EM BER 1

ALVIN YORK and FRANK LUKE: Legendary WW i Heroes

A HISTORY OF THE

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A REPORT FROM THE 50^^ NATIONAL

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The American NOVEMBER 1968

Volume 83, Numh(

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Notify Circulation Dept., P. O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, Ind., 46206 using Post Office Form 3578. Attach old address label and give old and new addresses with ZIP Code number and current membership card nuniber. LEGION notify .Adjutant. Also be sure to your Post

The Magazine Magazine Editorial & Advertising Offices 720 Fifth Avenue , New York 10019

Publisher. James F. O'Neil

Editor Contents for November 1968 Robert B. Pitkin Art Editor Al Marsliall Assistant Editor John Andreola SHOULD THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE Associate Editors Roy Miller RIOT COMMISSION BE IMPLEMENTED? James S. Swartz

TWO SIDES OF A NATIONAL QUESTION Assistant Art Editor pro: sen. PHILIP A. HART (D-MICH.) Walter H. Boll (D-N.C.) con: rep. ROY A. TAYLOR Production Manager Art Bretzfield A HISTORY OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR 8 Copy Editor Grail S. Hanfurd BY DOROTHY BRANT WARNICK Circulation Manager A story of our nation's highest award, of its beginnings, of the Dean B. Indianapolis, Ind. struggle to upgrade it, of some of those who won it and some of those who lost it. Advertising Director Robert P. Redden

Chicago Sales Office THE NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION 12 David Geller Associates, Inc. 35 East Wacker Drive BY R. B. PITKIN Chicago. 111. 60601 An introduction to William C. Doyle of Vineland, New Jersey, 312 CEntral 6-2401 who was elected in New Orleans to head The Advertising Sales Representatives American Legion in 1968-1969. JE Publislicrs Representive Co. 8380 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, California 90069 HOW OUR DIVISIONS GOT THEIR SHOULDER PATCHES 14 420 Market Street Started "illegally" by one outfit, our Army's divisional shoulder San Francisco, California 94111 patches spread to all American divisions in 1918, The American Legion with an assist from General Pershing. Publications Commission:

James E. Powers, Macon, Ga. (Chairman) i Howard E. Lohman, Moorhcad, Minn. ( Vice

THE BATTLE RECORD OF THE AMERICAN ARMY IN WWl 16 Chairman) ; Bob Wliittemore, IT' atertoivn, S.D. BY FRANKLIN M. DAVIS, JR. ( National Com m under' s Representative } ; A look hack, through the mists of 50 years, at what the doughboys Lang Armstrong, Spokane, Wash.; Charles F.. Booth, Huntington, W . Va. ; Adolph V did in snatch to from the jaws of defeat Bremer, Winona, Minn.; John Cicero. Sivoyer- the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918. ville. Pa,; Clovis Copcland, Little Rock, Ark.:

Raymond Fields, Guytnon, Okl/i. ; Chris Her-

nandez, Savannah, Ga. ; Mylio S. Kraja, Young.stown, Ohio George D. Levy, Sumter, AND FRANK LUKE: ; S.C. ; Dr. Charles R. Logan, Keokuk, Iowa LEGENDARY WWl HEROES 22 Frank C. Love, Syracuse, N.Y.; Morris Meyer, BY TOM MAHONEY Scarkvillf, Mis.s.; J. H. Morris, Baton Rouge, Lfi.; Harry H. SchafTer, Pittsburgh, Pa.; On land and in the air, the First World War produced its share of Bradley J. Stephens, Los Altos, Calif.; Wayne American heroes. Here are the stories of two who brought L. Talbert, Delphi, Ind.; J. Corneii.is Tromp, , III.; Benjamin B. Truskoski, Bris- glory to our forces in France in 1918. tol, Conn.; Robert H. Wilder, Dndeville, Ala.; E. Meade Wilson, Mulberry, Fla.; Edward McSweency, New York, N.Y., (Consultant) THE AMERICAN LEGION'S 50TH NATIONAL CONVENTION 24 The American Legion Magazine is publishefl Sixteen pages of text and photos The of American Legion's 50th monthly at 1100 West Broadway, Louisville, annual National Convention in New Ky. 40201 by The American Legion, Copyright Orleans, Sept. 6-12 1968 by The American Legion. Second-class postage paid at Louisville, Ky. Price: single copy, 20 cents; yearly subscription, $2.00. Order nonmember subscriptions from the Cir- culation Department of The American Legion, Departments P.O. Box 1954, Indianapolis, Ind, 46206. Editorial and advertising offices: 720 5th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10019. Wholly owned by LETTERS TO THE EDITOR .... 2 PERSONAL 54 The American Legion, with National Head- quarters at Indianapolis, Ind. 46206. William DATELINE WASHINGTON 4 LEGION SHOPPER 54 C. Doyle, National Commander.

LIFE IN THE OUTDOORS 43 PARTING SHOTS 5fi NONMEMBER SUBSCRIPTIONS Send name and address, including ZIP num- ber, with $2 check or money order to Manuscripts, artwork, cartoons submitted for consideration will not be returned unless a self-addressed, Circulation Dept., P. 0. Box 1954, Indian- stamped envelope is included. This magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. apolis, Ind. 46206. POSTMASTER: Send Form 3579 to P.O. Box 1954 Indianapolis, Ind. 46206

