Charles H. Bock was born February 18, 1882, in the town of Bull City, Osborne County, Kansas, which was renamed Alton in 1885.
Alton Empire newspaper
10 April 1902, Page One
Fate of Charlie Bock.
Mano, Samar, P. I. Feb. 10, 1902
To the beloved mother of Private Chas. Bock, Co. L, 1st U. S. Inft.
Dear Madam, It becomes my duty as a soldier and comrade of Private Chas. Bock, to impart to you the sad information that he is no more.
It seems that Private Bock’s parents have not been officially notified of his untimely death, which we, his comrades so much regretted, as he was a diligent and vigilant soldier in his duties, and that is saying a great deal of a man.
I, as sargeant, assumed command of Weyler, Samar, Sept. 10, 1901, having under my command a detachment of fifteen men, one of these was Private Chas. Bock. During the whole time I never had to reprimand Private Bock in any way whatever. He always did his duty as a soldier. Poor boy, he seemed destined to an ill fate. On the afternoon of October, 10, 1901, he was taken suddenly ill, and refused to eat supper. He did not do guard duty that night. The next morning, October 17th, we were awakened by the popping of insurrectionists’ cannon and rifle. An assault was made on our quarters by bolomen, who are aimed with large knives resembling acorn knife, which are very destructive when in close combat, but we were warned the night before that they were coming and so we barred the doors. If we had been in the native “Nipa” huts, the probability is that none would have lived to tell the narrative. Firing had been going on for a few minutes, and as I came from my room a pleading voice came from the bed where Bock lay. ‘“Boys,” said he, “I’m done for. I’m shot.” Someone spoke of leaving the building, as it was thought they were trying to blow it p – they were firing up through the floor. Bock cried out; “What are you going to do with me, Boys? Are you going to desert me?” I assured him that we would not desert him. I knew he was wounded badly from the groans that came from him. After a few moments I asked him if he was badly wounded but not another word came from his lips.
We could do nothing for him until after the firing was over and the enemy driven off, then we lit a candle, as it was yet dark, and had water brought. I bathed his face and dressed his wound, which was through his back bone, coming out, ranging upwards under the right nipple. He was shot at about 4:45 and died at 5:49 a. m. We were preparing to send him to this place when we were fired on from the hills in the rear of the town. The firing lasted all day. We did not bury him until the next morning, the 18th. A detachment of twenty-five men came in to relieve me. When the firing ceased we dug a grave and buried him, wrapped in a blanket, the best we had. He was laid to rest with military honors, as far as circumstances would permit. We all joined in the Lord’s: Prayer with Lieutenant Delaphane, Co. H., 26th Inf.. Concluding the simple ceremony with, “may his soul rest in peace.” The enemy left three dead and one wounded; he said there were over on hundred in all. I left that night for this place. I have been told since that Private Bock’s grave is nicely covered with sea shells. It lies close by the beach.
We the comrades of Charles Bock, express our sincerest regret at the loss of his life while so gallantly trying to defend our country in a rightful cause. We extend our entire sympathy to his bereaved mother and loved ones.
Be still sad heart an cease repining,
Behind the clouds the sun is shining;
Thy fate is the fate of all—
Into life some rain must fall,
Some days be dark and dreary.
U. S. Merriweather,
Sargt., Co. L. 1st U.S. Inf.
Private Bock was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery in 1903.
Alton Empire newspaper
10 April 1902, Page One
Fate of Charlie Bock.
Mano, Samar, P. I. Feb. 10, 1902
To the beloved mother of Private Chas. Bock, Co. L, 1st U. S. Inft.
Dear Madam, It becomes my duty as a soldier and comrade of Private Chas. Bock, to impart to you the sad information that he is no more.
It seems that Private Bock’s parents have not been officially notified of his untimely death, which we, his comrades so much regretted, as he was a diligent and vigilant soldier in his duties, and that is saying a great deal of a man.
