Roland P. Roeder

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Military Service
War: WWI
Branch: U.S. Army
Enlisted: 27 April 1917
Regiment: 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Division
Rank: Private First Class

Personal Details
Born: June 1898
Died: Killed In Action: 13 October 1918
Parents: Peter J. and Elizabeth (Kegler) Roeder

Buried: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial
Romagne-sous-Montfaucon
Departement de la Meuse
Lorraine, France

Roland Roeder will go to Cedar Rapids the 19th of this month to take the civil service examination with a view of gaining admission to the National Military school at West Point.

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 11 January 1917, pg 5

Roland Roeder went to Cedar Rapids this morning where he will take a preliminary examination for the West Point military academy towards which he has aspirations. Congressman Good is giving this preliminary examination in order to find the best candidates for the regular entrance examination which comes in a month or so.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 18 January 1917, pg 8

Roland Roeder was at Cedar Rapids from Thursday until on Saturday where he took the preliminary examination for the vacancy at the Military school at West Point. There were eleven applications for the place. Only four of these qualified and were given the preliminary examination. One of D. W. Bridges' boys from Montour was among the four. The physical examination will be given at Cedar Rapids in March. Roland found the examination quite easy for him and he has hopes of getting satisfactory grades.

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 25 January 1917, pg 1

Roland Roeder will go to Fort Snelling, Minn., the 20th of this month where he will take the physical and mental examination for appointment to West Point. Roland has two alternate appointments for the assignment.

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 1 March 1917, pg 5

Roland Roeder left Saturday noon for Ft. Snelling, at Minneapolis, where he will take the physical examination for the alternate appointment he has received from Cong. Good for West Point. Roland expects to be away a week as the tests are quite severe and the examiners require plenty of time and thoroness in the matter.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 March 1917, pg 5

Roland Roeder Has Enlisted

Roland Roeder a brilliant member of the Senior class, enlisted Wednesday and left for Des Moines. Roland was one of our constructive students, he was a quick thinker, had a ready wit and was popular with both faculty and pupils. He has been President of the Senior class since their Freshman year and has performed his duties well. Altho we are proud to see him go we feel as if we are loosing one of our best fellows and we can only wish him "Good luck, God speed and a safe return."

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 April 1917, pg 8

Fine Patriotic Rally

A splendid patriotic rally was held at the Baptist church last Thursday evening to bid farewell to the soldier boys who left for war. The church was crowded and the speaking and program lasted until ten o'clock. Speeches were made by all the ministers of the town and representatives from various other organizations and societies.

Four young men from this vicinity have enlisted and they occupied seats on the platform with the speakers. Those who have enlisted were Roland Roeder and Harold Pelton from Grundy Center, a young lad named Parker from Morrison and a Mr. Johnson, who has been working in this vicinity for several years. Roeder enters the field artillery, Pelton and Parker go into the infantry, and Johnson enters the quarter master's corps.

The boys left Friday morning on the motor and they were given another rousing send-off at the depot, especially the high school boys, about half the high school being down to see them off.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 May 1917, pg 8

Roland Roeder and Harold Pelton, two recruits from Grundy Center who have been at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, have been transferred. Roland goes to ElPaso, Texas, and Harold goes to Douglas, Arizona. Both boys are well and they are enthusiastic about army life.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 10 May 1917, pg 5

According to the daily papers the government has ordered a number of the regular troops from the Mexican border and will distribute them among the various forts over the country for the purpose of forming new units out of them. The report states that the first battalion of the Fourth Field Artillery has been ordered to Syracuse, N.Y. where it will be augmented and converted into the new Fifteenth Field Artillery. Roland Roeder belongs to Co. B of the Fourth and, according to the usual regulation, he would be in the first battalion and so would go with the Syracuse unit.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 17 May 1917, pg 8

Letter From Roland Roeder

The following letter from Roland Roeder now at ElPaso will be of interest to Democrat readers:

Enroute to ElPaso,
May 8th, 1917

Dear Jake Stumberg,
Well I just now am having my first view of the Rio Grande and Mexico from the train. I am going to ElPaso to join the 4th Field Artillery Sunday. It is all sand, cactus and brush down here, but near San Antonio there is some nice land. I had a nice time at St. Louis and only staid at Jefferson Barracks a week. It is warm down here. Harold Pelton is going to Douglas, Arizona, to join the 18th Infantry. You ought to come too. Wait till I get to France then I'll visit the Kaiser. I've seen hundreds of buzzards here in this country. ElPaso is opposite Jaurez, Mexico and maybe I'll get to see some bull fights. Well I guess I'll close for this time.

Yours truly,
Roland
Ft. Bliss, Texas,

May 10, 1917

Dear Rynilda:
Arrived here yesterday morning and went to drill immediately. We have a mule battery of mountain guns. They are the same as the French 75's. A railroad runs thru the camp. There are thousands of troops here and many coming in. ElPaso is quite a city for this country. We were moving tents today. They are made of wood with a canvas covering and wood floor. We get up at 5:30 every morning except Sundays. It is warm down here, but cools off at night. A lot of sand down here and Mexicans. We have good feed here. Had chicken this noon and some dessert for every meal.

Had some good oat meal for breakfast. Hope you are getting along well at school. Tell Lucile I'd like to be there to wind her Edison and will write to her so she will know I have not forgotten her. We drill 8 hours a day and I think the battery will soon be split up and sent to California to train the drafted men. This regiment has been in the Philippines, Panama and was at Vera Cruez in 1914, in Mexico last year after Villa, and has the record for a hike. It is rumored we will get 9 7-inch guns soon and discard our mules.

