Looking Back: Two heroic doughboys remembered
A 1920 newspaper clipping offered on eBay and a heartfelt tribute found in a 92-year-old book provide brief glimpses of two local heroes from the First World War.
One died on the battlefield while the other continued to inspire others long after the war ended by overcoming grievous injuries.
Despite losing both legs on the front lines, World War I veteran Robert S. Fletcher shows a big grin in a photo from the Sunday, June 13, 1920, edition of The Kansas City Journal. That photo and clipping were offered recently on eBay, the online auction site.
Headlined "Legless Swimmer," the accompanying article explains that the Plainview soldier was then at Walter Reed Hospital - the Army medical center in Washington, D.C. - after having both his legs amputated at the trunk.
The reason for his huge grin is explained in the next couple of lines: "In a swimming and diving contest in the hospital pool, Fletcher won the high honors. He gave an exhibition of swimming and diving that astonished the spectators."
The article explained that Fletcher "lost his legs in a front line trench and was expected to die."
But those initial assessments couldn't have been more wrong.
"His feats in the water brought suggestions for a circus career," the newspaper reported, "but he said that when he is able to leave the army hospital he will return to Texas and run a ranch. He is sure he will find some way to ride a horse and ‘keep up with the procession.' "
Mary Lee Cox, in her 1937 book "The History of Hale County, Texas," notes that Fletcher, a second lieutenant in the 142nd Infantry, 36th Division, was decorated for his gallantry by the French Army. He received the Croix de Guerre with gilt star, under Order No. 15,340 "D," dated April 3, 1919.
The award citation noted: "An officer of great bravery. He led his men on during a long advance, encouraging them by his boldness and intrepidity. He reached all the objectives that had been assigned to him."
It's unclear if Fletcher was ever able to return to Texas and become a rancher. He's not listed among the various Fletchers in local telephone directories from the 1920s and his name is missing from the Hi-Plains Genealogical Society's Hale County Cemetery Records database.
Another local lieutenant, Robert Weakley Brahan Jr., was among the boys who didn't come home again. His story is contained in the 1919 book "History of Texas World War Heroes," published by Army & Navy History Co., of Dallas.
The son of Mrs. E. Brahan, he left the University of Texas when war was declared and entered the First Officers' Training School at Leon Springs.
Shortly after his 21st birthday, Brahan received a commission as second lieutenant and was assigned to the 158th Infantry, 40th Division. He became a first lieutenant the day before his death on Sept. 29, 1918.
Brahan trained at Camp Kearney, Calif., until going overseas in August 1918. After arriving in France he was transferred to Co. 1, 372nd Infantry, 92nd Division, which was at the front. It was while leading his company "over the top" of the trenches in the Champagne sector that he was killed.
Excerpts from a letter written by one of his fellow officers describes what happened.
"My company was about 200 yards in the rear of his, and I was almost on top of him in the rush before I saw him. I thought at first that he was gone, but I stopped to see, and found him riddled with bullets. He was alive and asked for water, which I gave him: then I looked after his wounds as best I could, until the stretcher bearers arrived. He was brave and gave no sign of pain, nor did he even groan, while he looked as though he was in the misery that no man could undergo.
"He shook my hand and said ‘goodbye,' dying a few minutes afterward. He asked me to take his gun, as he knew mine was no good. His parting injunction was to ‘take mine and get them: they got me.' "
Brahan's major wrote, "I was very fond of the large-hearted boy, a man through and through. I took occasion to watch him in my battalion, and knew I could depend on him to do his duty. He never flinched nor faltered, and you have need to be proud of him just as we were."
The lieutenant was a direct descendant of Brig. Gen. John Brahan, who served under Gen. Andrew Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans.