Walter Mankins was living in Arizona at the time of the first World War I selective draft in July 1917. After examination by the Graham county board, he filed a claim for exemption because he was supporting his widowed mother and an orphan girl they had taken into their household. However, at his appearance before the board to file his affidavit, he hesitated. According to a newspaper account, he addressed his mother: "I do not know that I should claim exemption. I am physically fit and feel that I should fight for my country. It is hard to leave you but if I don't go some other mother's son must." She turned and addressed the board: "Two of my sons are now in Uncle Sam's Army. If the board decrees that Walter should go, I'll not prevent it or allow any claim of mine to keep my boy at home. I'll make out some way." The board ultimately decided he should stay at home and he was discharged. But the country's needs changed, exemptions and discharges were nullified, and on September 21, 1917, Walter was among the "U.S. Gila Monster Brigade" to board at the Arizona Eastern depot on their way to Fort Riley, Kansas.
Walter survived his time of battle in Europe, and in January 1919 his regiment was bound for home. He would not make it. His mother was notified of his death and received this information in a letter from Walter's first sergeant, Andrew B. Crowell, dated February 21, 1919: "On January 19 we boarded the train at Trondes en route to Evron, France. On the second day of the trip we stopped in a town named Neuf Chateau, at which place several of us, including your son, got off to get some hot coffee from a Red Cross station. Your son with several others of our company were left at this place. There was another troop train ... behind us en route for the same place. All our boys caught this train which later on had a rear end collision." Walter was among the 23 soldiers killed.
Walter was originally buried in grave 353, United States Army Cemetery at Hospital Center Riemann Court, Department De Haute, Marne. In June 1921, his body was returned to the United States. His funeral was held on June 16 at Globe, with the American Legion posts of Globe and Miami in charge. Representatives of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Woman's Relief Corps, and the Spanish War Veterans were among the many attendees.
Walter survived his time of battle in Europe, and in January 1919 his regiment was bound for home. He would not make it. His mother was notified of his death and received this information in a letter from Walter's first sergeant, Andrew B. Crowell, dated February 21, 1919: "On January 19 we boarded the train at Trondes en route to Evron, France. On the second day of the trip we stopped in a town named Neuf Chateau, at which place several of us, including your son, got off to get some hot coffee from a Red Cross station. Your son with several others of our company were left at this place. There was another troop train ... behind us en route for the same place. All our boys caught this train which later on had a rear end collision." Walter was among the 23 soldiers killed.
Walter was originally buried in grave 353, United States Army Cemetery at Hospital Center Riemann Court, Department De Haute, Marne. In June 1921, his body was returned to the United States. His funeral was held on June 16 at Globe, with the American Legion posts of Globe and Miami in charge. Representatives of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Woman's Relief Corps, and the Spanish War Veterans were among the many attendees.
Walter Mankins was living in Arizona at the time of the first World War I selective draft in July 1917. After examination by the Graham county board, he filed a claim for exemption because he was supporting his widowed mother and an orphan girl they had taken into their household. However, at his appearance before the board to file his affidavit, he hesitated. According to a newspaper account, he addressed his mother: "I do not know that I should claim exemption. I am physically fit and feel that I should fight for my country. It is hard to leave you but if I don't go some other mother's son must." She turned and addressed the board: "Two of my sons are now in Uncle Sam's Army. If the board decrees that Walter should go, I'll not prevent it or allow any claim of mine to keep my boy at home. I'll make out some way." The board ultimately decided he should stay at home and he was discharged. But the country's needs changed, exemptions and discharges were nullified, and on September 21, 1917, Walter was among the "U.S. Gila Monster Brigade" to board at the Arizona Eastern depot on their way to Fort Riley, Kansas.
Walter survived his time of battle in Europe, and in January 1919 his regiment was bound for home. He would not make it. His mother was notified of his death and received this information in a letter from Walter's first sergeant, Andrew B. Crowell, dated February 21, 1919: "On January 19 we boarded the train at Trondes en route to Evron, France. On the second day of the trip we stopped in a town named Neuf Chateau, at which place several of us, including your son, got off to get some hot coffee from a Red Cross station. Your son with several others of our company were left at this place. There was another troop train ... behind us en route for the same place. All our boys caught this train which later on had a rear end collision." Walter was among the 23 soldiers killed.
Walter was originally buried in grave 353, United States Army Cemetery at Hospital Center Riemann Court, Department De Haute, Marne. In June 1921, his body was returned to the United States. His funeral was held on June 16 at Globe, with the American Legion posts of Globe and Miami in charge. Representatives of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Woman's Relief Corps, and the Spanish War Veterans were among the many attendees.
Walter survived his time of battle in Europe, and in January 1919 his regiment was bound for home. He would not make it. His mother was notified of his death and received this information in a letter from Walter's first sergeant, Andrew B. Crowell, dated February 21, 1919: "On January 19 we boarded the train at Trondes en route to Evron, France. On the second day of the trip we stopped in a town named Neuf Chateau, at which place several of us, including your son, got off to get some hot coffee from a Red Cross station. Your son with several others of our company were left at this place. There was another troop train ... behind us en route for the same place. All our boys caught this train which later on had a rear end collision." Walter was among the 23 soldiers killed.
Walter was originally buried in grave 353, United States Army Cemetery at Hospital Center Riemann Court, Department De Haute, Marne. In June 1921, his body was returned to the United States. His funeral was held on June 16 at Globe, with the American Legion posts of Globe and Miami in charge. Representatives of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Woman's Relief Corps, and the Spanish War Veterans were among the many attendees.
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