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 ——

YANKEE ORIGIN sir: With reference to your September LETTERS TO THE EDITOR article, "Why Are We Called Yankees?" I was taught that all the rest of the world regarded ALL Americans as Yankees; all Southerners considered all North- Letters published do not necessarily ex- sir: Regarding your article, I have press the policy of The American Legion. erners Yankees; Northerners called all wondered why the great military forces Keep letters short. Name and address must New Englanders Yankees; New Eng- be Utrnished. Expressions of opinion and of the U.S. cannot crush a small country requests for personal services are appreci- landers tabbed Vermonters Yankees; like N. Vietnam. Now 130 national lead- ated, but they cannot be acknowledged or and Vermonters thought a Yankee was answered, due to lack of magazine staff for ers have said why: Winning in Vietnam these purposes. Requests for personal serv- anybody who had pie for breakfast. asked would be too costly a triumph. In other ices xrhich may be legitimately of John P. Raleigh T/ie American Legion should be made to words, a "no-win" policy. GI's in com- your Post Service Officer, or your state Newhuryport, Mass. (Department) American Legion Hq. Send bat during WW2 would not have under- letters to the editor to: Letters, The stood such a sophisticated policy. Legion Magazine, 720 5th sir: Life American Ave- C. L. Moss As a Member of the Society of nue, New York. N.Y. 10019. Birmingham, Ala. King Charles the Martyr, I must point out to you that good King Charles I was A WARNING ON VIETNAM beheaded, not hanged, as stated in your SIR: I was delighted with the article. It article on Yankees. SIR: You have given me a great boost to should help clear up much of the fuzzy Rev. Robert Lewis Weis my spirits—and to the spirits of the en- thinking going on among certain groups. Providence, R.I. tire Peace with Freedom Committee Reginald C. Faragher by The American Legion Magazine's Minneapolis, Minn. September issue. ("A Warning on Viet- Also giving King Charles the axe to the American People.") were lawyer Arthur GrifBn, Evansville, nam sir: Your article was, as I suspected Ind., and Dr. K. F. Bascom, Manhattan, Congratulations on a marvelous job, after seeing the preponderance of lib- Kan., who pointed out that while King including the beautiful cover. I know it erals who wrote it, a big brainwash. Charles' end was the same in . either is going to be a big lift to this vital C. C. Ijames case, hanging seems to have been re- cause; in fact, we are already receiving Sequim, Wash. many letters as well as some contribu- garded as disgraceful. tions. that will We are hopeful we be SIR: With the charge that TV coverage THE GALVESTON HURRICANE able to distribute reprints to thousands and other news media have been dis- of people. SIR: As a former newspaperman who torted to show only half the story, it covered all of Connecticut's hurricanes, Paul H. Douglas, Organizing Chairman was gratifying to see that 130 national of 1938 Citizens Committee for Peace with leaders have expressed their concern including the "Big Blow" and others between 1921 and 1941, as a mem- Freedom in Vietnam about the drift of published sentiment ber of the Bridgeport Times-Star staff, Washington, D.C. in America with respect to the war in allow me to congratulate Lynwood Mark Vietnam. It was befitting and proper Rhodes on his excellent story, "The SIR: It seems to me that nothing could that the article should appear in the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900" have been more timely or to the point Legion magazine and I should like to (September). His research, his "boiling at this time. The facts included there- think that every member of the Legion it down," his color and human interest in, as attested to by the 130 coauthors has read it and has passed his copy of envi us that I could not a more representative cross section of the the magazine on to his neighbor. touch made me equal job on all the hur- opinion of our country could only with Col. Clayton L. Vogel, USMC have done an ricanes I covered! difficulty be obtained—do alert readers Springfield, Va. Joseph T. Hurley and others to the undistorted reasons for Milford, Conn. our involvement in Vietnam, without SIR: I wish to convey my appreciation equivocation. and gratitude for the very factual and JIM LUCAS'S REPORT O.E. Benell, M.D. enlightening article. This article, writ- sir: "What Jim Lucas Told Congress Britt, Minn. ten and approved by such an outstand- Vietnam" (July) was a most im- ing group of real Americans as those About pressive article, and revealing. The por- sir: Thank you for the article. I believe who had a part in its preparation, should tion concerning the soldier's letter to the views expressed do represent the be read and heeded by all Americans, of his parents was especially moving. I thinking of the majority of the American all ages, whatever their beliefs, politi- wish to commend you for your choice people. It is refreshing to be able to read cal views or opinions might be on the of the article and believe that the U.S. the "other side" for a change. Vietnam issue. Congress would do well to take Mr. Mrs. Lewis Bulwinkle Mrs. R. C. Buelow such things Gastonia, N.C. Duhuque, Iowa Lucas's advice concerning as censorship. I would like to thank Mr. Lucas for his excellent coverage and in- sir: Although I am unalterably opposed SIR: The article should have the widest formation concerning Vietnam. to the war in Vietnam, the article was possible publicity you can get or afford. Charles R. Grey a very thought-provoking statement. I congratulate you on this work. The New Port Richey, Fla. Articles such as this one distinguish our Legion would do a great service to the magazine from the rest, and give me an- people by publicizing it in every way. other reason to be proud of my mem- Joseph L. Rose RURAL IMPACT bership in The American Legion. Evanston, III. SIR: I wish to commend you most highly excellent choice of articles in Paul J. McCarty, Deputy Commissioner for your are of Veterans' Services Department SIR: The article on Vietnam is a terrifi- all the issues. So many of them , Mass. cally important one. It should have special value to members in the small access to much wider publication than it can pos- towns and rural areas where city daily newspapers and sir: I read the article with considerable sibly get through our magazine. Will the large media is limited. Your ar- interest but I did not find that it solves this article be reprinted or can I get a other news ticles, "Will the Tape Recorder Revo- our problem in Vietnam nor does it offer half-dozen copies of the magazine so I Long any different approach from the one we can send them to my nine grandchildren lutionize the Schools?" and "The Cyprus" (August) are illus- are now using and which is playing into who are of the age to be misled by much Struggle on Very, very in- the hands of the Communists by sapping of the nonsense circulating about the trative of what I mean. our strength in manpower and dollars. war. formative. Watkins Alexander E. Jonas Francis W. Parker, Jr. Tom B. Fredonia, N.Y. Knox, Ind. Chicago, III.

2 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 It's your face.

Most men think the only way to get their faces with a new Noreico Tripleheader It has a pop-up sideburn trimmer. A

a good, close shave is with a razor blade. Speedshaver^ handy, coiled cord. And a 1 10/220 voltage

If you're one of those men, we've got The results showed the Tripleheader selector.

some news for you. shaved as close or closer than the blade in It comes in either a Cord or a Re-

In an independent laboratory, some 2 out of 3 shaves. chargeable model.

very independent men shaved one side of Instead of one straight shaving edge And it won't pull or nick or cut.

their faces with a leading stainless steel like a blade, the Tripleheader has rotary Because it shaves your beard. blade. blades inside of new, thin, Microgroove'" Not your face.

And they shaved the other side of heads that 'float.' So the Tripleheader follows your face, to shave you closer. l\lo.fore/co" you can't get any closer

North Philips © 1968 American Company, Inc., 100 East 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. Other Products: Rembrandt Square Lotions, Hearing Aids, Radios, Audio-Video Tape Recorders, Dictating Machines, Electronic Educational Kits, Medical-Dental X-Ray, Electronic Tubes, Commercial Sound, Closed Circuit TV, TV Studio, Motion Picture, Cryogenic and Telephone Equipment. "

DATELINE WASHINGTON

^TLYING SAUCER^^ CURTAIN? DRINKING-DRIVER ACCIDENTS. MAKING HOME A SAFE HAVEN.

Some members of the House Committee on Science and PEOPLE AND QUOTES Astronautics have the uneasy feeling that the U. S. ELECTION '68 G overnment is not taking a really serious look into the "We must hope that this riddle of Unidentified Flying Obj ects. Along with campaign, with all its noisy de- equally concerned scientists, they fear that the bates about unfinished busi- mystery of the "flying saucers" may be long hidden ness will somehow Uft the na- behind a curtain of all-too-official ridicule. tional spirit, will make our A symposium was recently held on Capitol Hill by the people eager to get on with the committee to permit several outstanding scientists to business of the next four years speak out. They urged Congress to undertake a far more —and not embitter them in a searching investigation of the UFO ' s than the single frenzy of charges." President Air Force proj ect assigned to this mission. Stanton R. Johnson. Friedman, a Westinghouse nuclear physicist stated: "After considerable study, first hand investigation, POLITICALLY CONSCIOUS ". . . there was an awakening and review of a great variety of data, I have concluded political consciousness among that the evidence is overwhelming that the earth is of young people early in the being visited by intelligently controlled vehicles our '60s, and today's new veteran is whose origin is extraterrestrial." renaissance." Gen. The Congressional committee, impressed by the com- a part of that Westmoreland, Army of mentary of the scientists, has issued a 250-page verbatim report on the symposium in the hope of lending Staff. "an air of respectability" to the sightings of "flying NO JUSTrFICATION saucers" and to encourage public interest. "Poverty, discrimination and deprivation, as evil as they are, do not justify anarchy or vio- lence, looting or burning, mur- A Department of Transportation study discloses that der or assassination." Sen. heavy-drinking drivers and pedestrians are responsible Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii). for some 25 , OOP deaths and 800, 000 crashes a year on U.S. highways and roads. The accusing finger points MAIL CALL ". . . mail is much like water mostly to the male driver . and electricity—it is necessary The report also reveals that over the past 55 years, to our way of life and it is never in every area of the country, alcohol has been found missed until it is not there." to be "the largest single factor leading to fatal General W. Marvin crashes. Other finds: Most drinking-driver crashes Postmaster Watson. occur during late afternoon, evenings and nighttime. Saturday is the worst day of the week. CIVILIZATION Among specific recommendations of the study is one "The better and more pro- calling for development of a constitutionally acceptable gressive the legal code, and the system for screening highway users suspected of drink- degree of respect the people ing before they are actually arrested in connection have, then the greater the civ- with a highway accident or violation. England has ilization." Dr. Pumendu Kumat put such a system into effective operation. Banerjee, Minister of India in U.S. CREDIT ERA "If this country, for just a Congress body, has established a new investigative period of 90 days, eliminated the National Commission on Product Safety, with the credit, it would make 1929 look aim of every U. making S. home a haven of safety. Already like an age of optimists." Mor- the commission has singled out 265 common household ris Rabinowitch, President, Fi- products which will undergo scrutiny for their potential nancial Counsellors, San Fran- in injuring unaware householders . cisco. The commission has taken pains to underscore the fact that its listing of items to be investigated does not WHERE THE ACTION IS necessarily indicate that the products are unsafe. "Business ... is where the real action is—social action and However , four common household helpers—washing ma- chines — creative action." Anthony M. , heaters, stoves and p ower mowers are involved Savings and Loan in s ome 250, 000 home accidents every year, according Surano, N.J. to Public Health Service figures. Official.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 THE AMERICAN LEGION INVITES ONE DOLLAR FROM YOU $1 EXACTLY $1

For its 50th Anniversary GIFT TO THE NATION

As its Gift to the Nation on its 50th Anniversary in March, 1969, The American Legion

. . . joined by The American Legion Auxiliary . . . will create permanent lighting,

and permanent upkeep for such lighting, for the presently unlit TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS

IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AND FOR THE FACADE OF THE MEMORIAL AMPHITHEATER THERE

It is hoped, and felt, that the individual members participate, and so that none who want to join in will provide, and will want to provide, the entire may be excluded by inability to afford a larger cost. donation.

