FRANCIS T. RATH
Frances T. Rath was the fifth of six children born to his parents, William Philip Rath and Louisa Elizabeth Hockman Rath. The family farmed in Tiffin Township, and that is where Frances was born on February 21, 1894. His middle name was either Turco or Turche, but its significance, if any, to the family is unknown.
Frances filled out his draft registration card on June 5, 1917, when he was 23 years old. He helped with the farming on the W. F. Mujers farm at Rt. 4, Defiance at the time. Described as tall with a medium build with gray eyes and auburn hair, he was a single man.
His enlistment day was May 28, 1918, into the 18th Regiment, Company B, Battalion 159, the Depot Brigade where he served until June 17, 1918. On August 6, 1918, he embarked from Newport News, Virginia, overseas, now part of the 153rd Infantry, Company C. Soon he would be moved to Co. C, 127th Infantry where he served until his death. Deployed to the Meuse-Argonne area where the fighting was heavy, he died from wounds sustained on October 5, 1918, and passed away five days later on October 10.
He was first buried in the American Cemetery at Montfaucon, then moved to the American Argonne Cemetery. Eventually, he was disinterred and sent home on the ship, "Somme," to Hoboken, NJ. His final burial place is Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia in Section 18, Site 2013.
Later, Francis' father, W. P. Rath of Rural Route 2, Defiance, wrote a letter to the Army asking for an account of what happened to his son. The letter was answered by Francis' friend, Private George M. Long, and printed in the Defiance Crescent News on April 10, 1919, on page 5:
"Sir,
I have just received your request of February 27th handed me by Mr. Butler of Defiance, Ohio, who is a member of my company. I will now endeavor to tell you all I know about your son, Francis, who was wounded on October 5th, while we were in the Argonne Forest.
I first met him at Camp Taylor, Ky. and we immediately became the best of friends. I bunked with him both at Camp Taylor and Camp Bearugard, was in the same squad with him, he being the squad leader. We were in the 'first squad' account of both of us being such tall men. We were together after we got over to France and I continued to be his bunk-mate until he was wounded.
We went over the top the first time on the 3rd or 4th of October and our second time we went over the top on the 5th when he was wounded by a piece of shrapnel which hit him over the left breast which penetrated his body deep enough for one to lay his hand in it. I assisted in carrying him to a place of safety. He was nearly unconscious at the time and the only thing he said was, 'Where's my rifle?' He asked me if I thought he was hit bad, and I told him he was not, that he would be alright as soon as he received 'first aid', but I well knew that he was in a critical condition and possibly could not endure it very long.
He was wounded in the attack on the town of Genes and there was a heavy loss of life on both sides. Possibly more Company C men were wounded at Genes than any place I know of. A certain lieutenant, whose name I do not remember, asked for some one to volunteer to go to a certain place, and Francis is the one who volunteered and he had only gone a short distance from the platoon when the shell struck him.
Mr. A. C. Gecowets of Defiance was killed near the same spot that Francis was hit, and Gecowets died on the field. This happened about 11 a.m. October 5th. Gecowets was hit by machine gun bullets and they broke both his legs.
I can say this for Francis, that he behaved himself like a gentleman, was a brave soldier as you can tell from what I have already stated, that he actually volunteered to do a certain thing which finally resulted in his death.
Pvt. George M. Long"
In Memoriam
Francis T. Rath
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