I suppose we will move in a couple of months from here. I have not been shaved for a week, but am going to be shaved now. We have a store here where we can get practically anything. A nice bunch of fellows here too. The officers are nice to all. Well I'll have to close. Don't forget to send the papers and a book called "Field Service Regulations." Send my mail to Ft. Bliss, Texas, Fourth Artillery, Battery B.

Well Good-bye,
Roland

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 17 May 1917, pg 4

Letter From Roland Roeder

Ft. Bliss, Texas, May 17, 1917

Dear Mother,
Received your most welcome letter and also the others. Will have my picture taken as soon as possible and will send them to you. I wish I could have been at the class play and banquet and wish I could be at the graduation exercises. This is some place here.

We have revelee at 5:30, then a little setting up exercise and then breakfast. The meals are all good here. We tend stables at 7:30 and at 8:00 we have drilling with the guns and mules. The guns are taken apart, first the gun then the cradle, then the wheels and the last is the trail. Each piece except the wheels weighs over 200 pounds and four men are required to hoist each piece over their heads. The mules have special saddles to carry the guns on. After some of this drilling we usually go through and then for a hike or drill with the mules. We had riding exercise yesterday, bareback at that, and were put thru some drill at the same time. I consider myself a fancy rider now. Dinner is at 12:00 o'clock. In the afternoon we have sick report and some drilling. We go to the stables at 4:00 p.m. for half an hour, and have supper at 5:00 p.m. Retreat is at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday afternoons are free and also Sunday. We moved our quarters today as the battery was too big for one mess hall. There are almost 300 in it now and more men coming in every day. Yesterday a bunch came from Ft. Logan and some only had their government shirts on. They are out of uniforms. I will get my automatic and balo knife soon. We are going to get $30 a month I see by this mornings paper. By the way all the newspapers from Little Rock and South, are five cents. Pretty high for a poor man. The fourth artillery is going to Syracuse, New York to form the new 15th field. We will get rid of our mules then. I am sorry because you know one mule always loves another. We are going to Syracuse next week. We go to Kansas City, then take the Burlington to Chicago and the New York Central from there. We can go to ElPaso any night we want to, I am going in tonight. We are camped near the ElPaso water works. It is quite an establishment though for some reason the water here is never cold unless you put ice in it.

I have got an awful bunch of clothes, three pairs of shoes, three uniforms and a bunch of other clothes.

The Raglan mountains are about two miles from here and our elevation is 4,400 feet so it gets pretty cool at night, a fellow can see the clouds covering the mountain tops. The people in ElPaso sure try to keep up their lawns and succeed fairly well, there are some fine residences in this community. Some fellows here were taken quite sick from the inoculation, but I was not bothered a bit. My vaccination is taking. Tell Dr. Dalzell I agree with the vaccination article he read to me a few months ago. Well will have to close with best regards to all, tell Donald Cole, I will send him a car.

Your son,
Roland

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 24 May 1917, pg 2

Roland Roeder who was at Fort Bliss, Texas, has been transferred to Syracuse, New York for further training. Roland enlisted only a month ago and during that time he has traveled over 4,000 miles or an average of a thousand miles a week. That is going some and it is seeing the country some too.

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 31 May 1917, pg 5

Roland Roeder has written from Syracuse that he has been offered a place as Second Lieutenant in the Medical corps. The promotion brings with it a salary of $1850 a year. Roland has gotten his promotion on merit. For young men of his type a pull is not necessary to get ahead. They do their own pulling. Roland's many friends here will be delighted to learn of his promotion.

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 July 1917, pg 5

Roland Roeder, who is in Battery E of the 15th Field Artillery, has been transferred to Camp Merritt at Tenefly, New Jersey, and his parents are of the opinion that he will soon be sent to France.

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 6 December 1917, pg 5

Roland Roeder has written his parents to the effect that they will not hear from him for several weeks and to address his mail hereafter to New York City, in care of the A.E.F. That, of course, means that he has sailed for France and his parents and friends here will await the news that he has arrived safely on the other side of the pond.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 13 December 1917, pg 5

Roland Roeder Writes

Roland Roeder has written from France that he arrived safely and had a fine voyage. They were several weeks on the trip and landed in England, going from there to France. They were behind the British lines for a while and Roland says the Americans had many questions to ask about the fighting. He also says he is now stationed in his regular quarters behind the American lines.

Evidently one sentence in Roland's letter did not please the censor for he cut a piece right out of the middle of the letter. Mr. and Mrs. Roeder received a letter Monday which had been sent from England.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 24 January 1918, pg 1

Roland Roeder Writes Mrs. P. J. Roeder received another letter from her son Roland this week. He is still with the American Expeditionary Force in France and is feeling fine. This letter came through in thirteen days. At the time of writing his company had just received gas masks and as Roland described it they "looked like a bunch of monkeys."

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 11 April 1918, pg 1

Writes Letter From France

Roland Roeder Sends Thanks For Christmas Greetings

Somewhere in France
March 6, 1918

Dear Mr. Goodwin:
I received the Xmas card from Grundy the other day and many thanks for it is a cheering card even if a little late in the season.

This particular valley of France is blessed with a climate such as California boasts of. It has been snowing and cloudy only a few days since we arrived and consequently our training was not interfered with. We are well advanced and probably by the time you receive this letter we will have fired a good many shots at the Kaiser's troops. The troops here are in fine spirits and if the people back home keep going, we will, that's one sure thing. We are ready to do the fighting and dying if need be if the people at home supply the money.

This regiment is equipped with the French "75" and they are a very good field gun, extremely accurate and powerful. We also have our steel helmets which serve many other needs than as a hat to ward off stray shells. You ought to see us with our gas masks, why we look like a bunch of monkeys lined up. It's closing time so will close with best wishes to all.