I, as sargeant, assumed command of Weyler, Samar, Sept. 10, 1901, having under my command a detachment of fifteen men, one of these was Private Chas. Bock. During the whole time I never had to reprimand Private Bock in any way whatever. He always did his duty as a soldier. Poor boy, he seemed destined to an ill fate. On the afternoon of October, 10, 1901, he was taken suddenly ill, and refused to eat supper. He did not do guard duty that night. The next morning, October 17th, we were awakened by the popping of insurrectionists’ cannon and rifle. An assault was made on our quarters by bolomen, who are aimed with large knives resembling acorn knife, which are very destructive when in close combat, but we were warned the night before that they were coming and so we barred the doors. If we had been in the native “Nipa” huts, the probability is that none would have lived to tell the narrative. Firing had been going on for a few minutes, and as I came from my room a pleading voice came from the bed where Bock lay. ‘“Boys,” said he, “I’m done for. I’m shot.” Someone spoke of leaving the building, as it was thought they were trying to blow it p – they were firing up through the floor. Bock cried out; “What are you going to do with me, Boys? Are you going to desert me?” I assured him that we would not desert him. I knew he was wounded badly from the groans that came from him. After a few moments I asked him if he was badly wounded but not another word came from his lips.
We could do nothing for him until after the firing was over and the enemy driven off, then we lit a candle, as it was yet dark, and had water brought. I bathed his face and dressed his wound, which was through his back bone, coming out, ranging upwards under the right nipple. He was shot at about 4:45 and died at 5:49 a. m. We were preparing to send him to this place when we were fired on from the hills in the rear of the town. The firing lasted all day. We did not bury him until the next morning, the 18th. A detachment of twenty-five men came in to relieve me. When the firing ceased we dug a grave and buried him, wrapped in a blanket, the best we had. He was laid to rest with military honors, as far as circumstances would permit. We all joined in the Lord’s: Prayer with Lieutenant Delaphane, Co. H., 26th Inf.. Concluding the simple ceremony with, “may his soul rest in peace.” The enemy left three dead and one wounded; he said there were over on hundred in all. I left that night for this place. I have been told since that Private Bock’s grave is nicely covered with sea shells. It lies close by the beach.
We the comrades of Charles Bock, express our sincerest regret at the loss of his life while so gallantly trying to defend our country in a rightful cause. We extend our entire sympathy to his bereaved mother and loved ones.
Be still sad heart an cease repining,
Behind the clouds the sun is shining;
Thy fate is the fate of all—
Into life some rain must fall,
Some days be dark and dreary.
U. S. Merriweather,
Sargt., Co. L. 1st U.S. Inf.
Private Bock was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery in 1903.
Charles H. Bock was born February 18, 1882, in the town of Bull City, Osborne County, Kansas, which was renamed Alton in 1885.
Alton Empire newspaper
10 April 1902, Page One
Fate of Charlie Bock.
Mano, Samar, P. I. Feb. 10, 1902
To the beloved mother of Private Chas. Bock, Co. L, 1st U. S. Inft.
Dear Madam, It becomes my duty as a soldier and comrade of Private Chas. Bock, to impart to you the sad information that he is no more.
It seems that Private Bock’s parents have not been officially notified of his untimely death, which we, his comrades so much regretted, as he was a diligent and vigilant soldier in his duties, and that is saying a great deal of a man.
I, as sargeant, assumed command of Weyler, Samar, Sept. 10, 1901, having under my command a detachment of fifteen men, one of these was Private Chas. Bock. During the whole time I never had to reprimand Private Bock in any way whatever. He always did his duty as a soldier. Poor boy, he seemed destined to an ill fate. On the afternoon of October, 10, 1901, he was taken suddenly ill, and refused to eat supper. He did not do guard duty that night. The next morning, October 17th, we were awakened by the popping of insurrectionists’ cannon and rifle. An assault was made on our quarters by bolomen, who are aimed with large knives resembling acorn knife, which are very destructive when in close combat, but we were warned the night before that they were coming and so we barred the doors. If we had been in the native “Nipa” huts, the probability is that none would have lived to tell the narrative. Firing had been going on for a few minutes, and as I came from my room a pleading voice came from the bed where Bock lay. ‘“Boys,” said he, “I’m done for. I’m shot.” Someone spoke of leaving the building, as it was thought they were trying to blow it p – they were firing up through the floor. Bock cried out; “What are you going to do with me, Boys? Are you going to desert me?” I assured him that we would not desert him. I knew he was wounded badly from the groans that came from him. After a few moments I asked him if he was badly wounded but not another word came from his lips.
