The following are excerps from several letters involving a Leo W. Devereux - missing in action in WWI - written by Celeste O'Donnell to her sister Rosalie O'Donnell overseas: November 25th, 1918 "Oh, by the way, I am enclosing a note from Nell Stead, in which she mentions the name of a young man, related to some friend of hers, of whom his people seem to be unable to get any trace, and she thought possibly in some way you might be able to secure information regarding him; if you cannot yourself, or you can turn the letter over to someone who would be in position to handle it." [Leo W. Devereux] Monday - January 6th 1919 "Oh! while I think of it! the Devereux's have heard nothing from their brother Leo since long before the armistice was signed and as he had always written regularly prior to that time, they are, of course, terribly alarmed - being unable to secure any information from any source whatsoever. He was with the 101st. Infantry, Co. F., and his name is Leo W. Devereux. They thought probably he had been taken prisoner and I thought possibly you might be able to get some record of him if that is the case." Monday - February 17th [1919] "You remember my speaking to you about Leo Devereux not being heard from since just about the time of the armistice? Well, his family received a letter from the captain of his company, saying he "was missing in action", so it looks as if there is no hope for him because if he were taken prisoner surely by now they would have had a word from him - as I assume from what you have said and from what I've read that all prison camps in Germany have been cleaned out; if they have not released all the prisoners, believe me I'd be taking a little bunch of soldiers and give them a few lessons on how to "efficiently release Americans" and they'd not want the second lesson." From Rosalie O'Donnel to her sister Celeste: Berne, Switzerland, April 1 1919 "Had a letter from Nell Staed telling me the boy about whom she had written is no doubt dead." Celeste to Rosalie: Monday - April 28th, 1919 ""Sunday I was at home all day while Aunt Jule [Julia (Delany) McGinnis] went over to Webb's for tea and to see Arthur who had just arrived home that mornng. He looks splendid, put on twenty-five pounds and was certainly fortunate to have had the trip - for, as you probably remember, he sailed just about the time you did - arriving in England just before the armistice was signed. He was placed with a New England Division, their crowd being used as replacement troops and he says he was "almost persuaded to re-enlist for a sort of permanent "army of occupation", but he thought better of it and his Mother "heartily agreed" that it was wise for him to have "reconsidered". It was very hard when he went down to see the Devereux family (Mrs. Devereux being a relative of Mrs. Webb) as they have just received official confirmation of the death or "Missing in action" of Leo Devereux on October 31st., so short a time before the signing of the armistice - the great pity of it - at that time one would say an unnecessary sacrifice - that he should have held out almost to the end and then be taken; then, too, another thing that makes it particularly hard for him is that he was rejected from the very outbreak of the war in every branch in which he tried to enlist - the First and Fifth Regiments, the Hospital Unit and the Marines, he never having been a very strong boy and the reason given for rejecting him being that his kidneys were affected - and then last summer was taken in the draft and, of course, went through just as much and stood as much as would have been required of him had they accepted him when he tried to enlist." Friday, May 23rd, 1919 "Last night Uncle George [George Delany] was out to dine with us; he is looking and feeling pretty good. Georgie [George Delany, Jr.] he says, seldom leaves the house in the evening - reads, reads all the time - and does very little talking, but that is what every one says about all the boys - they never talk unless it is just dragged out of them. Don't know whether I told you that the Devereux family received confirmation of the death of Leo - was wounded on October 26th, captured and taken to a German field hospital, where he died on the 31st, and I presume was buried within - what was at that time - the German line. At least there is some comfort in knowing that, and Alleen's [Alleen (Fox) Jarsemsky] aunt, Miss McKenna, who, you will remember, I told you was going to France and Switzerland for the firm and was going to try and look you up, intends if she has the opportunity to visit the village where he is reported to have been buried -- for it will be a great measure of comfort to his Mother and sisters and brothers to know that one of their connections said a prayer at his grave. Mrs. D. [Catherine Devereux] said, she would not ask for the removal of his body to this country - that he went over willingtly to fight - that just as willingly she knows he gave his life and that his body shall rest in the soil made sacred to them by his blood."