Your friend,
Roland Roeder

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 18 April 1918, pg 1

Roland Roeder in the Fight

Roland Roeder has been in the active fighting on the western front in France. Letters do not contain details, but state that he was in the engagements where the American engineers were used and press dispatches have shown that to be in the neighborhood of Amiens. Amiens is the town which Lafe Young mentioned in his speech Sunday as being bombed by aircraft during his stay there. Roland's letter was dated March 25th. He spoke of seeing airplanes downed by the allied fire.

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 May 1918, pg 1

Roland Roeder Writes Letters From France

Tells of Some of the Interesting Things He Saw and Experienced in The Fighting

Shell Fell Within 10 Ft. Of Him

Says the Boys Want Magazines and Newspapers as Reading is Scarce Over There

The Republican is permitted to publish the following letters, or extracts from letters, written by Roland Roeder, one of Grundy Center's boys now in France. Roland writes as follows:

Somewhere in France
February 20, 1918
Dear Dad:
I received your letter of Dec. 20th the mail comes in rather irregular. Are having fine weather here--makes one feel good. Our training is progressing fine, the fellows pick up things very quickly. I have some very interesting work with the Signal Detail. I am with the battery commanders detail, the bunch which gets the data for firing the battery. I never felt better in my life than I do now and hope you all feel the same, will close, with love to all. Roland

Mar. 5, 1918
Dear Thelma:
I received a bunch of letters today and it sure is more exciting in the U.S. than here. Honestly sis, you never would think a war was going on here, it seems just like the States last year.

I won't know the old village when I get back since you have had so many fires this winter. I am convinced from reports that it has been rather chilly in the U.S. this winter, the weather here in January is like May in the U.S.

Love to all,
Roland

March 10, 1918
Dear Mother:
Well, I am still at the same place and enjoying myself, they quarantined as the fellow next to me has a case of mumps. Send me Chicago papers I have received only 2 Grundy papers while here and an old newspaper is an interesting thing. I had a new spring put in my watch, it is good as ever now, it cost 7 francs to get it fixed. Met the Gravenstein boy the other day. Never knew he was here. He is in another regiment and is just across the street from me. Roland March 16, 1918
Received your letters the other day telling of Hummel store and the restaurant burning. Must have been a peach of a fire, things sure are exciting in Grundy. The "Y" is having a stag dance tonight. Some class eh.
Roland

March 18, 1918
Still feeling fine, couldn't be better, and hope you are all well. I received letters last week of Feb. 19th and yesterday. Some of Jan. 8th, so you see how they run. Haven't received any papers for several weeks.

We have plenty to occupy our minds and time flies. I am getting to be a Sardine fiend as they are very fine that we get here. They are French packed. It has been rather wet here the last week but cleared off today. Sure is some tall mud in camp, especially on the road. The airplanes are active again since it has cleared off. As I am writing they are firing shells at a German plane. It looked once as if the French had him, but he seems to be getting back safely now, the planes make a very pretty sight in the air.

German shells of all large calibers fly overhead every day here and you can hear them explode all around in the towns and other places. You can first hear the report of the gun and then the shell whizzing overhead and then the explosion the big ones shake the earth but the small ones only make a sharp crack and then you can hear the fragments go whistling through the air. Rather exciting sometimes, especially when we haul ammunition and the Germans shell the road.

I like to go up on a hill on which my dug out is and watch the shells burst--sure mighty interesting. I am feeling fine and it looks as if some tall-fighting is ahead of us, as the Germans hit pretty hard a few weeks ago, but wait till we make our smash--goodbye Germans, its time to close, so aurevoir,
Roland

April 6, 1918
I can honestly tell you that I don't like the weather here, a little bit. It rained about a week steady, cleared off yesterday, and today it is foggy and damp but otherwise all is O.K. Good feed, good dugouts, think a little damp, and a "Y". It looks like scrapping ahead of us but wait until we start our counterattack, then things sure will pop. I miss the air planes during this kind of weather but yesterday being clear we seen the German planes get peppered again, the weather doesn't hinder the German from these districts and sometimes the shells come rather close.

At night the ski is always lit up by the flashes of guns and shells and the other night the very ground was shaking from a bombardment. I hope things in Grundy are all O.K. Gee but the time goes fast here its April, a year since I joined the army.

I saw a man last night who was in Paris when some of those shells from the big German gun fell there. He said on Easter Sunday all the people were out on the boulevards in swell dress and at the same time the city was being shelled so you see they don't mind it at all.

April 11, 1918
Am getting all your letters O.K. and glad to hear from you so often. It is still raining here, we have had one nice day in two weeks, so we don't see any airplanes up except once in a while. I haven't been asleep for two nights straight so am going to take a good snooze tonight. I have only received the first box of chocolates sent, but hope the others come O.K. I wish you would send good magazines as reading material is mighty scarce.

The fighting is good here now and I wrote father all about it, a big shell exploded about 10 feet from me but did no harm only spit a lot of mud and rock in my face and we give the Huns 2 shells for ever one they send us. Roland

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 23 May 1918, pg 1

Roeder Writes To Folks From France

May 24th
Somewhere in France

Dear Parents:
It has been two weeks since I wrote a line but I couldn't get hold of a piece of paper and we were on the move all the time. I have received quite a few letters and write as often as I can. I can't always find time. Received a lot of papers and always glad to get them. We are busy at the present. We had a long hitch at the front but I would sooner be there than back of the lines. A close friend of mine, Earl Mountain, was killed just before we left in a trench raid. He has received the cross of war, but he being dead it was sent to his mother. He was one of the finest fellows I ever met, and one doesn't realize what war is until a close friend is killed.

