Just after the new year was rung in, Leslie William Horn was born in Saint Louis, Missouri that sits on the western bank of the Mississippi River. His parents Blanche Alpine Lawing of Ozark, Missouri and Thomas Lora Horn, born in Webster County, Missouri were married in 1889 in Marshfield, Missouri near Springfield. One additional child, Murray Lawing was born on March 24, 1897. His father formed the T. L. Horn Trunk Company and served as its president. The family lived at 4221 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis and in 1910 at the age of 17 Leslie was working for his father as a laborer. Three years later he had moved to the position of Clerk. It would appear his father wanted him to learn the business from the bottom up.
With the United States declaring war on Germany on April 6, 1917, nearly three years after the World War began in Europe, a national army was needed and the Selective Service Act of 1917 provided for this through conscription. The first of three draft registrations was held on June 5, 1917 for men between the ages of 21 and 30. Leslie now age 24 complied at Precinct # 1 in Saint Louis from his residence in the nearby town of Clayton. He was now employed as a traveling salesman for his father’s company, single and claimed no exemption from the draft. He listed himself as of medium height, slender built, with brown eyes and hair.
His enlistment record shows he was inducted into the Army that same month on the twenty-sixth in Saint Louis. He may well have voluntarily joined with the record being in error. He was assigned to Company M, Fifth Infantry Regiment of the Missouri National Guard and then Company M., 138 Infantry Regiment, 35 Infantry Division that was organized at Camp Doniphan (Fort Sill) Oklahoma, September 1917 from National Guard units from Missouri and Kansas. While there Leslie completed Officers Training School but from some unknown reason he was not commissioned at that time.
Serving in the grade of Sergeant, he and his unit departed the Port of New York on May 3, 1918 aboard the British Liner SS Missanabie. He listed his mother, Mrs. Thomas L. Horn of Clayton, Missouri as his next of kin. Arriving in France via Liverpool, England with some of the first of his division, they were sent to the vicinity of the commune of Eu, department of Somme for training. Sometime after this he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and reassigned to Company D, 110 Infantry Regiment, 28 Infantry Division (Iron Division). Lieutenant Horn’s new division had arrived in France about the same time he had.
In an unfinished letter Leslie wrote to his parents, September 1918 on stationary from the Grand Hotel, Paris, France “Dear Folks, I am still alive and feeling fine, it’s a wonder at that. If I ever get back to dear old U.S.A. I am going to kiss every one of you so much that you will think you were in a gas attack. The Americans are going great things over here as you already know and I have been in the mess, don’t think I’ll ever forget what I’ve gone through over here. Everywhere in Paris, at all the shows you have nothing but Yanks, Sommies, Americans and American Music. Gee it makes you proud to be an American and an officer. My being in Paris is because I am returning from a course in grenades and am proceeding to my division. I don’t think that I’ll have to go back in the trenches for at least 3 weeks as my division is out for a rest. We have been out a little over a week now. The big job I have now is to rebuild my platoon. Of course you couldn’t know what a job that is, but it’s a big one. I notice the papers states that Austria wants a discussion of peace, well they’ll get it a piece of our mind”.
On September 19, 1918 the division took over the sector extending across the Aire Valley and in front of the Argonne Forest. In the Meuse-Argonne Offensive the division was heavily engaged from September 26 to October 9. It was during this time that Second Lieutenant Leslie William Horn was critically wounded on October 1, 1918 and died at Field Hospital 109 that same day. The division was relieved October 9 and held a position in the Thiaucourt Sector, Toul until the Armistice, November 11. During all operations the 28 Division took 921 prisoners and suffered 13,980 casualties.
Leslie was buried in Temporary Grave # 18, Plot B, French Military Cemetery, Commune of Aubréville in the Meuse Department, northeastern France. Seven months later on May 8, 1919 his remains were disinterred and reburied in Grave # 20, Section 55, Plot 1, Argonne American Cemetery, Commune of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Department of Meuse.
In October 1919, families of fallen American Soldiers were given the choice of leaving their sons buried in an American Cemetery in Europe with their comrades or bring them home for reburial in a State/National Cemetery or one of their choosing. Blanche and Thomas Horn chose to leave Leslie with his comrades as did approximately 30% of the families facing the same decision. On November 5, 1921, he was disinterred for the final time and reburied in Grave 23, Row 33, Plot A, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. Day is done, God is nigh.
Epilogue: His brother Murray also served in World War I at Camp MacArthur, Texas and did not deploy overseas. Through the US Government Gold Star Mother and Wives pilgrimage program of 1930 to 1933, Blanche was able to visit her son’s grave in France during August and September 1930. Surviving son Murray sent her a telegram, August 18, 1930 care of USS George Washington “Just a parting message to give you my love and wish you a pleasant voyage. My heart goes with you as only a heart can from one who loves you so much. May your whole trip be one of complete satisfaction. I’ll be waiting for your return”.
