Private Wilbur Anderson Guthrie

Profile
Parents: Irwin and Daisy Wolfinger Gurthrie
Birth: January 1, 1898, Nashville, Indiana
Moved to: Columbus, Indiana in 1906
Enlisted in: US reg Army April 14, 1917, Columbus, Indiana
Sent to: Ft. Thomas, Kentucky
Assigned to: Co. K, 11th Infantry.
Transferred to: Ft. Douglas, Arizona
Thence to: Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia
Embarked: overseas February 19, 1918
assigned to Co F 315th Infantry
Death: Killed in action November 6, 1918, near Verdun, France
Burial: Commune of Consenvoye, Meuse, France

The Republic
Columbus, Indiana
Monday, January 13, 1919
Page 4

ENLISTED TO BE NEAR BROTHER

Wilbur A. Guthrie, Son of Mrs. John Wolfinger, Killed in Action on November 6

MADE ARMY RECORD AN EXCELLENT MARKSMAN

HAD TWO BORTHERS IN SERVICE, ON OF WHOM IS RETURNING FROM FRANCE-NOTICE OF HIS DEATH WAS LONG DELAYED.

Mrs. Daisy Wolfinger, wife of John Wolfinger, of Wilson street, received a telegram Saturday evening from the war department, informing her that her son, Wilbur A. Guthrie, 21 years old, was killed in action in France on November 6. The dead soldier's father is Irvin Guthrie, of this city. Besides his parents he is survived by two brothers, Raymond and Wayne Buthrie.

Raymond Guthrie was also in the American expeditionary forces in France, but he is reported to be on his return to the United States to be discharged from the service. The other brother was in an officers' training school at Camp Zachary Taylor, Ky., where he was given a commission, but he has been discharged from the service and is now attending Indiana University.

Following is a copy of the telegram received:

"Mrs. Daisy Wolfinger, 622 Wilson street, Columbus, Ind.,
"Deeply regret to inform you that Private Wilbur A. Guthrie, infantry, is officially reported killed in action, November 6.
HARRIS.
"Adjutant General."
This is one of the very sad cases of delated information as a Christmas box and many letters have been sent to the soldier by his mother, who has suffered long suspense because of not having heard from him, as he, had always been so regular and prompt with his letters.

Private Wilbur A. Guthrie and his brother, Sergeant Ray Guthrie, enlisted in the regular army in this city on March 2, 1917. He enlisted at the time because his younger brother, Ray, insisted upon joining the army and he wished to be with him in the service and had the promise that they would be kept together in the service, but this promise was not kept. However, he was cheerful and happy in his army service, and must have given a good account of himself as he won the prize over all his regiment as a marksman and was receiving $8 per month extra pay ever the private because of his marksmanship.

The soldier was born January 1, 1898, and enlisted March 2, 1917. He went from Columbus to Fort Thomas, Ky. From there he went to Fort Douglas, Ariz., and from there was transferred to Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and from there to Camp Merritt, N.J. From there he sailed for France landing there March 20, 1918. He was in the 41st division and participated in all the fierce fighting of that division, remaining unscathed until on November 6, when he made the last and supreme sacrifice.

He left surviving him, his mother, step-father, and brothers above mentioned, and some younger children by his mother's second marriage, his father, Irwin Guthrie, of this city, and he was a grandson of Anderson Perceifield, of Nashville, Ind.

Private Guthrie was a noble son and grandson, and he fell a sacrifice that liberty might live and be extended throughout the earth.