We have moved to another place, a much nicer section of France and I must say very beautiful. The towns are built up nice and in some sections the houses are very beautiful with their large flower gardens. We passed through one of the large cities in France, and talk about it, the girls strew flowers, and kisses were thrown to us galore. Such a sight I never saw.

This is some war and the closer you get to the lines the more you realize it. Even though they tax the people at home rather heavy, think of what the boys over here must give and go through.--Roland

May 25th
Dear Thelma:
Well, Sis, I wish you could have been with us on our trip. It was fine and I have seen a lot of France. You ought to have seen the French people we had meet us at the stations as we were going through, some sight. We received flowers and eats all the way. We aren't doing anything new except having a few inspections and a few maneuvers. Everything is nice and green here and the barley is all headed out. Seems funny to see the women working in the fields instead of men, and they sure work.

I expect you are on your last few days of school. Hope you have a good bunch of grades and get into high school. I hear Everett Dickson has sailed. With love, Roland
P.S. Expect to be in the big fight again soon.

June 6th
Dear Mother:
I have found time again to write a few lines. I am feeling just fine. This is French stationery and I am writing with a pencil made in Japan, so you see it is some combination. I received a big bunch of mail a few days ago but am just getting to answer it.

We are having a hot time with the Huns at this place, in fact the guns make things rather lively here every few hours or so. We have been paid but can't buy a thing because there is nothing to buy. The weather has been great the last couple of weeks but the nights are rather cool, but warm during the day. I wish you could see the airplanes fighting in the air. Airplanes are as thick here as flies in Grundy in August and this morning we saw six French planes fighting the Germans, but they got away. There's not much I can say now. With love to all--Roland

June 8th
Dear Rynilda:
Well, Sis, this is some birthday for me. A fine day and good chow, so I am satisfied. We are still in the big fight, making things hot for the Boche. Last night was a hummer. Artillery was certainly humming away and a great many Huns bit the dust. Four of us wrestled some cattle last night which we got away up by the infantry and going back the Germans were shelling, some sport. But now we have some fine sweet cream and live high. Gee, a six inch battery is raising cain next door. We had some time taking those cattle with guns all the way from French 75s to great big fellows going off on all sides of us, and sometimes square in the face. It sure is rather exciting. Received a card from Joe Penrose. He is over here now with the artillery but haven't seen Smith or Wells. Well Sis, take life easy and I hope to be in on the wedding cake, so wait till we finish the Boche. Oh, it's some fight, and we sure stopped the Germans. Love to all.--Roland
P.S. We get a gold service chevron to wear over our left sleeve in a few days.

--The Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 July 1918, pg 1

Roland Roeder Writes Of France

Somewhere in France
August 12th, 1918

Dear Folks:
I received a bunch of letters from home yesterday and they certainly made fine reading. You will notice my fine stationery, but such is war. I suppose you will receive a bunch of Stars and Stripes soon as I have ordered it sent home. It is the official paper of the American Expeditionary Force and I believe you will enjoy reading them. I hear there are some of the Germans who still kick about the war but if they were here and saw what the Germans did to France they would change their minds mighty soon.

We are opposed by two German divisions, one of which is a Prussian guard division (grade troops). The German artillery is good but their infantry can't stand up against ours. Two of our fellows captured 84 Germans night before last. Talk about cyclones, the Germans sure make some of the towns look as though a cyclone had struck them. I know of a certain woods which was completely smashed up in a heavy burst of German fire. One shell hole was 25 feet across and fifteen feet deep. The Austrians sure got a good drubbing from the Italians, and we hope to give the Huns the same dose.

I see the British are making a big push. Well, Fritz is getting a mouth full. We are having a rest now and we sure deserve it. Gee, I wish you all could be with us and see the sights when we started Fritz north. Tell Jake that Fritz is a good fighter but seem to be losing all confidence in himself. Surrenders very easily in most cases, but are hell with machine guns. I have seen evidences of their machine gun work and believe me it was a sight never to be forgotten. Fritz will stay with his machine gun until our fellows are right up on him and then up goes his hands and he srourts Kamerad, you can imagine what kind of a Kamerad he gets from our men after they have seen their comrades fall from his fire. Tell the proud papa Jim that he owes me the treats on that big girl. We are having fine weather here now. Can get to a couple of "Y's" and Salvation Army Huts, and so are getting along ok and feeling just fine. I hear we might move again the mosquitos are the curse of life here they almost eat you up. There is 7x11. I haven't met Art Gravenstein for several months tho we have always been near the battery he is in. I hope I get some of those magazines soon as reading matter is in great demand here. I have read several books here in a few days. Well I will have to close as men are scarce. Aur revior, Love to all.
Roland
P.S. The papers are coming O.K. received 5 big bunches Sunday all in the same mail.

--The Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 11 September 1918, pg 1

Roland Roeder in Belgium

A letter from Roland Roeder, in the light artillery with the American Expeditionary Force, indicates that he is taking part in the fighting in Belgium. Censorship does not permit exact statement of his whereabouts. His division is one of the shock divisions which recently made a long move.

--The Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 6 November 1918, pg 1

Roland Roeder Among The Missing Soldiers

A Message From The Adjutant General Causes Apprehension Among His Friends

Hopes Entertained For The Best

He May Be a Prisoner of War or Temporarily Lost and Will Show Up Later

The relatives and many friends here of Roland P. Roeder were thrown into a fever of anxiety when the following telegram was received Tuesday morning by his father, Peter J. Roeder:
"P. J. Roeder,
Grundy Center, Iowa
"Deeply regret to inform you that Roland P. Roeder, Field Artillery, is officially reported as missing in action since October 14th. Will give you further information when received.
Harris
Adjutant General"
A letter was received by Roland's parents dated October 4th in which he stated that they were about to make a big move, but could not say to what place. The announcement was later made by Gen. March of the movement of the troops of which Roland's regiment was a part of aid the English army in Belgium, and this is the last trace that is had of Roland.

