Joyce KILMER. Born December 6, 1886, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He attended Columbia University, graduating in 1908. From 1909 to 1912 he was associated with Funk and Wagnall's Company, working as an editor on their dictionary. He served as Literary Editor of the The Churchman, an Anglican newspaper, and in 1913 joined the staff of The New York Times. When the U.S. declared war on Germany in 1917, Kilmer enlisted as a private in the Seventh Regiment, New York National Guard. At his request, and with the assistance of Father Duffy, he transfered into the 165th Infantry, the old Fighting 69th. While the Regiment was at Camp Mills he transfered to Company H, Headquarters Detachment, and assumed the position of Senior Regimental Statistician. Once in France he was promoted to Sergeant and was attached to the newly organized Regimental Intelligence staff as an observer. In that capacity, he was to spend many nights on patrol in no-man's land gathering information. On July 30th 1918, during the battle of the Ourcq, he attached himself as adjutant to Major William Donovan, commanding the First Battalion, during an attempt to take the high ground of Muercy Farm. During this action Kilmer was killed by a sniper's bullet. Kilmer is remembered for such poems as "Memorial Day," written in 1917 before his departure overseas, "Rouge Bouquet" and "When the Sixty-Ninth Comes Back." which was set to music by Victor Herbert, and played by the Regimental Band during the 165th's triumphal march up 5th Avenue after the war.

. "Rouge Bouquet" in Stars and Stripes (16 August 1918). was composed after an artillery bombardment.