"The casket, enshrouded in Old Glory, for which he endured and died, was lowered, but his soul, no one could doubt, had already winged itself to the portals of eternity; there to repose in well-earned rest, to ever serve his God as he served God and country his mortal while.
"He died in the height of his development as a trained soldier. Although removed from the scene of actual warfare and listed as 'Died of Disease' in the casualty records, not one of the thousands of the A. E. F. fallen on the field of battle suffered a more heroic or noble death.
"He was prepared, ready and willing. Months of strenuous effort spent in mastering the soldier game were cut short on the eve of material advantage to the cause, but the spirit of his endeavors lives in the heart of the outfit he served. It is the spirit, sometimes called morale, that is the decisive factor.
"At the tomb of the dead the regimental chaplain vouched the fact that the departed soldier communed every Sunday of his army life.
"In civil life, before entering the call of selectiveness, his worth and devoutness was well known to a large circle of friends. His military associations were none the less extensive and tender.
"It was while doing his duty, along lines of communication as a member of the Battery Commander's Detail, on the range at La Courtine, that he fell a victim to pneumonia, resulting in early demise.
"There are many incidents connected with the life of our fallen soldier and friend that could be extolled. But those who knew him need no words. His life shines out as a true beacon.
"The boys of the battery in which he served bow in heartfelt sympathy to his wife, parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends. He died, but his death has not been in vain. His spirit lives to cheer his comrades on to greater deeds of patriotism. His loved ones at home can be proud of 'Al.' He died every inch a man and patriotic to the core.
"His grave was not neglected. The boys tenderly sodded its mound and placed a wreath of holly, plucked from the hills of Creuse, where he last trained. The grave is marked with a wooden cross, on which is inscribed his name, rank, and command, and to which is attached the soldier's identification disc.
"It is Grave No. 84 in the American cemetery, situated on a gentle slope of one of the picturesque hills of Creuse province, overlooking Camp La Courtine."