Son of Denton and Bertha E Cox.

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CORPORAL BYRON CLARK COX - KIA - WWI

Awarded the Silver Star

Source: Darlington Herald Friday, July ___ 1918

Byron C. Cox, among the first Darlington boys to enter military service and the first to arrive on foreign soil, has made the supreme sacrifice and has given up his life on the battlefield of France (Note: Buried Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial - Fere-en-Tardenois, Departement de l'Aisne Picardie, France). The following message from Washington, conveying the sad news to his parents was received by them last Sunday afternoon: "Mr. Denton T. Cox, RR, Darlington, Ind -- Deeply regret to inform you that Corporal Byron C. Cox, Infantry is officially reported as Killed In Action, between July 18th and 24th. McClain, Adjutant General." While his parents knew he was in the thickest of the fight, they had hoped he might be spared, and the message came as a great shock to them and his many friends here. Byron Clark Cox was the son of Denton and Bertha Clark Cox and was born at Rossville (Clinton County) Indiana December 5, 1899. He lived with his parents in Rossville until 1908 when the family moved to the present home near Garfield. He attended school at Garfield where he graduated from the 8th grade after which he entered the Darlington HS and graduated with the class of 1916. During two years of the time he was in high school Byron made his home with Dr. and Mrs. C.W. Kendall who have always spoken in the highest terms of his unfailing cheerfulness and splendid character. The remaining two years, he lived with his grandmother, the late Mrs. E.H. Cox. After his graduation, he entered the State Normal at Terre Haute and that winter was given the position of principal of the consolidated school at Shannondale. On April 16, 1917, immediately following the close of his school he enlisted in the Regular Army and was sent to Jefferson Barracks where he was vaccinated and inoculated for typhoid. He was then sent to Ft. Douglas, Arizona, where he became a member of Co G 18th Infantry. On June 9, he crossed Indiana on his way to NY. His family knew of this by receiving cards he had dropped from the car to be mailed. He was with the first American forces to embark and reached France on June 28. In February of this year he was made a Corporal. On May 4, he was gassed and was confined in a hospital until May 28. From the very first his letters home were full of enthusiasm and he never doubted for an instant that right would win and that Germany would eventually be absolutely vanquished. Byron's patriotism was party inborn, no doubt. His grandfather, the late E. H. Cox, wa a Lt. in Co B 120th Infantry and served with distinction during the four years of the Civil War. During the pastorate of Rev. WH Martin, Byron united with the Christian Church at Garfield and was also an active member of the Christian Endeavor Society there. When in Darlington he was a regular attendant at the Methodist Church. Last Spring the Sunday School class taught by his aunt, Mrs. I.W. Craig, presented to the church a service flag representing the boys of the class who are engaged in the present war. In the presentation speech, Mrs. Craig said in part, "Let us hope that the time may never come when it will be necessary to replace even one of these stars with a gold star." But that which everyone feared, yet prayed might never occur has come about and the blue star which represented Byron Clark Cox, a lad, loyal and true to his country and happy to be serving her is the one to be so replaced. By many of his friends he will long be remembered as he stood the night of his commencement and recited "Old Glory" with all the fire and ardor of his youth. Perhaps he felt the spirit of the poem more deeply than anyone then realized, especially that part which says, "And seeing you fly, And the boys marching by, There's about in the throat And a blur in the eye, And an aching to live For you always ... or die, If by dying, we still Keep you waving on high."

Is thoughtfulness for his mother is manifested by the fact that he had taken $10,000 insurance for her. He also had $300 in Liberty bonds. His parents have received word from Washington saying that full information regarding his death will be sent later. A service in honor of his memory will be held at the gymnasium Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. Madian H. Appleby of South Bend grand uncle of Byron will be the principal speaker. -- kbz

Source: Darlington Herald October 25, 1918

The service Flag which has hung in the front door of the Library has been replaced by a new one, the work of Miss Fay Miller, the librarian. The new flag bears one blue star, underneath of which is written 78, representing the number of young men from Franklin Township now in the service. There is also a gold star for Corporal Byron C. Cox who was killed in action in France in July. -- kbz