VFW POST 1265---PAWCATUCK CT   100 Years Ago

HARLEY P CHASE was born December 11, 1895 in Westerly RI and lived at 147 Canal Street , the son of Mr & Mrs Edgar M Chase. At age 21 he was single and employed as a letter carrier for the US Postal Service at the Westerly Post Office.

   In May 1918 Chase and two other mail carriers left for induction into the US Military at East Greenwich, RI during WWI. Four months later he was listed as US Army Private 1^st Class, Co. E, 314^th Infantry, 79^th Infantry Division...France, September 26, 1918, age 23, Killed in  Action (KIA),  AED... American Expeditionary Forces. The first native born in Westerly to be killed in WW1  ( Norwich Bulletin 5 November 1918 page 6..)

   “ Private Quinlan writes that his friend. Harley P chase was killed on the first day that the drive was on.  Quinlan saw him fall and just as soon as the company fell back for rest, he inquired in regard to Chase from the company commander and was given the sad information that Chase had been shot in the head and that death was instantaneous. The  next day, while at breakfast, Quinlan looked out of the window of the shack and saw a funeral ceremony being conducted by a Priest Chaplain. Several soldiers were buried. After the volley and taps he learned that among those just buried was his friend, Harley P Chase.”

    The Westerly World I Memorial 1917---1918  lists Harley P  Chase on a bronze tablet with a gold star indicating KIA. His final resting place is at River Bend Cemetery Westerly, RI,  #WY008...map 00275. 

Compiled from facts by:      Anthony D Lombardo, USA

VFW Post 1265 Pawcatuck,CT

Service Officer/Judge Advocate..................Done....05-24-2018