Earl Comstock stopped at the museum yesterday morning to visit briefly about this year's Veterans Day program on Nov. 11 at Veterans Memorial Park --- an event that will include recognition of 2021 as the centennial year for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
The tomb in its original form was dedicated on Nov. 11, 1921, then completed in present form during 1931 and early 1932.
That got me to thinking about the return to native soil during 1920 and 1921 of the remains of 12 young men from Lucas County who had been buried initially in France. Twenty-six Lucas Countyans died while in service to their country during that war, eight in combat; the remainder of influenza or other illnesses. Of the 14 who died in France or while en route, two remain buried there --- Fred Culbertson and Oshea Strain.
The remains of Pvt. William B. Pulley (above), 24, of Derby, were the first to be returned to his Lucas County family --- on Oct. 2, 1920. "Willie" had contracted pneumonia after a case of the measles aboard a transport ship en route to France and died as a result at the base hospital in Brest on Oct. 17, 1918, just a month before the German surrender on the first "Armistice Day," Nov. 11, 1918. Derby's William B. Pulley Post No. 343, American Legion, was named in his honor.
But there's an especially poignant twist to this story. William's younger brother, Ernest, age 21, had either been drafted or had enlisted after his brother's death, but was stricken by influenza and could not report for duty on the appointed date. He died at home of complications on Dec. 19, 1918, just two months after his brother. So both were commemorated during services held in Derby on Sunday, Oct. 3, 1920.
The Chariton Herald-Patriot of Oct. 7 reported the arrival of Pvt. William Pulley's remains in Chariton as follows:
The remains of William Pulley, who died in France, arrived in Chariton last Saturday morning on No. 3, and were taken to the Beardsley undertaking parlors. On Sunday afternoon, they were removed to the M.E. church at Derby, where funeral services were held at 3 o'clock, conducted by Rev. S.M. Clark, of Chariton, under the auspices of the American Legion. This was the first body to be returned to Lucas county from France, and due respect was paid to the memory of this young man who laid down his life for his country.
The Chariton Leader's report, also published on Oct. 7, picks up the story of services remembering both young men at the Methodist Church in Derby on Sunday:
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Last Sunday afternoon the people of Derby and surrounding community paid respects to the memory of the one life which, out of fifty-three called from their midst to the service of the country, was exacted in the great cause.
In the same service, another name was honored, that of a brother to the first, whose life passed out at his home after the call to service had been received and he was waiting his turn to go into training. The two young men, William and Ernest Pulley, were sons of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pulley, of Warren township.
Services were held at the Derby M. E. church and conducted by Rev. M. S. Clark, of Chariton, upon the arrival of the body of the son, William, which had been buried for nearly two years in foreign soil, where death occurred.
Ernest Monroe Pulley was born near Derby, Iowa, Jan. 16, 1897, and died at his home on December 19, 1918, aged 21 years, 11 months and 13 days. He was taken with influenza, from which death resulted. Although he was never able to realize the hope of serving his country in uniform, his burial in the Derby cemetery took place with full military honors.
William Barnett Pulley was born near Derby, Iowa, Aug. 3, 1894, and died at Brest, France, Oct. 17, 1918, aged 24 years, 2 months and 15 days.
He grew to manhood near his birthplace, where, in September, 1918, he answered the call to service and was sent to Camp McArthur, Texas. Here he was in training until October, when his company was ordered overseas. While on board the transport he was taken sick with pneumonia.
On landing at Brest his condition made it necessary for him to enter Base Hospital 101, where on the 17th of that month his sickness resulted in death. He was buried in the base cemetery at that place, where services, in full military order, were conducted by his chaplain.
The body, in accordance with the wishes of the family, was taken up as soon as it was found possible to provide for transportation to the states and proper disposition after arrival in New York.
Last month, the giant Leviathan carrying the corpse of William Pulley and several thousand others, started from the St. Nazaire harbor for the United States on what was indeed a sad return for the immediate families and friends all over the country, who had hoped that the fortunes of war might spare this richness of our resources from which was contributed so nobly.
At New York, the bodies for shipment farther west were started and at Chicago, the body of William Pulley came under the escort of Private Harry Yorden, of the Sixth Division, now stationed at Camp Grant, Ill., who accompanied the body here and remained from its arrival on Saturday morning on train No. 3, until after burial on Sunday afternoon.
The services at the church were conducted from Psalms 145-147, which passages have been called the Memorial Psalms. At the grave the service was conducted in military form, about thirty-six ex-servicemen in uniform participating. The pall bearers were Lloyd Connor, Roy Swanson and Leo Leonard, soldiers, and William Bell, Eldon Jones and Clyde Kirkwood, sailors.
The firing squad at the grave was composed of Harry Calhoun, Fred Johnson, Martin Johnson, Lawrence Leonard, Merrill McNay, Howard Henry, Homer George and Fay Jones. Most of these young men entered the service from the section in which William Pulley grew to manhood.
The father, mother, two sisters and one brother, with other relatives and friends, have had the genuine sympathy of the neighborhood.
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The Herald-Patriot report concluded with brief obituaries for both William and Ernest, as follows:
William B. Pulley was born near Derby, Iowa, August 3, 1894, and died October 17, 1918, aged 24 years, 2 months and 15 days. Willie grew to manhood near his birthplace. He answered the call of his country in September, 1918, and was sent to Camp McArthur, Texas, where he was in training until October, when he was sent overseas. While on board ship he was taken with pneumonia. When landed in France he was taken to Base Hospital 101 where he died October 17, 1918. He was buried in Base Cemetery, the funeral being conducted with full military honors, the chaplain reading the service at the grave.
Ernest Moore Pulley was born in Lucas county, Iowa, near Derby on January 16, 1897, and died at his home on December 19, 1918, aged 21 years, 11 months and 3 days. His boyhood was spent near his birthplace where he made many friends. He had answered the call of his country, but was unable to report for duty on account of sickness. During his illness with the flu he was very patient and resigned. When the end came, his last words were: "Papa let me go and smooth things over with my Lord." Funeral services were held at the house conducted by Rev. Clark. Burial was made in the Derby cemetery.
The image of William Pulley that introduces this post is from the Lucas County Historical Society collection. The photograph of the tombstone was contributed to Find A Grave by Larry Storm.
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