Orville was a senior at Oklahoma University in April 1917. During the first week of World War I, he left college to enlist in the Army Engineers. As a member of the Second Engineers, Second Division, he went through the hardest battles involving American Soldiers in that war.
On November 10/11 1918, just hours before the end of the war, Orville helped float a bridge across the River Meuse in the face of German machine gun fire.
Seven Engineers were killed and about ninety of the Marines and Soldiers who crossed the bridge to fight on the far side were also killed. At this time all parties thought the war would end at 11:00am, November 11, 1918, as indeed it did.
Orville was not wounded but was as much a casualty as anyone there. He returned to the States, gradually developed into a recluse, retired to the farm where he was born, never to marry and eventually committed suicide.
On November 10/11 1918, just hours before the end of the war, Orville helped float a bridge across the River Meuse in the face of German machine gun fire.
Seven Engineers were killed and about ninety of the Marines and Soldiers who crossed the bridge to fight on the far side were also killed. At this time all parties thought the war would end at 11:00am, November 11, 1918, as indeed it did.
Orville was not wounded but was as much a casualty as anyone there. He returned to the States, gradually developed into a recluse, retired to the farm where he was born, never to marry and eventually committed suicide.
Orville was a senior at Oklahoma University in April 1917. During the first week of World War I, he left college to enlist in the Army Engineers. As a member of the Second Engineers, Second Division, he went through the hardest battles involving American Soldiers in that war.
On November 10/11 1918, just hours before the end of the war, Orville helped float a bridge across the River Meuse in the face of German machine gun fire.
Seven Engineers were killed and about ninety of the Marines and Soldiers who crossed the bridge to fight on the far side were also killed. At this time all parties thought the war would end at 11:00am, November 11, 1918, as indeed it did.
Orville was not wounded but was as much a casualty as anyone there. He returned to the States, gradually developed into a recluse, retired to the farm where he was born, never to marry and eventually committed suicide.
On November 10/11 1918, just hours before the end of the war, Orville helped float a bridge across the River Meuse in the face of German machine gun fire.
Seven Engineers were killed and about ninety of the Marines and Soldiers who crossed the bridge to fight on the far side were also killed. At this time all parties thought the war would end at 11:00am, November 11, 1918, as indeed it did.
Orville was not wounded but was as much a casualty as anyone there. He returned to the States, gradually developed into a recluse, retired to the farm where he was born, never to marry and eventually committed suicide.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