The hope is held out that he may be a prisoner of war or he may be in a hospital or possibly temporarily missing and will show up later.

Roland Roeder was one of the first boys to enlist from Grundy county, entering soon after this country entered the war. This was April 27th, 1917. He went to Jefferson Barracks and then to ElPaso, where he became a member of the 4th Artillery. From there he went to Syracuse, N.Y., where the 15th Field Artillery was organized and he became a member of Battery E, remaining with that battery ever since.

From the reading of the letters Roland has been able to write home he has been in the thickest of the fighting nearly all the time.

The many friends hope with the relatives that something will turn up shortly to throw more light on the matter and that Roland may yet be alive and well.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 28 November 1918, pg 1

Roland Roeder Still Missing

Relatives and Friends Still Hopeful That He Is Alive

Mention was made last week that Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Roeder, of this city, had received word that their son, Roland, who was in the artillery service, was missing. No later news has been received, and the casualty list in the papers Wednesday mentioned his name as among the missing.

The report, however, does not indicate that he is killed. On the contrary it would indicate that he was a prisoner of war. It does not seem at all likely that had he been wounded or killed that he would have been reported missing.

The reports are still coming in of men wounded and killed, although it has been nearly four weeks since all fighting ceased. This shows plainly that the particulars from the battle front are slow in reaching this country, and this leads the relatives and friends of Roland to think that while he was missing in action, he will yet show up in some prison camp. Until we hear to the contrary let us all hope for the best.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 5 December 1918, pg 1

Saturday evening the friends of Roland Roeder were saddened to hear that his father P. J. Roeder had received the following message: "Private Roland P. Roeder, Field Artillery, previously reported missing in action since October fourteenth, now reported died of wounds received in action October thirteenth.
(signed) Harris, Adjutant General."

Roland Roeder was the first boy from Grundy Center to enlist and possibly from the county. Enlisting on the 27th day of April and as war was declared the fifth day of April making it only 22 days from the time war was declared until he had enlisted. He was also one of the first to go into action and there almost to the last, serving possibly as long as any from this part of the country, and we know as faithfully for that is the kind of stuff that was in him.

When the word came in November that he was missing in action his friends (and they are numerous) were hoping the next word would be of a very different nature than the one received as we were all wanting Roland back and that for what he was.

Roland Roeder was one of the finest types of young manhood, always industrious, popular in community and school life. He was a member of the Senior class when he enlisted. The Echo of 1917 informs us that he was president of the class, president of the Miltonian society, High School Editor for the county papers, and Senior Class Editor for the "Annual."

Also in the article "Our Soldier Boys" it has this to say of him: "Roland Roeder, president of the Senior Class, and a brilliant figure in all school activities, had been trying for a place at West Point and had taken his last examinations at Fort Snelling (in competition with several others for four years training), when Uncle Sam called loudly for Volunteers."

In the Senior Class Prophecy Roland,"Pictures himself on the battlefield, it being his duty to inspect the outposts that night, and of the stillness of the night somewhat relieved by the sharp challenges of the sentries and the proximity of the enemy, a stray shot whizzing over our heads every few minutes."

As we read the above words in that prophecy we wondered how many times they may have come true during the past year, and it also may have been of such stray shots on October thirteenth that wounded "Our Soldier Boy."

It was largely on account of Roland being able to write like that, that we were hoping that he would come back. For we were certain that when he could give us such pen pictures without any experience the pictures that he could have made for us after actual experience, would have been so much more wonderful we did want to hear him tell it.

But it was not only to hear him tell of his experience at "The Front" but we wanted him for his worth for he was made of the stuff out of which true manhood is developed.

His is "The Supreme Sacrifice" and to those who suffer most thru the message sent Saturday, have this consolation that he gave himself not alone for his country's honor but for the redemption of humanity, and there is no greater sacrifice one can make, as the Best Man this world has ever known gave his life for the same purpose.

Its a great thing to have lived a good life but it is much greater to have lived it well and then to give it for that which is even greater than living well.

There are boys and girls in France and Belgium today who are free from terror and suffering because of his life and sacrifice, and none knew it better than he as he spent all his energies for their liberation, as the industrious habit of school and home life was carried over into his soldiers life, making it one to be envied.

We are glad that we have known him for a while as our lives are richer for the fellowship that we have had, and our ambitions and our aspirations take on new zeal as we think of him. For such lives are not lived in vain and give out influence from contact, and he was easy of contact, being so genial and active, that we know he was one of Uncle Sam's best soldiers.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 January 1919, pg 1

Is Doubt Regarding Roeder

Following Letters Suggest Possibility That He is Alive

Gonnersdorf, Germany
January 27th, 1919
Dear Mrs. Roeder:
I received your letter tonight concerning Roland. Am very sorry to say that all reports we have had say that Roland P. Roeder is missing in action since October 14th, 1918, he was at that time an artillery runner with the infantry during one of our largest drives. One runner had been killed and Roland was sent to take his place. Soon afterward the officer in charge of the runners was wounded by a machine gun bullet, and since then nothing has been heard from Roland.

Roland Roeder was one of the most pleasant young men I ever met, in our training area we spent some very pleasant hours together in the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army huts. He possessed a wonderful gift of conversation and as I am inclined to be quite talkative, we had some pretty good arguments, in which he always came out winner. He was very courageous, and not a shirker of duty, never afraid of shell fire. It is said by men who were with him when with the infantry that when they were being heavily shelled he would sit in the narrow trench and read as if he was in a Y.M.C.A. but forty miles behind the lines. It is reported that he was cited for bravery in action.

