Great Uncle Leon & my grandfather

Josselyn Doughboys, members of the U.S. Army Infantry Company K, 26th Division, 101st Regiment in a panoramic regimental photograph taken at Camp McGinness, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA 1917. My grandfather Clare( front row, center left in the thumbnail) is seated next to his brother Leon(center portrait) who gave his life at the Battle of St. Mihiel in western France, September 30, 1918. (Grandpa Josselyn notes the death as October 1st in his letter below)

Pictured also is Great Uncle Leon's grave marker in France and his father, a a Civil War veteran, pictured beside the rock with marker at Josselyn Square in here in Hanover. Leon's body was shipped home in the 20s and buried in our Hanover Center Cemetery. In 1978 I visited the areas in France where they fought and the American Cemetery at St. Mihiel. I was able to show my grandfather slides of the beautiful area, healed from the terrible scars of his terrifying stint of trench warfare. Grandpa died about 6 months after that slide show.

Grandpa Josselyn( left in the photo of the brothers and with his letter home) served in the same unit as Leon. He was not in action with Leon when he was hit, but was with fighting close by. Grandpa was with Leon as he was brought in and soon died at the Aid Station. I have posted posted very sad letter home to his folks. Clare and Leon were from a large blended family of 13 children, they had older siblings born to their father and his first wife who died of typhoid. Grandpa was 22, Leon 27 when they served in France.

My grandpa's hardest letter home
Oct. 4, 1918

Dear Folk at home:

Before this letter arrives you all of course have received the sad letter of Leon's death. Early morning of October 1st he was wounded and died about 20 minutes after in the first aid station. At first the only injury that could be found was in his leg, and we had hopes he would pull through with only the loss of the leg. But he was hurt inside and it was too much for him to stand. He was conscious when he was picked up, but he did not recognize me. I was not on the same front as him but not a great ways from him. We had a fearful bombardment and a shell landed too close.

It’s a hard blow to us all, and it is a great deal harder for you than me. I have been through so much and seen so much and realized a thing like this might happen.

Oh to God that it might have been me. You don’t realize how hard it is for me to write and tell you of it. But as God preferred it should have been him this time. There is long still more to pull through of this struggle to come home once more to you all.

He was our own flesh and blood and dearly loved one. But his time had come and he gave his life for his country willingly.

As I sit here writing I can’t seem to realize he is gone. But these things are the horrors of war and we must bear up and try and remember that he is still being cared for in another world. We must try and forget and go on with our work as there is lots more undone.

You will of course write to Lillian and tell her about his death. I will try and write her a letter although I did not know or see much of her, I have heard and known the feelings between them so she seemed like a sister to me.

I received a number of letters from you all tonight and I can tell you it was hard for me to read them, knowing you were innocent of any happening.

He was buried in a little town nearby. Later he will probably be taken and put in the divisional cemetery.

Please bear up dear folks, and not make it any harder for me as my troubles still go on.


With my whole love,

Clare

Private Clare E. Josselyn
Company K 101st Infantry
A.E.F.
Censored by Burham Dell 1st LT. & Chaplain


He was 22 when this was written. Members of my family have fought for freedom from the Revolutionary War to WWII, a proud Gold Star family in WWI. Please can we just give Peace a chance from now on?

[Dana Wiehl]

Heartbreaking. We owe so much to these selfless heroes.

[Anita Campbell]

A very poignant and appropriate tribute for these brave men. Those who have served in the military and risked their lives for our freedom are the true heroes of our nations.