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January 2, 2009

Oroville Daily Register
October 18, 1918
“ Some Gave All”
Jesse Dorser Gives His Life To Country

The news was received in Oroville yesterday of the death of Pvt. Jesse Dorser of this city. Death occurred at Fort McDowell and was occasioned by pneumonia. Despite the fact that he had suffered the loss of four fingers in a saw mill accident, Pvt. Dorser made repeated attempts to join the colors and finally was accepted for limited service. He left here for Camp McDowell. He has been critically ill for some days, and hope of his recovery was abandoned yesterday. Dorser leaves a mother, a sister and a brother who reside in the Howe addition. Funeral arrangements have not been made.

Oroville Daily Register
November 1918
“Some Gave All”
Lieutenant Faul Succumbs to Influenza

Lieut. Charles Faul, familiarly and affectionately know to hundreds of friends here as “Chic” Faul, died yesterday at Camp Mills, New York, from influenza. News of his serious illness was received here during the middle of the week. It was hoped, however, that his magnificent physique would be able to combat the disease. Lieut. Faul was born and reared in Oroville. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Faul. When the United States entered the war, he at once enlisted with Company I, and went to Camp Kearney. His aptitude for military matters attracted attention and he was recommended for an officers training camp. There he won his commission, and was appointed as a second lieutenant. Lieut. Faul was transferred to Camp Mills, where he contracted influenza. It was thought that he was recovering when he suffered a relapse and his condition grew daily more critical until death came. Lieut. Faul is survived by his mother and father and by his brother, Alvin Faul, to whom the sympathy of the community goes out in their great bereavement. The remains will be brought to Oroville for internment.

November 18, 1918
Oroville Dailey Mercury
Funeral of Lieut. On Wed.
The remains of Lieut. Charles Faul arrived from Camp Mills over the Western Pacific last night. They were accompanied by a brother lieutenant. In addition to members of the family, the train was met by representatives of the Home Service Department of the Red Cross and by color bearers of the Relief Corps. The funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 3 o’clock from the Congregational church. (In the Old Oroville Cemetery is the grave of Lieutenant Charles Faul. He died in 1918 at the end of WWI from the influenza outbreak. From clipping given to me by James Lenoff).

Marne Drives
C. O. Dodge, of the Mercury force, has received a letter from his son, Sergeant Neal E. Dodge, who is an expert radio operator with the 322nd Field Signal Battalion, in which he states that he was stationed as far in the front as it was possible to work his instruments in both the St. Michiel and the Marne drives. The shells were falling uncomfortable thick and close to his station. He was at the writing of the letter, back at one of the rest camps.

Stu’s Notes: Jesse Dorser gives his life to Country. He didn’t die in the War he didn’t even make it “Over There” but he volunteered and would have gone if his Country wanted. He will be honored in Stone for that. The phrase “to join the colors” could be related to the way soldiers fought so long ago, more so even before the Great War. The call “rally around the Flag Boys” meant a lot on the Battle Field before modern communications. The flag, in America’s case the Stars and Stripes and also company flags were carried on the field of battle. Men could see where they should be. I read that when a soldier went down another would grab the flag and carry on the charge. In some big battles of our Civil War the Flag would go down many times, always to be carried on by another brave young man. Lt. Charles Faull’s story is a lot like that of Jesse Dorser. The Great Influenza epidemic of 1918 was said to have claimed 25 million lives world wide. Over 1 million in America, sadly it could happen again. The Battle of the Marne, like most WWI battles, was mass slaughter on both sides. The weapons of war were so advanced that many thought war would never happen again. How wrong they were. Most of my WWI stories were found by Jan Rose Bales and Joan Lee (Van Campen) with help by local historian James Lenoff and the Oroville Daily Mercury and the Oroville Daily Register.