CONFIRMS FRANK BROUGH'S DEATH

Brave Young Marine Had Been Proposed for Croix de Guerre

Because of several conflicting reports from France and Washington, Dr. and Mrs. Frank C. Brough, formerly of Court Street, were led to believe an error had been made in the announcement of the death of their son, Frank, who was wounded in the memorable drive of the Marines at Chateau Thierry last July, and they continued to hope and pray that the young man may still be alive. But a letter from a Red Cross nurse who attended Frank, received by the parents, confirms his death four days following the wound.

The nurse also states that the local young hero had been proposed for the Croix de Guerre, and an effort will be made to get this decoration.

Frank was a Hackensack High school graduate and prominent in athletics. He graduated from Amherst College and was engaged as a college physical director when he enlisted. He was a member of the C. M. S. and one of the clubs best pitchers.

Following is the Very expressive and touching letter received from the Red Cross nurse:

"My dear Mrs. Brough:--I received your very kind letter, also one of your daughter, and one from Miss Adams. I will answer to each one but first to you.

" I am so distressed that you should have received so many different reports concerning your son's death. I cannot understand how the A. R. C. could make such mistakes. Your son gave me your address himself; there were but seven Americans in his hospital, no one bore the same name and I waited to write you until he had been buried and the name was written on the cross. I knew he had died, but I felt surer after I had seen the grave. His body is resting in the military cemetery of Betz with three other Americans.

"The ambulance did make a mistake on the inscription of the cross; they put medical service instead of marine. I have tried to have it changed, but have not succeeded yet.

"His death was published in the New York Herald (Paris Edition) the last of September. I do not see how a mistake could have been made on my part, for I was present. I wrote, as he requested, to Mr. Carpenter, whom I happened to know. I took the necessary information concerning Frank Brough as he was proposed for the Croix de Guerre.

"I cannot give you any detail as to his wounds, except that they were mortal wounds in the abdomen and chest. He was too weak to be operated on, having arrived at the twelfth hour.

"On Sunday, July 21, in the morning, a Major of the French army, Chief Director de La Sautt, came and asked me to go to the hospital, where they had seven Americans, having no one who could understand them. He felt I could be a help to the surgeons and the nurses (there were no women nurses). I was told that two were in a serious condition, but one of them was expected to die and I would give him special attention. I went into every barracks, helping where I could and felt worried, for I thought I had not seen the one I had been asked not to miss. I finally found him in the guard house at the entrance of the castle ground. I stayed with him a long time; he was not suffering but was very weak. I explained to him why he could not have anything to drink or eat. We talked of Hackensack, where I had been, and I put him to sleep.

I returned the next day, but before I could reach him I was called away. Wednesday I went starting my visits in the castle where I was to take the information for the proposition of the Croix de Guerre. The head infirmier was with me. We reached a room where there was about twenty men and he told me that I might not be able to get a word from this young man; he was delirious and too weak to talk. I sat by him, trying to wake him up gently. When he finally opened his eyes he complained of his head. He took hold of my hands and begged me to help him think. I asked for his name. He looked at me a long time and said, ' I gave it to you and you said you would write mother.'

"He described my uniform and it was your son; I had not recognized him, he had been transferred to another room and he looked so changed.

"I stayed a long time by him and it was a lovely afternoon we spent together. I wished so hard I could bring you here. I felt his lovely nature very strongly and I would love to have the picture you have promised me; do send it to me, will you?

"I have not received yet the print of the grave I took, but I will send it to you soon; meanwhile here is a picture of the castle where he was taken care of and where he died.

"I have not heard of the arrangement of which you speak for the care of the graves, but between Mr. Carpenter and I it will be done. The weather, is too bad now to do any planting, but we shall have new earth put on."