Lieut. Marsh White, 1889 - 1919

WHITE

Posted By: Constance, IAGenWeb Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/12/2017 at 11:03:07

The Oelwein Register
Oelwein, Fayette County Iowa
Wednesday, February 12, 1919
Page 4, column 3 & 4

LETTER ANNOUNCING THAT LIEUT. MARCH WHITE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, NOV.1

Win S. White, Sioux City, Iowa

"I feel it my unpleasant duty to inform you of the facts relating to the death of your son, First Lieutenant W. March White, M company.

"Lieutenant White joined this battalion about Oct. 25, 1918, and acted from then to the time of his death as battalion surgeon. About Nov. 2 the battalion was ordered as division reserve to advance from its position near Senue on the Aire river to their contact with the enemy, who had begun to retreat. This we did in all haste, even going by motor truck from Grandpre to Briguinay, at that toe No Man's Land. From Briguinay we advanced and took Bault aux Bois and Belleville and Chatillom sur Bar the following day, Nov.3. That day we had some casualties, but not many.

"Nov. 4 we were ordered to advance to Les Petites Armoises on the Bar river via Bazincourt farm. This we did. However, as our advance guard was in the vicinity of the farm the army started shelling rather heavily, as a result of which we suffered a number of casualties; also a unit of French Senegalese troops who we encountered at that point were very badly shot up. I sent word back to Lieutenant White, who had been placed at the head of the column, with his detachment to come up. This he did and he certainly was a reassuring sight that morning. He came stalking up as calm and unconcerned as could be as regards the shellfire, which by the way, was still continuing. When he saw the state of affairs he immediately took charge of things. He had all the wounded carried into the farm buildings, where he started his first aid station. When I left him shortly afterwards he was working efficaciously in his big, cheerful was caring for our men and the French colored Sengalese alike.

"Later in the day I received word that while Lieutenant White was at work an enemy shell struck the building he was in and a small fragment of shell struck him in the heart, killing him almost instantly. He was baried the next day at Les Petites Armoises.

"Although I had known your son for a comparatively short time I believe I knew him better than would be possible through a long acquaintanceship ordinarily for men under the trying situation which had confronted us during the few days prior to your son's death, learn to know each other quickly. I want to say a few words of the respect and love we all had for your son and it was a sad blow to us all when we lost him. However, it is some consolation to know he died while relieving the suffering of others and while preforming his duty under particularly trying circumstances."