Leo J. Sanders was born February 22, 1894 in Brady, Nebraska. Leo and his siblings grew up in Ewing, and after the death of their father Martin Sanders, Leo and his brother Sylvester went to work in the family’s grain mill. After working there for a time Leo and his brother Sylvester, along with Ira Napier, Dewey Wright, and Charlie and Earl Wiseman, enlisted with the American Expeditionary Force at the recruiting center in Omaha. From there they were sworn in at Fort Logan, Colorado on May 6th, 1917. After arriving at France the group entered the trenches for the first time on November 11th, 1917, for ten days. Some time between March 3rd and July 6th, 1918, at Montdidier, Charlie Wiseman was killed. After traveling to the area of Maux, Sylvester and Leo, with the 1st and 2nd American divisions and the 11th French division,hiked 13 hours to their objective on July 18th, 1918. At this engagement Sylvester was killed by by indirect machine gun fire at Soissons. Leo also died at the same engagement, possibly on the way to the hospital in the ambulance.

              The remains of both Leo and Sylvester Sanders were returned to Ewing in 1921.  A large funeral was held and they were buried in the Catholic cemetery near Ewing.  The legion post in Ewing is named the Sanders American Legion Post in their honor. 

The following appeared in the O'Neill, NE newspaper, The Frontier, on July 28, 1921.

THE FRONTIER, JULY 28, 1921

PAY TRIBUTE TO BROTHERS

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Funeral of Sylvester and Leo Sanders, Killed in Action July 19, 1918, at Battle of Marne, Held at Park, Attended by Large Assemblage in Honor of These Heroes.

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Most Impressive Services Over Flag Draped Casket.

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         Ewing Advocate, July 22: Most impressive and solemn services were held at the park Monday morning in memory of Sylvester and Leo Sanders who fell in action in the Battle of the Marne, on the same day, July 19, 1918.  The largest number of people ever present in this vicinity at such a service, came from the surrounding towns to join with the residents of Ewing in paying a tribute to these two brave brothers who gave their all for their country’s honor.  The remains had been laid to rest in the American Cemetery at Ploisy, Aisne, France, but at the request at the boys’ mother, were disinterred to be buried in American soil in the family lot at the Ewing Catholic Cemetery.  The  procession which accompanied the bodies formed at the Sanders’ home and marched to slow martial music played by the Clearwater band.  The fllag(sic)-draped caskets were carried on caissons each drawn by four black horses.  Before them marched the color-bearer, “Cheese” Conklin of O’Neill, with the flag at half-mast. The pall-bearers were chosen, six from the army and six from the navy. They were: Ira Napier, Earl Wiseman, Wm. Walstrom, Henry Person, Roy Kimes, Leonard Hall and Coe Buler, Emil Bartak, Felix Spittler, Howard Bauman, R.T. Snyder and Roy Wiseman. Members of the American Legion from Atkinson, O’Neill and other neighboring towns joined in the march with the Ewing Legion men.

         Before the alter placed in the park a Solemn Requiem High Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Alberts, pastor of the Ewing Catholic church, assisted by Rev. Father Loecker of Atkinson as Deacon and Rev. Father O’Sullivan of Tilden as Sub-Deacon. Rev. Father Vogel of Clearwater was master of ceremonies. Rev. Father Teves of Petersburg officiated at the organ, assisted by Rev. Father Jungles of Stuart and the united choirs of Ewing and Petersburg. Absolution was given by Very Rev. Father M. F. Cassidy of O’Neill. Rev. Father John Palubicki of Stanton was the speaker and gave a splendid funeral address. He said that those two boys whose remains lay before him had not died in vain. They had given their lives that the great ideals of our Nation and of humanity might live. Their lives were dedicated to God’s great cause, to preserve His Love and Law of Justice. Wisner, was prevented by illness from attending these services. At the cemetery the usual military services were held. The caskets were placed in a double grave, the salute was fired, the religious rites were performed and Taps was blown. Clear Golden of O’Neill directed the military ceremony throughout and was ably supported by the American Legion of No. 214, by the visiting Legion members and the Clearwater band.

