100 years ago in The Saratogian
Wednesday, March 12, 1919. The world war ended four months ago yesterday, but today Saratoga Springs learns for the first time that another of its fighting men was killed in action.
George Pappas was one of the first residents to enlist following the U.S. declaration of war against Germany in April 1917. “When he volunteered there was no recruiting office in Saratoga Springs so he went to Schenectady to enlist,” The Saratogian recalls.
While Pappas “made this city home for several years,” the Greek immigrant had no relatives in the U.S. He corresponded with a friend, W. A. Guernsey, who last heard from him in a letter dated September 5.
After the 105th U.S. Infantry regiment returned to the U.S. last week, Guernsey sent another letter out, hoping to get a reply from Pappas. Instead, Private Nicholas G. Marcellos replied from Camp Mills, Long Island, where the regiment is stationed, to inform Guernsey that Pappas was killed on September 29, the bloodiest day of the war for local soldiers, during the Allied attack on the German Hindenburg line.
Coincidentally, Private Michael O’Donnell today becomes the first man from Saratoga County’s Company L to die since the 105th returned to the U.S. O’Donnell, who was gassed in combat, caught cold during the voyage from France. His cold developed into influenza, which claims his life at Hoboken Hospital tonight.
Although he belongs to the Saratoga County company, O’Donnell was not a local resident.
Co. L Appreciates Saratoga’s Greeting
“One of the hardest tasks that a correspondent ever had put up to him is trying to get a war story from troops that have just arrived home,” Saratogian reporter Jesse Cavanaugh, a veteran himself, writes from Camp Mills today.
“Instead of interviewing, one finds himself being interviewed about home and the home folks. They want to hear all the latest gossip as to who is married, and what the opportunities are for work, until a man is too tired even to ask questions.”
One story that Cavanaugh “dragged out of some of the men” is that four local soldiers were personally commended for bravery recently by General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, the supreme commander of American forces in Europe. Pershing reportedly called Anthony Etes, Tracy Brown, Everett Lee and Danny Mahar from the ranks and shook their hands.
However, “the principal topic in the street today is the reception [the soldiers] received at Saratoga Saturday…. They are singing the praises of the Textile musicians and the Hill Drum Corps and declare that the boys make as good music as the Textile girls make candy.”