The Protection Post, March 20, 1919 .
MEMORIAL FOR ARLO MOORE
On Sunday afternoon, March 30th, the Protection Odd Fellows lodge will hold a memorial service in honor of their fellow member, Arlo F. Moore, who gave up his life while in the service of his country in France. The service will be an open meeting to which the general public is invited, the meeting to be held at the Methodist church.
The following program has been arranged:
Song, America
Prayer
Song, In the Haven of Rest
Scripture Reading
Sermon, Rev. Corey
Quartet, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere
I. O. O. F. Memorial Service
Song, Nearer, My God, to Thee.
Benediction.
The Protection Post, April 3, 1919.
FROM A FRIEND OF ARLO F. MOORE The letter which we reprint below was received a few days ago by Mrs. Arlo Moore from a radio operator who was in the same school with Arlo and who was also placed in the same unit and departed for France on the same boat. Here is the letter:
Dear Mrs. Moore,
Am a very poor letter writer, and even worse penman, but as I am anxious to give you ever bit of information that I possess, am going to ask your indulgence for this typewritten letter.Last summer Arlo and I met at Ft. Leavenworth for the first time. We had both been railroad telegraphers and happened to be in the same school, same company, same barracks training as radio operators. During the few weeks there, we worked wireless sets together a great deal, and became very close friends.
About the first of September, he and I were among a class of about fifty radio men selected as qualified to go overseas, and were put into a battalion of "special" men to go to France to replace causalities in Combat divisions. After we left school, and joined the new battalion, we became even greater friends than ever, because nearly all of the boys were strangers to us, and naturally the few of us that had gone through school together felt like old friends. Our trip to Camp Merritt, N. J., was uneventful, and we enjoyed it very much. We had expected at least two weeks preparation before embarking, but upon arrival at Merritt, found that we were to embark almost immediately. Arlo and I were assigned the task of making out naturalization papers for five or six boys in our battalion who had to become citizens of the U. S. A. before they could be permitted to go overseas. This occupied our time for the two days we were in camp, and we had a lot of fun in doing it.
Finally everything was ready, and one morning about 1:30 a.m. we were quietly assembled and started to hike over the Hudson River, about five miles away. We carried full packs, and not being used to them the trip proved a tough one on all of us, and when we finally arrived at the Hudson River (where we boarded a ferry boat direct to our ship at Hoboken Docks) several of the boys were about "all in." by daylight we were going up the gang plank of the "Princess Matoika," the transport that was to take us to France. A few hours later we were out to sea.
As soon as we got settled on the boat, Arlo complained to me of having very bad abdominal pains, and expressed the fear of carrying his pack over to the river had caused a reoccurrence of an old trouble. He reported to the Sick Bay on the ship at once, and the Medical Officer put several mustard plasters on his abdomen, but I do not believe that did much good.
Conditions on the ship were terrible. The meals were very poor, and only two a day. Sleeping conditions were inadequate and very crowded. Arlo and I occupied adjoining bunks on the entire trip, and spent almost the entire day together. Time dragged very heavy on our hands, and we felt quite lonesome, and we both thought and talked a great deal of the "girl we had left behind."
When we had been at sea ten days an epidemic of measles, spinalmengitis and pneumonia broke out on the ship and almost half of the soldiers on board were sick. A great many of them died, and for the balance of the trip (6 days) we had burials at sea every day. Arlo and I were both half sick and very despondent, and one day made an agreement that if anything happened to one of us, that the other would send the word back home.
In addition to having what I now know was influenza, but what the doctors thought was something else, Arlo still had those terrible pains.
On the seventeenth day, we came in sight of St. Nazaire, France, and we all began to feel jubilant again. Arlo felt better than he had felt on the whole trip and though he would be all right when he got on land again. However there was delay getting in the harbor, and we did not really start to unload until about 2 a.m. Many of the boys (probably a thousand) were in no physical condition to march and carry their packs, so word was passed around that only those who felt able to carry their packs need to try it, and that ambulances would be provided for the balance. In the meantime, Arlo had felt quite sick, and I prevailed upon him not to try to make the hike, but to go up to the Camp in an ambulance, and he finally consented.
So about 2 a.m. on Oct. 17th, I bade Arlo farewell, and went off the ship and started to march for our new camp with the battalion.
Arlo's condition must have become much worse, for the ambulance took him direct to Base Hospital No. 101, during the morning, instead of direct to our camp as we had both expected. All day I expected him to arrive, but when he did not show up, I made inquiry and found that he had gone to one of the many hospitals, nobody could tell me at the time, which one, and we being in strict quarantine, prevented me from going to each Hospital to make a search. I knew however, that the hospitals were all the best that could be provided, and felt he was well being taken care of. We boys at the camp were having new troubles and hardships, it rained ever since we landed, and we were sleeping on the ground in very poor pup tents, something entirely new to us.
Finally on Oct. 12th, the quarantine on us was lifted and preparation was being made to move us up towards the front, so I got permission to make a trip to each hospital, and then learned that it was to base Hospital No. 101 that Arlo had gone, St. Nazaire, France, and that he had passed away at 4:15 a.m. Oct. 10th, 1918 of pneumonia.
Burial with full military honors had taken place the day previous to my visit, in the beautiful and peaceful military cemetery over looking the Harbor of St. Nazaire on one side, and the historic old Loire River on the other.
It was with a heavy heart that I stood beside the little wood cross bearing the name of "CORPORAL ARLO FRANCIS MOORE" and realized that you had lost a good and true lover, and I, a noble and gallant comrade.
Our battalion left St. Nazaire that same day, and we journeyed on to the Front, where we remained until the end of the War, and where I lost many more brave comrades.
We arrived back in New York about ten days ago, and I was discharged immediately, coming directly home. It is needless to say that I am mighty happy to be back again.
Base Hospital No. 101 is an excellent one, and I know that Arlo received every attention there until the end.
Mrs. Smith joins me in extending our profound sympathy to you in your great sorrow.
Sincerely yours,
O. E. SmithObituary: Arlo MOORE
Surnames: Hale, Moore & Taylor.November 22, 1918:
Arlo Moore.Charles W. Moore, father of Arlo Moore.
Laura Belle (Taylor) Moore, mother of Arlo Moore.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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