Hite, Harold Frank (P1, C2 L17)

Private Harold Frank Hite, 18, of Warren County, Kentucky, died on 4 February 1917 of pneumonia at the Fort Bliss hospital while on Federal Duty during the Mexican Border Campaign serving with Company A, 3rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment

Kentucky Guardsman Dies At Fort Bliss Hospital

Harold Hite, of Company A, Third Regiment, Victim of Pneumonia.

The Courier-Journal, 5 February 1917, p. 4.

El Paso, Tex., February 4. - Harold Hite, 18 years old, member of Company A, Third Kentucky Infantry, died at the Base Hospital at Fort Bliss early this morning of pneumonia.  The young soldier had been ill only about five days.  The body will be shipped to Woodburn, Ky., at the direction of his relatives.  Member of his company headed by the regimental band will accompany the body to the passenger station.

Although pneumonia has touched nearly all of the other National Guardsmen at El Paso very heavily, the case of Hite was the first in the Third Kentucky.  The First Kentucky has one case in the Base Hospital, that of George Hargraves, of D Company.  This regiment also has a number of cases of measles in its midst.

Nearly all of the staff officers of the First Kentucky Infantry went to Columbus, N. M., on Sunday to witness the arrival of Gen. Pershing's expedition from Mexico.  News of the impeding war with Germany was received quietly and without any demonstration by the Kentucky troops.

All of the National Guardsmen at this point of the border seem to think they will be rushed home as quickly as possible, but not to be mustered out of the Federal service, while there is possibility of war with Germany.  They think the Government will hold them in service for the purpose of guarding munition plants, steel mills and powder stores.