William Walton Cann

Cann, Will W.

Will W. Cann son of Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Cann, died of pneumonia in France Aug. 28 1918. He was born May 28, 1897 enlisted in the Federal in 1918.

He was a member of Motor Truck Company no 438. Motor Supply Train 416.

He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and was much beloved in the he lived.

The following letter received by his parents here tells of his last illness, death and burial.

My Dear Mr. Cann

Although you have heard from our Government that your boy has died for his country here in France, I am writing for the Home Communication Service, the American Red Cross to tell you more of his last illness and burin! than the brief official message could give.

Your son was admitted to the large American Camp Hospital No. 33, with a severe attack of lobar pneumonia. It was evident from the first that he would have a hard time to pall through. He had the expert care of the best American physician and the skillful attention of American trained nurses. But in spite of everything that could be done for him, his body was weaker than his fine brave spirit and he was not able to survive. We did not talk with him unless he wish- ed to talk: he was so weak, we knew it was dangerous to tire him. A nurse was constantly in attendance in case he should want anything, but he did not speak except to ask for water or to have his pillow changed. Miss Annie Horgen was with him when he stopped breathing the 25th of August he did not suffer, but went to sleep peacefully like a tired child.

He was buried with military honors from the Chapel of the American barracks here. Mr. Conover, the kindly American Red Cross chaplain who visited him when he was ill. had charge of the ceremony. An honorary guard of American soldiers marched in

advance of the funeral procession from the Chapel to the beautiful Kerfautras French cemetery where so many of our Americans are resting. Chaplain Conover marched behind the guard and in front of the hearse. Another guard marched about the bearese and Red Cross workers and an old French lady who attends all the American funerals, came behind the flag-covered coffin.

After the beautiful ceremony at the grave, the bugler sounded taps and I took the enclosed flowers from a great bunch sent by the Y. M. C. A., which lay on your boy's coffin and we all came away, thinking not only of the brave boy who had died for his country here, but also of his family so far away in America.

I send you my sympathy for your share of the world's present tomorrow. 1 congratulate you that you had such a boy to give for our country, and I send you my love, because I know he would have been sending his if he had not died like Christ to make the world better place to live in.

Lovingly yours for our country,

Maude Cleveland,

Home Communication Service, American Red Cross.