SGT Royal Alvin Caufield
1895 - 1918
World War I Hero
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(Storyteller: Dwight Smith)
As our nation enters the Centennial of the U.S. entry into world war l, this is a time to remember the many young men and women who left their homes in Montana to serve their country. One of these young men is still honored in our community as namesake for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1087 Royal A. Caufield Post, Great Falls,
Royal Alvin Caufield was born March 28, 1895 in Great Falls. His parents came to Montana from Canada in 1890 and settle in the young town of Great Falls. On April, 1917, Royal enlisted in Company L of the 2nd Montana lnfantry Regiment as this Montana National Guard unit was mobilized by President Woodrow Wilson. By December, the 2nd Montana, now re-designated the 163rd U.S. lnfantry Regiment boarded the transport ship Leviathan. |
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As the American Expeditionary Forces built up and trained in France, Royal was promoted to Sergeant, and often wrote back to his parents in Great Falls. Impatient for action, Sgt. Caufield and other Montanans from his company requested transfer to Company E of the 23rd lnfantry Regiment. On mid-July the 23rd lnfantry, 2nd Division led a surprise American-French offensive near Chateau Thierry and on July 18th in the Battle of Soissons, Sgt. Royal Caufield was killed in action when his position was overrun by German forces.
Sadly, in the fog of war, SGT Caufield's fate became blurred for another six months. On September, the Caufield family received a letter from a comrade in Royal's unit advising them that their son had been killed. The U.S. Army reported him missing, then months later wounded, and not until late January 1919, did the Army advise the family that Royal had been killed in action.
On May 1921, Sergeant Royal A. Caufield was buried in Highland Cemetery with full military honors. Two years later, a new veterans post was organized in Great Falls, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1087, Royal A. Caufield Post. That name remains to this day.
Sadly, in the fog of war, SGT Caufield's fate became blurred for another six months. On September, the Caufield family received a letter from a comrade in Royal's unit advising them that their son had been killed. The U.S. Army reported him missing, then months later wounded, and not until late January 1919, did the Army advise the family that Royal had been killed in action.
On May 1921, Sergeant Royal A. Caufield was buried in Highland Cemetery with full military honors. Two years later, a new veterans post was organized in Great Falls, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1087, Royal A. Caufield Post. That name remains to this day.
The Caufield Family Waits
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Every available man from the county signed up to go serve their county, leaving their families behind who prayed every day for their safe return. The Caufield family had four sons: three who joined the Army and one who joined the Navy. Mr. A. E. and Mrs. Helen Caufield were proud of their boys. They saw off two boys to Fort Lewis in Washington, and one was whisked away to a ship in the Atlantic. They said goodbye to their last boy, Royal Caufield, at Fort Harrison in Helena.
Royal Caufield was the first to be sent to France with the 163rd Infantry, which arrived on Christmas Day 1917. The family received a letter in February of 1918, but due to extreme censorship, it gave little more information than peace of mind. Another letter came in July. In September of 1918, the Caufield family received a letter from a Corporal Lawless. It told the story of how Royal gave his life in the Big Drive to push the Germans away from Paris and turn them back. |
Corporal Lawless said he did not see Royal fall but did see his body afterwards. Some of the details did not match up, and because they did not receive an official wire from the War Department, the Caufield Family held out hope that the Corporal was wrong and that their boy was still alive. The War Department could not affirm the report and asked for patience as they worked towards confirmation. When the war ended, prisoners of war were released and returned to the American lines. Royal was listed as missing in action for several months until confirmation of his death was reached in January of 1919. He had indeed been killed in action in July 1918 at the Battle of Chateau Thierry. His body was eventually returned to Montana and buried in 1921. The other three sons returned home unscathed. In 1923, the new Great Falls VFW Post was christened the Royal A. Caufield Post.
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From the Great Falls Daily Leader, November 5, 1918:
“There are but few parents in the United States who have four sons given to the service of their country at this time, as have Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Caufield of 908 Fourth avenue south of this city. Like Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, they have four sons who left to fight for the flag. Mr. and Mrs. Caufield have lived in Great Falls for 28 years, coming here from Winnipeg, Canada, and during that time have been active in good citizenship in Great Falls. “While others have given of gold and property, Mr. and Mrs. Caufield gave of their flesh and blood.” |
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His Final Resting Place
SGT Royal A. Caufield is buried in Old Highland Cemetery in Great Falls
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