Tombstone Tuesday-WWI Military Inscriptions

During this time between our two patriotic holidays, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, I will feature military tombstone inscriptions on Tombstone Tuesday.

This image of a WWI soldier is on at least two tombstones at Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City. Both are on monuments for young men who died in battle or from battle injuries.

“For Democracy” WWI Inscription, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio, City, Van Wert County, Ohio.

Sergt. Lawrence E. Beach, HDQR’s Co. 145th Inf, 37 Div., A.E.F. died of battle injuries 13 December 1918, age 19 years:

Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio.

Pvt. John Yocum, Co B 335 Infantry, Private Meuse-Argonne, American Expeditionary Forces, killed in Action 4 Nov 1918. [1]

Pvt. John Yocum, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio.

Also inscribed on Pvt. John Yocum’s tombstone:

We heard humanity’s clear call,
And knew the voice divine,
He gave his life, he gave his all,
In deadly battle line.

From Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Ohio, Frank Rostorfer, Co. I, 146 Inf, 37 Div, killed in the Battle of the Argonne Forest, 28 September 1918:

Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Ohio.

A WWI flag staff:

WWI flag staff.

[1] FindaGrave.com, Memorial no. 91997340, Pvt John Yocum, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio. [Memorial services were held at Mendon Sunday for John Yocum, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Yocum, killed in action in France, November 5. He left for Camp Taylor, May 25, with a contingent of Van Wert boys. He was 25 years old. A brother, Gus, is also in France.]

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