Flora - Ralph - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Cpl. Ralph R. Flora, son of Mr. & Mrs. Ellis Flora, 161 E. Washington St, Indianapolis is the first Indianapolis soldier to be killed in action in France. News of the young man's death was conveyed to his parents Monday in a telegram from Adjutant Gen. McCain, which follows: "Deeply regret to inform you that Cpl. Ralph R. Flora, infantry is officially reported Killed in Action on March 8." Cpl. Flora joined the regular army here March 15, 1917 and was among the first troops to go overseas with Gen. Pershing. He was a member of Co. L 28th United States Inf. His parents received a letter from him in January, telling them that he had been wounded in night maneuvers. He was shot through the knee and was in the hospital, but said that he hoped to rejoin his fellow troopers within a short time. The letter was received Feb 28 and it was the last word his parents had of him until the message yesterday. Mr. & Mrs. Flora had little information concerning his movements after enlisting here and, of course have had no inkling of the location of his regiment since reaching the other side. Despite her great grief, Mrs. Flora apparently was resigned to the heavy blow. It was something to be expected, she said. "Things like this will stir up the American people and make them realize what is going on in Europe. Ralph's younger brother, Carl is almost wild about Ralph's death. He wants to go over and avenge his brother's death himself. Cpl. Flora was 17 on Feb. 12. A brother, Otto is top Sgt. in the 334th Inf. in Camp at Louisville, Ky. and another bro., Earl who has been drafted will soon begin training at Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill. Cpl. Flora's father operates a bakery at 1620 E. Washington St. Mr. Flora said that all the letters received from his son were of an optimistic nature, the few objections to army life being the mud and other disagreeable surroundings in the trenches. Since Flora left for France a brother has been born to his parents.

The first son of Crawfordsville has fallen in the great world war. Cpl. Ralph Flora, who was b. in this city and who lived here up to the age of 12, is the first to give his life. His parents were well known in the city, they having operated a bakery here for years. Both Mr. & Mrs. Ellis Flora had many friends in this city. About 5 years ago they moved to Indianapolis. Ralph attended the mills & Willson schools. Three times the bakery of the elder Flora was destroyed by fire. The last time was when the bakery was located at 316 E. Franklin St. The damage was most complete in this last fire and his family moved to the capital. Ill luck followed the family, for there they suffered severely in the flood of 1913, being located at that time in W. Indianapolis. At the present time they live in the eastern part of the city.   --- kbz

An instance of war romance was described in a letter received from Pvt. William P. Barry, who is in the Rainbow Division with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Pvt. Barry says that on Sept 8, he met Lt. Byron Manson and that the two visited a small American graveyard and found the grave of Corporal Ralph Flora, Co. L, 28th Infantry who was killed while in action over there. Flora is one of the Crawfordsville boys who was killed in France on March 8. The grave was marked by a wooden cross and an inscription giving his name, rank and company was upon the grave, on the cross was a small bouquet of flowers which had been placed there by some French women.   --- kbz