 Andy
Pinson of this city, private in Company H, 160th
Depot Brigade, died of influenza at Camp Custer
ay 3 o’clock Monday afternoon, the second
Collinsville boy to die at that camp from the
plague. He had been ill only eight days. His
mother went to his bedside last Friday and found
him improving, bur he declined rapidly and passed
away three days later.Young Pinson, who was 24 years, 11
months and 25 days old, was born and raised in
St. Louis. About ten years ago the family moved
to this city. Several years ago his father,
William Pinson, died, and a year ago his mother,
Mrs. Mary Pinson, moved to St. Louis, becoming
housekeeper for the family of Henry Cohn, 5600
Berlin avenue, former residents of Collinsville.
Andy remained here working as a bartender.
Pinson was drafted
into service on May 25, being sent first to Camp
Taylor, then to Fort Benjamin Harrison and later
to Camp Custer.
Pinson is survived
by his mother, two brothers, Floyd who works on a
farm for Fred Keller, Sr., near Collinsville,
David of Smithboro, and two sisters, Mrs. Harold
Bandy of Granite City and Miss Freda Pinson of
Louisville, Ky.
The body arrived
Wednesday night, accompanied by his mother and
John Nicola, a soldier escort, and the funeral
was conducted Thursday afternoon from the
Schroeppel undertaking parlors. Burial was made
at the Lutheran cemetery.
Captain Baldwin of
the 160th Depot Brigade, sent Mrs. Pinson the
following letter of condolence:
“ Dear Mrs.
Pinson: The news of your son Andy’s death
has caused all of us sorrow, for Andy was a good
soldier and was always willing to do what he
could to assist in making the company a success.
Although there are a large number of men in my
company and it is difficult to know all of them
personally, I did know your son a little better
than some of the others, and can truly say that
he was a good true boy. It grieves me to see a
young life closed and you have my heartfelt
sympathy in this hour of trial.”
“ The world
is filled with sorrow right know. The best thing
we can do is to be brave and bear it all, with
the hope and assurance that there is a life
beyond and a greater day coming soon. Sincerely
may heaven comfort you.”
Very sincerely
yours,
JOSEPH BALDWIN
Andy’s Captain
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