. 1889-1918

FLETCHER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 6/4/2017 at 21:26:53

On Wednesday evening Mrs. Janet Fletcher received the following telegram from Washington D.C., "Deeply regret to inform you that Private Lester L. Fletcher, infantry, is officially reported as killed in action September 30th. Harris, The Adjutant General." Lester L. Fletcher was born just southeast of Reinbeck on December 16, 1889, being the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Fletcher. His father passed away a number of years ago. About six years ago Lester went to Bakersfield, Cal., and lived at the home of his sister, Mrs. John Ingols. He entered the service in April 1918, going to Camp Lewis, Wash. He went overseas about July 1st. His brother James, received a letter dated September 19th saying that he was all o.k. but on September 30th he made the supreme sacrifice for his country. He was well known in Reinbeck, where he attended the public schools, and will be remembered by many. At the time of his death he was 28 years, 9 months and 14 days of age.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 21 November 1918, pg 6

-----------------------------------------------

Hundreds of citizens of Reinbeck turned out to honor the memory of Lester Fletcher, the only Reinbeck soldier who was killed in action in France, at the funeral services held Sunday afternoon when his body was laid to rest in the Reinbeck cemetery. The Congregational church where Rev. A. W. Sinden conducted the services, was filled to capacity and many who failed to get into the church were at the grave side when the Action post of the American Legion gave the final military honors to their comrade.

Lester Fletcher was born on a farm near Reinbeck, July 16th, 1890, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Fletcher. He attended Reinbeck schools but for the past ten years has not been a resident of this place. In 1912 he went to Bakersfield to join his brother and was employed there until called to service. His army career was short. He entered the service April 19, 1918 and was sent to Camp Lewis, Wash., where he was assigned to Co. C, 361st Inf. 91st Division. With this division he sailed for France June 28th. In the fourth day of the bloody fighting of the Argonne drive at about three o'clock in the afternoon of the 30th of September he was killed in action. Word of his fate was received here shortly afterwards by his mother, Mrs. Janet Fletcher and at her request his body was just now returned to lie in the cemetery of his home town. Besides the aged mother, he leaves two brothers and two sisters to mourn him, Mrs. John Ingols of Modesto, Calif., and Mrs. Chas. Snow of Reinbeck, and Will of Los Angeles and James of Reinbeck.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 September 1921, pg 7