Roland was well liked in the battery and every man is very anxious to hear from him. When you receive the official word of where he is it will be highly appreciated by the men in his battery.

Hoping you will hear from him very soon, I am
Sincerely Yours,
Earl C. Thrower
Battery E, 15th Field Artillery,
American Exped. Force, Germany

Gonnersdorf, Germany
January 28th, 1919
Dear Mrs. Roeder:
Earl Thrower received a letter from you this evening asking about Roland, and I would like to add a few lines, myself.

Roland and I were section mates for several months, and first front that we were on. Roland and I were bunkies, so I feel that I know Roland pretty well. I have only the words of highest praise for him. He was always the first to go to a comrade's aid and never thought of himself. Always willing to do his and never shirking his duty. This cruel war has been much harder on mothers, than it has on us fellows, but we will never forget those that made the supreme sacrifice and let us remember that those who are gone have given their lives in the greatest cause that ever a nation fought for. I am
Yours Sincerely,
James M. Armstrong
Battery E, 15th Field Artillery,
American Exped. Force, Germany

Wollendorf, Germany
January 28th, 1919
Mr. Peter J. Roeder
Grundy Center, Iowa
Dear Mr. Roeder:
Your letter dated January 7th received, requesting information as to your son, who was in my organization.

Your son, Roland was in the detail to act as runner on liaison with the infantry for our battery. Lieut. Van deGraff of the battery was in charge of the work. Their work consisted in accompanying the Battalion Infantry commander in the attack and to send back messages, etc. concerning the whereabouts of the infantry and where artillery fire was most needed.

The attack in which your son was wounded, was in the Champagne attack in which our division took Mont blanc. We were in the vicinity of Somme-Py and St. Etinne which is just southwest of Rheims. At the present time I am unable to give you any facts concerning his wounds, etc. as he was reported missing about the 14th of October. We did not know whether he was wounded, killed or captured as the battle was raging and in fact it was in my opinion the roughest we were in.

I am writing for all information concerning his wounds, death and location of his grave, all of which I will gladly send you upon receipt.

Your son was a man in every respect and a hero, like all who have given their lives for their country.

Lieut. Van de Graff was also wounded in the same engagement.

My deepest sympathy goes out to you and at any time I can be of service, why I'll be only too glad to do my best. Trusting that I may be able to give you all the facts real soon, I remain
Very Respectfully Yours,
Jerome J. Water, Jr.
Captain of the 15th Field Artillery,
Commanding Battery E.

--The Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 February 1919, pg 1

Comrades Write More About Roland Roeder

Tell In Glowing Terms of His Record As a Soldier and Duties He Performed

Acting As Runner When Last Seen

Every Effort Being Made by Comrades and Officers to Locate His Whereabouts

Mrs. P. H. Roeder, of this city, has received the following letters the past week which goes into more of the details of their son Roland's disappearance on the battle fields of France.

Gonnersdorf, Germany
March 18, 1919
Mrs. P. J. Roeder
Grundy Center, Iowa
My Dear Madam:
I have had it in mind for some weeks to write you in regard to Roland but, newspaper articles to the contrary, we don't have a great deal time. I was, and still am the Instrument Sergeant and Roland, as I dare say you know, was in the Instrument Detail. When we went into the Champagne I was in charge of the entire Detail, Telephone and Instrument, as the Telephone Sergent, my Senior was in the hospital with the flu. Many others of the detail and battery were also in the hospital with the flu. I was just over a three day attack of it and Roland had been helping me in packing and carrying my equipment. We went into the Champagne very short handed in the Detail. I detailed as usual three men to Battalion Hdqs. as runners, two men from the Detail, Judge and Stevens, and one spare man from the fifth section line. That left me with Myers, Roland and Strout, a horse holder, in the Instrument Detail and Col. Dilto, Thrower, Lindeman, Murphy and Murrell in the Telephone Detail. The gun crews were working shorthanded, the drivers and caisson crews were working double to make up for a shortage of men. Flu came closer to putting us out of action than the Boche ever did.

We went in position just south of Somme-py, the night of October 1st, and rolled our barrage in the attack the morning of October 3rd. The Marines and 9th and 23rd Infantry took Blanc Mont and advanced six kilometers beyond to St. Ettiene, a Snipper thus outflanking the Boche on the hills before Rheims. The French on our right and left failed to advance at all and thus left us fire from both flanks and the front exposed to machine gun and shell and countless heavy counter attacks designed to cut us off. Our battery moved forward the afternoon of the third to a position some two kilometers north of Somme-py on the right slope of Blanc Mont. The next morning the 4th, I was compelled to detail Thrower to act as a cannoneer on the 2nd Piece, one of their men being slightly wounded, until another man could be obtained. A few minutes later a telephone message came for a mounted man to accompany Capt. Cummings of Battalion Hdqs. on a reconnaissance. I detailed Lindeman and Battalion Hdqs. stole him from me for five days. Next morning the fifth came a telephone message that Stevens, one of the men I had detailed as runner had been instantly killed, shortly before by an almost direct hit from a shell. The Battery Commander called me and told me and said that he knew how terribly short we were on men but that I must detail one. The sensations of a man ordered to detail another man to take a ten to one shot with death are not to be envied. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Runners are supposed to come from the telephone detail, yet I couldn't take another from them then. They were having their hands full keeping their lines up under continued breakage from shell fire. Roland had been trained as an observer and at the time I was using him and Myers as my assistants as we had no observation station out. I had to come to it after a little that, Roland was the one I was best able to spare at the time. So I call him over and said, "Roeder, Stevens was killed this morning, Battalion Hdqs. order another runner sent. You will pack your full equipment and report to Battalion Hdqs., as runner from E Battery." His cheeks whitened a little, but he didn't say anything. I don't now what I looked like but I felt rotten-rotten. I have taken my own chances many and many a time but ordering another man to go was new to me.

