sumter

Lieut. Robert O. Purdy, jr., Sumter, S. C., was killed in action s. New York Herald, August 4, 1918, p. 6, col. 2 fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http://fultonh...

Robert Obadiah Purdy, Jr. (1891-1918) From The Watchman and Southron. (Sumter, S.C.), August 7, 1918: "SUMTER'S FIRST SACRIFICE. Lieut. Robert O. Purdy, Jr., Killed in Action July 21st [...] For days, ever since the great bat- tle on the Marne began, Sumter has been tense with dread and anxiety, fearing that the next report of cas- ualties would contain the names of some of the Sumter boys who are fighting with Pershing's men to drive the Huns out of France and turn back the wave of barbarism that for four years has been dashing against the ramparts of civilization. Late Friday afternoon the dreaded news came in a message to Judge R. O. Purdy, from the War Department, saying that Lieut. Robert O. Purdy. Jr., had been killed in action on July 21st. The message gave no particu- lars, merely the fact that one of our boys had died at the post of duty where the Americans and the French were driving the Huns back from the Marne. The news spread rapidly over the town and every home be- came a house of mourning and Judgej Purdy's personal sorrow was shared by one and all. Lieut. Purdy. was twenty-seven years old, the eldest son of Judge R. O. Purdy and was born and reared in this city, attended the city schools and afterwards the University of South Carolina, completing his law course there with the class of 1914. From his graduation until last spring he was associated with his father in the practice of law in this city, at which time he entered the first offi- cers' training camp at Fort Ogle- thorpe. He was commissioned sec- ond lieutenant of infantry and vol- unteered for immediate service in France, and after a short stay at home sailed for France early in September. He went into active service with the first American forces sent to the bat- tle front and spent the winter in the trenches. In the spring he was gassed and was in a hospital for weeks and later was assigned to duty in the rear, a few weeks ago was re-as- signed to active service with his old command, at his own request. One of the last letters received from him brought the news that he would re- turn to the firing line the next day. Robert Purdy volunteered for service not because he loved a fight or be- cause he was of an adventurous dis position eager for the excitement to be found in the army on the field of battle, but because he felt that he was called to perform a duty by his coun- try. He gave himself cheerfully with the full realization that he might probably would, have to make the su- preme sacrifice. He died at the front near the flashing of the guns with other young Americans animated by a like spirit of patriotism." chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn93067846/1918-08-07/ed-... His memorial in Sumter, S.C. www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=68247517 and his grave in France: www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=purdy&...;

Thank you, B-59 and AS, we can add full name to record.

Robert Obadiah Purdy Jr. (1891-1918) www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107899217

Wouldn't it be wonderful if these pictures were posted a little larger? Screen resolutions nowadays make for very small presentation of images...

If you follow the persistent URL link, in this case to hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/stereo.1s01323 , you can get access to the source TIFF from which this size was generated.