William L. Gillespie Writes to His Parents Brother With Company E.
Mr. and Mrs. William R. Gillespie, 632 1/2 South Harrison street, have two sons. Both have answered their country's call. William L. GIllespie, 16, is now in France. He went with the first American soldiers to be sent abroad. James, 19, another son, is a member of Company E, which is now mobilized and awaiting be called.
William has written to his mother from Paris. "This is a great country," he writes. "Crops are fine and the people are very nice, especially the French ladies- -they are 'zee grand.' But there is none on earth like our own American women and our dear big-hearted loving mothers.
"When is James coming to France. I guess he is like me. He thinks if father could fight for our country, so can he."
William is a member of Company G, Sixteenth infantry. He enlisted on January 26, 1917, and served five months on the Mexican border.
Mr and Mrs William R Gillespie 632 1/2 South Harrison street are the parents of two sons William, aged 16, and James, 19, both of whom have answered the call of their country and are now enrolled in Uncle Sams army.
William is a member of Company G sixteenth Infantry one of the units of the first army to go to France. He enlisted in January and served for five months on the Mexican border. In a letter just received he tells of the kindness of the French women to the troops and states that corps in France are progressing nicely.
James Gillespie
James has enrolled in Company E, of this city which is now mobilized and waiting orders sending them to training camp.
The boys are the sons of a civil war veteran, Mr Gillespie, having been a member of Company G. Fourteenth Ohio Volunteers, and as William expressed it in his letter home, "If father could fight for our country, so can we."
Son of Fort Wayne Bricklayer Had Seen Long Service in Army.
William Gillespie, 18 years old, veteran of the Mexican border action, has been killed in action. Word from the war department to. his father, William L. Gillespie, a Fort Wayne bricklayer, 632 Harrison street, states that the young soldier was fatally wounded in action and died on the seventh day of October. [ His Find A Grave Memorial gives his birthday as 1 November 1900 so he was less than one month from his 18th birthday. ]
Gillespie enlisted in the army at the age of 16 years. He was a splendid specimen physically, and was accepted. Anxious to see action, he expressed himself as delighted to be sent to the Mexican border in the summer of 1916. He had been in France nearly two years.
William L. Gillespie, 632 Harrison street, has received word that his son William, aged 17 years, bas been killed In action. His death occurred on the 7th day of October. The dead soldier is a veteran, having enlisted for duty on the Mexican border in the summer of 1916. He was sent to France at the very beginning of the American invasion, and had seen two years of active service. His death comes as a blow as his parents and Xrivjuds had congratulated themselves on his escape from injury during nis long period of service.
The following official announcement was received last night:
"Washington, D. C. Dec. 11, 1918.
Mrs. Elinore Gillespie, 632 Harrison Street:
"Deeply regret to inform you that it is officially reported that Ptc. William L. Gillespie, infantry, died Oct. 7 from wounds received in action. HARRIS, the Adjutant General."
Private Gillispe was one of ths first Americans to reach France, sailing with Company G, Sixteenth infantry. The father of the dead soldier is a Spanish war veteran.
GAVE HIS LIFE TO DELIVER AN ORDER; IS AWARDED MEDAL
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 14--
Among the distinguished service medals awarded to-day by the war department were the following:
Private William L. Gillespie, company G, sixteenth infantry (deceased), for extraordinary heroism in action in the forest of Argonne, October, 1918. While carrying a message from the support to the firing line, Private Gillespie WAs severely wounded, but he continued and delivered his message. Home address. Mrs. W. R. Gillespie, mother, Fort Wayne, Ind.
This in brief is the story of one of our heroes. Stricken unto death, he continued in the performance of his duty until he dropped from wounds and exhaustion, and sealed with his life's blood his devotion to the starry flag he had sworn to protect and defend. The name of Private William L. Gillespie has been placed on the honor roll of Allen county and also has a place on the memorial arch which has been dedicated to the Americanism and valor or the sans who saved the freedom of the world.
Another Fort Wayne soldier has proved his heroism but has given his life in the attempt to render a great service. Private William L. Gillespie, son of Mrs. W. R. Gillespie, 632 Harrison street, this city, was cited for bravery in action, but the deed that brought with it the citation resulted in the brave soldier's death. In the battle of Argonne, Private Gillespie who was a member of Company G, 16th infantry, volunteered to take a message from the support troops to the front line. While carrying the message he was severely wounded but with bravery born of patriotism he carried on and delivered the massage to its destination. The wounds which he received later resulted in his death.
William L. Gillespie. The parents of William L. Gillespie, Mr. and Mrs. William R. Gillespie, of 622 Harrison street, are in receipt of a message from the adjutant general, in which they are informed that a medal has been awarded posthumously to their soldier son, who was fatally injured Oct. 7, in action in the Argonne forest. Injury occurred while the brave young man was carrying an important message from the support to the firing line on Oct. 4, death coming three days later. The bereaved parents have not yet received the distinguished service cross which is being forwarded to them. A previous letter from officials advises them that another medal had been awarded their son prior to his death and that it would also reach them in the course of time.
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING World War I
Service: Army
Rank: Private
Division: 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces
GENERAL ORDERS:
War Department, General Orders No. 37 (1919)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private William L. Gillespie (ASN: 43221), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company G, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., in the Forest of Argonne, France, 4 October 1918. While carrying a message from the support to the firing line, Private Gillespie was severely wounded, but he continued on his mission and delivered his message.
PVT William L. “Bill” Gillespie
Birth 1 Nov 1900
Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, USA
Death 6 Oct 1918 (aged 17)
Exermont, Departement des Ardennes, Champagne-Ardenne, France
Burial Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial
Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France
William also received the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, and the Purple Heart when it was reintroduced in 1932 in place of the uniform wound chevron.
