Roma W. Mansfield
Roma Wellington Mansfield, born April 20, 1901, in Harrison Township, Paulding County, was the son of Southern B. "Sut" and Frances Schomberg Mansfield. In the Federal Census of 1910, his parents and brother, Zoma, lived in Highland Township, Defiance County. Roma attended school at the District 8 School in Highland Township.
Roma has the distinction of being one the younger men sent from Defiance County, as he enlisted in the Army on May 3, 1917, a few weeks after his 17th birthday. He was originally stationed at the Columbus Barricks in Columbus, Ohio, and was promoted to Private First Class on August 1, 1917.
On February 27, 1918, he left Hoboken, New Jersey for deployment to France. He was assigned to Battery B of the 76th Field Artillery. The following is a link to actual footage of that artillery in action.
Pvt. Mansfield was killed in action in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in Cunel on October 4, 1918. Orginally buried in the French Military Cemetery at Aubreville, Meuse, he was later reburied in the Argonne American Cemetery at Romagne-sous-Montfaucon.
The Crescent News reported on April 23,
1919, on page 2, that the school children in the District 8 School, Highland Township wanted to honor
their classmate who had died so valiantly:
"HIGHLAND SCHOOL PLANTS TREE FOR BOY WHO MADE SACRIFICE
On the playground of the school in District No. 8, Highland township, stands a tree planted on Arbor Day as a memorial to Defiance county's youngest soldier who sacrificed his life for the cause of liberty.
This tree will be tenderly cared for by the children of that school, thus keeping fresh the memory of Roma Wellington Mansfield, who received the wound which resulted in his deaath at Montfaucon, October 4, 1918. At the time of his death, he was 17 years, 5 months, and 4 days of age.
Roma was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, April 30, 1901.* He was the younger of two sons of Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Mansfield of Highland township. The other son, Corporal Zoma O. Mansfield of the First Anti-Aircraft, is still in France.
Roma enlisted May 1, 1917, and after training in this country, reached France on May 13. He went into active service with the 76th Field Artillery, Battery B on July 4, 1918. He was in the battles of St. Mihiel, second battle of the Marne,Soissons, Verdun, and finally at Montfaucon.
The following is a tribute of respect read by a member of the school of District 8 on the occasion of the planting of the memorial tree:
'As the schools of Ohio plant trees on one day of the year, the day being set forth by the Governor, it seems an appropriate time to dedicate trees to our missing soldiers. We meet today to dedicate a tree to a missing soldier boy from this district.
For about seven years, the joking life of Roma Wellington Mansfield was closely associated with this school. He enrolled as a pupil at the age of 5 years. He was a very precocious, little fellow, always standing at the head of his class. He never shirked his task and worked with a will until his lessons were mastered. Arithmetic was his favorite study and often he solved the problems of the grade above him, so interested as he in his school work.
He was a friend and companion to all his schoolmates and a great inspiration and example to all with whom he came in contact. On the playground, he manifested the same spirit. Whatever he did was done well.
He was always patriotic and loved to sing the songs of his country and the dear, old flag before he left District 8. At about 12 years of age, he left his home school and went to Highland Center. He was missed by his teachers and schoolmates who knew they had lost one who did much toward the life of the school.
His home school and friends will try to remember Roma as a true friend and schoolmate by planting a tree to his memory, and each year may it grow and keep in mind one whose life was short and beautiful and who gave it so willingly for the country he loved so well.
Nothing could be more beautifully said of him than 'he gave his life for his country.'"
In May, 1930 Roma's mother, Frances Mansfield took advantage of the offer to visit her son's grave in France.
Frances Mansfield died in 1931. Perhaps it was at or near this time when her tombstone was placed with Roma's name memorialized on it in Mansfield Cemetery, Highland Township.
In Memoriam
Roma Wellington Mansfield
Guest Blogger - Dan Hasch
No comments:
Post a Comment