Sergeant Lyle's father was a successful business man in Atlanta real estate prior to moving to Europe. He was appointed the commercial attache in the consul service in Europe and was in Copenhagen at the time of his son's death.One of Douglas' childhood friends, Sterling A. Cox, Jr., wrote the Lyles that Douglas had been buried in an American cemetery somewhere in France.Douglas had been turned down by the Army, Navy and Marines due to his eye problems. He finally was accepted in the first volunteers of Dr. Leo Daly's ambulance company. He left for France with the 307th ammunition train. Soon after he arrived he asked for a transfer to get closer to the front. He died in an accident.