They the army called for men and among the names were found Elmer J Marx, 427 Eighth av. and Harry W Baumer, 511 Seventh av. They left for camp together Dec 19, 1917. Soon found themselves soldiers of the Sixty-first Coast Artillery. And they stood together and cheered the team of their battery which won the baseball championship at Ft Barrancas Fla.

They experienced the joys of soldier travel in France when both were in the same car, marked “eight horses or 40 men.” They divided contents of the same can of corned beef. Baumer had never been away from home overnight until he entered the army, his mother, Mrs. Baumer said. But to be with a pal just around the corner was next best to having home folk with on during the 15 months in service, Harry wrote her. Army life agreed with both. Baumer gained 25 pounds and Marx almost 35 pounds. The two men are now fast friends, as residents of Dayton will soon when the khaki clad pair return to their homes Saturday after being discharged from the service.