Oroville Daily Register
October 18, 1918
“ Some Gave All”
Jesse Dorser Gives His Life To Country
The news was received in Oroville yesterday of the death of
Pvt. Jesse Dorser
of this city. Death occurred at Fort McDowell and was occasioned
by pneumonia. Despite the fact that he had suffered the loss
of four fingers in a saw mill accident, Pvt. Dorser made repeated
attempts to join the colors and finally was accepted for limited
service. He left here for Camp McDowell. He has been
critically ill for some days, and hope of his recovery was abandoned
yesterday. Dorser leaves a mother, a sister and a brother
who reside in the Howe addition. Funeral arrangements have
not been made.
Oroville Daily Register
November 1918
“Some Gave All”
Lieutenant Faul Succumbs to Influenza
Lieut. Charles Faul,
familiarly and affectionately know to hundreds of friends here as
“Chic” Faul, died yesterday at Camp Mills, New York, from influenza.
News of his serious illness was received here during the middle
of the week. It was hoped, however, that his magnificent physique
would be able to combat the disease. Lieut. Faul was born
and reared in Oroville. He is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Faul. When the United States entered the war, he at
once enlisted with Company I, and went to Camp Kearney. His
aptitude for military matters attracted attention and he was recommended
for an officers training camp. There he won his commission,
and was appointed as a second lieutenant. Lieut. Faul was
transferred to Camp Mills, where he contracted influenza.
It was thought that he was recovering when he suffered a relapse
and his condition grew daily more critical until death came.
Lieut. Faul is survived by his mother and father and by his brother,
Alvin Faul, to whom the sympathy of the community goes out in their
great bereavement. The remains will be brought to Oroville
for internment.
November 18, 1918
Oroville Dailey Mercury
Funeral of Lieut. On Wed.
The remains of Lieut. Charles Faul arrived from Camp Mills over
the Western Pacific last night. They were accompanied by a
brother lieutenant. In addition to members of the family,
the train was met by representatives of the Home Service Department
of the Red Cross and by color bearers of the Relief Corps.
The funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 3 o’clock from
the Congregational church. (In the Old Oroville Cemetery is
the grave of Lieutenant Charles Faul. He died in 1918 at the
end of WWI from the influenza outbreak. From clipping given to me
by James Lenoff).
Marne Drives
C. O. Dodge, of the
Mercury force, has received a letter from his son,
Sergeant Neal E. Dodge,
who is an expert radio operator with the 322nd Field
Signal Battalion, in which he states that he was stationed as far
in the front as it was possible to work his instruments in both
the St. Michiel and the Marne drives. The shells were falling
uncomfortable thick and close to his station. He was at the writing
of the letter, back at one of the rest camps.
Stu’s Notes: Jesse Dorser gives his life to Country.
He didn’t die in the War he didn’t even make it “Over There” but
he volunteered and would have gone if his Country wanted.
He will be honored in Stone for that. The phrase “to join
the colors” could be related to the way soldiers fought so long
ago, more so even before the Great War. The call “rally around
the Flag Boys” meant a lot on the Battle Field before modern communications.
The flag, in America’s case the Stars and Stripes and also company
flags were carried on the field of battle. Men could see where
they should be. I read that when a soldier went down another
would grab the flag and carry on the charge. In some big battles
of our Civil War the Flag would go down many times, always to be
carried on by another brave young man. Lt. Charles Faull’s
story is a lot like that of Jesse Dorser. The Great Influenza
epidemic of 1918 was said to have claimed 25 million lives world
wide. Over 1 million in America, sadly it could happen again.
The Battle of the Marne, like most WWI battles, was mass slaughter
on both sides. The weapons of war were so advanced that many
thought war would never happen again. How wrong they were.
Most of my WWI stories were found by Jan Rose Bales and
Joan Lee (Van Campen)
with help by local historian
James Lenoff and
the Oroville Daily Mercury and the Oroville Daily Register.