Private Kent Voyls

Profile
Parents: John Frank and Georgia Voyls
Birth: October 26, 1887, Elizabethtown, Bartholomew County, Indiana
Occupation: Mechanic
Entered service: Jun 24, 1918, Columbus, Indiana
Sent to: Camp Sherman, Ohio; assigned to 7th Co, 2nd Training Battalion, 158th Depot Brigade
Overseas: September 1918
Assigned to: Co L, 319th Infantry
Death: Killed in action Nov 2, 1918, Argonne Forest
Burial: Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France
Survived by three children, Frank, Dorothy, and Raymond Voyls

The Republic
Columbus, Indiana
Monday, December 9, 1918
Page 1

KENT VOYLS IS ONLY LOCAL BOY BATTLE VICTIM

Parents Received Notice Yesterday That He Was Killed in France Nov. 2

KILLED FEW DAYS BEFORE SIGNING OF ARMISTICE

DEAD SOLDIER WAS SENT INTO SERVICE ON JUNE 24 AND LANDED OVERSEAS SEPT. 13-WAS IN EIGHTY-FOURTH DIVISION.

Kent Voyls, 31 years old, is another Bartholomew county boy to make the supreme sacrifice for his country in the war against Germany and the sad part of it is that he was called on to make the sacrifice but a few days before the end of the gigantic struggle. Mr. Voyls is the first Bartholomew county soldier reported killed in action in France. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Voyls, of Elizabethtown, received a telegram yesterday evening from the war department in Washington, informing them that their son was killed in action at the front in France on Nov. 2.

Mr. Voyls, who landed overseas on Sept. 13, was in Company K, 334th regiment of the eighty-fourth division. He was entrained in this city for service on June 24. Besides his parents Mr. Voyls is survived by a divorced wife and three children. He is also survived by two brothers, Virgil Voyls, a baseball pitcher, who was with the Indianapolis team of the American Association last season, but who is now at the home of his parents, and Don Voyls, who is employed by the Peoples Savings & Trust Co. of this city.

Mr. Voyls was well known in Bartholomew county and highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was held in especially high esteem in the Elizabethtown neighborhood in which he lived and the sadly bereaved relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of the community.

Mr. Voyls was a brave and loyal soldier, for he wrote his parents that while stationed at Camp Sherman he was, because of his ability as a mechanic, offered a non-combatant position, but he declined, adding that he was in the war to carry a gun and fight for his country and intended to defend "Old Glory" so long as the war lasted, or he was permitted to live. Then again he wrote his parents that the marching was very hard on his feet, which he was obliged to keep bandaged, and that he was told that if he would notify his superior officer of his condition he would be relieved, but he declined to do so, preferring to bear the hardships and remain in active service.

There were a number of soldiers from the Elizabethtown neighborhood in the Eighty-fourth division but Mr. Voyls finally became separated from all of them, except George Fisher, son of Mrs. Caroline Fisher, of this county, who a few days ago was reported wounded on Nov. 3, or the day following the death of Mr. Voyls. It is expected that the wounded soldier will be able to give the full details of the death of his comrade.

The Republic
Columbus, Indiana
Saturday, April 12, 1919
Page 1

TO HONOR MEMORY OF BOY KILLED IN BATTLE

Kent Voyles, the only Bartholomew county boy killed in action in France, is to be honored April 27 by the Woman's Welfare Club, of Elizabethtown. The club has taken steps to place on the lawn surrounding the clubhouse an elm tree dedicated to him. Young Voyles was an Elizabethtown boy and was killed in action on the battle front. The elm is to grow in sturdy emulation of his heroic sacrifice. A program, including a speaker, in being arranged and will be announced before the day set for the planting of the tree.