It's a good storytelling shot, though the headstone itself actually raises way more questions than it answers. There is no date of birth shown but according to his WWI draft card it was apparently 10 July 1889, making him 39 at the date of death. It's probable that this headstone shows his WWI service information and that he was actually in civilian life at the time; otherwise 39 is way, WAY old to still be a Private 1st Class. Also the US wasn't involved in any military entanglements in 1928; certainly not in Taos County NM where the death occurred. 39 is not that old, but we don't know whether he succumbed to war wounds, or whether it was an industrial accident... or whether he was just medically unlucky. At least his name lives on, almost a century later.
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