Charles Francis Oldham was born at Mountain City, Nevada, October 18, 1900. This Elko boy, born and reared in that County, was one of the first of Nevada’s sons to answer the call to the colors. He was raised on a ranch and lived much out of doors, riding with his dog for company and hunting. His early education was received in a country school twenty-five miles from Elko, but when he reached the age of sixteen, his parents moved to Elko in order to give him the benefits of a high school training. Charles was ever an earnest, open hearted boy, intensely patriotic. His Country and his native State—“My own Nevada,” as he sang of her, he held always in love and reverence. So it was not strange that he should have volunteered his service in our navy less than two weeks after war was declared, although he was still less than seventeen years of age.

He served nine months on the U. S. S. Huntington, and was then transferred to the U. S. S. Lake Moor as seaman, 1st Class. This transport left the States for Glasgow on March 22, 1918, and while off the coast of Scotland, was torpedoed by a German submarine. It was on the night of April 11th, 1918, dark and stormy, and the suddenness of the attack and the heavy sea caused great loss of life among the crew. Only seventeen of the sixty-one aboard were saved. The ship sank in the cold waters in a minute and a half.

Word reached the boy’s parents on the 21st of April, a year to the day from the time he left Elko. Lieutenant Frank Pulaski, U. S. N. A. F., spoke of Charles as “one of our chosen boys,—always obedient, attentive and fearless.” Ensign George Bennett, an officer on the “Lake Moor,” wrote to Charles’ mother: “This is Christmas morning, 2 a. m. I know there is a vacant spot in your heart, in your home, and by your hearth stone, but Mrs. Oldham, please don’t grieve and pine. Remember you are an American, and an American mother. The Country called you and you gave your boy. Your boy went forward to live, to fight, and if need be, to die for his Country, but your boy is not dead, he shall live forever.

The story of the U. S. S. Lake Moor and Charles Oldham, is written in golden letters in American history for the future generations to read and understand that boys like him made the supreme sacrifice, that they may enjoy life, liberty and freedom on every Christmas morning.” Charles was the eldest son of Edgar E. and Kate L. Oldham of Elko, Nevada. He was a brother of Della Winter Oldham, and Edgar Einstein, John William, Stanford Wilbert and Frank Hallett Oldham all of Elko, Nevada.