The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota*

Byrl Sylvester reenlists; leaves for Minneapolis for aviation training

November 23, 1917 - December 28, 1917

PAGE 115

by a French soldier out of pieces of bullets, shells and German belt buckles.

Battlefield Souvenir
The two sides are formed by the buckles. Every German, he said, wears such a buckle on his belt with the words, "Gott Mit Uns" inscribed over the Prussian eagle. A circular portion of a 48 centimeter French shell casing serves to join the buckle sides.
This receptacle is filled with oil and is a feeder for a wick, which is protected when not in use by a hollowed steel nose of a rifle bullet. The flint lighter is the only part of the piece which was not picked up on the battlefield.
"The German prisoners cannot be made to believe that any Americans have yet reached France. Most of them are glad enough to be taken prisoners because the Allies treat them so well," Mr. Sylvester said.

Winona Independent

… The speaker expressed the belief that if aeroplanes were properly manned and in sufficient numbers internal Germany could be rocked by suffering and be made to know the terrors of militarism fostered by their monarchal government.

Night of Attack
"On the night before I left the hospital in France," Sylvester said, "the enemy aeroplane warning was sounded, the hospital lights were put out and all the hospital attendants pushed to the dugout. We were left helpless on our cots in the dark. The roar of the machine grew louder and finally the sound died out. The hospital attendants returned and the lights were turned on. But a few minutes later the (NOTE: the rest was torn away.)

November 30, 1917- Picture of Plainview Municipal Band with G. F. Sylvester.
E. G. Krause, E. L. Sylvester, Ralph Risley, who have been enjoying several days in the northern woods in search of big game returned home last Thursday night. They secured their full quota and each brought back a fine deer. They say even fishing is good in that section at this time of the year.
Byrl Sylvester left for Chatfield, Monday afternoon to fill an engagement he has promised some time ago. He says this is possibly the last one as he desired to use the few remaining days to visit among his friends, before departing for Minneapolis to take up his new work.
December 7, 1917- Byrl Sylvester left for Minneapolis to enter upon his studies in the aviation school, where he will spend the next 3 months. He expects to be back in France again next spring.
December 14, 1917- Mrs. E. L. Sylvester and Miss Petterson spent Saturday with friends.
December 21, 1917- Mrs. G. F. Sylvester went to Eyota Saturday where she met her daughter, Mrs. R. J. R. Baker of Moline, Ill. who will spend the holiday season here.
Mr. Sylvester and Mr. Rohweder visited the cooking class Thursday and plan a way of heating the H. S. Laboratory. –School News.
December 28, 1917- The Plainview Travelers are already preparing a service Flag to be hung in the City Hall. This is indeed a splendid patriotic act and will certainly be highly prized and appreciated.
The Plainview State Bank is one of the first business institutions to display a service flag in their window.
Byrl Sylvester, who is studying in the aviation branch in the Dunwoody Institute at Minneapolis came home Saturday on a weeks furlough to enjoy the holidays. Byrl is looking fine and his friends are indeed pleased to greet him.

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* 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."