FRANK DOSTAL, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Dostal, of this city, has given his life to his country. Such was the sad message that was conveyed to our little city by telegram from the officials at Washington, Tuesday, December 3rd, stating that Private Frank Dostal was officially reported as being killed in action October 23rd, he being the second of Oxford’s young men to have been killed in action on the battlefields of France. The news of his untimely death, came as a shock to the community, where his entire life had been lived with the exception of a year or more spent at Tipton, where he was employed. His friends were many for his generous, free-hearted disposition had attracted to himself those, who could not help but like him. Frank was born December 1, 1891, and had he lived, would have reached his twenty-seventh birthday the first of this month. As stated before nearly all his life had been spent in this community. A number of years ago, with his brother, Ed, they operated a meat market in this city, which was later sold to S. Duggleby. Frank was engaged by the new proprietor and remained with him for some time, only resigning to accept a better position at Tipton.
The fact that he was away from his home prompted him to resign this position and return to Oxford, where he secured employment as salesman in the A. Stratilek store, which position it was necessary for him to give up when called into the service in the draft of April 25th. Upon reporting at Anamosa he was sent to Camp Dodge, but was later transferred to Camp Travis, Texas. In this southern camp he received a great deal of his training and was then sent to Camp Mills, Long Island, N. Y., only to remain a short time before going overseas. The trip was made without mishap and the month of September found him in the front line trenches, from where after a month’s service his division was sent back of the lines for a rest, to be again thrown into action about the middle of October. Although not in the same division with Victor Shimanek, who was also killed in action, it is thought that his death occurred in the same sector, where a great deal of heavy fighting was being carried on. Frank gallantly gave up his life for his country, a sacrifice supreme, but the poor broken-hearted mother has also made a supreme sacrifice in the giving of her boy, who now rests in a grave in far away France covered with military honors. May she find comfort in knowing that although his task was a large one, he completed it fully before being called Home. His name represents a golden star on Oxford township’s service flag, which will long be remembered.

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Last updated on Friday, 16-Apr-2021 16:55:22 MST