By Dr. Ted Finkelston

(Our tale from last week left off as Jacob "Jake" Theobald, a Prescott youth drafted into the military to fight in the Great War, was finishing his training in the South of France, ready to take his orders to move to the front line.)

Without really telling his mother his unit had moved to the front, Jake wrote in early August, "Bob's big change is in spirits his like the rest of us getting a bit hard at times, but this life in the trenches will make anyone feel that way at times. We are not dry for a week eat & sleep in mud two feet deep but the Hun will pay for it and before very long." On the back of this letter, he noted, "You should have my ins. policy by this time, but I'll give you my number so if it don't reach you you will be able to collect without it, by the way I feel now it will be in about 100 years." 

A few days later he wrote, "I was watching 6 American airmen last night. They flew over the line twice and we could see shells bursting all around them but the 6 were still together when they returned. This looks like it would be great sport, but I guess no matter what branch one is in he thinks the other fellow has the best."

In late August, he observed dryly, "We have been having a little excitement lately, but are still all here. We stayed in our holes for several hours last night while Fritz was sending his compliments, but went to higher ground until the gas left, but are back today and none the worse, while Fritz has that many fewer shells in his dumps. The worst part of this is having to wear our masks, as so long as we have them on no known gas can bother us." 

At this time, the 89th Division was participating in the successful St. Mihiel Offensive. This offensive drove the Germans from the St. Mihiel Salient that they had held since 1914. 

Also in late August, Jake had some different news for his mother: "I am still at the same job which is a very difficult one owing to my poor eyes and we do most everything after dark, but they have advertised for men of my trade to register with their commander's consent which I have done; and he told me he would try for my transfer." 

Jake turned 24 on August 28 and celebrated by writing several letters home. One of these was to his friend, Dan Seaman, of the 'Prescott Courier'. In the letter, Jake described how the men used their water ration. "While we are in the trenches we have been getting our canteens filled once a day, so if we waste any by washing our faces we must go without a drink the remaining hours of the day. However, with a little practice, this is sufficient, as I washed, shaved, and had plenty left yesterday, and expect to repeat the performance tomorrow. We have orders that no clothes are to be taken off, so I have had my shoes on for over two weeks now, and have been doctoring a boil on my leg, so I wouldn't be surprised if I needed a change in underwear on my arrival back in rest camp." 

The next letter from Jake is dated September 23, and in it he excitedly tells his mother, "We had a great time chasing Huns around France's hills and taking their machine guns from the woods, but when we reached our objective (a town) we having been in rain and mud since we started, were a bit tired and hungry, but thankful that we are fighting such a kind and thoughtful person as the Hun. He evidently knew we would be hungry and dry inside and in his flight he left us storehouses full of his black bread, pickles, honey, a carload of fish and about a weeks' output for St. Louis breweries of beer waiting for us. Believe me we never waited for any orders but started in and while some of us were digging in and making quarters others were rolling kegs of good Lager up to us, but, alas a man with a little bird on his shoulder (a colonel) put a stop to our very much earned feast." 

But Jake had even better news, "The Stars & Stripes sent for my transfer and my commanding officer signed my release and sent it on so as soon as it goes through I will be working in Paris; but this may take some time. Norman French & I met yesterday he looks fine and wants to go over again and help finish our job so we can come back to the good old U.S.A." 

At this point, the 89th Division was engaged in what became known as the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The 89th and other units eventually drove the Germans back from their established trenches and pushed across the Meuse River. 

On October 18, Jake's letter home had none of the enthusiasm or humor of his past writings. He was tired, his transfer had not come through, and he was frustrated with his situation, "This is the first I've written for about a month, but have not been where I could mail anything. I have been feeling fine but have been away from any towns and news is scarce. I guess some of those in positions away back of the lines may tell where they are but France is as close as we are allowed to say, but by watching the papers you can tell where the American forces are. It has been raining here almost steady for over a month and the mud we've been reading about the last four years has become a reality. I have lost everything I left home with now, so I will use that other stuff on my return. I don??_t know why they are asking you women to do all this knitting as aside from a sweater I can't think of anything we could wear on the front. This is all the paper I could find so I'll close with love to all. Jake" 

Then there was silence. Six weeks later on November 30, Jake's mother received the following Western Union telegram, "Deeply regret to inform you that it is officially reported that Private Jacob K Theobald infantry died November sixteenth from wounds received in action". 

One can only wonder at the shock of this telegram, especially since the armistice was proclaimed on November 11. The war was over, and now Jake's family had to cope with this terrible news. 

In December, Mrs. Theobald received a form letter telling her that Jake had been buried at the American Cemetery at Allery, Saone et Loire. The letter, signed by the Chief of Graves Registration, apologized for using a form letter, but noted they were working under great stress to inform families of the fate of their loved ones. The letter went on to say, "You will be comforted in knowing that his body has been recovered, that it lies buried in a spot which is under our care and control, and that there will be no danger of its loss or neglect." 

