THOMAS, Elbert Ray - Putnam

Elbert Ray, the son of Jacob and Jane Irwin Thomas was born in Madison Township, Putnam County, May 18, 1895, and with his parents moved in early childhood to Clinton Township, where he grew to manhood loved by all who knew him best.

When our country became involved in the world war Elbert, possessed with the high sense of duty toward and love of country, offered himself to his government, but the high physical standard maintained at that time by the army did not permit him because of a slight physical defect to enter the service but the standing having been changed he was subsequently inducted into the service, leaving Greencastle with Putnam County’s first contingent of the national army Sept 21, 1917. He went to Camp Taylor afterward to Camp Shelby where he received the necessary military training and was then placed in the famous fighting 26th division, 101st regiment of New England and went overseas with his division to France where the training was completed and the division marched to the front line trenches and became actively involved in the great conflict to relieve the world of imperial tyranny.  Elbert was with his regiment through Chauteau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Verdun front and in the Argonne forest. In the latter, the most fearful conflict the world ever knew, Elbert was mortally wounded Oct 23, 1918 and was taken to the hospital where he died Oct 25, 1918.  One of “America’s heroes” made “the supreme sacrifice” and traveled the soldier’s journey to The West and today lies sleeping in a military grave in war-torn France.  Elbert was loved by all who knew him.  He was a favorite companion among his associates, a dutiful, home-loving son, who was ever ready to aid and assist to the best of his ability those who were in distress. From the trenches he wrote that “for the future all was well” with him.  We bear this, our last tribute of esteem and affection that that noble spirit which survives the grave and bears the nearest affinity to that supreme intelligence which pervades all nature and which can never die with the fond expectation that he will reap that reward prepared for him from the foundation of the world.  

Source: Greencastle Herald-Democrat, 9 May 1919