Lenard Valess Dewey (1895-1981) was born in Idaho and eventually settled in Arizona, where he served as an LDS bishop. In between those milestones, he lived in California, earned an M.A. from the University of South Dakota (1924; his Master’s essay was a consideration of Tennyson’s “In Memoriam”), and wrote at least two dozen articles for LDS publications. In 1917 he enlisted in the 145th Field Artillery, a Utah unit made up largely of Mormon men, which trained in California as part of the 40th Division (composed generally of non-Mormon men from California and Nevada), sailed to Bordeaux, France for further training. The war ended just as the 145th was heading to the front; except for a large contingent of their men that were transferred to another unit before they left the States, the men of the 145th saw no battle.

60-year-old Brigham Henry Roberts (1857-1933), a member of the First Council of the Seventy, former president of the Southern States Mission, elected to represent Utah in Congress (but not allowed to take his seat due to his polygamy), had been a major in the reserves before the war. His age exempted, even disqualified, him from active service, but the Utah legislature passed a special act calling him with the rank of lieutenant to serve as chaplain to the 145th (the entire unit, serving non-Mormon as well as Mormon), the first Latter-day Saint to serve in the Chaplains’ Corps of the United States Army. Despite his age, Roberts kept up with his men throughout training, and sailed for France with them in September 1918.

L. Valess Dewey, writing in 1939:

During the World War of 1914-18 it was the privilege of the writer to be associated, as a soldier, with the late Brigham H. Roberts, who was then Chaplain of the 145th Field Artillery (1st Utah). Having enlisted in the service of my country at Salt Lake City shortly after the 145th field Artillery was mobilized, it was my good fortune to see and experience at first hand the reaction of a great man of God to the horrors of war.

I sat in the Mormon Tabernacle at Salt Lake City during the memorable October conference of 1917, and listened to chaplain Roberts as he preached his good-bye sermon to those representatives of the Church which he loved so much. I heard him bear his marvelous testimony to the truthfulness of the restored gospel, standing in full uniform as only a great and true soldier of Cross and country could stand. I heard him assure the parents of those hundreds of soldier boys over whom he presided as chaplain, that those boys should have his humbly devoted efforts and support – both in life and in death, if necessary. And those vows were faithfully kept.

During the training days of the 145th Field Artillery at Camp Kearney, near San Diego, California, it was the privilege of the writer to be associated with Chaplain Roberts in several capacities. I used to go over to his tent and spend many happy minutes with him. He never failed to smile as he returned the salutes of his devoted soldier boys. particularly did I enjoy my labors with him as a group leader in Bible class work. He was always planning and carrying out something different for the good of his boys.

But perhaps the outstanding contributions of Chaplain Roberts as a soldier of Cross and Country came on ship-board and after our arrival in France. Our first Sunday at sea on the broad Atlantic was a memorable one. At the announced hour for our church service, a few soldiers – including the writer – sang an open ing song without the aid of an instrument. then chaplain Roberts offered the opening prayer and launched immediately into a sermon. He chose for his text a portion of the 14th chapter of the Book of Revelation. He read concerning the message of the Revelator’s angel – the one “flying in the midst of heaven” which should have the “everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell upon the earth.” He especially emphasized that portion of the angel’s message which commands the worship of “Him that made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and the fountains of water.” and he put great stress upon the fact that this special command to worship should come in the “hour of God’s judgment.” The setting was perfect. And the response was electrical. If the religious service had been a strictly protestant one, undoubtedly many would have come forward and confessed their sins. As it was, many eyes were wet; and several expressed themselves afterwards as being more profoundly moved than ever before in their lives.

In France, however, an experience yet more impressive was to come to us. We had almost finished our extra period of training, and were about to leave for the front line trenches, – when that terrible sickness, the “flu,” struck our camp. Chaplain Roberts did not hesitate to minister among his stricken boys almost day and night. Nevertheless, the terrible disease continued to grow worse. In a few days there were hardly enough well soldiers to take care of the sick ones. Within three days thirteen of our finest soldier boys had died; and had to be buried in common holes in the ground – wrapped only in the stars and stripes.

It was a case of an unusual situation calling for an unusual remedy. and Chaplain Roberts was quick to meet the challenge. he called a special sacrament and testimony meeting. It was the first and only one of its kind held in the regiment. For it was strictly a Latter-day Saint service, with all the soldiers – Mormon and non-Mormon alike – invited to attend.

And what a service it was! When the bread and water, blessed by Chaplain Roberts and passed to the soldiers also by him personally, was offered to those boys and men, toughened by the thoughts of war, – very few of them declined the sacred emblems. Then Chaplain Roberts opened the meeting to testimonies, inviting all to take part. I was mildly surprised when some of the soldiers, considered to be rather careless and rough, began to take a part in the service. But I was positively astonished when several of the soldiers, known by all to be – at least outwardly – tough and bad, arose and bore their testimonies. They testified concerning spiritual manifestations which they had witnessed – and even had part in. Many of the soldiers shed tears; and all were exceedingly sober.

Then Chaplain Roberts bore his own testimony and offered a prayer. What a powerful testimony! And what a mighty prayer! Long and earnestly this devoted servant of Cross and Country pleaded with the great God to spare the lives of his soldier boys. “Our Father,” said he, “if it be necessary that any more of the lives of our boys should be taken, then let them die in battle, and not at the hands of this terrible disease – away out here, thousands of miles from home and loved ones!”

It was enough. The great God heard and answered. And no more soldiers of our regiment died – either by the “flu” or in battle.

Such is true patriotism. And such the approval of an all wise and an almighty God of patriots who “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”

[L. Valess Dewey, “True Patriotism,” Liahona: The Elders’ Journal, 12 September 1939, 152-153]

In my due diligence to verify this story before repeating it, I find that the B.H. Roberts Papers at Marriott Library Special Collections, University of Utah, include this item:

“The Men Who Died of Spanish Influenza in the Camp of the 145th F.A.,” Remarks made by Chaplain Roberts at Camp De Souge, France. Includes a list of fourteen names with rank and date of death.

which, with what is generally known about the 145th, appears to corroborate Dewey’s story in broad outline. I will report on (and publish, if the U’s rules allow) the “Remarks” when I have an opportunity to get up to the U.

[photograph: Chaplain B.H. Roberts, 1917]

Update, 22 August: Part of the memorial speech given by B.H. Roberts in November 1918 at the graves of the fourteen (rather than Dewey’s thirteen) flu victims has been posted as Chaplain B.H. Roberts Leads Memorial Services, following a lead given by Justin in comment 11.