John Straub (father of Max Straub) to Bloomsburg State Normal School Registrar (F. H. Jenkins), August 26, 1918, Letter.

Transcript: Herndon, Pa. August 26th, 1918. Mr. F.H. Jenkins, My Dear Sir: We received your letter of the 23rd and ever very glad to hear from you I am sure. We are proud to hear that you was interested in our dear, dear son Maxwell who gave his all for his country. He died a hero but Oh! It is so hard to lose your only boy, we just think it can’t be that our dearest one in this world will never return to his dear parents. Max was wounded July 14 by a German Aviator. The French were taking a heavy cannon to the front and had a tractor to pull it out and when they passed the Post where Max was stationed, the tractor got out of commission and the machinist was trying to locate the trouble but failed to locate it so he had a final flash light and used it to find out where the trouble was. At the same time, a German Aviator must have been flying over them and dropped a bomb that landed about 40 feet from Max and a French man. When it exploded, it felled both Max and the Frenchman and Max was pierced by nine pieces of shrapnel. One piece punctured his stomach and I think that is what caused his death. The second bomb hit the machinist, killed him and three others and wounded five. Max insisted that the other wounded be attended to first, that he was not wounded so badly and was the worst wounded of them all. He was taken to the hospital and operated on and had two French nurses and an American nurse that the boys of his sector procured for him. He had the best of care, but on the night of the 21st he died, he was conscious until he died for five minutes before he passed away. He wanted his father and mother then I suppose he realized that he was nearing his end. He had a nice burial he was buried with military honor six of his chums were pall bearers and thirteen of his sector attended his funeral and hundreds of American soldiers. His coffin was draped with the American flag and his war crosses were pinned on the flag, these were sent to us at once. He was awarded with all the Honors the French army could give away one. He certainly must have been a brave & courageous boy. Nice the Good Lord saw fit to take him home. I hope so at least because he always was an obedient boy. May God keep us all. John A. Straub