It was my honor to write this short biography from available documents found. I know it doesn’t start to do Leslie or his family justice but it does keep his memory alive. Lest we forget…Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired.
With the United States declaring war on Germany on April 6, 1917, nearly three years after the World War began in Europe, a national army was needed and the Selective Service Act of 1917 provided for this through conscription. The first of three draft registrations was held on June 5, 1917 for men between the ages of 21 and 30. Leslie now age 24 complied at Precinct # 1 in Saint Louis from his residence in the nearby town of Clayton. He was now employed as a traveling salesman for his father’s company, single and claimed no exemption from the draft. He listed himself as of medium height, slender built, with brown eyes and hair.
His enlistment record shows he was inducted into the Army that same month on the twenty-sixth in Saint Louis. He may well have voluntarily joined with the record being in error. He was assigned to Company M, Fifth Infantry Regiment of the Missouri National Guard and then Company M., 138 Infantry Regiment, 35 Infantry Division that was organized at Camp Doniphan (Fort Sill) Oklahoma, September 1917 from National Guard units from Missouri and Kansas. While there Leslie completed Officers Training School but from some unknown reason he was not commissioned at that time.
Serving in the grade of Sergeant, he and his unit departed the Port of New York on May 3, 1918 aboard the British Liner SS Missanabie. He listed his mother, Mrs. Thomas L. Horn of Clayton, Missouri as his next of kin. Arriving in France via Liverpool, England with some of the first of his division, they were sent to the vicinity of the commune of Eu, department of Somme for training. Sometime after this he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and reassigned to Company D, 110 Infantry Regiment, 28 Infantry Division (Iron Division). Lieutenant Horn’s new division had arrived in France about the same time he had.
In an unfinished letter Leslie wrote to his parents, September 1918 on stationary from the Grand Hotel, Paris, France “Dear Folks, I am still alive and feeling fine, it’s a wonder at that. If I ever get back to dear old U.S.A. I am going to kiss every one of you so much that you will think you were in a gas attack. The Americans are going great things over here as you already know and I have been in the mess, don’t think I’ll ever forget what I’ve gone through over here. Everywhere in Paris, at all the shows you have nothing but Yanks, Sommies, Americans and American Music. Gee it makes you proud to be an American and an officer. My being in Paris is because I am returning from a course in grenades and am proceeding to my division. I don’t think that I’ll have to go back in the trenches for at least 3 weeks as my division is out for a rest. We have been out a little over a week now. The big job I have now is to rebuild my platoon. Of course you couldn’t know what a job that is, but it’s a big one. I notice the papers states that Austria wants a discussion of peace, well they’ll get it a piece of our mind”.
On September 19, 1918 the division took over the sector extending across the Aire Valley and in front of the Argonne Forest. In the Meuse-Argonne Offensive the division was heavily engaged from September 26 to October 9. It was during this time that Second Lieutenant Leslie William Horn was critically wounded on October 1, 1918 and died at Field Hospital 109 that same day. The division was relieved October 9 and held a position in the Thiaucourt Sector, Toul until the Armistice, November 11. During all operations the 28 Division took 921 prisoners and suffered 13,980 casualties.
Leslie was buried in Temporary Grave # 18, Plot B, French Military Cemetery, Commune of Aubréville in the Meuse Department, northeastern France. Seven months later on May 8, 1919 his remains were disinterred and reburied in Grave # 20, Section 55, Plot 1, Argonne American Cemetery, Commune of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Department of Meuse.
In October 1919, families of fallen American Soldiers were given the choice of leaving their sons buried in an American Cemetery in Europe with their comrades or bring them home for reburial in a State/National Cemetery or one of their choosing. Blanche and Thomas Horn chose to leave Leslie with his comrades as did approximately 30% of the families facing the same decision. On November 5, 1921, he was disinterred for the final time and reburied in Grave 23, Row 33, Plot A, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. Day is done, God is nigh.
Epilogue: His brother Murray also served in World War I at Camp MacArthur, Texas and did not deploy overseas. Through the US Government Gold Star Mother and Wives pilgrimage program of 1930 to 1933, Blanche was able to visit her son’s grave in France during August and September 1930. Surviving son Murray sent her a telegram, August 18, 1930 care of USS George Washington “Just a parting message to give you my love and wish you a pleasant voyage. My heart goes with you as only a heart can from one who loves you so much. May your whole trip be one of complete satisfaction. I’ll be waiting for your return”.
It was my honor to write this short biography from available documents found. I know it doesn’t start to do Leslie or his family justice but it does keep his memory alive. Lest we forget…Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired.
