#american heroes

A poignant letter found in the pocket of a young American corporal who died May 28, 1918, in the battle of Cantigny, is a moral reminder that these young heroes should always be revered and their honor and sacrifices never tarnished or despoiled.

In May 1918, 20-year-old Ruffus Shelton wrote the following letter to his mom:

“Dear Mother:

I am writing these few lines that in case I do not return you may know how I feel about the war.  Mamma, we are about to enter into the first drive that the United States has made in the war and I’m sure it will be a great success – in fact I know it will.  There are some of us who will not live through it, but, Mamma the reason I am writing you these few lines is to let you know that I am willing to give my life and more if I could I would give my life gladly and I think very little of the man who would not.  For me to fall on the field of honor I know would hurt you but not like it would if you knew I was not giving  my life freely for my country and that I am leading a better life – a life that when the Lord calls me I am ready to go.   Mother, we may not meet on earth again, but some day we will meet and there will be no sorrow there.  And, if I go mother, in my last minutes on earth my thoughts will be on the dear little mother who has fought the battles of life for the last fourteen years – long years to raise me to where I am now.  I have gone through many hardships since I have been over here that did not look like I could go through, but I went through o.k. and I am glad I have.  I have always tried to do my duty and be as cheerful as I could.  It does not matter what hardships I have gone through I could not compare them with yours or what you have suffered for me.  I know I am not worth half the trouble you have endured for me, but if I had lived to come back one aim in life for me was to come back and show the world that I could be somebody, and most of all to show mother how much I love here.  With love to mother, I remain your son.  God keep and bless you till we meet again.

Corporal Ruffus Shelton”

Note: After receiving word of her son’s death, Ruth Ann Shelton wrote numerous letters to the US Army, the War Department, and her congressman, trying to gain more information about her son’s whereabouts, sometimes with little success. After the war was over, and the military agreed to return some of the deceased to the United States, Ruth Ann Shelton purchased a large headstone, which displayed Ruffus’ name next to hers. Ruth Ann lived until April 15, 1949 and was buried next to her son

Photo: Ruth Ann Shelton and family at the grave of her son, Ruffus Shelton.

Text and photo source: “The first Fannin County boy to die overseas in WW1″ by Malinda Allison and Bob Shelton