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A Veteran Comes Home Led by the O’Fallon band playing military music, the solemn funeral procession wound its way from the Evangelical Church to the O’Fallon Cemetery that Wed. afternoon. The band was joined by Rev. F.J. Langhorst, local veterans, 9 Marines from St. Louis, members of the O’Fallon High School Alumni Assn. and a large gathering of relatives and friends. Pvt. Herman Edward Fischer, rangefinder, U.S. Marine Corps, W.W. I, had finally come home. It was Sept. 14, 1921 and all businesses in town were closed for the day and O’Fallon grade schools and the Township High School were closed for the afternoon in honor of Pvt. Fischer. He was killed in action at Chateau—Thierry, France Jun. 15, 1918——the first O’Fallon resident to give his life in W.W. I. A 1916 graduate of O’Fallon High School, Fischer was a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Fischer of O’Fallon. While in school he worked at the O’Fallon Progress during his spare time and during the summer. After graduation he entered Brown’s Business College in Alton and worked as a ticket agent at the Alton Station of the East St. Louis & Suburban Rwy. Co. He enlisted in the Marines on May 20, 1917, shortly after the U.S. entered the war, so “he could fight for the protection of the Stars and Stripes”——the first O’Fallonite to do so. He was in France by Dec. 30 of that year. He was said to be industrious with exemplary habits and had many friends among the younger set. In his last letter from France, he made no complaint of being dissatisfied and seemed to look on the bright side of life.
At least 7 other O’Fallon men were also killed in action or died in service during W.W. I. On this Veterans Day 1999, the 81st anniversary of the end of W.W. I, let’s not forget the sacrifice made by these men and all veterans who fought for their country.
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