However, questions remained. How had Jake died? What did the Army mean that his body had been recovered? Where had he died? What had happened to him? 

The family could get no official answers so they took it upon themselves to try to find out what had been the circumstances of Jake's death. They wrote to Bob Smith, Jake's buddy, to see if he could help. 

In January, Smith wrote them from Germany, where he was assigned to the Occupation, "It was a surprise to me for I have heard nothing about it before or can I learn anything so I am in hopes it's a mistake. I saw Jake the night before we started the last drive which was the night of Oct. 31. He was going to the infirmary as he had been slightly gassed but he said he felt fine so I am sure that the gas could not have caused his death. Of course, so many things could have happened after I saw him but I am hoping that it will prove a mistake for we all thought so much of Jake. He and I were great pals and to lose him would be like losing a brother rest assured that I will find out all I can. It is hard for any of us to get word from any of the boys after they have gone to the Hospital but the Co. is notified of all deaths from our CO. Now I will find out all I can and write you again." 

Two months after the family had received the telegram informing them of Jake's death, the American Red Cross sent a letter to Jake's mother that he had died of pneumonia at a hospital near Macon in central France. 

In March, Bob Smith wrote that he had tried to find out what he could and that he had learned that Jake had died in hospital, but he didn't know which hospital. "Now Mrs. Theobald you can rest assured that Jake received a good burial for all the boys that were buried at the Hospital were given the best. They all received new uniforms and were all placed in a casket and were buried as none but a brave soldier should be buried with military honors. We boys over here know how our Mothers over there have suffered and it has been you that were the true soldiers. It is boys like Jake and Mothers like you that the honors go and God will bless each one of you and help you bear your burden. I know when I get back I am going to call on you." 

In April, Bob passed on to Jake's mother a letter he had received from Henry Falk, a mutual friend of Jake's. Falk was going to school near Allerey, France when, "Sgt Keck & I wandered over to a cemetery here where a bunch of Americans are buried and we discovered Jake Theobald's grave. He died on November 18. Is buried at Allerey France, grave number 325. They used to have a large base near here. You mentioned his mother writing to you asking to try and locate where he was buried so thought this may be of some information to you." 

When the war was over, the question of what to do with the American war dead was considered by the War Department. The result was a system by which relatives of soldiers who had died in the war could either have the remains buried in special national cemeteries in Europe, or the remains could be returned to the families in the United States. Of the approximately 77,000 dead, 47,000 were returned to the United States for burial. The Theobald family chose to have Jake's body returned to Prescott for burial. 

On February 14, 1921, the family received a telegram from the Graves Registration Service of the United States Army informing them that the remains of Private Theobald had arrived at Army Piers in Hoboken, N.J. By prior arrangement the body was then to be shipped by rail to the Ruffner Funeral Home in Prescott. The remains would be accompanied by a soldier escort. 

On Saturday, February 26, Jake Theobald's remains arrived at the Santa Fe Depot in Prescott. Two and a half years earlier, Jake and the other draftees from Yavapai County had left this same depot amid cheers and tears. 

This time there were only tears. The military casket, accompanied by Sgt. J. V. Summers of the 53rd infantry, was taken without fanfare to the Ruffner Funeral Home. Arrangements were finalized for burial ceremonies the following day. 

The funeral was held in Ruffner's chapel. The services were organized by the American Legion, with the Rev. C. P. Morris of the First Baptist Church officiating. When the services were over, marching units of the American Legion, Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the firemen of Prescott, the printers' local, and various lodges led the family and a large crowd of mourners to accompany the casket to the Mountain View Cemetery. There the American Legion presented full military honors to Jake as his casket was interred. It was a solemn, but proud crowd that honored Jake Theobald for his sacrifice. 

Jacob Karl Theobald had gone to war with all of the enthusiasm of a young man seeing nothing but the excitement of the moment. It is worth noting that from his first letters addressed to his 'Dear Mama' he grew and matured into a thoughtful young man who experienced all the ravages of war. He had lived in the mud of the trenches, gone 'over the top', been shelled by artillery, liberated towns, and been subjected to poisonous gas attacks. But he never lost his confidence. In his last letters, all he wanted was the war to be over. He wrote in September, "We are headed in the direction which we will stay in and a lot of the boys look for our job to be finished this winter and many say they will eat Christmas dinner home. I'll close for now with love and best wishes to all. Jake" 

(Dr. Ted Finkelston is a retired history professor and a volunteer at the Sharlot Hall Museum Archives.) 

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(pb082f3i4)
Reuse only by permission.
Phoebe Lauer Theobald (above, c1920s) received many letters from her son, Jake, beginning, "Dear Mama." After his death, she received a letter from Bob Smith, a friend of Jake's still in Europe. He wrote, "We boys over here know how our mothers over there have suffered and it has been you that were the true soldiers. It is boys like Jake and mothers like you that the honors go and God will bless each one of you and help you bear your burden."