These words are a direct solicitation and invita- The total cost is estimated at about $125,000, tion to each and every member of The American which includes a fund whose income will be used Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary and the for upkeep of the lighting of the Tomb of the Sons of The American Legion to join now in the Unknowns in perpetuity.

GIFT TO THE NATION - if so moved - with a The $50,000 advanced has been accepted by the donation of exactly one dollar. Government, and the project will go ahead so that the lighting can be dedicated with ceremonies on The name of every donor will be perman- March 15, 1969 — the date 50 years ago when the ently listed in a volume or volumes in the Paris Caucus that formed the Legion first met. Legion's National Archives at National Head- in Indianapolis. quarters Please write check payable to AMERICAN LEGION GIFT Each donor of record on March 15, 1969, TO THE NATION. Please use the address on the coupon below. will be sent a postcard showing the lighted TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS, with a First Day GIFT TO THE NATION Do Send Cash of Issue cancellation of a U.S. postage stamp Not American Legion Nat'l Hq. Through the Mails. commemorating the Legion's 50th Anniversary. PO Box 1055 Indianapolis, Ind. 46206 Amount Enclosed $

Nobody knows if the fund will be undersubscribed Here is my donation to the 50th Anniversary GIFT TO THE

NATION. I understand my name will be entered in the perm- or oversubscribed. How many will want to join anent National Archives, and that I will receive a postcard personally cannot be estimated. A complete public acknowledgement, stamped with a First Day of Issue Legion commemorative postage stamp (none after March 15, 1969). accounting will be made. NAME If undersubscribed, the Legion and Auxiliary are (Print so clearly that your name may be copied into the Archives without chance ot error.) committed to see that the gift is made in any event. If oversubscribed, any excess will be applied to ADDRESS approved Legion programs, as authorized by the National Executive Committee. Legion Post (number and state) The Legion has advanced $50,000 from un- Auxiliary Unit (number and state) budgeted funds. The Auxil iary has advanced $25,000 and the Legion Department of New York had Sons of The American Legion Squadron (number and state) pledged an advance of $5,000.

Many members and posts have stepped forth to

If more than one pledge or give sums in excess of $1. But the only donor, attach name, address and Legion unit of others, and state amount of enclosure (not less than $1) to be appeal is for $1, so that as many as possible may credited to each.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 5 .

Opposing Views by Congressmen on The Question . .

SHOULD THE RECOMMENDATIONS

"YES" THE Riot Commission Report, despite its flaws, is conscience. one of the most remarkable documents of our time, At the same time, we and already perhaps one of the most successful. live in a society that is The very fact that these articles are being printed quite properly appalled by (and perhaps even read) is one evidence of that suc- violence and disorder. So cess—because the Commission's provocative presenta- the struggle must be to tion has stimulated a national dialogue on our most achieve both order and pressing domestic problem. progress. And it is this dialogue, this awareness, that is most This is why a continuing likely to provide the constructive force that will prove free-flowing dialogue—on wrong the Commission's gloomy prediction that this television, in Congress and nation is moving toward two societies, one black and in neighborhood meeting Sen. Philip A. Hart one white separate and unequal. centers—is an important — (D-Mlch.) The Report doesn't pull punches—and it is bound to partner to progress. make a great many white readers uncomfortable. Its I have the strong feeling that the goals of white language is stark, simple and blunt, and stark docu- society and the goals of black society are much more ments are always more controversial than those with compatible than many people think. all verbal corners carefully padded. And a constant exchange will not only illuminate But even blunt truths, if accepted and understood the road ahead, but will smooth it. by a free people, can be tremendously liberating and A few days after the above essay was written, I invigorating. found myself appointed to a Presidential Commission, The Report dispels any notion that the riots have a ten-person panel created in the wake of Senator been controlled by some central conspiracy. The true Kennedy's assassination and assigned to study the causes lie in pervasive segregation; discrimination in causes of violence. employment, education and housing; in the concen- The Violence Commission's report doubtlessly will tration of despairing and desperate Negroes in the be equally controversial. But it is my sincere hope that decaying inner cities, and in the squalor, bitterness it will also be equally eloquent, equally illuminating. and alienation of these ghettos.

The solutions it points to are obvious but not easy. It calls for an obliteration of color lines and a helping hand for those who have been so long in the basement of the economy. The Report says there can be "no higher priority for national action and no higher claim on the nation's

If you wish to Bet your Congressman or one of your Senators know how you feel on this big

-I

6 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 OF THE RIOT COMMISSION BE IMPLEMENTED?

THE SENSATIONAL VERDICT million families at the taxpayers' expense. It recom- of the Riot Commission mends that the federal government bear 90% of the blamed the riots on every- cost of welfare programs. The Commission recom- one except the rioters. It mends the establishment of "uniform national stand- failed to point out the ards of assistance," meaning a guaranteed annual futility of riots and that income. they benefit no one regard- A guaranteed income would support the lazy and less of race. The report shiftless as much as the deserving, and at the tax- criticized the law enforce- payers' expense. It would perpetuate poverty as a way ment officers for the use of of life. It would produce an idle class of citizens, and legal force to uphold the this idleness would increase today's social problems. law and failed to point out Education and training are the most effective ways Rep. Roy A. Taylor that law violators should for opening the door between poverty and a decent (D-N.C.) 11th District be arrested and punished. standard of living. The answer to the terrible devastation that has been Emphasis should be on training and employment and visited upon many of our nation's major cities is, in job opportunities, rather than on welfare, rent supple- the opinion of the Commission, more federal money; ments and a guaranteed income. America must remain money which can come only from the already over- a land of opportunity—not a welfare state. burdened pocketbooks of American taxpayers. It is of The recommendations of the Commission point di- little significance to the Commission that, as House rectly toward greater and greater dependence of the Appropriations Committee Chairman George H. poor on welfare and handouts. To obtain true economic Mahon has pointed out, we are already spending more independence, the initiative of the poor must not be than $25 billion per year on programs to aid the poor. stifled. They must instead be given the opportunity to The report ignored the fact that much of the trouble is participate fully in our existing economic system. The poverty of the spirit rather than poverty of the purse. recommendations of the Riot Commission do not fill Even with the impressive array of recommendations this order. set forth in the Riot Commission Report, costing per- haps $30 billion per year, there is still no assurance that these programs will prevent future riots. It be- hooves us to take a careful look at some of these sug- gestions before we jump headlong into fiscal and governmental chaos. The Commission recommends that the government create make-work jobs and provide housing for six

[ have read in The American Legion iVIagazine for November the arguments in PRO & CON: Should the Recommendations of the Riot Commission Be Im- plemented?

IN MY OPINION THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RIOT COM- MISSION SHOULD BE SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED. issue, fill out the ^'ballot'' and mail it to him. SIGNED ADDRESS.

TOWN. STATE.

You can address any Representative c/o U.S. House of Representatives, Wash- ington, D.C. 20515; any Senator c/o U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510,

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 7 —

By DOROTHY BRANT WARNICK THIS Nov. 11. the 50th anniversary of the WWI Armistice, could also History be a day to pay homage to those A men who have been given the highest award the nation can bestow—the Medal of Honor. These are the men of the whose deeds are incredulous, often be- yond belief.

