Bio: Beeckler, Rex (Information on Death– 29 Oct 1918)

Contact: Ann Stevens
Email: ann@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Beeckler, O’Hair

----Source: Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/3/1919

Beeckler, Rex (Information on Death– 29 OCT 1918)

My Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 27th of January, 1919, just received, and I am pleased to be of assistance to you with information relative to the death of Private Rex. C. Beeckler. He was assigned to my company on Oct. 25th, and it was on Oct. 29th while my company occupied the front line area on Hill 373, France, when your friend was fatally wounded. His place of burial is best known as follows: Hill No. 382 Woevre Sector, France, midway on north slope of Hill 372, nearest villages, Tresaneaux, France, Fresnes, France.

On Oct. 29th there was a concentrated shelling from the enemy around our gun positions on hill mentioned above. A fatal shell struck squarely into a tree, at a point right above, where a number of our men were standing outside their dugout. The flying shrapnel from the shell wounded 13 men, including your friend, who was, unfortunately, wounded in the chest.

He was immediately given first aid attention, but it was impossible to save the boy, I regret very much to say, as he passed away only a few minutes after.

Private Beeckler was very nicely buried in a separate grave and as carefully as possible. A very nice burial box and cross were made for him and the burial took place with a sacred ceremony conducted by our chaplain and honored in the usual military manner in the presence of all the boys who could be spared from duty. The cross bears the name of Private Rex. C. Beeckler, very clearly has been firmly stationed for future identity.

I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to you in the loss of your good friend and will be pleased to be of any further assistance to you.
Yours very cordially,
Grady O’Hair
Capt. 130th Infantry