Charles James Freeborn was a graduate of Yale University

Yale University

Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...

 in 1899, where he was a member of the St. Elmo Society

St. Elmo (secret society)

St. Elmo Society is a secret society at Yale University. It was founded in 1889 as an independent entity for seniors within the nationally chartered fraternity, Delta Phi , Omicron Chapter .-History:...

. He was one of the earliest Yale men to volunteer for active service in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. He was a Captain in the United States Army, and a recipient of the Croix de Guerre

Croix de guerre

The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...

from the French for his service. After the War ended, four years of active service left him too weak to recover from influenza, and, as a result, pneumonia ensued. On February 13, 1919, three weeks after his demobilization, Freeborn died in his home in Paris. He is buried in Oakland, California at Mountain View Cemetery