1st Lieutenant Otto L. "Pat" Mowry

Donated by Terry Davis

Spanish American War and World War I US Army Company I, 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th* Division, A.E.F. Born: October 26, 1877, Graham, Missouri Enlisted - 1898 with 5th US Cavalry for the Spanish American War Re-enlisted 1904-1907 with the 1st U.S. Cavalry. Commissioned at Fort Sheridan, IL, November 27, 1917 Captured: August 22, 1918 France Died: November 2, 1918 in the Villingen Baden German POW camp. Buried in Friedhof - Villingen, Baden, Germany. Remains recovered and reinterred August 14, 1921 in the Bethany Christian Church Cemetery, Graham, Missouri beside his wife.

Son of George D. and Rachel Long Mowry of Graham, Missouri. Husband of Cleora B. Adkins who he married in 1913. Pat Mowry worked at the Mustain's store in Yuma in 1914-1915 while his wife was treated for T.B. She died in 1915.

The Yuma American Legion Post 96 is named the "Pat Mowry Post" in tribute to Lt. O.L. Mowry. From 1919 to 1933 a Graham, Missouri Legion Post was named the Lt. Otto L. Mowry Post 300.

Bethany Christian Church Cemetery, Graham, Missouri

Photo donated by Terry Davis.

From Action on the Plains - Yuma County Historical Society, 1958

France - June 11, 1918

Dear Mustains,

I must say that it has been rather mean of me for not writing to you sometime ago, but really, I don't write a great many letters. I have been pretty busy for sometime. In fact ever since I have been on this side. I don't have much time as a rule. Sometimes more than others. Today is Sunday, and a little time off and am putting in the time writing. I got a letter from Sewell the other day. Says he has brought Jack out and is coming along fine. Well, I am getting along fine and never felt better. I am pretty well browned from the hot sun, it is very hot here at the present time, and the crops are looking fine. I have seen a great deal of France since I have been here, and I think it is a great country. Of course, there are other places that suit me, for instance, Colorado or Missouri. I would like to write you a big long letter about different things, but there is so much that I cannot write. My address is: Lieut, O.L. Mowry, 3rd Batt., 308 Inft., American E.F., B.E.F. France. I have been with this organization about six or seven weeks. It is a National Army regiment and all from New York. I am with company I. I have had two casualties in my platoon, for which I regret very much. I have a fine lot of men and think a great deal of them and am satisfied they think the same of me. Of course, you may not know what a platoon is, but Harry Hohl can tell you about it. Give him my regards. Tell him that I haven't been able to locate his brother. I forgot to tell you that I had a man killed and one wounded. They are the first casualties of our National Army. Write me and tell me how everything is going on at the old stand and who is on the force. I suppose I will be back with you sometime, but I don't know when. Did you ever get the man from Missouri that Finkbeiner had recommended? and how is he getting on? Tell any of the bunch that I would be glad to hear from them. Of course I can't write to everyone, as I have such little time to write. But will write occasionally, when I get the time. You have the address and I will expect to hear from you. Tell Ben not to forget that he owes me a letter, and Tom, is he still there? As I have another letter to write, I must close. Hope all are well. Regards to Joe Baker, and Bob Austin and Harry Hohl and the bunch.

As ever, Pat.

Nodaway County, Missouri - December 1918

[Photo Above]
LT. OTTO L. MOWRY, Graham
Co. I, 308th Inft., 70th Div.

Died of pneumonia at Villingen, Germany, after being captured by the Germans August 22 at Fismes. Lt. Mowry saw service in Porto Rico and the Philippines with the 5th U.S. Cavalry, enlisting in 1898. Enlisted again in 1904 with the 1st U.S. Cavalry, serving three years. Was commissioned Nov. 27, 1917, at Fort Sheridan, going overseas in December of that year. Was forty-one years old and the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Mowry of Graham.

Yuma Pioneer December 13, 1918

Pat Mowry Dies in German Prison

A Niece Writes to Mrs. Kissinger that Grip was the Cause of Death.

Graham, Missouri, Dec. 7, 1918

Mrs. Sadie Kissinger,
Yuma, Colorado

Dear Mrs. Kissinger:

We received a letter this morning from the Red Cross stating that Lieut. O.L. Mowry died of the grip. He was in the prison camp at the time of his death and was buried in the little town near the camp. The letter was very short and we have received no further information. We think that he has probably been dead for six weeks or more.

Two letters were received from him last Saturday, but they were written September 15, and at that time he seemed to be in good health. I am his niece and, seeing your last letter to grandma, thought that someone should write to you.

We are all heartbroken and it seems that we can't stand to give him up but we are proud to know that he gave his life for a worthy cause. We can hardly realize what this terrible war really means until it comes home to us. We can only hope that it has all ended now and the boys, whose lives have been spared, will reach home safely.

Sincerely,
      Bess Bryant

Yuma Pioneer - January 17, 1919
("Mowrey" spelling is from the original news article.)

O.L. Mowrey Given Military Burial
Members of the Order of Odd Fellows Assist at the Funeral of Their Dead Soldier Brother.

The following article, concerning the death of Lieutenant O.L. (Pat) Mowrey is taken from the Maitland, Missouri, Herald, dated January 9.

The relatives of Otto Mowrey have received the following letter which explains itself:

Camp Villigen, Baden, Germany
November 6, 1918

Mr. D.N. Mowrey, Graham, Mo.

