Dear Mr. Carter:
I reported to you by telegram last week the death of John Addams Linn, a secretary attached to this Division. In this message I could give no details and I have only now reached a town whence they can be forwarded to you.
The morning of his death I had succeeded in locating Linn, who was attached to the Fifth Field Artillery. I was on my way to see him when word was given me that he had been killed. I went immediately to his battery, found the report true and had his body and effects carried down to a nearby farm. It appears that while giving out chocolate and cigarettes that the Y.M.C.A. had taken to him a group of soldiers had formed around him and he was talking and laughing with them when an Austrian 88 shell burst just at his feet killing him instantly with a smile on his face. His left arm was shattered and a piece of shrapnel tore a hole is his left side. Three soldiers in the group were severely wounded. I then returned to another town, brought out the Regimental Chaplain, and that evening about seven o'clock we buried him in a grave -- No. 94 -- in the rear of Chaudron Farms, about three [kilometers] east of Apremont. Chaplain Hart read the service and E. W. Cross, one of our oldest secretaries, offered a prayer. Hugh Fitzpatrick who had also been a secretary in the same regiment and I were present. Linn's effects I shall forward to Paris at the earliest opportunity.
Linn was one of our very best secretaries and in his regiment he was counted a good soldier. Several times his officers had taken steps to have him become a member of the organization and only a short time before this action had been disapproved, I presume on account of his age and his eyesight. We seldom saw him at Y.M.C.A. Headquarters, and he shared the fortune of his regiment and stuck to his job. This made him much beloved by the soldiers. Several times when I suggested a rest he would answer that if the life was good enough for the boys it was good enough for him. He was the one of our men in this very active front line work. On the Montdidier front especially he saw rigorous service at a very exposed point.
Yours very sincerely,
(Signed) John E. Steen
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