Ralph De Witte Waugh (1889-1918)

WAUGH, RALPH DE WITTE--PRIVATE
Son of Joseph M. and Sarah Waugh; born November 4, 1889, Columbia City, Ind. Farmer. Entered service August 5, 1918, Columbia City, Ind. Sent to Camp Syracuse, N.Y.; assigned to 59th Company, 15th Battalion, Provisional Training Corps. Died of pneumonia October 1, 1918, Camp Syracuse, Oswego, N.Y. Buried in Blue River Cemetery, Whitley County, Ind.

Gold Star Honor Roll: A Record of Indiana Men and Women Who Died in The Service of the United States and The Allied Nations in The World War 1914-1918 (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Commission, 1921) Page 721. Contributed by Meredith Thompson.

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, October 2, 1918

The very sad news of the death of Private Ralph Waugh reached his father, Joseph Waugh, in this city late Tuesday afternoon. Word was received by the parents Sunday evening that the young man was seriously ill from plural pneumonia and his mother and brother, Bert, made arrangements to go to his bedside and left this city Monday afternoon. It is not known whether they had arrived before the end came or not. It is thought they had not arrived as the messages inquired whether the remains should be sent here or buried at that place. The dispatch state that death occurred at 12:45 Tuesday noon.

Ralph Waugh was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Waugh, of Thorncreek township, and was born November 4, 1889, where his parents now reside. He was a hard working young man and always assisted with the farm work at home and also has a good hand, willing to help out the neighbors at all times. His name appeared in the 1917 draft, but he wished to go in as a volunteer but was unable to pass the examination for general service on the account of his weight. He was taken August 5th as a limited service man and was sent to Syracuse, where he was assigned to duty as a fireman and as a guardsman. He later took the examination again and successfully passed and was sent to Oswego, N. Y., where he was assigned general military service. He was in the supply depot brigade but was expecting to sail in the near future, but as the Spanish influenza epidemic broke out in that place his company was held up.

He is survived by his parents and five brothers, namely, Lee, Bert, William and Paul, of Thorncreek township, and Joe, of California. He was a member of the Odd Fellow lodge in this city and was a faithful attender and a hard lodge worker.