Dear Sir: The members of the I.O.O.F. prisoners in Germany, grieve with you in the death of your brother and their comrade and brother, Otto L. Mowrey. He was captured August 22, 1918, near Fermis, France, after being slightly wounded in the right hand and being slightly gassed. He received medical attention and arrived in this camp (Villigen, Baden) October 25, suffering from a bad cold and probably la grippe. He was given the best medical attention and shortly thereafter was taken to the hospital in this city. November 2 he died of pneumonia. On November 4 he was given a military funeral and was buried in the Villigen cemetery - Lot No. __. The officers (prisoners) attended the funeral in a body and an English speaking Protestant minister conducted the service in a very impressive manner.

The members of the I.O.O.F. acted as pall bearers and the German officer in command of the camp in a few appropriate words presented a wreath in behalf of the German officers and men, guaranteeing the grave would be protected and cared for, and his honor guarded as one of his own officers. Other flowers were presented by the officers of the camp and the I.O.O.F.

To his family and friends we wish to offer our heartfelt sympathy, and at the same time are glad to report that all possible was done for him during his short illness, and that his burial was a Christian burial and such as we believe his family would have desired if actually present. Enclosed find a number of photographs, which will be of interest.

With deepest sympathy,

William B. Brown - Moscow, Pennsylvania
1st Lieutenant Willard Busby - New Haven, Connecticut
Captain W. Curtis Truxal, Somerset, Pennsylvania

(See the photographs at the bottom of this page.)

Funeral Announcement, Graham, Missouri - August 1921

The Graham Tribune, Graham, Missouri Thursday, August 18, 1921

Obituary

Otto L. Mowry was born at Graham, Mo. October 26th, 1877. Died at Villigen Baden, Germany, November 2nd, 1918.

He received his education in the schools of Graham, Nodaway County, and grew to manhood in Graham and vicinity.

His pleasant and happy manner won for him a host of friends. He at one time was in the Mercantile business, and worked as clerk in a number of stores and his manner of conducting business was always a drawing card where ever he was engaged. In the spring of 1898 he enlisted as a soldier in the Spanish American War, at this time he served 3 years.

During this enlistment he saw service in Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands, at this time he was a member of Troop B 5th Cavalry U. S. Regular Army. In the spring of 1901 he was given an honorable discharge from the service. In the spring of 1903 he again enlisted, this time being assigned to Troop H 1st Cavalry. During this service he was stationed at Brownsville, Eagle Pass and Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio Texas. He, with his organization, did patrol duty, during the great earth quake at San Francisco in 1905. In 1906 he was again honorably discharged, having served his term of his enlistment.

In May 1913 he was united in marriage to Chleora Adkins and made their home at Graham, Mo., until February 1915, when they moved to Yuma, Colorado. But despite the tender care of a loving husband the frail flower like wife was mortal and died in the month of May 1915. During their brief married life they were a happy loving couple but when the Great Summons come we must all answer "Here."

When England, France, the Belgians and the rest of the allies were beaten back standing with their feet in the last ditch, when Germany in her arrogance declared uncivilized submarine war on the whole world And America was reluctantly forced to enter the war. Otto L. Mowry, true to his training sprang to the defense of his country and applied for admission to the officers training camp in July 1917, and was sent to Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, for training. On November 22, 1917 he received his commission as Lieut.

On December 22, 1917 he was assigned to overseas duty, and was placed in a French training camp. He saw service with the French and Canadians and was later assigned to Co. I. 308th Inf. 77th Div. A.E.F. On August 22nd, 1918 he was captured by the Germans at Fismes, France, on the Vesle River. He was taken to Villigen Baden, Germany, and placed in an officers prison camp. Here he contracted the flu and in a few days later was taken to the city hospital where he died on November 2, 1918. He was buried in the Villigen Cemetery and was accorded a military funeral by the Germans. His pallbearers were American officers and also members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he was a member. The entire body of fellow prisoners were permitted to attend his funeral. The Odd Fellows were permitted to buy a beautiful wreath of flowers and the German officers also furnished a beautiful wreath. This was all reported to his family and Hesperian Lodge No. 189 I.O.O.F. by the six pallbearers at his funeral.

It was his request before he left for overseas that if he fell, that when the war was over his body be brought back to America and laid to rest beside the body of his wife. Complying with that request, we assembled on August 14th to carry out his wishes.

He leaves to sorrow: his mother, Rachel Mowry; Mrs. Eva Amber, Lovilla, Iowa: Mrs. Lena Dicken, Graham, Mo; Mrs. Maud Lipton, Orin, Illinois; D.N. Mowry, Graham, Mo: Fred D. Mowry, Graham, Mo: Mrs. Frances Bryant, Springfield, Mo; and M.W. Mowry, Graham, Mo., who were all present at the funeral. Funeral services were held at Bethany Cemetery Sunday, August 14, 1921, at 2:30 p.m., in charge of the Odd Fellows and American Legion boys of the Lt., Otto L. Mowry Post No. 300

Private Pat Mowry, 5th US Cavalry, 1898

Group of U.S. officer prisoners in the Villingen Baden camp in the fall of 1918.
A photograph of Lt Mowry taken the same year is inset into the corner.
It is presumed that the officers (individually unidentified) are the ones that signed the letter to the family.
William B. Brown - Moscow, Pennsylvania
1st Lt Willard Busby - New Haven, Connecticut
Captain W. Curtis Truxal - Somerset, Pennsylvania
Lt. Jas. E. Quigley M.D. M.R.C. - Adrian, Pennsylvania
Lt. Thomas B. Kern M.D. M.R.C. - Slatington, Pennennsylvania
1st Lt. Bert Chessman (Cheesman?) 4th Inf. - Parson, Kansas

German hearse followed by US officer prisoners on the way to the cemetery.
Villingen Baden, 1918.

Graveside funeral service. Villingen Baden, 1918.

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