It does not matter whether it was a "little" war, lasting only a few days, or Medal of a "big" war, lasting for years. Heroes do Honor not count the days of battle. Nor do they

have time to wonder if their skirmish will ever make the history books. All

they know is that the action is now, this hour, this minute, this second. The words on the citations may tell little of the details. They do not convey the din, the chaos, the hell the men went through. They do not tell of the fear of the men at Little Big Horn, the horror at Gettysburg, the anguish in the Ar- gonne and the steamy jungles of Guadal- canal. They say nothing of the terror at Anzio, the dread of Pork Chop Hill, the screams of the dying at A Shau. The official language often sounds mild and bland. Consider Thomas J. Higgins during the Civil War. His cita- tion reads: "When his regiment fell back in the assault, repulsed, this soldier con- Navy & Marine Corps tinued to advance and planted the flag Air Force Medal of Honor Medal of Honor on the parapet, where he was captured Army Medal of Honor by the enemy." There is nothing to tell how well this flag bearer understood the importance of a unit's colors on the day the 99th An account^ from its inception in 1861 to now, Illinois Volunteers were to charge a heavily defended hill at Vicksburg. Nothing tells how he strode proudly for- of the highest award our nation can bestow. ward, alone, through the of battle into withering point-blank range rifle fire, as the Union line gradually disinte- grated about him. There is nothing to around the perimeter as blood seeped criticism of those who feel It was tell how the awed Texas soldiers threw from four wounds, finally standing up awarded too easily, sometimes just to down their guns, flung their hats into the to guide a flare plane. boost morale. There are those who feel air and cheered this enemy soldier till But this is the type of courage the tears came, crying out, "Come on, Medal of Honor variety—that gives us AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE you brave Yank!" Nor is there anything cause to pay homage to these heroes and to indicate that some of these same has put this award into such distin- Texans later wrote to the War Depart- guished company. Into its background ment, adding their letters to the recom- are woven the lives of the men who mendations for a Medal of Honor for fought to make this country free. There this worthy enemy soldier. are famous names like Roosevelt, York, The same terse documentation was MacArthur, Doolittle, Rickenbacker, continued throughout all the wars, right and there are lesser known ones like up to Vietnam. Capt. Roger H. C. Don- Sickles, Wood, Nininger, Red Cloud and Ion's citation says nothing about the fact Oliver. Pages of history pass in review that one pre-dawn July morning in Nam in the tale of this five-pointed piece of Dong he stuffed a handkerchief in a belly metal, with its star-flecked ribbon—the wound to stem the flow of blood and Civil War, the Indian Wars, the Spanish- keep his life from leaking away, as he American War, the Philippine Insurrec- ran three times into a burning ammo tion, the Boxer Rebellion, World War shed to haul out mortar rounds when, I, World War II, and Vietnam. in the words of one of his men "just Through it all shines the integrity of a raising your head was like committing Medal that has undergone almost as Early print depicts Union soldiers hijacking suicide." Nor does it say how first he many perils as the men who won it. Rebel train. Action, known as "Andrews Raid," ran, then hobbled and finally crawled The Medal of Honor has borne the brought first Medals of Honor to survivors.

8 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 that many times the real heroes did not their gallantry in action and other sea- was criticized. The undefined wording receive this high award. There has been manlike qualities during the present war, about gallantry in action and other sea- discontent because of the belief that and that the sum of one thousand dollars manlike and soldierlike qualities that ap- some wars have produced more Medals be, and is hereby, appropriated out of peared on the two bills was mischievous. than others. There have been imitations any money in the Treasury, for the pur- A brief look at some of the early cita- of the Medal. There have been imposters pose of carrying this section into effect." tions confirms the fact that early Medals

wearing it. There have even been those The July 12, 1862 Act reads, ''Re- were handed out almost as a whim. A

who have refused it. Ever since its in- solved by the Senate and House of Rep- Medal was once given for counting ception, there has been an almost con- resentatives of the United States of rebels, another to prevent harm to a

stant battle to upgrade the awarding of it. America in Congress assembled. That the woman, still a third for swinging a hand It was not easy for the United States President of the United States be, and holystone at a rebel sailor who was using to come by the use of a Medal in the he is hereby, authorized to cause two abusive language against a crew. A first place. Such adornment was frowned thousand 'medals of honor' to be pre- Medal was won for keeping Union sol- upon in this country. Medals smacked pared with suitable emblematic devices, diers from shooting each other, for gal- too much of European tastes—the very and to direct that the same be presented, lantry in pursuit of cattle thieves and in the name of the Congress, to such for throwing a well-timed bucket of wa- WIDE WORLD non-commissioned officers and privates ter. One was even given as a "souvenir as shall most distinguish themselves by of memorable times now past." their gallantry in action, and other sol- It was not long until action was taken dier-like qualities, during the present in- to begin the extensive process of bring- surrection. And that the sum of ten thou- ing the Medal up to the esteemed posi-

sand dollars be, and the same is hereby, tion it now holds. appropriated out of any money in the After Little Big Horn, Brig. Gen. Al-

treasury not otherwise appropriated, for fred A. Terry noted that it seemed com- the purpose of carrying this resolution pany commanders who had tried to re- into effect." lieve Custer "have recommended every

Because of legislation creating these man . . . that behaved ordinarily well Medals, they are often referred to as during the action" for a MH. He re- Congressional Medals of Honor. The jected the entire list and directed that a more correct term is simply Medal of board be convened to review the recom-

Honor, hereafter referred to as MH. The mendations. This first board of its kind very first Medals went to survivors of set a precedent in raising the standard the "Andrews Raid" in the Civil War. required for winning the award by ap- They were Union Soldiers in civilian proving only those whose acts "far ex- ceeded any just demand of duty." WIDE WORLD In 1 896, still more changes took place in the procedure, which began the mod- ern era of the Medal. It became man- datory that eyewitnesses support ac- counts for which a request for a MH was made. The candidates could no longer apply for this award themselves, a practice

In 1945, PresldentTruman awarded Medal which had heretofore been allowed. to T./Sgt Jake Lindsey at joint session Recommendations would have to be of Congress, a first-of-its-kind event. made within a year after the deed for which the award was requested. Pre- thing early settlers had come to America viously, years could go by before awards to escape. Medals were not democratic, were requested and made. Perhaps the said some objectors. longest case on record was that of Ordi- But others disagreed. During the Civil nary Seaman Philip Bazaar who received his nearly dis- War, one senator said: "Honor is some- award 50 years after he thing that no real soldier likes to talk tinguished himself in an attack on Fort about. Those that want to honor him Fisher in 1865. should provide him with a token that Changes were also made in the Medal he can wear without words." itself after imitations proved trouble- some in the 1890's. Unscrupulous vet- Voices Hke his finally won out. In erans and impersonators of veterans 1861, Congress passed a bill creating a used Medals and other imitations to seek Medal of Honor for the Navy, and seven charity or consideration for jobs. The months later, one for the Army. In Audle Murphy, most decorated hero of Department the "Medal of Honor Recipients, 1863- WW2, won five medals (counting three War changed color of Purple Hearts as one) and Medal of Honor. 1963," published by the Superintendent * Readers interested in more information about Medal of Honor holders from the Civil War of Docum.ents, the December 21, 1861 period might enjoy reading Col. Joseph B. Act reads as follows: "And be it further clothes who hijacked a Confederate train Mitchell's recently published book "The Badge of Gallantry," MacMillan Publishing Co., New enacted. That the Secretary of the Navy in , tried to wreck the bridges York, N.Y. $6.95. It's based largely on a collection of letters be, and is hereby, authorized to cause behind them and failed. Captured, some originally obtained from Civil War MH holders two hundred 'medals of honor' to be pre- were executed. Those who returned got by American author James Otis Kaler in the 1890s. In 1938 the letters were purchased by pared, with suitable emblematic devices, the first MHs.* Legionnaire Charles Kohen, a collector of rare which shall be bestowed upon such petty From the start, the basic laws lent coins and memorabilia. Mr. Kohen, himself a Civil War buff, recognized the historical value officers, seamen, landsmen, and marines themselves to some of the misuse for of these letters and helped promote their pub- lication. The result is a work that is highly as shall distinguish most themselves by which the process of awarding the MHs readable and very much alive.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 regulations" which had deprived her of CONTINUED A History of the Medal of Honor her prize. Her story began in 1863. It was then the MH ribbon and authorized wearing There have been times when such pre- that Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, with her of a rosette or knot on the coat lapel of sentations were not "practicable" and one bobbed black hair and wearing a man's the same combination of colors as the example occurred during WW2. So out- dark gray trousers and black swallowtail ribbon, in lieu of the Medal itself. In standing was the action of the man in- coat, presented herself at the office of

