Payette Enterprise
Thursday, June 13, 1918
LIEUT. JOHN W. RHOADS REPORTED KILLED IN ACTION
Effects of War Coming Home - Lieut. Rhoads Killed On April 27 - Parents receive Telegram
At last we are brought face to face with the sad intelligence of the first of our boys surrender his life for his country. It brings home to the people of this community the realization that our boys are now facing the cruel and inhuman Huns. That they are true Americans, willing to face death in defense of democracy and freedom. Webster Rhoads, who was a son of Mr. and Mrs. George W.. Rhoads of Payette, enlisted in company I five years ago when but seventeen years old, and went with his company to the Mexican border in the summer of 1916, and to Boise in April 1917, where the Company was mustered into the service of the National Government. After going to training camp he was commissioned to Second Lieutenant and assigned to another detachment which left for France in January, 1918. The news of his death came last Monday, and was very meager - just a message to his parents stating he was officially reported killed in action April 27th. Further particulars will undoubtedly be received later. Mr. and Mrs. Rhoads, who have two more sons at the front have the deepest sympathy of a large circle of friends, who share with them a hope that Web may yet be alive and only missing in the strange confusion that war brings.
Payette Enterprise (July 4, 1918)
MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR LIEUT. RHOADS
Payette has not planned a celebration of the ordinary sort, but the anniversary of Independence Day should be made to mean more this year than ever before. Accordingly we have planned to use one hour of the day in meditating on the case of our "first soldier to make the complete sacrifice to the cause of world Liberty." There has been delay in arranging this because the report of Lieu. Rhoads death was so long in reaching us, but now to have his deed as the theme for our keeping Independence Day is most fitting and we hope it will give larger meaning to both events. The meeting will be in the school grounds at 11 o'clock a.m.
