Witt, Arthur 1895-1918

WITT, SCHAEFFER

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke --Volunteer
Date: 10/2/2015 at 00:11:47

Source: Hawarden Independent (12-12-1918)

Born: February 16, 1895
Died: October 17, 1918

ARTHUR WITT IS BURIED WITH MILITARY HONORS--DIED OF PNEUMONIA IN FRANCE IN 1918--IMMENSE CROWD FOLLOWED CASKET TO GRACE HILL CEMETERY

On November 7th Mr. and Mrs. Adolph and Anna (Schaeffer) Witt received word from the War Department at Washington that their son Arthur had died in France on October 17th. Arthur had been over there about six weeks when he took sick. In his last letter to his parents, dated October 5th, he stated that he would be taken to a hospital the next day. He asked his parents not to worry about him, however, as he hoped to soon be entirely well. The Great Captain had willed otherwise though. Only a few days later He called Arthur out of the ranks, out of war, into the eternal peace of heaven. Bronchial pneumonia was the cause of his death.

Funeral services for Arthur G. Witt, whose remains reached Hawarden from France last Saturday morning were held Monday afternoon and were attended by an immense throng of people anxious to pay tribute to a hero of the World War who gave his life in service of his country. The funeral procession from town to the cemetery was headed by the color bearer of the American Legion flanked by an ex-soldier and ex-sailor as a color guard. They were followed by the Hawarden Band who played a funeral dirge at the outset of the march and again as the procession entered the cemetery. Following the band was a company of nearly seventy ex-service men in uniform who formed the funeral escort. Then followed the minister’s car, the hearse with pall bearers, also ex-service men, marching at the side and then the cars filled with relatives and friends of the deceased soldier. At the cemetery after the casket was in place at the grave the band played “The Star Spangled Banner.” Following this Reverend George Steinkamp, pastor of the Lutheran Church of this city, prefaced his funeral sermon with an eloquent, patriotic address in which he eulogized those who so willingly gave their lives in their country’s cause. Following the funeral sermon the American Legion rifle team gave the soldier’s salute to the dead by firing three volleys over the grave and the bugler sounded taps at the head of the grave.

Arthur G. Witt was born in Eagle township, Sioux County, Iowa, February 16, 1895, and grew to manhood on the home farm. He entered the army in May, 1918, and was stationed at Camp Dodge for several months where he was a member of Battery F, 337th Field Artillery, of the 88th Division. He sailed from New York in August, 1918, and in October was taken sick with pneumonia from which he died in a hospital at Royat, France, on October 17th. He was buried with military honors on October 18th in the American Cemetery at Clermont Ferrand, France, where his body remained until it was disinterred to be brought home to its final resting place. The remains reached New York on May 21st and Hawarden on June 4th. Besides the deceased soldier’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Witt, there are two brothers; Fred and Robert of Hawarden and four sisters, Mrs. L.C. Knaust of Montrose, South Dakota, Mrs. William Heuer, Mrs. Chris Schiefen and Miss Esther Witt of Hawarden.

Although this soldier did not reach the front line trenches, he was over there and as ready and willing as any of the boys to shed, if need be, his life’s blood on No Man’s Land. He died a soldier of his country, alone, in far away France, away from home and loved ones--for his country. We will hold him in loving remembrances and will join in extending our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved parents.