Jesse Kier Harling was born in Woodland, Yolo County, California, June 29th, 1891. He came to Nevada at the time the construction of the Derby Dam was first started, and lived at the dam seven years. He was well and favorable known throughout Washoe County. At the time the call to the colors came he was in San Francisco, where he reported for duty. He entered the Service on the 29th of April 1918. Upon arriving at the camp he was assigned to the 36th Company, 166th Depot Brigade, with which he served until May 27th, transferring then into Company L, 362d Infantry of the 91st Division.

Extracts from the soldier’s diary, which has been preserved, will give an idea of his personality. In spite of the hardships, suffering and hunger, which he has narrated, he preserved the same noble determination of a good man and a brave soldier to the end. Only a few short lines with the dates as they were written are given here: “June 3 (1918): Made it fine in drill. Hoping I can remember it all as I’ll need it when I get to chumming with Kaiser Bill.”

“June 6-7: I often think of this country and wonder if the next will be as pretty. The beautiful pines and ferns, the wonderful climate—I am sure we will all realize it when we are far from home in some foreign country; maybe France, Italy or Russia. I wonder where?” “July 4 (Camp Merritt): This isn’t such a bad place, but the eats are poor and we are working hard trying to get our clothes and get ready for overseas duty. . . .We leave here tomorrow or the next day, and that is going to be the saddest day of my life when I leave the U. S. and all that is dear to me, for like the song. ‘She’s Like a Sweetheart to Me,’ and I love her as a sweetheart and pray God will send me back.”

“August 15 (France) : Will stick it out if I possibly can. If I fall out it will be because I am all in. . . . These hikes and the hunger have about got me. I am nearly gone in. . . . I am going to stick it out and see if I can’t make it through. . . . If I ‘go west’ it won’t be because I don’t get in and fight for all I am worth. I am not afraid. . . .

In September (12-15th) the division was in reserve at St. Mihiel during the offensive that wiped out the sector. On the 26th of the same month it went over the top in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the last great battle of the war. On September 29th, 1918, units of the 91st stormed the town of Gesnes, which lies about 4 miles northwest of Montfaucon. The troops had to advance across open rolling hills, exposed in front and on the flanks to a withering shell and machine gun fire. They attacked in the morning, but were held up by the machine guns. They were losing heavily. At 3:40 in the afternoon they again attacked which took them into the town in spite of the desperate defense of the Germans. While on the last ridge before reaching their goal, a shell exploded directly in front of Private Harling, hurling him into the air and killing him instantly. He was one of the hundreds who fell in the ranks of the 372d on that “Bloody Sunday” afternoon.

Captain Karl Martin, of Company K, wrote to one of the soldier’s sisters: “He was a perfect soldier and died while going forward through such terrific fire that none except a brave man could have gone.” Captain Allen Fletcher, of Company L, wrote: “The men all went forward on the run, cheering whenever they had breath enough. . . . We were very proud of them. . . Your brother was not only a good soldier, but very popular with all the men. . . . I never had anything but good reports of him from the officers. . . . Your brother’s death was that of a brave man and a soldier. . . . I am very proud to have had a man like your brother in my company. To command men like him is the highest honor any man could ask. The gallant soldier of the 362d left his father, Calvin Harling, of 226 Irving Street, San Francisco, California; his brothers, Raymond and Calvin J. Harling, Jr., of Mexwell, Colusa County, California; and his sisters, Mrs. James May, of Mound House, Nevada; Mrs. D. L. Wightman, of Fallon, Nevada; and Mrs. L. T. Sharp, of Templeton, San Luis Obispo County, California.