         Sylvester and Leo Sanders with Ira Napier, Dewey Wright, Charlie and Earl Wiseman left Ewing May 2, 1917, to enter the American army. They enlisted at Omaha and on May 6th were sworn in at Fort Logan, Colo. At El Paso, Texas, they joined Co. K of the 16th Infantry. The six entrained from El Paso June 1st for Hoboken, N.J., and embarked from New York June 12th bound for France. They disembarked at St. Nazarie June 26th, members of the first convoy. The second battallion(sic) of that regiment paraded Paris July 4th 1917. Four days later they entrained at St. Nazaire and on the fourteenth of July disentrained at Gondrecourt. They received training in the English and French method of warfare in the vicinity of Abainville and Demange and entered the trenches for the first time at Bathemont Nov. 11th, remaining there for ten days. After returning they received a month of training in open tactics.

         They again entered the trenches Jan. 10, 1918, in the 1st American sector N. W. of Toul and came under Beaumont. For ninety days they endured many hardships. On March 3d(sic) they returned to the division area in the Meuse to receive further training.

         At the height of the German offensive their division was called upon to fill in the sector of the British and French junction at Montdidier. It was at this point that Charlie Wiseman was killed. Also here Leo Sanders distinguished himself for bravery. Then both Sylvester and Leo volunteered for raiding parties to do all that a soldier could do. On July 6, 1918, they entrained to the city of Maux, between Chateau Tierry and Paris, to be used in case the Germans broke through the first defensive lines. Not being needed Marshal Foch decide(sic) to use offensive methods of warfare, switching their division in the area around Meaux(sic) to the left of the apex of the Marne salient they were united with the 11th French division and the 1st and the 2nd American divisions. Here Marshal Foch commenced the offensive-the first deciding feature of the war.

         After a thirteen hour hike they attacked on the morning of July 18th carrying all objectives without a falter. They reached their objective at 2 p.m., advancing next morning at 4:30. When within 400 yards of their objective Sylvester was killed by indirect machine gun fire at Soissons, department of the Marne, 100 yards North of the Paris-Soissons highway. Leo fell in the same engagement of the same day and it is believed died in the ambulance on its way to the hospital. It is a coincidence that the date of these boys’ death was the birthday of their deceased father.

         Too much cannot be said to honor these noble American sons. With Brigadier General Parker each would say, “Nowhere could truer soldiers be found than in the true soldiers of infantry.”

         Sylvester Sanders was born Nov. 1, 1892 and Leo Sanders was born Feb. 22, 1894, at Brady, Nebr. While they were small boys their parents moved to Ewing where Mr. Sanders was owner of the Ewing Roller Mills for a number of years.  Sylvester and Leo attended the Ewing public schools and later entered a school at Spaulding. After the death of their father they carried on the business established by him in what is now Wunner Bros.’ store. They were engaged in this work until a brief time previous to their enlistment in the service. The members of the family who mourn the loss of these boys are:  Their mother, Mrs. M. T. Sanders of Ewing; their sisters, Mrs. Sophia Spittler, Mrs. Theresa Krachie and Miss Alys of Ewing; Mrs. Emma Kovar of Lidderdale, Iowa, and Mrs. Josephine Costello of Atlantic, Iowa, and two brothers, Yvo of Liderdale, Iowa and Odo of Ewing. All were present at the funeral services.

         Out of town relatives who were also present were Mr. and Mrs. Jake Vandenberg, Louis, George and Miss Loretta Vandenberg of Spalding; Mr. and Mrs. George Sanders, Hank and Dewey Sonders(sic?), Mr. and Mrs. Nick Weber, all of Butte; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Vanderheiden, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Vanderheiden, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Vanderheiden, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Vanderheiden of Elgin; Mrs. Hattie Vanderheiden of David City; Mr. and Mrs. John Vanderberg of Battle Creek and Mrs. Wess Keif of Kyle, S. Dakota.

Sources: Ewing Diamond Jubilee History

                The Frontier