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2nd Lt. Paul Taylor Funkhouser Judge Advocate, Machine Gun Battalion, 3rd Division February 21, 1895 - October 20, 1918

   In one of his essays Stevenson tells us, "We do not, properly
speaking, love life at all, but living." The ancient Greeks must have
had this in mind when they said that those whom the gods love die
young. An active career, dedicated to a worthy cause, though
terminated by death, is of more value to mankind than a prolonged
existence of sluggishness, spent in the contemplation that "our life
is of such stuff as dreams are made on."  The career of Paul Taylor
Funkhouser illustrates a life so filled with activity, that it does
not have leisure to entertain fear of death.

   He was born on February 21, 1895 in Leavenworth, Indiana. Having
completed the Chandler, now Stanley Hall School, he entered the
Evansville High School in 1911.  He was a star football player
throughout his High School career. He attended Northwestern
University in 1915-1916. In 1916 he entered the law department of
Indiana University. While at Bloomington he became a member of the
Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and was president of the Pan-Hellenic
Club of the University.

   When the call to arms was sounded. Paul Funkhouser entered the
First Officers' Training Camp, at Fort Benjamin Harrison,
May 12, 1917.  He was a member of the 8th Co., 9th Provisional
Regiment.  On August 15, 1917, he received a commission as 2nd
Lieutenant in Infantry Officers' Reserve Corps, and on
August 27, 1917 he was assigned to Company C, 59th U.S. Infantry,
at Gettysburg, Pa.

   In his preparation for service in France, Lieut. Funkhouser was
often chosen for special training at various camps. He was selected
on September 28th, 1917, by Col. Atkinson, to undergo a special
thirty days course, of training in musketry.

   He was selected as a member of Special Court Martial at Gettysburg.
His division was moved November 8, 1917 to Camp Greene, Charlotte,
N.C. By Special Order No.43, December 3, 1917, Lieut. Funkhouser
was selected by Major-General Dickman as a member of the General
Court Martial of the Third Division. By Special Order No. 17,
January 5, 1913, he was assigned to Company "B", 7th Machine Gun
Battalion (the Divisional Machine Gun Battalion of the Third Division)
under Major Fred L. Davidson.

   On March 25, 1918, he was ordered to proceed with the Battalion
to Camp Merritt, N. J. He sailed from New York on April 2, 1918,
on the "Aquitania," and arrived at Liverpool, Englend, April II.
The ship was without any escort or convoy until it reached the Irish
coast. Lieut. Funkhouser was at Southhampton until April 13, when
he embarked for La Havre, France. On April 22, he moved to Le
Ferte sur Aube, where the Battalion remained in training until May
30, when it was ordered to the battlefield of Chateau-Thierry.
Meanwhile on May 11, 1918, by a special order, Lieut. Funkhouser was
selected Judge Advocate for the Battalion Special Court Martial. With
this move Lieut. Funkhouser began to participate in some of the most
fiercely contested battles of the war. He remained with the 7th
Machine Gun Battalion continuously during his entire military service.

   The Battalion being motorized arrived at Chateau-Thierry on
May 31. A distance of one bundrea and ten miles was traversed without
a stop. The Battalion moved on twenty-four trucks; Lieut. Funkhouser
acting as Liaison Officer, went the entire distance on his motorcycle,
amd kept the conveyance in line and finding the way.

   Immediately on arrival at Chateau-Thierry the Battalion went
into its first engagement, and was continuously in action until the
morning of June 5, when it was relieved.  Lieut. Funkhouser commanded
his platoon just east of the upper or east bridge across the
Marne and assisted in repulsing nine separate attacks of the enemy
in their effort to cross the Marne. As Liaison Officer he assisted the
French Army in an attack at La Maurette Woods, and was in action
there June 10, 11, and 12. Licut. Funkhouser, commanding his platoon,
and again acting as Liaison Officer, assisted the French in attacking
Hill 204, June 15 and 16. The Battalion was in support of the 38th,
Infantry (Third Division) south of Mezy and Fossoy, near the Surmelin
River on July 15, 1918.  Licut. Funkhouser's platoon was the only part
which was actively engaged in this action.  At Conde-en-Bris his
platoon was in action and being surrounded by the enemy, his guns
were placed so as to fire in opposite directions.  From July 23,
until August 8, the Battalion held support positions north of the
Marne at Mont St. Pere and other points, and served as anti-aircraft
guard at the Marne between Mezy and Fossoy.

   In the St. Mihiel drive the 7th Machine Gun Battalion was attached
to the 16th Infantry, First Division, and took an active part in
the drive.  It battered its way through from Xivray, skirting
Montesec to Nonsard, September 12, 1918. The Battalion reached
Montzeville, in the Meuse-Argonne Sector, September 23, 1918, and
remained in support or in reserve until the end of the war. It was
sent in line September 29, to relieve the 79th Division. It continued
its activities from Montfaucon to Claire-Chenes Woods, through Ferm
de-Madelaine and Cunel.

   Lieut. Funkhouser was killed in action, in Claire-Chenes Woods,
while leading an attack on Hill No.299, October 20, 1918.  He had
captured three enemy machine guns, and at his own request, had been
assigned to lead Lieut. Wood's platoon, after that officer had been
wounded.  In this action every commissioned officer of Company
"B", except Lieut. Hose, was killed or wounded.

   This was the last action in which that dauntless Battalion was en-
gaged.

   Lieut. Paul Taylor Funkhouser was buried first in the American
section of the cemetery at Ferm de Madelaine. After the armistice
his body was dis-interred and re-interred in a heavy metal lined
casket on higher ground, by his brother, First Lieut. Albert C.
Funkhouser. In May, 1919, his body was removed to the American
cemetery at Romagne, France, where it will rest until placed in
the soil of his native land, the home he loved so well and served so
bravely.

Lieut. Funkhouser was cited in general orders, as follows:

           HEADQUARTERS 3RD DIVISION AMERICAN
                   EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
                       8 July, 1919.
                      General Orders;
                           No.22.
        The Commanding General desires to record in
        General Orders he valor and devotion to duty
        of these officers and men of the 3rd Division.
        Their individual deeds, summed up, have created
        the glorious record enjoyed by the Marne Division,
        from those unforgetable days at Chateau-Therry,
        in the defense of Paris, to the Victory Drive
        which began on the banks of the Marne and continued
        relentlessly until its brilliant conclusion in the
        Argonne before Sedan:
                            *  *  *

                   7th Machine Gun Battalion

                            *  *  *

        FUNKHOUSER, PAUL T, 2nd Lieutenant. Kept up liaison
               with infantry under heavy shell fire.

                            *  *  *
                      Official:
                      MADISON PEARSON,
                      LL Col Infantry,

                      RT L HOWZE,
                      Major General, U. S. Army,
                      Commanding.

_____

Sons of Men: Evansville's War Record,
Compiled by Heiman Blatt,
Published by Abe P. Madison, 1920
pp67-70.

cdmyers@wowway.com
September 14, 2000