Private Frank H. Gaston

Profile
Parents: Singdon T. and Hannah A. Gaston
Birth: January 11, 1884, Burnsville, Barhtolomew County, Indiana
Occupation: Laborer
Entered service: March 28, 1918, Columbus, Indiana
Sent to: Camp Sherman, Ohio
Transferred to: Columbus Barracks, Ohio
Unassigned
Death: pneumonia October 10, 1918, Columbus Barracks, Ohio
Burial: Burnsville Cemetery, Bartholomew County, Indiana

The Republic
Columbus, Indiana
Tuesday, August 27, 1918
Page 4

DESERTER TAKEN BY LOCAL POLICE

Frank H. Gaston, Living Near Grammer Held on Charge of Desertion from Army.

HAS BEEN A WANDERER OVER COUNTRY SINCE

DISAPPEARED FROM COLUMBUS BARRACKS, OHIO, IN MAY, 1916, HAVING ENLISTED IN REGULAR ARMY BEFORE THE WAR.

Frank H. Gaston, aged 38, was arrested last night about 8:30 o'clock at the corner of Tenth and Washington streets on a charge of desertion from the army. Capt. Smitha and Officer Smith of the night force made the arrest. The case against Gaston is rather unusual in that he enlisted in March, 1916, before this country entered the war, and is said to have deserted in May of the same year. He was sent to Columbus Barracks, Ohio, and since his desertion from the army at that place he has been wandering all over the United States.

Shortly after Gaston's arrest, Chief Cooper was notified, and after getting the young story, called up his parents, who live near Grammer. They bhad neither seen nor heard from their son since his enlistment and would not believe it until the boy talked to them himself. This morning they came to Columbus and were permitted to talk to their son at police headquarters. The scene of their meeting with him was quite pathetic and lasted for some time. Gaston told the police previous to his meeting with his parents he was on his way home and that he wanted to get back to Columbus Barracks as soon as he had seen his parents.

The matter of getting the man back into the army is being handled by the local selection board. Chief Cooper having notified them this morning. A telegram has been sent to Adjutant Harry R. Smith, at Indianapolis, inquiring as to the fact that he deserted in peace times, the penalty will probably be immediate induction into the army, with a speedy removal to the trenches.

The Republic
Columbus, Indiana
Friday, October 11, 1918
Page 5

DIED IN CAMP

WORD RECEIVED AT GRAMMER THAT FRANK GASTON IS DEAD AT COLUMBUS, O.,-ARRESTED HERE RECENTLY.

Mr and Mrs. "Sing" Gaston, of Grammer, received a telegram this morning informing them of the death of their son, Frank Gaston, at Columbus, O. The cause of death was not stated but it is assumed he died of Spanish influenza. The parents received a telegram last evening, informing them of the critical illness of their son, but they hadn't had time to get to his bedside before the end came.

Frank Gaston was 24 years old and he enlisted in the United States army some time ago, but deserted later and a few weeks ago he was arrested in this city on a charge of desertion and taken to Fort Harrison, where he was turned over to the military authorities. The young man was tried by court martial at Columbus, O., a few days ago, but the result of the trial was not learned here.