Monday, Sept. 16, 1918

Every day on its editorial page, The Record prints a “service flag” with twelve stars honoring the dozen employees of the newspaper currently serving in the U.S. military. “Hereafter,” an editorial writer comments, “one of the twelve stars that dot The Troy Record’s service flag will be of gold.” Thomas J. Gregg, who rose from office boy to pressman at our paper before joining the U.S. Marines, died somewhere in France on July 21, according to a telegram received by his family today. “This telegram substantiates a persistent rumor that has been afloat for the past few days that Gregg had met his death on the battlefields of France,” our reporter writes, “Another member of the marines in writing to a friend in this city volunteered the information, and immediately the Gregg family got in touch with Washington. “The officials there offered much encouragement, and gave the assurance that when last heard from Gregg was in fine health. However, this was dispelled by [today’s] telegram.” Age 21, Gregg enlisted in the Marines in July 1917 and served in the 55th Company, 5th regiment . “Gregg’s first connection with The Troy Record was in the capacity of office boy,” our writer recalls, “His persevering manner, however, would not allow him to remain in this capacity for any great length of time and in a short time promotion followed. “The news of his death was a sad blow to his fellow employees, but this was lightened by the fact that he fell fighting for his country and liberty.” “There can be no nobler conclusion to a fine, strong life,” an editorial asserts, “Tommie, as he was affectionately known to his friends and his fellow workers at The Record, was one of the boys to whom The Record was more than an employer. “Kindly, happy and full of energy, it is hard to think of him as no longer one of The Record family. Yet in the hearts of those who knew him and worked with him he will always have a large place. He was not one of the kind that are easily forgotten. “And if he had his life to live over again, those who spent their daylight hours with him in The Record believe with all their hearts that he would not have changed its conclusion. His service in Europe was not merely for adventure; it was because he loved his country and wanted to ‘do his bit.’ He has done it and lies to- day with the heroes in France who have died to make life worth living for those they left behind.”