I ^)04. the Army accepted a new design volved that the rule books were simply the Assistant Adjutant General in Wash- by Brig. Gen. George L. Gillespie. He thrown away. It all came about aboard a ington, D.C. She volunteered her services put the patent in the hands of the War B-29. One of Staff Sgt. Henry Erwin's for field duty as an assistant surgeon. Department so that further imitations duties was releasing phosphorus smoke Because female doctors were accorded of the award could be prohibited by bombs through a narrow tube, at a sig- little respect at that time, her request was law. This is the design still used today. nal from the pilot. However, on a mis- refused, but she was given the oppor- Officers were finally made eligible, and sion over Japan there was a malfunction. tunity to serve as a nurse. A persistent

I'fter it was formed the Air Force was One exploded in the tube and bounced woman, she finally beguiled the officials allowed its own Medal of Honor. back into Erwin's face, blinding both into permitting her to serve as an assist- Changes in the Navy Medal were also eyes, searing off an ear, and severely ant contract surgeon. Shortly thereafter made, first in the ribbon, and then in burning him. The bomb then fell at his she was captured and held prisoner for the design itself. Finally, in 1942, the feet and, burning furiously, was eating its four months by the rebels, after which Navy reestablished the Medal originally way through the deck of the plane to the she was freed in a prisoner exchange. authorized in 1 862. load of incendiaries beneath. Dr. Walker felt she should receive After the Spanish-American War, a Without hesitation or regard for his some recognition from the government General Order by the War Department, own safety, Erwin picked up the white- for her service. Wielding a virulent pen, signed by H. C. Corbin, Adjutant Gen- hot bomb, which seared his flesh, and she launched an extensive campaign to eral, set new rules for awarding the groped his way to the cockpit where, say- collect monies she felt were due her, riot Army MH for service in that war and ing "Pardon me, sir," he reached across WIDE WORLD thereafter. The order stated: "Medals of the pilot and, with burning hands, threw Honor will not be awarded to officers the blazing bomb out the window. Then, or enlisted men except for distinguished completely afire, he collapsed. A fire ex- bravery or conspicuous gallantry which tinguisher was turned on him, hut the shall have been manifested in action by phosphorus still burned. He never lost conduct that distinguishes a soldier consciousness, but spoke only once as above his comrades, and that involves the plane containing the 1 1 men he had risk of life or the performance of more saved headed back to the field hospital. than ordinarily hazardous duty." Then he asked the pilot, "Is everybody The order further stated that recom- else all right, sir?" mendations should be made only by the He was still exhaling phosphorus officers in command at the time of the smoke from his lungs when carried to "action" or by an officer having personal the hospital at Iwo Jima, where he was cognizance of the specific act for which not expected to live. The citation for a the Medal is granted. MH was rushed through, just as quickly Additional requirements involved a approved in Washington, and Gen. Cur- detailed recital of the circumstances tis LeMay flew to Iwo and personally which must, when practicable, be ac- presented it to Erwin in a bedside cere- companied by at least two certificates of mony. Sgt. Erwin survived his ordeal, to officers or affidavits of at least two en- return to his home state of Alabama. listed men who were eyewitnesses. The Yet even adding importance to the facts of the case had to be "further at- presentation did not complete the job of tested by the official reports of the upgrading the Medal. "Medal of Honor action, record of events, muster rolls, Recipients, 1863-1963," shows that it and returns, and descriptive lists." was 1916 when an Act brought about the From then on. the rocky road to hero- wording which has come to be so fa- ism continued ever upward, as each miliar today. Then it was stated that any change made the Medal more difficult action to win a MH must involve "actual to obtain and gave it more prestige. conflict with the enemy, distinguished by The presentations themselves, often conspicuous gallantry or intrepidity at FDR pins Medal of Honor on Gen. James made previously by registered mail, were the risk of life above and beyond the call Doolittle, for leading first bombers over Japanese mainland in April 1942. also given dignity. Theodore Roosevelt of duty." Accordingly, at that time, an was responsible for this. In 1905 he Army Board was convened to review all signed an executive order which stated, previous 2,625 winners in order that any stopping until she contacted President "The presentation of a Medal of Honor who did not comply with this wording Andrew Johnson himself. to an officer or enlisted man in the mili- be stricken from the list. The results were In an effort to placate her, Johnson

drastic, for 9 1 1 names were removed. tary service . . . will always be made directed the Secretary of War to find with formal and impressive ceremonial," Among those were the 29 men who some way to recognize her services and bringing the recipient, when practicable, had been the Honor Guard which ac- she was eventually awarded the MH. The to Washington, so the presentation could companied President Lincoln's body to citation read simply, "For services dur- be made by the President, as Com- its resting place. There was Buffalo Bill ing the war from 1861 to 1865." No fur- mander-in-Chief. This practice is con- Cody and other civilian scouts, and there ther explanation of these services was tinued today and the news media always was the lone woman who had ever ap- given, and, consequently, the 1916 board carry stories and pictures of each occa- peared on the list and who—in her old felt no further explanation was needed to sion. age—bitterly disclaimed the "infamous relieve her of the award. 10 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 :

DE WORLD House. The membership of the Senate Many of the heroes themselves are and House both filled the seats on the somewhat self-effacing. Many of the floor. Down the aisle, shoulder to shoul- winners have said, "I was not the real der, marched Gen. George C. Marshall hero. I could not have done it alone. My and the kid from Mississippi, Sgt. Jake buddies deserve the Medal as much as I." W. Lindsey. They were followed shortly Audie Murphy, the most decorated after by the President, accompanied by hero of WW2, is probably one of the a military aide and a Congressional es- most verbal. "Sometimes the Medal cort. seems to go to the wrong guys, or, rather, After the citation was read concern- they don't go to the right ones. It's like ing Sergeant Lindsey's bravery near giving all the glory in football to the Hamich, Germany, in November 1944, running back and none to the line that

Truman fastened the ribbon around the makes it possible." Then he added, "It Sergeant's neck, patted the youth on the occurs to me on that all back and told the lustily cheering assem- of the dead deserve medals. What more blage: "Through him we pay a grateful can a man do than give his life for his nation's tribute to the courage of all our country?" fighting men. This medal, to repeat, is Some critics try to dissect and down- given for gallantry at the risk of life be- grade the heroic act. One of the most yond the call of duty. No officer," Tru- common reasons for awarding the MH man continued, "ordered Sergeant Lind- in recent years has been for the act of Army Capt. (now Maj.) Roger Donlon, the first sey to stand alone against a company of smothering grenades. Says Joseph L. in the Vietnam War to win the Medal (1966), officer ordered receives the award from President Johnson. the enemy. No him when Schott in his book "Above and Beyond" wounded to engage eight Germans in "Some critics of the Medal of Honor hand-to-hand combat. These decisions awards system in recent years have criti- Another unusual case involved the came from his own heart. They were a cized awarding the Medal for this type 27th Maine Regiment in the Civil War, flash of the nobility which we like to of suicidal act. The question was raised: which could have completely ruined the ." think is a part of every American. . . Was there time to make a heroic deci- integrity of the Medal all by itself. The Yet, troubles still plagued this high sion within the brief span between the 1916 board averted this disaster by strik- award. Almost from the beginning, there arrival of the incoming grenade and the ing all 864 names from the MH list. has been criticism that the real heroes smothering, or was the leaping on the In 1863 the entire unit was asked to never receive the medals. One father deadly charge an involuntary act of hys- volunteer to serve beyond their enlist- refused to attend a Pentagon ceremony teria? Some psychologists have relegated ment to defend the Capital in case Lee at which two of his sons were to receive this type of act to a manifestation of a should win at Gettysburg. The lure was posthumous awards for bravery in Ko- latent 'death wish.' In any case, the Ma- an offer of the MH for all volunteers. Of rea—one the MH. In his letter, Halsey rines thought a lot of this act as Medal of the 864 members, over 300 reenlisted, McGovern stated: "Boys are dying by Honor material during World War II, the rest returned to their homes. the thousands. Perhaps some receiving and so did the Army." error, for By some medals were struck awards for their gallantry did not meas- If such acts are questioned, what about the entire regiment even those who — ure up to some whose deeds went un- the rest of them? What is it about a man went home. That they were not all who will cast aside all instincts of self- WIDE WORLD handed out was due to the discretion of preservation and throw himself into an Gen. Mark F. Wentworth, the command- act of utter selflessness? ing officer, to whom they were sent. The One burly Marine, veteran of many story of the 27th Maine is told in John J. combat missions, expressed it rather Pullen's book, "A Shower of Stars." The crudely when he said, "You have to be 1916 board finally resolved the problem nuts to win a Medal of Honor." cancelling all by of the awards. If you were to ask these men, you After the review board completed its would find they cannot tell you why they

