MRS. J.F. O'DEA

ODEA, BERTRAND

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 4/17/2008 at 18:40:18

MERLE BERTRAND IS HOME FROM
FRANCE
Arrived Here One Day Late For the
Funeral of His Mother

Merle(sic) Bertrand, a youthful patriot from Braddock who in 1917
enlisted later was transferred to the 163 Amb. in Co. 1 of the second
regiment and Co. and has seen over fifteen months service in France was
released from the army of occupation at Coblenz on March 17 on account
of the serious illness of his mother, the late Mrs. J.F. O’Dea of
Bismarck and journeyed as fast as possible toward her bedside. The
mother’s last wish was to once more see her heroic young son, but she
succumbed before he could reach her, having we understand died, the day
Merle left Camp Mills, on the last lap of his journey of several
thousands of miles, since when he could not be again reached by wire and
did not arrive here until the day following the funeral—which had been
postponed two days. Deepest regret was heard on every hand not only for
the death of Mrs. O’Dea but for Merle in his long race against the grim
conqueror Death.

Copied by Roberta Tuller
robertanne@socal.rr.com