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| | PVT. FRED ROY
Serial No. 2,983,622
339 Cherry St., Negaunee, Mich.
Private Roy came from the Upper Peninsula and joined the Battery June 25, 1918. Lieut. Gildhart, in the course of his usual evening inspections of the recruits after retreat, asked Fred Roy where he was from. In a choking voice Roy replied he was from Negaunee. The name sounded a little strange to the Lieutenant and when he had questioned another man on the same subject, who, embarrassed for the moment, could not answer him, the Lieutenant said: “Oh! You’re from Negaunee too.” This brought a smothered laugh from all the men present. While Fred did not make a favorable impression at first, the boys all took a friendly liking to him, as be was one who just naturally made himself well liked.
Owing to an accident in one of the mines where he had worked in his home town, he did not physically measure up as a Class 1 A man, but in spite of handicap held his own with all of us.
Shortly after arriving in France Private Roy succumbed to “souveniritis.” Being of an impressionable nature, it seemed the French merchants of these wares could unload anything on him.
While at Coetquidan he was put on special duty and assigned to the Air Corps nearby, where he remained until the Battery moved to the fighting area. He then performed the various arduous duties of a private willingly and conscientiously in the Combat Train.
At Pont-a-Mousson he was always included in the concerts that were given by our intimately famous Battery B quartette. His peculiar nature and unusual doings contributed mirth to the entertainment and he was generous in the use of his gifts in this direction. At all times he was liberal and unselfish toward his comrades. |