KIA 12 Sep 1918 by a high explosive shell in and around the area of Bois de Mort Mare in the advance towards Thiaucourt on the first day of the St Mihiel Offensive.

In a letter dated November 19 (published in the Topeka Daily Capital on Dec 15, 1918) from the headquarters of the chaplain, William S. Carpenter of the eighty-ninth division, is contained the details of the death of Joseph D. Brogden of Topeka (Brogden was promoted to the rank of Sergeant days before his death, ed.) who was killed in action September 12. It reads: "Joe and I were good friends. He was killed in the St. Mihiel drive just before the first wave reached the second line of wire. He was attempting to take a machine gun with his Lieutenant C. A. Shaw. They were killed by the same machine gun and fell side by side. Both died almost immediately. Sergeant Brogden was shot through the head. I buried him beside his Lieutenant one-half mile north of a shell-tattered town called Limey, France. Joe was no slacker, but a brave lad who never flinched and died facing the enemy."

Later articles in the same named paper, dated Jan 14, 1919, the circumstances surrounding his death account was changed to read "Jack Loveless told of the career of the young hero from the time he was first connected with the club (Square Circle) until he met his death from shrapnel wounds in the St. Mihiel battle."

The following account of the tragedy (page 73) is taken directly from the "History off the 353rd Infantry Regiment:
"Some losses occured, too, from our own artillery. "Follow the barrage," were the orders. As soon as the barrage had lifted from an objective ahead the men moved up, not realizing that the artillery would roll back almost to their own position before moving forward again to the next objective. As a result, Lieutenant Shaw was the victim of one of our own shells a minute after he had led his platoon out...".

This account however is contradicted by the following:

This account is taken directly from the "History off the 89th Division" (page 98):
"First Lieutenant Charles A. Shaw, Company "E", encountering a machine gun position, surrounded by unbroken wire, leaped into the wire at the head of his men, putting the gun out of action by their impetuous charge, only to lose his life by machine gun fire a few moments later"

The exact cause of the deaths of Lt. Shaw and Sgt. Brogden - whether from "friendly-fire" or "enemy-action" may never be known.

Above photo from "History of the 353rd Infantry Regiment"

Joseph David Brogden is buried in the St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France
Plot B, Row 3, Grave 14. Honor Roll Casualty List Oct 19, 1918.

In 1930 Mrs. Mary Brogden, from Topeka, visited her son's grave in France as part of the U.S. Government's program of the WWI Mother's Pilgrimage.

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