Craig Times
Oct. 18, 1918

CHARLIE BROKAW MISSING

Somewhere in France
Aug. 30, 1918

Mrs. W. R. Brokaw,
Rt. 2. Craig, Neb.

Dear Mother:

     Will try again to write a few lines once again. Suppose you think it is quite a while between letters, but I've been waiting on you too for nearly two months now. Am back with the Company again but have received but one letter since your letter of July 13th, and that was from George. He wrote that he was now on this side and gave me his new address, as follows: Co. F, 127th., A. E. F., via New York, A. P. O. 734. If he and Kenneth had stayed together, he would have been in my company. Kenneth is here now. I was never more surprised in my life when I got home from the hospital and found Kenneth right in the company. I was sure glad to see him. He looks well and says that army life agreed with him and George.

     Well, I suppose you folks are at the picnic at Tekamah again this year. You are having a fine day for it if it is like it is here. Suppose you folks are getting ready to sow the wheat now. Hope the ground is in better condition this year than it was last year at this time.

     Guess I'll have to close for this time, as I want to write to George also. Am looking for a letter from someone back home now. All the mail I got while in the hospital was sent to me here. Am sorry I can't tell you anything about Lee. I suppose you must have heard that he was missing. Must close for this time.

     Hoping to hear from you soon, I am as ever,

Corp. Chas. W. Brokaw

Craig Times
Oct. 18, 1918

Official Telegram

Mrs. W. R. Brokaw,
Rt. 2, Craig, Neb.

     Deeply regret to inform you that Corporal Charles Vernon Brokaw, Infantry is officially reported as missing in action since Sept. 15th. Will report first information received.

Harris, Acting the Adjt Gen'l

Craig Times
Nov. 11, 1918

Charlie Brokaw Found

Washington, D. C., Oct. 5, '18

W. R. Brokaw, Craig, Neb.

     Corporal Charles Vernon Brokaw, Co. 4 officially reported prisoner at Rastatt, Baden Germany.

     W. R. Castle, Jr.

     Director Red Cross

Craig Times
Feb. 6, 1919

The W. R. Brokaw family had a welcome visitor last Sunday in the person of Arnold Anderson, of near Lyons, who was accompanied by Jess Slack, of Bertha. Anderson was at Camp Greene with Charlie Brokaw, and was with him in France at Chateau Thierry when Charlie was shell shocked and Anderson received a bad wound in his elbow. The last time Anderson saw Charlie he was confronted by four burly Huns and not until he reached the states did Anderson learn that Charlie was not killed at that time.

Craig Times
Feb. 6, 1919

     Mrs. W. R. Brokaw received a card today, written Dec. 6th, from her son Charlie, saying that he had been released from the German prison and was alright. He was in Switzerland which the card was written and expects to be went home soon.

LYONS MIRROR-SUN
Thursday, May 16, 1918

Died For Human Freedom

     It is reported that Charley Neary who used to live west of Lyons was recently shot on the battlefield in France. He was several times wounded but every time he was able to leave the hospital he would again join his regiment, although given his discharge. He was surely a brave soldier and died fighting for the cause of human liberty.

LYONS-MIRROR SUN
Thursday September 5, 1918

Chas. Neary Still Alive

     Good tidings have been received from the battle front in France that Chas. Neary, who was reported as killed in battle is still alive and recently killed 28 of the kaiser's dirty dogs as they were charging upon him. He has been wounded a number of times and given up to die, but he survived the ordeal and is again in the front ranks fighting for human liberty.

  LYONS MIRROR-SUN
Thursday November 28, 1918

Chas. Neary Receives a Medal

     Chas Neary, who was wounded several times on the battlefields of France and reported among the killed wrote a letter to his mother, Mrs. Mary Neary of West Point, dated Oct. 12, 1918, from which we take the following extracts:

     " I am still O K after the most severe fighting we have had so far, in which we took over 2000 huns, besides the large number killed. In this intense fighting I had a number of close shaves and miraculous escapes from the jaws of death-a cigarette shot out of my mouth, my rifle smashed to pieces, my equipment cut in a number of places and a number of pieces of sharpnel lodged in my ammunition pouch, but the huns could simply not hit me.

     O, by the way you may be pleased to know that I have been awarded the military medal and if anything happens to me before the end of this war, it will be sent to you by his Magisty, sic the King.

     Serg. C. A. Neary

     54th Bat. British Ex. Force, France

17 February 2020 Updated by Dianna G. Curtis