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Pvt Willie Lee Morris

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Pvt Willie Lee Morris

Birth	:	27 Feb 1889 Greene County, Virginia, USA
Death	:	15 Jul 1918 France
Burial	:	Evergreen Cemetery, Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.2716740, -78.5452480
Inscription	:	Slain in France in the service of his country
Description	:	PVT in the U.S. Army, Killed in France during WW I. He died whille fighting the "Battle of the Huns" in France at the age of 27. His body was returned home about 1926 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Willie Lee Morris was first Greene Co., Va., man called in the draft lottery, his number was 1. (Greene Co., Va., Record, 26 July 1918) SUPREME SACRIFICE BY WILLIE LEE MORRIS Report, that He was Killed in Action Confirmed Willie Lee Morris, a Greene County boy, was killed in battle July 15, in France. Two messages were received by his mother... Read More	PVT in the U.S. Army, Killed in France during WW I. He died whille fighting the "Battle of the Huns" in France at the age of 27. His body was returned home about 1926 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Willie Lee Morris was first Greene Co., Va., man called in the draft lottery, his number was 1. (Greene Co., Va., Record, 26 July 1918) SUPREME SACRIFICE BY WILLIE LEE MORRIS Report, that He was Killed in Action Confirmed Willie Lee Morris, a Greene County boy, was killed in battle July 15, in France. Two messages were received by his mother last week confirming a statement made in a letter written by Tillman Courtney home August 3, which said Willie Lee had been killed In battle. The letter contained no more particulars, contrary to reports in the neighborhood that it did. The messages contained only the information in the first paragraph. One was a telegram dated Sept. 3 and the other was the regular form letter. As the telegram was mailed to Pirkey from Charlottesville the letter dated Sept. 4 brought the first positive information that he had been slain. It said his captain would write the details, that burial was over there and that the body would not be sent home until after the war. Willie Lee Morris has made the supreme sacrifice for his country. Rumors that he had been current in his home community for several weeks. They were verified by the war department last Thursday. The first information came from his comrade in arms, Tilly Courtney who wrote home that Willie had been shot in battle, he learned, July 15. Although it was a very slender thread of hope his family and friends trusted the wound he received was not a fatal one. They inquired of the war department in Washington but could not get any confirmation of the report, and this constrained them to believe Courtney's report was incorrect. And with their hope enlarging, came the telegram announcing that Willie Lee had been killed in battle. Under the circumstances the blow to his aged parents was a crushing one, very hard to bear for his brothers and sisters, and cast a gloom over the Pirkey community, his home community. It is a coincidence that the first man drawn in the draft lottery of last year in Greene County should be the first one to be reported slain in battle. Those of us who have been wondering what part our boys were taking in the great and successful counter offensive whether they were being held back off we knew they would not stay back of their own accord, or were In the fore-front of the affray, is known now. They helped to glorify the American army, they are of the fighting men the like of which European military servants say have never before trod the battlefield. And up in the front was Willie Lee Morris, knowing no fear himself but with steady and true aim, sending the first fear into the enemy, fright which has grown as the great battle has been prolonged until it has taken such a hold on the German army that it has become largely demoralized. Willie Lee was slain at the very outset of the offensive. Those who knew him best, and appreciated his sturdy, courageous manhood, say that he no doubt stepped out quickly, boldly and unhesitatingly when only brave American youths In their real baptism of fire closed the road to Paris, and though he and many others laid down their magnificent young lives on that fateful day, their work halted the Hun, and when he stopped he turned and stared back and continued to go. There is no measure by which to estimate the value of Willie Lee Morris' service to his country, to France and to the allied cause. The world's future was possibly in the balance that day-July 15. Gen. Fosh had determined upon a counter attack if it did not succeed as he had planned many dreary, distressing years might pass before we could win the victory we were determined to win. But he chose wisely when he selected such men as Willie Lee Morris for the task of leading the thrust as subsequent developments have shown. The grandest pages in military history will doubtless be devoted to the exploits of those splendid young Americans-Willie Lee was one of them-who relieved the wornout British and French soldiery and said to the Hun rushing towards Paris "You must stop," as those veterans had said themselves at Verdun, "You shall not pass. " Willie Lee Morris died gloriously. And it should be comforting to the sorrowing parents, aged both of them, that with their great grief great honor has come to them. No parents ever had a son who died a more heroic, a more valorous death. We sympathize with them nonetheless, however. Willie Lee Morris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Austin Morris, of Pirkey, was born in Greene County, Feb. 27, 1889. He was the youngest son of a family of 15 children, there being three girls younger than himself. His educational advantages were not the best, but he attended public school and received a common school education, being able to read and write fairly well, and had some knowledge of other studies taught in public schools. After leaving school he began carrying the mail from Pirkey to Dyke, a position he filled faithfully for about six years, his brother, the late John P. Morris, being the contractor. Mr. Morris was one of the boys of Greene who had always stayed at home. He worked about four months in Newport News, and something like a month both at Crozet and Martinsburg. The rest of his life he spent at home farming for his parents. For many years he had gotten letters from the navy department and declared his intention of enlisting several times, but his parents bitterly protested against this. He told many of his friends that if it were not for his Mother and Father he would be in the navy. June 5, 1917, he had the opportunity of answering to his country's call and presented himself for registration. He was the first Greene County man to be called for a physical examination, his number being 258 in the first manpower lottery. Meanwhile his parents needing him, sought to have him exempted, but not by his request, as he was their means of support. The local board saw fit to exempt him, but the district board thought otherwise. In the latter part of October he was called to go to Camp Lee. He came to Stanardsville in answer to his call and by the request of his Father the local board consented to let all of the boys of that draft off for 30 days to help take care of their crops. Notice came in less than a week for the same boys and they started for Camp Lee Nov. 2. Mr. Morris stayed at that camp until about a week before Christmas when he was transferred to Camp Merritt, N.J. after staying a few days there he wrote home that he did not expect to be there long and soon a letter came that he was in France and liked it fine. Mr. Morris wrote home several times from over there and his letters were always cheerful, one coming after the report was received that he was dead. Willie kept in good spirits during his entire stay at the various camps, although he never got a furlough to come home. Once he wrote, "I would like to be at home with you all but Uncle Sam can't do without me." He said "Henry and I are going over and get the Kaiser before we come back." Private Morris besides his parents is survived by five brothers, Messrs. Monroe and L.E. Morris of this County, Sylvester and Myrtle Morris of Sparrow Point, and Columbus Morris, of Pennsylvania and five sisters, Mrs. Altie Pirkey, Nortonsville; Mrs. Mary A. Sullivan, Sullivan; Miss Evelyn Morris, Pirkey; Misses Julia and Mabel Morris, of Washington. In the casualty list Wednesday of this week appeared Willie Lee Morris's name, slating he was killed in action. The above article is a verbatim copy of the article printed in the GREENE COUNTY RECORD, volume 7 no. 26, dated Thursday Sep. 12, 1918.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Pvt Willie Lee Morris's memorial?
Pvt Willie Lee Morris's memorial is located at: Evergreen Cemetery, Dyke, Greene County, USA.
When did Pvt Willie Lee Morris death?
Pvt Willie Lee Morris death on 15 Jul 1918 in France
Where are the coordinates of the Pvt Willie Lee Morris's memorial?
Latitude: 38.2716740
Longitude: -78.5452480

