Memorial services for Harold Shaeffer the son of John Abraham and Rosalie L Carman Schaeffer, the first Storm Lake boy to lose his life in the great fight for democracy, were arranged to be held on last Sunday afternoon at the Christian church, but were later postponed on account of the illness of Mrs. J. A Shaeffer, the hero's mother. A later date will be set. The brief telegram from the war department stated that Corporal Harold Shaeffer had lost his life on July 31. Th e first intimation that the parents or people of this city had following lines, in that any misfortune had befallen Harold was a letter from Corporal Lawrence McCulla of Company M, Cherokee, who reported the death in battle of four of his comrades. Thus far the war department had not announced the death of Harold and distracted relatives and friends were anxiously waiting for news of the confirmation of the report. As no recent letter from their son had been received, the telegram to the parents, was daily expected. Harold Stanley Shaeffer was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Shaeffer of this city. On September 10, 1896, he was born in Urbana, Ill. When he was three years of age the parents moved to Newell, Iowa and he completed his eighth grade education in the Newell schools. Five years ago the family moved to Storm Lake and previous to Harold's joining the army he was employed by R. H. Moon and in the Foster & Sons store. When the National Guard organization was ordered to mobilize to go to the border at the outbreak of the Mexican trouble, Harold wanted to enlist. He followed the troop train to Des Moines and there enlisted for service. While on the border he won a medal as a crack sharp shooter. For two months on his sojourn on the border he was ill with malaria fever and he never fully regained his former robust health. Harold returned on March 23, 1917, from the border and in July was ordered to camp. The United States meantime having declared war on Germany. Harold was one of seventeen members of Company M to be chosen for immediate service in France and he left on the troop train for Camp Dodge, August 24, 1917. On September 10 the division was transferred to Camp Mills, L. I. and from there sailed on the President Grant for France, October 18. It will be recalled that engine trouble resulted in the return of the transport, and the second voyage across was begun on November 14, which was successful in reaching the other side in safety. After a short sojourn in England the Rainbow division, now famous, was sent to France. The first date of actual fighting which was participated in by the Americans on March 5.

Source: Storm Lake Pilot Tribune, September 27,1918