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July 27, 1918 Written by Corporal W. J. Payne five days after Buzzy?s death. Corporal Payne thinks it his duty to tell Theodore?s mother of the esteem in which his companions held him. He praises him for his soldier?s record. ?Your son?s character was such that you will meet him where they have no wars.? The two served together from the time of training in San Benito, Texas. ?I was near him when he was hit and know that he dies brave and true to his flag.? We are reminded of the sad World War I song. ?My Buddy? and the movie made from Erich Maria Remarque?s novel ?All Quiet of the Western Front.: The writer states that he is from South Louisiana. Unfortunately, no more is heard about him. Perhaps he himself did not survive the war. He is the only one who later could have related the facts about combat and the conditions in which they lived in those 11 months together, which they were not allowed to put in writing at the time. Saddest of all is the revelation that Theodore voluntarily exchanges a safer assignment as a mechanic for one at the line of fire. ?Theo was a mechanic in the co. but when we went into real war he ask to go with the co. and he went ?
Price, Theodore S 041