I helped pack, shook hands and said good bye and watched him go down the valley toward Battalion Hdqs. That was the last I ever saw of your son.

Four days later the Germans, unable to stand the constant threat of outflanking, retreated on a thirty kilometer front, over twenty kilometers to the Aisne. We followed them thru and when I next saw the Corporal in charge of runners at Battalion Hdqs., we were just south of the Aisne and he told me that Roland had been missing for four days. Our Marines and Infantry had been relieved out before the advance began and we hoped that Roland had gone to the rear with the 9th Infantry thinking perhaps that the Artillery was also to be relieved. I met a runner two days later who told me he had seen Roland near Machault on the 8th. We came out the 20th and on the way back I heard two different tales from men in the outfit, who had received them fifth and sixth hand, one that Roland had been badly wounded and picked up by an American ambulance and one that he had been wounded and taken up by a French ambulance. That is all I have ever heard. Roland was recommended by the Major Battalion Hdqs. for the Croix de Guerie but I have never known with what result. He certainly deserves it if ever a man did.

As to the post cards, his pack, I believe was carried in the wagon belonging to Battalion Hdqs. and just laid there in our trip over to the Argonne-Meuse and thru our attack and drive north to Sedan. When orders came for the march to Germany everything was cleaned out and doubtless some callous soldier simply ran thru his pack, took out Government property and toilet articles and threw the rest on the ground. A man from our Battery was orderly for an officer in Battalion Hdqs. at the time, saw them there, picked them up and returned them to Thrower. If you at any time ever hear anything of Roland I should be very glad to hear it.

I have lived in Iowa myself for many years and have relatives living near Des Moines whom I intend to visit when I return home. It will give me pleasure to run up to Grundy Center at that time if you care to have me do so. I wish, with all my heart, I could give you more definite news of Roland. Should I ever hear anything further I will notify you at once.

Sincerely yours,
Wynn Eakins

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 April 1919, pg 1

Earl Thrower Writes Mrs. Roeder

Gonnersdorf, Germany
March 17, 1919

Dear Mrs. Roeder:
I received your letter of February 27th this afternoon and was very glad to hear from you, but was very sorry to hear that you had not heard from Roland.

You ask me about what time those cards were found in the Argonne Forest. The man that gave me those cards is not with the Battery at present so I cannot say just what day they were found but it was near Beaumont, France, between the 8th and 11th of November, 1918.

I have tried to find out something about Roland, have been to Regimental headquarters, but all they know is "Reported missing in action, Oct. 14, 1918." I will assure you that if I ever hear anything about him I will write you at once.

You say Roland said he was with a very nice bunch of boys. I must say he was. He was in the Battery Commander's detail, picked men from the Battery, and when last seen was an infantry runner, one of the most dangerous jobs in the army, more runners are killed than any other branch of the service, considering the percentage.

His "chief of section" is Sgt. Wynn Eakins of Aberdeen, S. Dak. I have made him promise to go see you when he gets home, so that he may tell you all about Roland.

Roland was one of the nicest young men I ever hope to meet, and as to what he said about me I will let you see for yourself.

I have written my mother about Roland and asked her to write you. She has four (4) sons in the A.E.F.--three in France and one (that's me) in Germany and she knows that this war was harder on the mothers than on the men in the trenches.

I wish you would not thank me for what I have done, for it is a great pleasure to help the mother of the best friend I ever had. Do you know, Mrs. Roeder, that a man finds better friends in the army than in civil life, for on the front you see men as they are and not as they pretend to be. If a man says he is your friend he will have a chance to prove it on the next front. If he is he will think of you and not of himself when you are being shelled. And we have had plenty of shelling.

I truly think that Capt. Waters will do his very best to find out about Roland.

I must close for this time. Will you please excuse this writing? My pen is not what it might be. Thank you very much for the gum and I did enjoy it.

Sincerely,
Earl C. Thrower
Batt. E, 15 F.A.A.P.O.710

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 10 April 1919, pg 3

Army Chaplain Writes About Roland Roeder

Says He Did Not Bury a Soldier by That Name According to His Records

His Disappearance Yet A Mystery

Parents Still Hopeful That Good News May Come Some Day of Their Son

The following letter was received today by Mrs. P. J. Roeder, of this city, from the Chaplain of Roland Roeder's regiment.

Bishop's House
Grand Rapids, Mich.

Dear Mrs. Roeder:
Your letter of Mar. 23rd, to the Chaplain, Bat. E, 15th F.A., was opened by their regimental Chaplain, who has forwarded it to me. I was the chaplain of the 15th throughout the war, and he thought that I might have some helpful information.

Altho my records are all on file with the regiment, I have an accurate memory and do not remember of ever having buried a boy by the name of Roeder. I find on further search, that I buried only five men out of my regiment during the week you mention, and there is no name similar to yours in this list. This is undoubtedly the situation, judging from the sequence of facts as you relate them. Roland was probably wounded, as many of us were, in the positions around Vaux, Champaigne, in the middle of October. The records of the regiment will have the exact information. In that event he would have been evacuated immediately to a hospital, and, if he died, the record would be in the hospital and not necessarily in the regiment. One of the unfortunate things about our army was the fact that we had no way of knowing what became of our wounded boys.

I would suggest, if you have not already received satisfactory information, that you write Lieut. Haffenden, Personnel Adj., 15th F.A., A.P.O. 710, who can give you the exact facts in the case.

