Ira W. Cox Page 2

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Died A Hero Under the Stars and Stripes

Page 2

Private Ira W. Cox

Company D 22nd Infantry

Ira W. Cox

Courtesy of Richard Hargis

Below is the original government pension, to which Ira's mother was entitled after his death.
Below the pension is a typed transcription of its contents.

Courtesy of Richard Hargis

It is hereby certified That in conformity with the laws
of the United States Ollia Cox
Mother of Ira W. Cox who
was a Private Co D 22nd Regiment U.S. Infantry is entitled
to a pension at the rate of Twelve dollars per month, to
commence on the Fourteenth day of August 1901
and to continue during dependence unless she shall again marry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Given at the Department of the Interior
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------this Twenty-eighth day of April
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------one thousand nine hundred and three
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------and of the Independence of the United States
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------of America the one hundred and Twenty-Seventh

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Below is a handwritten letter to Ira's mother, by Valentine Summers,
a fellow soldier of Ira's in Company D.
Below the letter is a typed transcription.

Courtesy of Richard Hargis

Manila P.I.
December the 1 1899
Mrs Ollia Cox
Kind Friend

I endeavor to answer By
Request your letter of October
The 1 i must Say i was
Pleased to hear from you as
I and the Late Deceased Ira w.
Cox was the best of friends it
Hurt me to haft to witness
His death you asked me if he
Talked of Dying are of his
Parents no he did not he first
Called me and for clarence
Hawkins who was also a great
Friend of ira's also i was present
But hawkins didn't get to see him
I staid with him till he died
Every thing was done that the
Sergeon and his friends could do
But the fatal Shot had done
two Greater work to Save him
As i told you before your
Son was well liked in his
Company i fought side by side
with him he fought Bravely for
His country and for his return
To you but in vain you needn't
Worry about him for he is gone and
was put away Nicely although
you as a mother is bound to
Worry about him i believe i have
Told you all you asked me i
Will Close i would like to hear
From you once more as i like
to hear from friends

Yours Respectfully

Valentine Summers

Manila P.I.

Company D 22 US Infantry

Valentine Summers was born in Loogootee, Daviess County, Indiana on June 13, 1873.

He enlisted in the Army as a Private for a period of three years at Seymour, Indiana on November 28, 1898.
His enlistment record indicated he stood 5 feet 9 ¾ inches tall, had blue eyes, light brown hair and a light
complexion. His previous occupation was listed as Wood turner.

He was assigned to Company D 22nd Infantry at Fort Crook, Nebraska on November 30, 1898.

Summers deployed with the 22nd Infantry to the Philippines in March 1899 and took part in
numerous engagements against the insurgents.

From October 27 to November 7, 1900 he was sick in the 1st Reserve Hospital in Manila
on the Island of Luzon.

On August 20, 1901 he was one of twelve soldiers from Company D who were transferred to
the newly created 13th Battery Field Artillery at San Isidro, Island of Luzon.

He was discharged as a Private upon expiration of his service on November 21, 1901
at Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming with a character rating of Excellent.

Summers returned to Indiana where he married and became a railroad engineer.

He died in Kentucky in 1937.

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