work, the importance of the MH was did it. Interviews conducted by a New further enhanced by creating lesser dec- York Times reporter indicated answers orations for bravery which involved acts like, "Well, someone had to do it," or that did not quite measure up to MH "It was our job." But, more often, the standards. A General Order under date men were apt to disparage their act, like of January 12, 1918, reads, "By direction Charlie Shea, who single-handedly at- of the President the following decora- tacked three German machine-gun nests tions and insignia are authorized: in WW2, and said, "All I know is that I WWl's flying ace Eddie Ricken- (a) Distinguished Service Cross backer received his Medal in was in a tight spot and just trying hard (b) Distinguished Service Medal 1931, 13 years after the action. to stay alive."

(c) War-service chevrons Answers to "Would you do it again?" (d) Wound chevrons noticed." An Army spokesman said that are equally varied. "Who knows," says With these and the creation of addi- regardless of the father's stand, Lt. Rob- one. "It all depends," says another. tional awards, the MH soon formed the ert McGovern's name would go down on Stephen Gregg, asked this question by peak of what is now referred to as the the honor roll as a winner of the MH. newsman Sid Moody, laughed, and said, Pyramid of Honor, raising it to almost "The Medal was not awarded to the "Hell, no. How'd I ever get through all sacred status. father," the spokesman asserted. "It was those bullets?" An action by President Harry S. awarded to the son in death." The MH, The MH has been engaged in other Truman in 1945 brought the presenta- together with the other awards, were to contests, too. The question, "Why would tion of the MH to an ultimate climax, remain in the safekeeping of the Adju- they award a MH to a serviceman who never since duplicated. A MH was pre- tant General should the father ever disobeyed orders?" has often opened sented at a joint session of the Senate and change his mind. (Continued on page 44)

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 11 .

By R. B. PITKIN average average Amc ican, a fellow who Moses J. Djyle and Frances Finnegan distinguished himself in everything he Doyle, he was born in Burlington on lAM C. Do> LF, 49-year-oId Will ever did without once seeming like a Dec. 14, 1918. One child died in in- thrice wounded Army veteran glamour boy. fancy in the 1918 flu epidemic, the of the W\V2 fighting in Europe, Largely because he worked hard at other eight, four of each sex, survive was elected National Commander of what he believed and believed hard in today. 1 he American Legion for 1968-69 on what he worked at, and because he never From early youth he aspired to a mili- Sept. 12, 1968, as one of the final acts dreamed of ducking a responsibility or tary career. He joined the National of the Legion's 50th National Conven- doing less than his best, everyone with Guard while still in high school and tion, whose business sessions were held whom he ever worked tended to push trained at Plattsburg pre-WW2. But de- in the Municipal Auditorium of New Or- him uphill (another way of saying that spairing of an appointment to West leans, La. they depended on him and knew they Point, he settled on schooling himself

Doyle is the first National Com- could ) to move into his father's business. Hav- mander from New Jersey. A long time resident of Burlington, a little below Trenton on the Delaware, not far from Camden and Philadelphia, he has been a member of Captain James A. MacFar- land Post 79, American Legion, in Bur- lington since he went on terminal leave as an infantry captain in December The NATIONAL 1945. He now lives in Vineland, N.J. To this point in time, Doyle has had three adult careers. Immediately after WW2, in 1946, he COMMANDER and his brothers, mother and a sister, picked up the substantial local plumbing supply and contracting business of his ofthe father, the late Moses J. Doyle. They built it into what is now about a $10 mil- lion a year gross operation. It does large scale industrial and government me- chanical contracting (plumbing, heating, AMERICAN piping) on a nationwide basis, including the specialized piping and heat-conduct- ing systems of atomic energy installa- tions and major power plants. LEGION During this same period Bill Doyle, who had entered the Army as a private in WW2. became more and more in- A personal introduction to The American Legion's volved first in the Army Reserve and then the N.J. National Guard, He rose from his WW2 discharge rank of captain through , and has for some years new ISational Commander^ William C. Doyle of been a brigadier general. In 1954 he separated himself from an active role in his family's business and New Jersey, a veteran of the 7th Army in WW2. became full-time deputy to Gen. James F. Cantwell, Chief of Staff and then Ad- jutant General of the New Jersey De- partment of Defense. This is essentially As a boy in the 1920's he did almost ing gone to a parochial grade school the command of the 50th Armored Di- everything that was typical of a good, and public high school (graduating in vision, whose 15,000-plus men (now in- average kid. He was Boy Scout; news- 1937), he turned to the mechanical and cluding New York and Vermont bri- boy; baseball and basketball player; engineering arts that would fit him for gades) make it probably the most potent drummer in band and bugle corps; altar the Doyle contracting business. He went Guard armored division in the country. boy in the Catholic Church; member of to the School of Industrial Arts in Tren- In 1962, when Doyle was serving as a boys' auto club; safety patroller; stu- ton and the Camden County Vocational Director of the Logistics Division of the dent council president in high school; and Technical School (at the same time) New Jersey Department of Defense, the collector of pictures of baseball heroes; and then to Drexel Institute in Philadel- Board of Managers of the New Jersey member of a rifle team; worker at odd phia. (After WW2 he went to night state soldiers home in nearby Vineland jobs clerking in a grocery store, picking school for seven years.) requested that Doyle be named to suc- peas at 25^ a basket in south Jersey's As his studies in the late 1930's were ceed its retiring Superintendent. He was intense truck gardening area, and an av- combined with full-time work, he re- appointed, accepted and has been the erage student. ("When I came back from luctantly dropped out of the Guard in

Superintendent of the Vineland state sol- WW2 I met one of my old teachers and 1939. But after Pearl Harbor he has- diers home ever since. (Meanwhile he she said I was a better Army officer than tened to enlist as a private in the Army retains his rank and regular Guard duties I was student.") early in 1942 and joined the 33rd Divi- in the 50th Armored, minus his full-time With variations in detail, millions who sion at Camp Forrest, Tenn. It was the administrative position.) were boys in the Depression years could fast-swelling Illinois Nat'l Guard Divi-

The new National Commander is a say. "That was my life then." sion. Doyle speedily worked himself up pretty good example of a more-than- The seventh of nine children born to {Continued on page 50)

