Search Registry

Leland Dyer Redding

Windom High, Windom, Cottonwood County, Minnesota

Company F, 18th Infantry, US Army

Narrative

Died of Spanish Flu Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona. Buried at Lakeview Cemetery, Windom, Cottonwood County, Minnesota, Plot: D-10, card 21 #474

Son of Reverdy and Hattie Dyer Redding, Leland was born July 11, 1899. He enlisted in the U. S. Reg. Army, Co. F, 18th Inf., on April 27, 1917. Leland was only eighteen years old when he died. He could not resist the call to the colors, and with his three cousins, Mervin D. Weld of Windom, and Kenneth and Leslie Weld of Slayton, Minn., they enlisted in the service together. Leland remained in school just long enough to take part in the high school play, leaving on the night train for St. Louis where he joined the other three boys. From there they were sent to Fort. Douglas, New Mexico. .A few days after arriving at Ft. Douglas Private Redding was taken sick with the flu and died of pneumonia May 20, 1917. His body was shipped to Windom, Minn., accompanied by his cousin, Leslie Weld. The funeral services were held in the Methodist Episcopal church May 37, 1917, just thirty days from the time he left Windom. Private Redding was he first Cottonwood County boy to die in the service in the great World War.