Family Members:

Parent

George Austin Morris

(1849 - 1934)

Susan Clementine Shifflett Morris

(1851 - 1928)

Siblings

Ida Bell Morris Knight

(1871 - 1917)

Francis Monroe Morris

(1873 - 1936)

Leviston Ervin “Lev” Morris

(1874 - 1957)

Mary Ann Morris Sullivan

(1877 - 1947)

John Paul Morris

(1880 - 1916)

Rhoda Green Morris

(1882 - 1902)

Sylvester Eddie Morris

(1886 - 1967)

Myrtle Nelson Morris

(1888 - 1970)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Evergreen Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2716740, -78.5452480

2. Mount Olivet Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2733002, -78.5464020

3. B.R.I.S. Memorial Chapel Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2677950, -78.5522890

4. Shiflett Family Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2757130, -78.5594750

5. Shifflett Graveyard #2
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2763890, -78.5308330

6. Otterbine Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2641050, -78.5309760

7. Naylor - Dickerson Family Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2654740, -78.5282230

8. Huckstep Family Graveyard
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2630730, -78.5283570

9. Mitchell-Davis Family Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2716390, -78.5178330

10. Snow Graveyard
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2506110, -78.5373780

11. Shifflett Graveyard
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2922750, -78.5353560

12. Morris Graveyard #4
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2550000, -78.5725000

13. Shifflett Graveyard
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2919010, -78.5687070

14. Collier Graveyard
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2442280, -78.5478500

15. Morris Graveyard #3
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2916390, -78.5749450

16. Bickers Graveyard
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2394270, -78.5379550

17. Gibson Family Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2466310, -78.5722170

18. Plunkett Family Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2539840, -78.5082220

19. Blakey Family Cemetery
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2977810, -78.5167240

20. Wyatt Mountain Mission Cemetery
Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2800806, -78.5877778

21. Morris Graveyard #2
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2869780, -78.5849260

22. Morris Graveyard
Dyke, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2640555, -78.5901111

23. Parrott Cemetery
Amicus, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2607730, -78.4988520

24. Hamm Family Cemetery
Amicus, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2608780, -78.4985980