Pvt. Rollyn E. Leonard 1897-1918

LEONARD, MCEVOY

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 9/4/2010 at 10:53:55

The Palo Alto Tribune
Emmetsburg, Iowa
7 Aug 1918
Page 1

Two Emmetsburg Boys Make Supreme Sacrifice

Rollyn E. Leonard and Ted Rae Give Their Lives for Cause of Democracy

Word reached here Friday morning that Rollyn E. Leonard was killed in action in France. No further particulars were given and this is all that will probably ever be known. On Monday morning Mrs. Ted Rea received word that her husband was killed on the same date.

Rollyn Leonard, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Leonard of this city, enlisted at Mason City in April 1917. He was in the intelligence department of the Headquarters company of the 168th Infantry, which was a part of the Rainbow division. The Rainbow Division has taken an active par in the battles since the middle of July. Richard Beebe and Richard McEvoy were in the same division. Rollyn was 21 years of age and was in the second year in the Emmetsburg high school when war was declared. He was one of the first to enlist and served faithfully to the end.

The keen sorrow that is felt by the relatives of these two brave boys is shared, in a measure, by the entire community. We all owe them a debt of gratitude and can only feel that their lives were given that we might enjoy the blessing of liberty.

Vindicator and Republican
Estherville, Iowa
7 Aug 1918
Page 1

Emmetsburg Boy Killed In Action

Private Rollyn E. Leonard was killed in action somewhere on the battle front, one day last week.

The Democrat
Emmetsburg, Iowa
5 Feb 1919
Page 1

Was at Burial of Rollyn Leonard

Yesterday McEvoy Brothers received a letter from Richard McEvoy, who is at present in Germany. He stated that he helped to dig the grave in which Rollyn Leonard was buried. The losses in the engagement were very heavy. Mr. McEvoy also saw the body of Ted Rea after he was killed. Mr. McEvoy is, we understand, the only Palo Alto man who is at present in the Rainbow division. Others were members of it but were transferred to other divisions.