Just after the new year was rung in, Leslie William Horn was born in Saint Louis, Missouri that sits on the western bank of the Mississippi River. His parents Blanche Alpine Lawing of Ozark, Missouri and Thomas Lora Horn, born in Webster County, Missouri were married in 1889 in Marshfield, Missouri near Springfield. One additional child, Murray Lawing was born on March 24, 1897. His father formed the T. L. Horn Trunk Company and served as its president. The family lived at 4221 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis and in 1910 at the age of 17 Leslie was working for his father as a laborer. Three years later he had moved to the position of Clerk. It would appear his father wanted him to learn the business from the bottom up.
With the United States declaring war on Germany on April 6, 1917, nearly three years after the World War began in Europe, a national army was needed and the Selective Service Act of 1917 provided for this through conscription. The first of three draft registrations was held on June 5, 1917 for men between the ages of 21 and 30. Leslie now age 24 complied at Precinct # 1 in Saint Louis from his residence in the nearby town of Clayton. He was now employed as a traveling salesman for his father’s company, single and claimed no exemption from the draft. He listed himself as of medium height, slender built, with brown eyes and hair.
His enlistment record shows he was inducted into the Army that same month on the twenty-sixth in Saint Louis. He may well have voluntarily joined with the record being in error. He was assigned to Company M, Fifth Infantry Regiment of the Missouri National Guard and then Company M., 138 Infantry Regiment, 35 Infantry Division that was organized at Camp Doniphan (Fort Sill) Oklahoma, September 1917 from National Guard units from Missouri and Kansas. While there Leslie completed Officers Training School but from some unknown reason he was not commissioned at that time.
Serving in the grade of Sergeant, he and his unit departed the Port of New York on May 3, 1918 aboard the British Liner SS Missanabie. He listed his mother, Mrs. Thomas L. Horn of Clayton, Missouri as his next of kin. Arriving in France via Liverpool, England with some of the first of his division, they were sent to the vicinity of the commune of Eu, department of Somme for training. Sometime after this he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and reassigned to Company D, 110 Infantry Regiment, 28 Infantry Division (Iron Division). Lieutenant Horn’s new division had arrived in France about the same time he had.
In an unfinished letter Leslie wrote to his parents, September 1918 on stationary from the Grand Hotel, Paris, France “Dear Folks, I am still alive and feeling fine, it’s a wonder at that. If I ever get back to dear old U.S.A. I am going to kiss every one of you so much that you will think you were in a gas attack. The Americans are going great things over here as you already know and I have been in the mess, don’t think I’ll ever forget what I’ve gone through over here. Everywhere in Paris, at all the shows you have nothing but Yanks, Sommies, Americans and American Music. Gee it makes you proud to be an American and an officer. My being in Paris is because I am returning from a course in grenades and am proceeding to my division. I don’t think that I’ll have to go back in the trenches for at least 3 weeks as my division is out for a rest. We have been out a little over a week now. The big job I have now is to rebuild my platoon. Of course you couldn’t know what a job that is, but it’s a big one. I notice the papers states that Austria wants a discussion of peace, well they’ll get it a piece of our mind”.
On September 19, 1918 the division took over the sector extending across the Aire Valley and in front of the Argonne Forest. In the Meuse-Argonne Offensive the division was heavily engaged from September 26 to October 9. It was during this time that Second Lieutenant Leslie William Horn was critically wounded on October 1, 1918 and died at Field Hospital 109 that same day. The division was relieved October 9 and held a position in the Thiaucourt Sector, Toul until the Armistice, November 11. During all operations the 28 Division took 921 prisoners and suffered 13,980 casualties.
Leslie was buried in Temporary Grave # 18, Plot B, French Military Cemetery, Commune of Aubréville in the Meuse Department, northeastern France. Seven months later on May 8, 1919 his remains were disinterred and reburied in Grave # 20, Section 55, Plot 1, Argonne American Cemetery, Commune of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Department of Meuse.
In October 1919, families of fallen American Soldiers were given the choice of leaving their sons buried in an American Cemetery in Europe with their comrades or bring them home for reburial in a State/National Cemetery or one of their choosing. Blanche and Thomas Horn chose to leave Leslie with his comrades as did approximately 30% of the families facing the same decision. On November 5, 1921, he was disinterred for the final time and reburied in Grave 23, Row 33, Plot A, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. Day is done, God is nigh.
Epilogue: His brother Murray also served in World War I at Camp MacArthur, Texas and did not deploy overseas. Through the US Government Gold Star Mother and Wives pilgrimage program of 1930 to 1933, Blanche was able to visit her son’s grave in France during August and September 1930. Surviving son Murray sent her a telegram, August 18, 1930 care of USS George Washington “Just a parting message to give you my love and wish you a pleasant voyage. My heart goes with you as only a heart can from one who loves you so much. May your whole trip be one of complete satisfaction. I’ll be waiting for your return”.