12 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968

a

A MERiCAN SOLDIERS wcar distinctive ZA shoulder patches of their divi- A. JL sions. Shown here are the patches of those divisions now on duty, and the "Wildcat" patch of the inacti- vated 81st Division—the original divi- sional emblem. Among those shown, two recent name changes may he noted. The 101st Airborne is now the 101st Air Cavalry. The 1st Cavalry is the 1st Air 4th ARMORED Cavalry. Though airborne, it retains an DIVISION old-time cavalry horse's head on its 2nd ARMORED patch. DIVISION 3rd ARMORED How did the patches come into use? DIVISION This account is based on research of Sam Latimer. Jr., a member of the Le- gion's Public Relations Commission who was a newspaper publisher in Columbia. S.C., until his retirement. Latimer got the last of the details from 92-year-old Brig. Gen. Charles D. Roberts, of Chevy Chase, Md., shortly before his death on Oct. 24, last year. Gen. Roberts— holder of the Medal of Honor—was How our Chief of Staff of the 81st Division in WWl. Early in 1918, the 81st was in training at Camp Jackson, S.C., on Wildcat Creek. In January and Feb- ruary. 1918, a party of its top officers went to Europe and toured the French and British battlefronts in France and Belgium. They were the division com- mander. Maj. Gen. Charles J. Bailey, now deceased; Gen. Bailey's aide, Capt. Allen Kimberly, now of Hollywood. Calif., and Gen. Roberts. AIR CAVALRY They noted that the British wore dis- lOlst DIVISION tinctive unit patches on their shoulders "which was a great convenience in iden- tifying them." "On our return," Gen. Roberts wrote to Latimer in 1967. "Gen. Bailey asked for suggestions for a division insignium for the 81st." Our original shoulder patch was that of the 81st Division, activated at Camp Col. Frank Halstead, now of Hermosa Jackson, S.C., in August 1917. Maj. Gen. Beach, Calif., suggested a Wildcat patch, Charles Bailey ordered it without per- taking his cue from Wildcat Creek on mission, persuaded Pershing to adopt the division's training grounds. the idea while in France in 1918. Col. Halstead was the commander of the division's 321st Infantry Regiment. 82nd AIRBORNE He had Sgt. Dan Silverman, of Ashe- DIVISION ville, N.C., design a Wildcat patch. It was accepted, and Gen. Bailey ordered production of the patches without asking permission of the War Department, for 25th DIVISION fear of endless delay. The 8]st's two infantry brigades (each composed of two infantry regiments) 24th had their distinctive patch colors—white DIVISION for the 161st Brigade and blue for the 1st AIR CAVALRY DIVISION 162nd. The artillery got red patches, di- vision headquarters and engineers got black ones, the medical troops, green, etc. (In WW2, all the Wildcat patches were black.) The insignia were of cloth, to be worn on the left shoulder. They were issued with instructions not to be worn until Gen. Bailey so ordered. The 81st sailed for France from New

14 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 York on July 31, 1918. Next day the order went to all the transports for the men to don their patches, and if any man was asked by what authority he was to answer "division headquarters." For a month after the 81st arrived in France, no question was raised about

its patches. The French thought that its members had won the right to wear a special ornament. They noticed that no 3rd other American troops were so iden- DIVISION tified. A risque Paris publication ( Lati-

2nd mer believes it was La Vie Paiisienne) DIVISION ran a picture of a wildcat with a girl 7/ who was pretty much in the raw. It was captioned, "That's what makes the Wild- cat wild." Stars and Stripes somehow

missed reprinting it for the titillation of the troops, an omission that was out of 4th character for Stars and Stripes. The DIVISION members of the 81st in two wars haven't forgotten that cartoon yet. Word of the Slst's innovation finally Divisions seeped up to the overall American com- mand of Gen. John J. Pershing. Shortly, Gen. Bailey got a telegram from GHQ that "the Wildcat had not been author- ized and would be removed." Last year Gen. Roberts wrote to Lati- got their mer that: "Gen. Bailey at once asked permission to go to GHQ and appeal personally to Gen. Pershing." He got the green light, went to see Pershing, and told him that the removal of the Wildcat 5th would "cause a decided loss in morale DIVISION to the division." shoulder Finally Pershing said: "All right. Go ahead and wear it. And see that you live up to it!" Soon Pershing did more. He was al- ways concerned that the American divi- sions should develop the highest possible pride in their units, and was undoubtedly patches impressed by Gen. Bailey's testimony that the Wildcat patch boosted the 81st's morale. 7th Pershing had also been plagued by de- DIVISION mands of the British and French that the American troops should be used as re- placements in their armies. This had gone so far that in April 1918, a top level move had been afoot to send 120,000 U.S. riflemen and machine gunners to France each month, leaving behind their artillery, headquarters units and other elements needed to form independent 9th American divisions—and eventually an DIVISION independent American army. 23rd 8th Pershing may have seen the division DIVISION DIVISION patches as a symbolic rebuff to the idea of fragmenting the American units. In any event, orders soon went from Persh- ing's GHQ to all American divisions to design and wear distinctive shoulder patches of their own. Before the troops came home, there were 34 Army and National Guard divi- sions in Europe, and more in the States, each with its own shoulder patch. THE END

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 15 The Battle Record of the

American Army in WW I

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-U.S. ARMY

Mai Thompson's painting, "The Rock of the Marne," shows how the 3rd Division, and especially its SOth and 38th Regiments, denied enemy passage over the Marne toward Paris, to turn back the enemy's last offensive. The action is in mid-July, 1918, near Mezy, France. "One of the most brilliant pages of our military annals," said Pershing. 16 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 1968 A WWI 50TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE A look back, after 50 years, at the

fighting record of the American soldiers in France in 1918.

By FRANKLIN M. DAVIS, JR. stalling any German hope of a last ditch The first token U.S. troops went into ." stand on the Rhine. . . the lines in Oct. 1917, thirteen months EXACTLY 50 YEARS ago this Nov. The doughboys were terrible in "seek- before the end, and six months after 11 the First World War ended ing the throat of the enemy" or dying in President Wilson and Congress declared with the Nov. 11,1918, Armistice the effort. In the war's last days many of (in April 1917) that our wholly unready on the battlefields of France. the 1st Division left their zone and forced nation was at war with Imperial Ger- than Only a few months earlier, American their way sideways, marching more many and its Central Powers allies. By

kilometers through other divi- 1 troops in force at the frontlines broke 50 AEF April 9 1 8, we had only four divisions in sions in order to be first into Sedan. They the 3 1/2 -year stalemate that had soalced France. Seven months later, at the end, the earth of Europe with the blood of its took Douglas MacArthur for a German more than two million American soldiers manhood since August 1914. and almost shot him while trespassing and thirty thousand Marines had been ground. the The main American effort had lasted on the 42d Division's Had shipped over. immediately, hardly seven months before the war was Armistice not followed At the Armistice, American casualties suddenly over. The Allies had wanted there'd have been courts-martial galore stood at 53,403 killed in action or died 100 American divisions, and our Gen- for the Big Red One division. of wounds, and 202,261 wounded. In eral Pershing had wanted 80, in order The doughboys were puckish in their our thirteen months of battle, the first to mount a final victory drive in mid- humor, as witness the tale of a carrier half of which was only token, the Amer- 1919. But 1919 was still 50 days ahead, pigeon from the Argonne battle arriving ican soldier of the AEF (American Ex- and we had but 29 divisions in France back at its hq base. The "urgent" mes- peditionary Forces) shaped honors.

when it all ended. The spirit and "win" attitude of the American troops spelled much of the difference. At Belleau Wood, Gen. James Harbord, commanding 5th and 6th U.S. Marine regiments, received orders from a superior French general to dig trenches to fall back on. He wrote across their face that the Marines would dig no trenches to fall back on, they'd fight where they were. The decision may have saved Paris from falling. Lawrence Stallings, who was there, managed to tell the main battle record of the AEF in less than a paragraph. "The doughboy held the line at the critical Marne in 1918, broke the back of Ludendorff's offensive spirit at Soissons, wiped out the four-year torment of the Saint-Mihiel salient, cracked the Saint- Quentin Canal complex of the main Hin- denburg Line, destroyed the great Ger- man bastion of Blanc Mont behind Reims, fought across the rain-swollen Scheldt to give the Belgians hrid^ebeads to Brussels, and most notably plunged into the maze of the -Argonne front to cut the broad highway of the Sedan-Mezieres railroad network, fore-

