Grateful Philadelphia region honors its true American hero

A true American hero was honored Monday night. The local man, who fought and died for the United States, will always be remembered.

He was born in Port Richmond, then moved with his family to Fox Chase. Dozens of people prayed for Corporal John Loudenslager, who was killed at age 19, on July 16, 1918, one century ago.

John fought and died in World War I. Of 30 young men from the area who went to France, only John did not return.

From a trench, he charged the enemy. His mom received a letter, which was read aloud.

"The shelling was tremendous. His death was instantaneous and painless," said Judge Patrick Dugan.

This is why American Legion Post 366 is named after him. The church he was baptized in, back in 1903, has windows bearing his name and a plaque dedicated to him.

Years later, his mother traveled to France and retrieved his cross.

So, why remember a soldier from a hundred years ago?

"If you forget your history, you forget where you came from," said Tom Medlmann, Post 366 Historian.

"If we lose sight of the sacrifices, and in this case the ultimate sacrifice, then we lose sight of exactly what it is that we have in this country," said Bob Kelly, who served in Iraq.

"To think of the memory of somebody that brave is just mind-blowing. It almost brings a tear to your eye, especially a hundred years later. Time may heal wounds, but time doesn't take away the memory," said Allie Carbaugh, with the Women's Auxiliary.

For information on American Legion Post 366, see here.