May I express my deepest sympathy to you in your sorrow?
Sincerely,
Rev. John Brain McCormick

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 May 1919, pg 1

Officer Writes Concerning Roland Roeder

Peter J. Roeder Receives Another Letter From Roland's Officer in the Army

Disappearance Still A Mystery

Parents Making Every Effort to Discover the Fate of Their Lost Boy

The following was received by Mr. Peter J. Roeder, of this city, this week from an officer who knew Roland Roeder, and he gives further particulars of Roland's mysterious disappearance.

The letter reads as follows:
Headquarters Battery E, 15 F.A.
Heimbach, Germany
June 16th, 1919
Dear Mr. Roeder:
I have been intending to write you ever since I received your letter to tell what I know concerning your son Roland Roeder.

He had been detailed to me as a division runner with the infantry. We had been with Col. Arnold's battalion of the 9th infantry, but just before daybreak on October 8th, 1918, I took your son and two other men with me and reported to the Major of the attending battalion of the 141st and 142nd infantry of the 36th division. We arrived at the Majors headquarters about ten or fifteen minutes before the time the attack was to commence, which was just at daybreak. Some enemy shells were falling around us at this time.

When the attack commenced the utmost confusion reigned. It was this divisions first time under fire. I at once lost track of all three of my men and also of the Major. Seeing that the men were not advancing on my right I undertook to get them up. About half or three-quarters of an hour later I was wounded myself.

After arriving at the hospital in Paris on the following day I learned that the Major with whom I had been, was killed. Not until several months later when I rejoined my regiment did I hear anything as to the fate of your son or the two other two men who were with me.

Your son as far as we have been able to find out has never been officially reported missing. We have sent in a report stating that he was missing in action. One of the two other men who was with me was killed. To my mind there can be no reasonable doubt that your son was killed that morning. I regret very much having to tell you this, but I can see no hope of his being alive.

Your son was performing well one of the most dangerous jobs that ever fall to the lot of an artilleryman. He died like a man doing his full duty in one of the hardest fights of the whole war. A man cannot die a better death.

I extend to you and the other members of your family my heartfelt sympathy. If I can be of any help to you do not fail to call upon me.

Very truly,
C. H. Van de Graaff
Lieut. 15th F.A.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 July 1919, pg 1

Sergt. Eakins Visits Here

Was Roland Roeder's Officer and Knew Him Well

Sergt. Wynn Eakins of Aberdeen, So. Dak., was here a few days this week visiting the P. J. Roeder family.

Sergt. Eakins was a member of Bat. E. 15th Field Artillery and knew Roland Roeder well. It was he that sent Roland out as a runner on that fateful day since when no trace has been found of him.

Sergt. Eakins and Roland met at Pine Camp, New York, in September, 1917, and were together up to the time of Roland's disappearance and they became bosom friends. He feels very deeply the mystery that surrounds Roland's disappearance, yet is unable to throw any further light upon it, much as he would like to. He was loud in his praise of Roland as a soldier and says he could always depend upon him to do his duty unflinchingly. Three runners had been killed in Sergt. Eakins' company before Roland was called upon to go, and he felt when he sent him out on the dangerous mission that he might meet the same fate, but it was his duty and there was no other alternative. Roland was sent out on October 4th in the afternoon which was the last time he was seen.

Sergt. Eakins is a fine appearing young man and is an interesting person to converse with. He kept a diary of his company's movements and some day intends to write a history of their important part in the world war.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 18 September 1919, pg 1

While Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were in Cedar Rapids this week they visited at the P. J. Roeder home for a short time and heard some interesting information regarding Roland Roeder, who was reported missing during the late war, without much ever being known about the manner of his disappearance. It seems a returned soldier of the same regiment of which Roeder was a part, happened to come to the Roeder home at Cedar Rapids in search of a certain party. In a conversation which followed this young man told of belonging to the same regiment and felt sure that he had seen Roeder after the time he was reported to have been killed. The men were on dispatch duty and some reports received about that time gave Roeder as dead and buried by a certain chaplain. However, there was some confusion about them and the manner of his disappearance has remained a mystery. It was peculiar incident when this returned soldier happened by chance into the home and gave a new version of the story.

--Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 27 April 1922, pg 5

P.T.A.

One decision of the body, that will be greeted with acclamation by the school, is the clock that is to be put up in the assembly room. The classes of 1917, 1918, 1924 and the P.T.A. have contributed to it, and it will be erected to the memory of Roland Roeder.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 30 April 1925, pg 10

P. J. Roeder came up from Cedar Rapids Sunday to remain here a few days. Mrs. Roeder is going to leave on a trip to France some time during the early summer to visit the grave of Mrs. Roeder's son, Roland, who lost his life during the war and who is buried in the Bense-Argonne cemetery. The government is paying the expenses of all mothers who have sons buried in American soldiers' cemeteries in France. Pat Catherwood is the only other soldier aside from Mr. and Mrs. Roeder's son who enlisted in the government service from this country and who are buried in a foreign cemetery.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 January 1930, pg 5

P. J. Roeder was up from Cedar Rapids yesterday. Mrs. Roeder was one of the Gold Star Mothers who took the trip to France. She returned a week ago Saturday. She was away five weeks. The trip was a lifetime event for her as it has been to others who have taken it. Her son, Roland, who was killed while on scout duty in the Argonne on the 13th or 14th of October, 1918, is one among the 14,000 American boys who lie in the National Cemetery in France. The graves of each of the soldier boys bear white marble crosses on which are inscribed the name of each and a portion of their service record. Roland Roeder enlisted in the service from Grundy county shortly after this country entered the war and saw several months of service at the front before he met his death. For several months Roland's death was surrounded in mystery, but his case was later cleared up and it shows that he met his death while on scout duty between the lines either on the 13th or 14th of October, 1918.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 July 1930, pg 7