Hegre, Porter died 1919

HEGRE

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 3/5/2019 at 10:41:24

The Lake Park News 7/3/1919.

A wave of sympathy swept over the city for the grief stricken parents Wednesday when it was learned that Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hegre had received a message, stating that their son Porter had died in Bordeaux, France. The message was inexpressibly shocking to them as they though he was on his way home. The last letter they had from him was dated May 16th, in which he stated that he was improving and they should not write again as he expected to take the next boat to the United States.

Porter was 26 years and 26 days old at the time of his death, and was a true Dickinson County boy, having been born on the old farm in Excelsior Township. He was one of the first Dickinson County boys to enlist, joining the Army on the 27th day of August, 1917. He landed in France March 23rd, 1918, and saw much service, entering the firing line June 16, 1918, and from that time until November 1918 he was constantly in the front ranks. While in battle November 10th , a shell burst next to him, killing everything within twenty-five feet of him, and the concussion made him totally deaf. He was sent to a hospital in Germany for treatment for shell shock and had an operation for relief, and then was sent to base hospital No. 6 in France, and later to base hospital 102 for treatment. It rained ten days of the twelve he was in ranks and he was wet to the skin day and night and had to march in mud knee deep, on short rations, the last 48 hours without food at all. This so weakened him that he became an easy prey for disease, and was sick for seven weeks with typhoid fever, and then four weeks with pneumonia , and later with other complications , and yet through it all was cheerful and uncomplaining but longed for home and loved ones, but yet the much coveted boom was denied. The parents have only the meager announcement of his death, but it was probable that he was at Bordeaux awaiting strength, sufficient to stand the passage home. It is probable that they will ask to have the body sent home. On receipt of the news the community flag was displayed at half mast, and the community sympathizes deeply with Mr. and Mrs. Hegre in his great affliction.