Cadet Aviator Henry Elkanah Cobb
ProfileParents: John J. and Ella O. Cobb
Birth: June 29, 1889; Seymour, Indiana
Education: Purdue University, and at his enlistment, he was supervisor of Manual Training in the Public Schools of Elgin, Ill.
Entered: Military School for Aeronautics, Cornell University; Nov. 8, 1917.
Graduation: February 16, 1918.
Sent to: Ellington Field, Texas
Death: pneumonia, April 23, 1918.
Burial: Riverview Cemetery, Seymour, Indiana
The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Saturday, November 24, 1917
Page 3
HENRY COBB PASSES TEST FOR AVIATION WITH HONORS
Former Seymour Boy Wins First Rank in Examination Test for Flying Corps.
Henry E. Cobb, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Cobb, of this city and a graduate of the Seymour high school, has passed the examination for the aviation corps with highest honors. He writes an interesting letter to his parents about his prospects in which he says: "My Dear Mother and Father: I hardly know how to write this letter! I have purposely kept you in doubt as to what branch of the Signal Corps I would be in for I hardly dared hope that I would be able to pass this, which is the most exacting examination in the entire service. I felt if I did not make it I would be able to enter some other branch less exacting and you would never know I was disappointed in not gaining the Flying Division of the Aviation Section.
"In the mental examination I merely went in and Captain Merriam asked me a few questions about my nationality, my life on a farm (he was brought up on a farm), my athletic ability and experience and my mechanical experience. We talked a few minutes and then he said, "Cobb, study up on the wireless code for you'll need it when you get there!" I asked, "Captain, do I pass?" He said, "Sure," and marked my papers with a big A. Today I learned that the A meant that I would be given preference over all men marked R, C, or D! So I feel, Oh; so happy.
"I will be sent first to a 'ground school' either at Champaign, Ills., Austin, Texas, or Columbus, O., for about eight weeks. Then will come three months on the aviation field in the United States and then several months training in France, Italy or Egypt. The future surely looks rosy to me! Nothing I believe has ever meant so much to me (not even the captaincy in the quarter-master corps last winter) and I would have been heartsick had I failed."
"As to danger I am still convinced that it is one of the best branches of the service. The wonderful health conditions and throughout raining have reduced the morality until it is lower than average civil life."
Mr. Cobb has been teaching in the high school at Elgin, Ills., and the Elgin Courier speaking of his enlistment, says:
"Henry E. Cobb, member of the high school faculty, who yesterday took an examination for admittance to the flying division
of the aviation section of the signal corps of the United Sates army, passed with an exceptionally high standard and this
morning returned to Chicago again to take the oath of enlistment."
"Altho the date of his being called into training is uncertain, he understands that he is to be called the latter part of January or early in February."
"The board of education will face a hard task in trying to fill Cobb's place. He teaches manual training military training and is also director of the high school band. His loss will be especially keenly felt by the student body, among which he is very popular."
"Cobb is also second lieutenant of the Home Guards. His leaving will make necessary the selection of another member of the company for a commission after he leaves Elgin."
The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Wednesday, April 24, 1918
Page 1
TAPS ARE SOUNDED FOR CADET FLYER
Henry E. Cobb, Aged 25 Years, of Seymour, Dies of Pneumonia at Elling Field, Tex.
TAKEN ILL A FEW DAYS AGO
Announcement of His Sudden Death Comes as a Shock to His Many Friends Here.
Another Seymour boy in the service of the Colors has answered the final summons.
The many friends of Henry E. Cobb, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Cobb, of this city, a cadet flyer in training at Elling Field, near Houston, Tex., were shocked today when they learned that he had died in a camp hospital folloing a short illness with pneumonia. He was taken ill only a few days ago. On Monday Mr. Cobb received a telegram from a medical staff physician stating that his son was dangerously ill. Mr. Cobb immediately wired for further particulars and this morning received a telegram stating that the young man had died at 9 o'clock Tuesday night. A request has been made that the body be shipped here for burial, but no response had been received late this afternoon. It is believed, however, that the request of the parents will be granted.
Young Cobb would have been granted his commission within the next two weeks. He enlisted in the aviation corps last December and had been at Elling Field in training for several months. He was making rapid progress as a cadet flyer and there was no question but that he would have been commissioned as a flyer as soon as he completed his training.
Cadet Cobb was twenty-eight years of age, having been born in this city on June 29, 1889. He attended the public schools in this city and was graduated from the Shields High School. Immediately following his graduation he entered Purdue University where he remained for one year. He also attended a military academy at Blacksburg, Va., for a year and completed his collegiate course at Hanover where he spent two years. He was graduated from Hanover with high honors.
After completing his college work he secured a position as teacher in the high school at Seyamore, Ill., which place he held for three years. He resigned the place there to accept the superintendency of the Pawpaw, Ill., public schools and remained there two years. He then went to the Elgin, Ill, high school where he was superintendent of athletics in the manual training department. He left his work there to enlist in the aviation corps in December. Cadet Cobb was an exceptionally bright young man and had a brilliant future before him. He was a member of the First Baptist church in this city and was a young man of exemplary habits. He leaves besides his parents, two sister, Miss Agnes Cobb, a teacher in the Scottsburg public schools, and Alice Lucy Cobb, at home.
The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Saturday, April 27, 1918
Page 1
CIVIC FUNERAL PLANNED WITH MILITARY HONORS
Remains of Cadet H.E. Cobb Arrive Here-Service Tomorrow at the First Baptist Church
A civic funeral has been planned over the body of the late Henry E. Cobb, flying cadet, who died Tuesday at Ellington Field, near Houston, Tex., for 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist church. The body was escorted here by Lieut. P. A. Garver.
A representative committee of business men, T.S. Blish, Nathan Kaufman, Jay C. Smith, C.W. Burkart and Claude Carter, together with the pastor of the First Baptist Church have arranged for a civic and military funeral. The people of Seymour are asked to pay their tribute to the first Seymour boy to be brought back in honor. Flags are urged to be placed at half mast and flags from windows and home displayed.
The complete service as arranged will be as follows:
2 p.m. Prayers will be said at the home and an escort will accompany the body and family to the church where the
public service will be held.
The Organ. "Funeral March".. Grieg
Mrs. Herman Stratton at the Organ.
Masonic Quartette.
Address, Judge O.H. Montgomery representing the city.
Masonic Quartette and audience singing "America".
Address, Patriotic Oration, T.M Honan.
Masonic Quartette.
The Scripture Lesson, Chaplain F.P. Smith.
The Prayer, Rev. J.H. MOre
The sermon, Rev. F.A. Hayward
Masonic Quartette.
The Benediction, Rev. Wm. Weiler.
The line of march from the church will be as follows, Mr. Claude Carter directing:
Platoon of Police and Firemen.
The Draped Flag.
The Boy Scouts.
The City Band.
The Military Escort and G.A.R. Honorary Escort.
The Clergymen of the City.
The Masonic Lodge.
The Bearers.
The Hearse, with Casket Flag draped.
The Member of Family and relatives.
City Representatives.
Friends and citizens.
The service at the grave will be under direction of the Masonic Lodge of which Mr. Cobb was a member.
A military salute will be fired and taps sounded.
The doors of the church will be opened at 2 o'clock promptly and every effort made to care for those who wish to attend the services. The entire main auditorium floor will be reserved to the family and relatives, the escort, the Masons and member of the church.