Private Kenneth B Witty

 

Hopkinsville Kentuckian, Saturday, 24 June 1916, page 2

All members of Company D were assembled at headquarters Thursday and the new recruits are being drilled into shape as fast as possible. It is expected that will be accomplished in a day or two as a result of the vigorous recruiting campaign now in progress and then the states guardsmen will at once begin to move to Newport Ky. The following additional recruits have been enlisted by Capt. Stites: Kenneth Witty.

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Cincinnati Enquirer, Sunday, 16 July 1916. page 10

GUARDSMAN DIES AT FT THOMAS

One name was omitted in the roll call of B Company Third Regiment last night at Ft Thomas, and after Kenneth Witty, Private on the roster was written "Died Saturday, July 15, 1916, while stationed at Ft Thomas Ky."

He was only 18 years old and his home was Hopkinsville Ky.  The lad had been in the camp hospital for five days suffering from typhoid pneumonia.  He had been inoculated with the typhoid serum twice, but developed the fever before the injections were received.  Five days ago he complained of illness and was taken to the hospital.  As he grew worse, his mother was notified to hurry to the fort at once.

All through the night she traveled but arrived too late.  The boy had died a half hour before she reached the camp. The mother was escorted into the room where the body of her lad lay, hidden beneath the folds of the flag.  Older officers consoled the aged woman when she wept.  Brigadier General Roger D Williams ordered that the body be forwarded to Hopkinsville, accompanied to the train by a military escort and to the home by a Sergeant.

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Hopkinsville Kentuckian, Tuesday, 18 July 1916, page 2

The body of Kenneth Witty, who died Saturday of typhoid pneumonia at Fort Thomas, where he went with Company D as a private, was quietly laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery yesterday morning at 10 am. Dr. C M Thompson preached the funeral services, which were held at the home of the boys mother, Mrs. M H Grey. The young man was the son of the late John H Witty and was 18 years old. The body was accompanied here by Cevil Armstrong, who was sent as an escort from the company. The remains arrived at 10 am Sunday morning.

Herman Johnson, John Beard, Ernest Snodgras and Jarrett Renshaw, former members of Company D acted as pall bearers.

 

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