The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Byrl Sylvester heads home; arrives in New York City

October 5, 1917 - October 26, 1917

PAGE 107

From E. L. Sylvester to Nettie, Phaon, and Phaon Jr.
I am sending you a copy of the letter we just received from France. We had a short letter yesterday from Wyman Lawrence, telling a little about it, but did not explain much. We just received in today’s mail at same time as these copies, a letter written by Byrl dated Sept. 6, 1917. He is telling of receiving letters from you, the smokes sent him in August, and pictures we sent him. Also telling of going back to front work again. He also sent two little pictures of the German plane of August 23 which he saw fall. We think he is now at Paris, that he will visit London and then come home before Christmas.
With love to you all,
E. L. Sylvester.
October 5, 1917- No Word Received From Wounded Boy in France.
Although it is four weeks since Byrl Sylvester was injured at the front in France no word has come from there in regard to his condition. Not only his parents but his many friends anxiously await more news of his condition and hope for his complete recovery and that he will soon be returning home.
October 12, 1917- Mesdames E. L. Sylvester and J. D. Bateman left for Rochester Thursday morning to spend the day with friends.
October 19, 1917- (Byrl’s Letters)

Plainview Boy Wounded on Battlefield Receives French War Cross.
Byrl Sylvester, Now in French Hospital, Honored for Brave and Hard Work With
Ambulance Corps – to Soon Return Home
Interesting Letters Tell of His Varied Experiences
The following extracts from letters just received from Byrl Sylvester, by his parents, will be read with deep interest by his many friends, and especially the boys at the training camps.
(NOTE: Letters written September 13, 15, 18, 19, 22, are printed here.)
Encouraging News from War Front by Local Resident
The following letters have just been received by E. L. Sylvester, concerning the injury his son, Byrl E. Sylvester, met with while at the front in France with the Red Cross Ambulance Corps. They are of particular interest to the people of this community where Byrl is so well and favorably known.
(NOTE: Letter from C. W. Lawrence, Richard Norton, and Ronald Hoytpearce printed here.)
Byrl Sylvester, now in French hospital honored for brave and hard work with ambulance corps to soon to return home. Letters.
October 26, 1917- Loyalty meeting at G. A. R. Hall. The meeting was called to order by chairman G. F. Sylvester and opened with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner lead by the H. S. Glee Club.
Sylvester letter – Plainview boy plans to return home soon.
November 2, 1917- Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Sylvester received a telegram Wednesday noon announcing that their son, Byrl, had landed in New York and that he would soon be on his way home.
Byrl was wounded in France several weeks ago by an exploding German shell that took the life of his companion, Robert Hall of Minneapolis. His parents plan to meet him at Minneapolis and accompany him on the last end of his journey.
The letters that have furnished such splendid descriptions to our readers will be missed, but all will rejoice at his return and hope that his injuries are such that he will suffer no permanent results.
After nearly 5 months as a volunteer in the Norton-Harjes Ambulance Corps, a portion of that time on one of the hottest battlefields at the front, he has gone through an

Previous: Page 106.
Next: Page 108.
Initial: Table of Contents

* SOURCE: Manzow, Ron (compiler), "The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota - a collection of information taken from the Plainview News, other newspapers, letters, and diaries beginning in 1884": Plainview Area History Center, 40 4th St. S.W., Plainview, MN 55964. Compiled in 2001.

NOTE: from Ron Manzow, December 2001: "Feel free to reproduce the pages for anyone who wants a copy. It was compiled to be shared... All I ask is that they consider sending a check to the [Plainview Area] History Center to help us out. That should be enough."