| Notes |
- Charles Lyon Bassett was killed in World War I.
Sergt. Chas. L. Bassett and Corp. Chas. Couch
Two Tuscola Soldier Boys Who Were Killed in Action
and Whose Funeral Services Were Held in This City Sunday Afternoon.
Charles Lyon Bassett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Bassett, was born in Tuscola, Ill, May 7th, 1895. He spent most of his life here, and attended the Tuscola schools, graduating with honor from the high school with the class of 1915.
He took an active part in athletics and was a member of the football team during his last year in school.
He was of a rather quiet disposition, but readily made friends of all with whom he came in contact.
On the 27th of May, 1918, he left Tuscola in charge of a contingent sent at that time to Camp Gordon, Ga. where he remained about six weeks. He was then transferred to Camp Merritt, N.J. and from there was sent to France. He was ambitious and rom the first applied himself loyally to his duties and in a few weeks rose to the rank of sergeant and went across in charge of a platoon of thirty men. During his short time in the service he was three times transferred to different companies, finally being assigned to Co. D, 61st Infantry and thus was separated from all other Douglas county boys.
His letters home were of that courageious, cheerful, optimistic tone so prevalent among our loyal heroes over there. In one of his letters to a relative in answere to questions asked him, he said, "Yes, the Kaiser has to be "got" and I want the honor and the distinction of helping to get him."
These with many other incidents we might mention go to show that he was a worthy son of the fighting stock to which he belonged; his grandfather Dr. Harvey J. Bassett and Jesse Duvall, both having fought in the Civil war.
The following extract from a letter from 2nd Lieutenant Walter A. Gilman briefly but eloquently, narrate the story of his soldierly conduct and herioc action to the time of the supreme sacrifice of all that a soldier has to give to his country's cause. It reads: "Your son, Charles L. Bassett came to the company the first week of October, as we came out of the St. Mihiel sector. About three days after he came our division entered the Argonne sector. We started the battle about the 11th of October and on the 16th while advancing he was struck by a high explosive shell and killed instantly. From the information I can gather from his comrades who were near him, he did very good work and went ahead with out any regard to his own personal safety until he was killed."
He was killed near Sunel, France, when the Germans put over a heavy artillery fire.
Today is the third anniversary of his death.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1895 - 1918 (23 years)