Title
Private Marvin Gay
Subject
World War I
United States. Army
United States. Army--African American troops
Description
Pvt. Marvin Gay died in France in 1919, while serving with the United States Army. Pvt. Gay was the son of Giles and Josephine Gay of Northport.
A photo of Pvt. Gay's grave can be found at this site: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56637375/marvin-gay.
More information Pvt. Gay can be found at this site: http://archives.state.al.us/goldstar/images/card/Gay_Marvin.pdf
A photo of Pvt. Gay's grave can be found at this site: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56637375/marvin-gay.
More information Pvt. Gay can be found at this site: http://archives.state.al.us/goldstar/images/card/Gay_Marvin.pdf
Source
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Date
March 7, 1920
Contributor
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Type
Newspaper
Identifier
2078
Coverage
Northport (AL)
Text
POCKET KNIFE DEAD
SOLDIER RETURNED
HIS PARENTS HERE
Story of How Local American Red Cross Assisted Them Reads Like a Piece of Fiction
Every now and then a little human interest story bobs up at the local office of the American Red Cross touching the heart of those who come in contact with the principals in the drama. Mrs. H. C. Brown, in charge of the local branch of the American Red Cross office in the government building, came across a story that is worth repeating. She went back through the files and dug up the story from beginning to finish.
Josephine and Giles Gay, a colored couple from Northport, R.F.D. 1, walked into the Red Cross office February 8, 1919, having in their hands a telegram from the Adjutant General, announcing the death of their son, Marvin Gay, who had been drafted into the service of his country. They had heard of the American Red Cross Home Service and wanted assistance as to where their son died and where he was buried not having heard from him since May 1918.
The local Red Cross set to work, endeavoring to get information as to where the son died, from the Adjutant General, also taking up the matter with the associate field director at Camp Dodge, the last know address of the colored soldier.
The mother and father had an insurance certificate for $5,000 taken out on the life of their boy. The Red Cross wrote letters for them making application for necessary blanks to apply for the insurance. Upon the receipt of same, various affidavids had to be executed and on April 23, 1919, the mother and father called at the office of the Red Cross in the government building, happy to report the receipt of their first insrance check for $28.75, the amount they were to receive per month.
In the meantime correspondence was being carried on between the Home Service in this city and the Adjutant General, and from the thousands of cases to be handled each being taken in turn, it was June before the official letter from the Adjutant General was received giving the information that the soldier died of pneumonia, January 24, 1919, overseas, and was buried at Mayenne. Of course, this was great consolation to the parents of the soldier to know where he was buried.
The next thing to clear up was the back pay of the soldier, and another department was corresponded with, and more affidavids had to be executed, and finally a check was received by his parents covering his back pay.
More correspondence was had and the parents have received his pocket knife and 20 Francs he had in his pocket when he died which they prize above everything else. Recently the father and mother of the boy called at the Red Cross and said that they were receiving the $28.75 regularly and expressed a desire to join the Red Cross. They paid their fee, received their button and a Red Cross Flag and left the government building very happy and said they would never forget the kindness shown them by the local American Red Cross.
In February the father and mother called again at the Red Cross, this time bring a letter from the office in Birmingham saying that they had in their office for delivery to them a Memorial Diploma, presented by the French Government in memory of the services rendered by the deceased. They were assisted again and the father and mother brough the French diploma to the city to show it to the local officials. It is a beautiful work of art and the parents of the dead soldier say they intend to frame it and keep it as a souvenir of their departed son.
SOLDIER RETURNED
HIS PARENTS HERE
Story of How Local American Red Cross Assisted Them Reads Like a Piece of Fiction
Every now and then a little human interest story bobs up at the local office of the American Red Cross touching the heart of those who come in contact with the principals in the drama. Mrs. H. C. Brown, in charge of the local branch of the American Red Cross office in the government building, came across a story that is worth repeating. She went back through the files and dug up the story from beginning to finish.
Josephine and Giles Gay, a colored couple from Northport, R.F.D. 1, walked into the Red Cross office February 8, 1919, having in their hands a telegram from the Adjutant General, announcing the death of their son, Marvin Gay, who had been drafted into the service of his country. They had heard of the American Red Cross Home Service and wanted assistance as to where their son died and where he was buried not having heard from him since May 1918.
The local Red Cross set to work, endeavoring to get information as to where the son died, from the Adjutant General, also taking up the matter with the associate field director at Camp Dodge, the last know address of the colored soldier.
The mother and father had an insurance certificate for $5,000 taken out on the life of their boy. The Red Cross wrote letters for them making application for necessary blanks to apply for the insurance. Upon the receipt of same, various affidavids had to be executed and on April 23, 1919, the mother and father called at the office of the Red Cross in the government building, happy to report the receipt of their first insrance check for $28.75, the amount they were to receive per month.
In the meantime correspondence was being carried on between the Home Service in this city and the Adjutant General, and from the thousands of cases to be handled each being taken in turn, it was June before the official letter from the Adjutant General was received giving the information that the soldier died of pneumonia, January 24, 1919, overseas, and was buried at Mayenne. Of course, this was great consolation to the parents of the soldier to know where he was buried.
The next thing to clear up was the back pay of the soldier, and another department was corresponded with, and more affidavids had to be executed, and finally a check was received by his parents covering his back pay.
More correspondence was had and the parents have received his pocket knife and 20 Francs he had in his pocket when he died which they prize above everything else. Recently the father and mother of the boy called at the Red Cross and said that they were receiving the $28.75 regularly and expressed a desire to join the Red Cross. They paid their fee, received their button and a Red Cross Flag and left the government building very happy and said they would never forget the kindness shown them by the local American Red Cross.
In February the father and mother called again at the Red Cross, this time bring a letter from the office in Birmingham saying that they had in their office for delivery to them a Memorial Diploma, presented by the French Government in memory of the services rendered by the deceased. They were assisted again and the father and mother brough the French diploma to the city to show it to the local officials. It is a beautiful work of art and the parents of the dead soldier say they intend to frame it and keep it as a souvenir of their departed son.
Original Format
Newspaper