It was my honor to write this short biography from available documents found. I know it doesn’t start to do Leslie or his family justice but it does keep his memory alive. Lest we forget…Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired.
With the United States declaring war on Germany on April 6, 1917, nearly three years after the World War began in Europe, a national army was needed and the Selective Service Act of 1917 provided for this through conscription. The first of three draft registrations was held on June 5, 1917 for men between the ages of 21 and 30. Leslie now age 24 complied at Precinct # 1 in Saint Louis from his residence in the nearby town of Clayton. He was now employed as a traveling salesman for his father’s company, single and claimed no exemption from the draft. He listed himself as of medium height, slender built, with brown eyes and hair.
His enlistment record shows he was inducted into the Army that same month on the twenty-sixth in Saint Louis. He may well have voluntarily joined with the record being in error. He was assigned to Company M, Fifth Infantry Regiment of the Missouri National Guard and then Company M., 138 Infantry Regiment, 35 Infantry Division that was organized at Camp Doniphan (Fort Sill) Oklahoma, September 1917 from National Guard units from Missouri and Kansas. While there Leslie completed Officers Training School but from some unknown reason he was not commissioned at that time.
Serving in the grade of Sergeant, he and his unit departed the Port of New York on May 3, 1918 aboard the British Liner SS Missanabie. He listed his mother, Mrs. Thomas L. Horn of Clayton, Missouri as his next of kin. Arriving in France via Liverpool, England with some of the first of his division, they were sent to the vicinity of the commune of Eu, department of Somme for training. Sometime after this he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and reassigned to Company D, 110 Infantry Regiment, 28 Infantry Division (Iron Division). Lieutenant Horn’s new division had arrived in France about the same time he had.
In an unfinished letter Leslie wrote to his parents, September 1918 on stationary from the Grand Hotel, Paris, France “Dear Folks, I am still alive and feeling fine, it’s a wonder at that. If I ever get back to dear old U.S.A. I am going to kiss every one of you so much that you will think you were in a gas attack. The Americans are going great things over here as you already know and I have been in the mess, don’t think I’ll ever forget what I’ve gone through over here. Everywhere in Paris, at all the shows you have nothing but Yanks, Sommies, Americans and American Music. Gee it makes you proud to be an American and an officer. My being in Paris is because I am returning from a course in grenades and am proceeding to my division. I don’t think that I’ll have to go back in the trenches for at least 3 weeks as my division is out for a rest. We have been out a little over a week now. The big job I have now is to rebuild my platoon. Of course you couldn’t know what a job that is, but it’s a big one. I notice the papers states that Austria wants a discussion of peace, well they’ll get it a piece of our mind”.
On September 19, 1918 the division took over the sector extending across the Aire Valley and in front of the Argonne Forest. In the Meuse-Argonne Offensive the division was heavily engaged from September 26 to October 9. It was during this time that Second Lieutenant Leslie William Horn was critically wounded on October 1, 1918 and died at Field Hospital 109 that same day. The division was relieved October 9 and held a position in the Thiaucourt Sector, Toul until the Armistice, November 11. During all operations the 28 Division took 921 prisoners and suffered 13,980 casualties.
Leslie was buried in Temporary Grave # 18, Plot B, French Military Cemetery, Commune of Aubréville in the Meuse Department, northeastern France. Seven months later on May 8, 1919 his remains were disinterred and reburied in Grave # 20, Section 55, Plot 1, Argonne American Cemetery, Commune of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Department of Meuse.
In October 1919, families of fallen American Soldiers were given the choice of leaving their sons buried in an American Cemetery in Europe with their comrades or bring them home for reburial in a State/National Cemetery or one of their choosing. Blanche and Thomas Horn chose to leave Leslie with his comrades as did approximately 30% of the families facing the same decision. On November 5, 1921, he was disinterred for the final time and reburied in Grave 23, Row 33, Plot A, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. Day is done, God is nigh.
Epilogue: His brother Murray also served in World War I at Camp MacArthur, Texas and did not deploy overseas. Through the US Government Gold Star Mother and Wives pilgrimage program of 1930 to 1933, Blanche was able to visit her son’s grave in France during August and September 1930. Surviving son Murray sent her a telegram, August 18, 1930 care of USS George Washington “Just a parting message to give you my love and wish you a pleasant voyage. My heart goes with you as only a heart can from one who loves you so much. May your whole trip be one of complete satisfaction. I’ll be waiting for your return”.
It was my honor to write this short biography from available documents found. I know it doesn’t start to do Leslie or his family justice but it does keep his memory alive. Lest we forget…Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired.
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