Pvt. James Robert Hindman (23 Mar 1897 – 7 Oct 1918)
James Robert Hindman, a private with the Pioneer Infantry, Co. H. 57th Regiment, was born in Atoka, the only child of James Calvin and Mary Elizabeth Bell Hindman.
He was just 21 years old when he enlisted on September 6, 1918 and was sent to Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, S. C. for training. He and his unit sailed for Europe on Sept 29, 1918 from Camp Merritt, New Jersey and landed in Brest, France on Oct 7, 1918. Like many of his fellow soldiers, Hindman contracted pneumonia while onboard the “Levithian,” the German ship the U.S. captured when the U.S. declared war on Germany, and died the day it arrived in Europe. He was buried in Brest, France originally, but his remains were sent back to Tipton County 20 months later and he was buried at Salem Associated Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery on June 10, 1920.
“… They all say we will never be on the firing lines, but if we do, there is only a very few killed. Now, dear ones, if you don’t hear from me in months, don’t be uneasy, as if anything happens, you will be notified, but I am going in the arm of God, and will be home some day. All I ask is to be in good spirits and not worry, as that will be worse than anything you can do.” – Excerpt from James Robert Hindman’s last letter home written on Sept. 29, 1918.
