Cleo V. Farr, a native of Salina, Oklahoma, was a Private in Company E, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), during World War I. Hailing from Mayes County, he joined the ranks of the "Tough 'Ombres," a division of draftees from Oklahoma and Texas, to serve his country in one of history’s deadliest conflicts.

 

On September 12, 1918, Farr met his fate during the St. Mihiel offensive in France, the first major American-led operation of the war. As part of the 358th Infantry’s assault near Fey-en-Haye, he faced entrenched German forces amid wire entanglements, trenches, and relentless machine-gun fire. The 90th Division’s advance that day helped reclaim the St. Mihiel salient, a critical victory, but it came at a heavy cost. Cleo Farr was among those killed in action, sacrificing his life in the line of duty.

 

Though his personal story—his birth date and family ties—remains sparse in public records, his legacy endures in Salina. The American Legion Post 240, named Cleo Farr Post No. 240 in his honor, stands as a lasting tribute to his bravery and service. Established by veterans in the war’s aftermath, the post reflects the community’s pride in Farr and its commitment to remembering all Mayes County veterans. His name is also linked to local memorials, including a plaque tied to a T-38 Talon display, credited to Post 240.

 

Cleo V. Farr is likely buried or memorialized at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery in Thiaucourt, France, alongside comrades from the 90th Division, or honored among the missing on its Tablets of the Missing. In Salina, his courage lives on, a testament to a young Oklahoman who gave his all in the early 20th century’s great struggle. Cleo Farr Post No. 240 ensures that his name, and the ideals he fought for, will not be forgotten.