Denton County, Texas - Chapter 14, 1918

Chapter 14

The gi-eat war between the Allies and the Central Powers has at last touched the homes of Denton County. This contest between democracy on the one hand and militaristic autocracy on the other, as we know, is a struggle between the forces of civilization and those of barbarism. In the early stages of the war the struggle seemed so remote that many of us did not realize that it was our contest which was being fought for us by the Allies, and many of us felt no special interest in the struggle.

When Germany began her ruthless submarine campaign, the war began to hold a different interest for Americans. Cowards and pacifists might regard as a "technicality" the sinking of the Lusitania, laden with noncombatant men, women, and babies ; and pro-German apologists might regard as "military necessity" the dastardly work of the assassin submarines, but intelligent Americans realized that we were being drawn into the great struggle.

When Congress declared war on Germany many of us deeply regretted that that action was necessary, but it is now generally conceded that had we been prepared we should have entered the war earlier. Even closer to our homes came the war when Company M, Seventh Texas Infantry, was organized. We were then more fully realizing that it was our war.

Some of the best manhood of Denton County has enlisted in Company M, Seventh Texas Infantry, whose muster roll is an honor roll. There are other honor rolls upon which appear the names of patriotic citizens of Denton County. Some of these patriots are listed in this chapter. Keen regret is felt at our inability to furnish even an approximately complete list of these patriotic men. No complete list is accessible at this time, and there is no means of securing data for such a hst befoi'e these pages go to press. Even before the formal declaration of wai", young men of Denton County had begun to respond to the patriotic desire to serve their country, going to various pails of the State and to points outside of the State for the purpose of enlisting in various branches of service. These conditions make extremely difficult, if not impossible, the compilation, at this time, of a complete roll of Denton County patriots of 1917.

The files of the Denton Recoid-Clironicle have been the chief source of the names which are presented in this chapter. To the editor, W. C. Edwards, we wish to express gratefulness for the privilege of free access to the files of the paper up to the time these paces were prepared for the printer. Tf omissions or errors have crept into the list as gleaned, they have occurred in spite of exceeding care in the compilation. After this incomplete roll of Denton County pati'iots is in type, there will be honorable discharges for this or that cause, one being the applicants' inability to measure up to the rigid physical requirements. This should in no manner detract from the fact that the applicant possessed the desire to serve his country and that he gladly offered his services.

In oui' hearts thei'e is a warm feeling for the patriots of Denton County. We would give much for a complete roll of these noble men who are fighting our battle. The soil of France and of other war-ravaged countries will be bathed in their blood, but those of us who cannot or do not serve in the ranks must do our part through contributions to the two organizations which mean so much to our fighting forces - the American Red Cross and the Young Men's Christian Association. Our dollars must fi:^*ht for us if we are to measure up to our responsibility to our countiy aixl to the boys who stand between us and the barbarians arrayed against us - the Huns who have committed eery conceivable atrocity upon men, women and children in the countries whose dismemberment they would achieve.

Texas Infantry

The second contingent of Denton County's draft quota left Denton on a special train at 6:80 a. m. Wednesday, September 19, 1917, to report at Camp Travis Wednesday night. The ninety-eight men, in charge of J. B. Cunningham, Jr., and Warren B. Clements, both of Denton, were given godspeed by a considerable crowd of Denton people despite the eai'ly hour and all appeared cheerful over the prospect of national service.

One hundred and two men answered the roll call at the station and Chairman Wright checked off four who had expected to go to wait for another call.