Lest We Forget: Fayette County’s Enduring Tribute This Memorial Day

As Memorial Day has arrived, we are called to pause and reflect on the profound sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces. The yellowed pages of Fayette County’s history, preserved in these documents, speak volumes of courage, loss, and an unwavering commitment to duty that resonates deeply within our community, especially here in Connersville.

The solemn weight of remembrance is perhaps best captured in the poignant words of Marguerite Hall’s poem, “Chickamauga, September 18-20, 1863”:

“One more tale of the War, boys—one more tale of the War! Bullet and canister, rifle-pit, fever and wound and scar; Cramped up in trenches, starved in the fort, cowed by the prison-pen— One more tale of the War, boys, before we are parted again!” … “Lord, Thy soldiers we all were once, fightin’ as best we knew; Killin’ and cripplin’ all we could, layin’ it on to You; And we’ve done our deep’rest thirty years, considerin’ disease and wounds, So give us a full reunion, Lord, when the Last Reveille sounds.”

These lines, though penned about an earlier conflict, echo the universal experience of soldiers and the enduring hope for peace and reunion.

Fayette County’s Own: Stories of Sacrifice from the Great War and Beyond

The records highlight numerous local heroes, particularly from World War I, whose bravery shaped the character of our county and nation.

Among the first to make the ultimate sacrifice was Private Glen Sample. The documents tell us he was the “first Fayette County soldier in the World War to give up his life on the battle field.” His loss was deeply felt, as evidenced by a message from his commanding officer, Captain J. F. Burnes: “Your son was an excellent soldier, and very well liked by the officer and men of his company; his death and the death of his companions has been a severe blow to the company.” Major General George Barnett, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, also conveyed his deep regret, stating, “Your son died nobly for his country.” At just 23 years old, after enlisting “on a Sabbath day,” Glen Sample “Went West” following a five-day struggle with mortal wounds. His memory is immortalized in the Glen Sample Post No. 571, Veterans of Foreign Wars, organized in Connersville in 1920, a testament to a community determined to honor its fallen.

The list of Fayette County’s “firsts” in service and sacrifice is a somber honor roll:

• Reginald John Ochiltree: The first Fayette County soldier of WWI to lose his life at sea.
• Edward O’Neal: The first Fayette County soldier of WWI to reach France, serving with General Pershing’s outfit.
• William Norris Ochiltree: The first native-born Fayette County man to receive a commission (First Lieutenant) in the World War service.
• William J. Scott: Residing in Connersville at enlistment, he was the first man in Fayette County to receive the French Croix de Guerre with a silver star for his heroism on November 7, 1918, when he “volunteered to go out and repair the telephone lines which had been out by the violent bombardment.”

The documents also tell of others like:

• Theodore Brewer: Who died of wounds in France on May 17, 1918. His body was later returned to Connersville and buried in Dale Cemetery.
• Lewis E. Daniels: Killed in action on August 23, 1918, in Poperinghe, Belgium, and buried in Nine Elms Cemetery.
• Murray Robert Dawson: Who died from wounds on July 19, 1918, near Aisne, France.
• Harry Copeland Duerson Who, after serving in the U.S. Regular Army, was inducted into the Canadian Army and killed in action on September 2, 1918, in the Battle of Cambrai, and is buried in France.

The valor was not confined to one conflict. Alfred G. Simpson, a native of Fayette County, earned Distinguished Service medals serving in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War in Cuba (Battles of El Caney and Santiago de Cuba) and in the Philippines during the Insurrection, with his discharge noting his service as “EXCELLENT.” Brig. General Edward R. Chrisman was another Fayette County soldier who achieved the highest commission in U.S. service during both the Spanish-American War and World War I.

Even those who survived bore witness to unimaginable trials. John Waybright, a commander of the Glen Sample Post, fought at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood. The stark reality of war is clear in the note that after the battle of Chateau-Thierry, only 17 members of his Company of 250 men, including himself, were left. He was awarded the French Legion of Honor, as was Corporal Fred Trusler, an “Iron nerved” machine gun squad leader from the same company.

A Legacy of Remembrance: From Local Posts to Distant Fields

The establishment of the Glen Sample VFW Post in 1920, with its motto “One flag, one language and one country,” underscores the community’s commitment to its veterans. This commitment extends to remembering those resting far from home. The documents remind us of the American cemeteries in France and Belgium – Suresnes, the “Arlington of France”; the vast Meuse Argonne Cemetery with its 14,246 graves, 456 “known but to God”; and Flanders Field, where 368 bodies lie, 22 unknown. These hallowed grounds are a permanent testament to the cost of freedom.

The story of our national emblem, the flag, detailed in one document, reminds us of the ideals these soldiers defended – from the original 13 stars and stripes carried into the Battle of Brandywine to the 48 stars it bore during World War I.

This Memorial Day, as we raise that flag, let us remember the individuals from our own Fayette County – Glen Sample, the Ochiltrees, William Scott, Theodore Brewer, and so many others whose names and stories are etched into these records and into the heart of our community. Their sacrifices demand not just our remembrance, but our enduring gratitude and commitment to the values for which they fought. Lest we forget.