We could do nothing for him until after the firing was over and the enemy driven off, then we lit a candle, as it was yet dark, and had water brought. I bathed his face and dressed his wound, which was through his back bone, coming out, ranging upwards under the right nipple. He was shot at about 4:45 and died at 5:49 a. m. We were preparing to send him to this place when we were fired on from the hills in the rear of the town. The firing lasted all day. We did not bury him until the next morning, the 18th. A detachment of twenty-five men came in to relieve me. When the firing ceased we dug a grave and buried him, wrapped in a blanket, the best we had. He was laid to rest with military honors, as far as circumstances would permit. We all joined in the Lord’s: Prayer with Lieutenant Delaphane, Co. H., 26th Inf.. Concluding the simple ceremony with, “may his soul rest in peace.” The enemy left three dead and one wounded; he said there were over on hundred in all. I left that night for this place. I have been told since that Private Bock’s grave is nicely covered with sea shells. It lies close by the beach.
We the comrades of Charles Bock, express our sincerest regret at the loss of his life while so gallantly trying to defend our country in a rightful cause. We extend our entire sympathy to his bereaved mother and loved ones.
Be still sad heart an cease repining,
Behind the clouds the sun is shining;
Thy fate is the fate of all—
Into life some rain must fall,
Some days be dark and dreary.
U. S. Merriweather,
Sargt., Co. L. 1st U.S. Inf.
Private Bock was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery in 1903.
Alton Empire newspaper
10 April 1902, Page One
Fate of Charlie Bock.
Mano, Samar, P. I. Feb. 10, 1902
To the beloved mother of Private Chas. Bock, Co. L, 1st U. S. Inft.
Dear Madam, It becomes my duty as a soldier and comrade of Private Chas. Bock, to impart to you the sad information that he is no more.
It seems that Private Bock’s parents have not been officially notified of his untimely death, which we, his comrades so much regretted, as he was a diligent and vigilant soldier in his duties, and that is saying a great deal of a man.
I, as sargeant, assumed command of Weyler, Samar, Sept. 10, 1901, having under my command a detachment of fifteen men, one of these was Private Chas. Bock. During the whole time I never had to reprimand Private Bock in any way whatever. He always did his duty as a soldier. Poor boy, he seemed destined to an ill fate. On the afternoon of October, 10, 1901, he was taken suddenly ill, and refused to eat supper. He did not do guard duty that night. The next morning, October 17th, we were awakened by the popping of insurrectionists’ cannon and rifle. An assault was made on our quarters by bolomen, who are aimed with large knives resembling acorn knife, which are very destructive when in close combat, but we were warned the night before that they were coming and so we barred the doors. If we had been in the native “Nipa” huts, the probability is that none would have lived to tell the narrative. Firing had been going on for a few minutes, and as I came from my room a pleading voice came from the bed where Bock lay. ‘“Boys,” said he, “I’m done for. I’m shot.” Someone spoke of leaving the building, as it was thought they were trying to blow it p – they were firing up through the floor. Bock cried out; “What are you going to do with me, Boys? Are you going to desert me?” I assured him that we would not desert him. I knew he was wounded badly from the groans that came from him. After a few moments I asked him if he was badly wounded but not another word came from his lips.
We could do nothing for him until after the firing was over and the enemy driven off, then we lit a candle, as it was yet dark, and had water brought. I bathed his face and dressed his wound, which was through his back bone, coming out, ranging upwards under the right nipple. He was shot at about 4:45 and died at 5:49 a. m. We were preparing to send him to this place when we were fired on from the hills in the rear of the town. The firing lasted all day. We did not bury him until the next morning, the 18th. A detachment of twenty-five men came in to relieve me. When the firing ceased we dug a grave and buried him, wrapped in a blanket, the best we had. He was laid to rest with military honors, as far as circumstances would permit. We all joined in the Lord’s: Prayer with Lieutenant Delaphane, Co. H., 26th Inf.. Concluding the simple ceremony with, “may his soul rest in peace.” The enemy left three dead and one wounded; he said there were over on hundred in all. I left that night for this place. I have been told since that Private Bock’s grave is nicely covered with sea shells. It lies close by the beach.
We the comrades of Charles Bock, express our sincerest regret at the loss of his life while so gallantly trying to defend our country in a rightful cause. We extend our entire sympathy to his bereaved mother and loved ones.
Be still sad heart an cease repining,
Behind the clouds the sun is shining;
Thy fate is the fate of all—
Into life some rain must fall,
Some days be dark and dreary.
U. S. Merriweather,
Sargt., Co. L. 1st U.S. Inf.
Private Bock was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery in 1903.
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