A of the Western Front in simplified The Author map 1918, to make clearer the main American battle effort in the confusion of French place-names and Allied engagements. This tribute to the AEF is written by

no armchair historian. Brig. Gen. sage tied to it read: "I'm tired of carrying tradition and an American military mys- Franklin M. Davis, Jr., wrote the basic this damn pigeon." tique that has dominated the U.S. Army manuscript in Saigon in August, mailed And there was the wounded boy lying to this day, three later wars and the it, then went out and got himself shot up by the Viet Cong in a riverboat fray near the July-drying River Ourcq, where mists of 50 years notwithstanding. For south of Saigon. He made light of his the poet Joyce Kilmer died. Offered all of our modern weaponry, rocketry, many small wounds and jokingly said water he said: "Pour it in the Ourcq, it missilery, transport, airpower and armor he'd stick to helicopters henceforth. But, after a few days more on duty, needs it more than I." today, the traditions of fighting in our 7- complications set in and he was French General Retain opposed for- Army were nurtured in the AEF of 191 shipped stateside for medical care. mation of an independent American 18. At press time we found we had more Army for a unique reason. The troops Our Commander-in-Chief, Gen. John space than we'd allowed Gen. Davis, and we have added considerably to were better than their generals, he J. Pershing, had a few basic ideas that what he wrote. Gen. Davis' story of claimed. It wasn't wholly true, but it re- he stuck to—though German pressure the AEF and our additions are not to flected the French estimate of the elan of in the spring of 1918 required temporary be taken as official Army history. the American doughboys. abandonment of some of them:

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 17 CONTINUED The Battle Record of the American Army in WWI

1 . The American Army would he a commanders with an "I would fight them Seattle and four destroyers. They were a third force, an independent army with here, I would fight them there, I would token force sent to France to complete its own piece ot" the front, to support a never surrender" speech. Winston training while the nation scrambled and common French-British-American vic- Churchill well noted it and readapted it improvised to raise the rest of the great tory plan. to rally the English people one war later. force to come. Co. K, 28th Regiment, 2. There should be a supreme allied When he went off the air, Churchill is was the first to set foot on French soil, commander to unite all three major Al- said to have added privately, "We will at St. Nazaire, June 26, 1917. hit them with beer bottles." lied armies behind one plan for victory. Foch was of Further training and organization in British this spirit, and so were the men of the The French and had never agreed France followed, some of it under British to that before, because the French were AEF. and French veterans. Months later, parts more interested in defending Paris and 3. Pershing insisted the war could of the 1st Division were rotated into the British in defending the Channel never be won in the trenches, to which quiet sectors to get the feel of actual war. ports. Each feared a supreme command- his Allies were habituated in spite of As later divisions arrived the pattern er named from the other army would three years of mayhem to little effect in was repeated, though, as the scale of sacrifice their interests to his own. Thus trench warfare. They must train their fighting stepped up, some divisions went they were "defense minded" along dif- men, and operate on a plan, to get out directly into major battle without a quiet ferent lines, and as some said, they had of the trenches and move in forward sector warmup—notably 's DEPARTMr-.NT rUK AKMV National Guard Division—the 28th. On Oct. 21, 1917, four battalions of the 1st Division got the AEF's initial taste of trench warfare. They went into a quiet sector of the French lines in Lor- raine. On Oct. 23, their supporting guns fired the first American artillery round on the Western Front. The Germans tested the first Yanks to face them by springing a trench raid on the 2d Bat- talion of the 16th Regiment. Eleven 3, P. American prisoners were taken and the first three Americans to be killed in ac- tion at the front lay in the trenches. They were Corp. James B. Gresham and Pri- vates Thomas F. Enright and Merle D. Hay. All told, 36 Americans were killed and 36 wounded before the contingent was withdrawn on Nov. 20. Not until April 20, 1918, did the next significant American engagement take place. The foe raided a "quiet sector" held by units of the 26th "Yankee" Divi- sion (New England National Guards- men). It was not far from St. Mihiel (see map), at a village called Seicheprey. The foe had all the best of the military skill. They cut off 470 Connecticuters and took Seicheprey. But the Yankees re- organized following their instincts and June 1918. intmiraii to front drive Third Division troops leave M on way as German Maj. George Rau organized a counter- on Paris opens. Montmirail, which comma ded highway to Paris, was a German goal. attack that retook Seicheprey. It was "too many heads." The Germans had a open warfare. The American Army was hailed as our first victory. single command and were "attack trained from the start for open warfare. But now the roof was falling in on minded," a great advantage. the Allies. Such small engagements Under strong German pressure in THE Americans started slowly after would command no more attention, nor March 1918, the French and British the declaration of war in April 1917, would Pershing be able to return to his finally agreed that French Gen. Ferdi- and it was more than a year later that "independent American Army" idea for nand Foch would "coordinate" the de- they were pouring into France in great months to come. From March to July fense. The following month Pershing numbers and being committed to battle the Germans launched a series of violent joined in a successful bid to have Foch on a large scale. offensives in an effort to end the war named supreme commander for all pur- At the declaration of war there was before the full force of the American poses, including attack. Out of this uni- not one organized division in our Army. flood could turn the tide for good. Per- fied command, the final defense and the The 1st Division was hastily organized force, American units had to be thrown ultimate victory drive were formed. out of regular regiments and other units in with the British and French armies to

In Foch, the doughboys found a kin- staging in the southwest. To it were stave off disaster. dred spirit. At the bottom of the Allied added early enlistees from every state. On March 21, 1918, the long expected despondency in the spring of 1918, with The first contingent sailed from Ho- spring drive of the German enemy German attacks grinding forward every- boken, N.J., on June 14, 1917, in 12 cracked into the junction of the French where, Foch met the gloom of his fellow transports escorted by the cruiser U.S.S. and British Armies between Cambrai

18 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • N( VEMBER 1968 NATIONAL ARCHIVES/U.S. SIGNAL CORPS

On-the-scene artist Capt. Harvey Dunn caught WWl action. Left, doughboy fights way through barbed wire; above, street fightin and St. Quentin. In three days the thrust to two other American divisions a week hind the apex of the first drive at the was pushing full speed toward Amiens later. Somme River toward Amiens, and the and the Channel ports. The crisis of the The German drive of March 21, 1918. third behind the French Marne front. war was at hand. was only the first of five great German Eventually Americans would serve in Decisive Allied steps were vital. On ofl'ensives in the spring and summer of each. March 28, 1918. General Pershing un- 1918. For seventy-two days between May When his Somme drive stalled, the reservedly placed all American forces at 27 and August 6, 1918, the reaches of foe smashed the British on the extreme Foch's disposal. The organization of an the Marne River rocked under a succes- north end of the front around Ypres. American sector was postponed. The sion of major German attacks as the The British barely held on at great cost 1st Infantry Division, along with the 2d, NATIONAL ARCHIVES/U.S. SIGNAL CORPS to both sides. 26th and 42d Divisions, was shifted to Foch estimated the third German at-

French command and it fell to the 1st tack would strike toward Compiegne on Infantry Division to launch the first the Oise River (north of Chateau- American offensive action of the war at Thierry). To reinforce Compiegne he Cantigny on the Montdidier-Noyon weakened the naturally strong Chemin front. Here the Germans were driving a des Dames hogsback ridge line to the big V into the Allied lines along the south, between Soissons and Reims, Somme to force the British back on the leaving ten Allied divisions with four in Channel and split them from the French. reserve to face eight German divisions Behind a rolling barrage on the morn- with one in reserve on the 24-mile front. ing of May 28, 191 8, with the black blos- But, during the night of May 26-27, soms of artillery moving ahead of the 1918, the Germans carefully and quietly marching infantry waves at a rate of brought in fifteen fresh divisions specially twenty-five yards a minute, the 28th In- organized and trained for assault and fantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Divi- jumped them off in a dawn attack. In 24 sion assaulted Cantigny and grabbed a hours, routing the poorly commanded toehold for the Division. The Germans French Sixth Army at Chemin des counterattacked three times. Three times Sept. 1918. In the Allies' final drive, Dames, the Germans thrust twelve miles. the doughboys of the Big Red One beat American tanks, born of the war, push By May 30, Allied resistance virtually ahead in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. them off. All Europe learned that Amer- gone, the Germans were well across the ican troops could fight alongside the best enemy massed eighty-two divisions in a Aisne River and were streaking for the Allied divisions, demonstrably capable single group geared to strike in any di- Marne and the gateways less than 40 of bearing their part of the combat ef- rection, while the Allies under Marshal miles from Paris, with Chateau-Thierry fort. The 1st Division success at Cantigny Foch disposed their reserves in an effort and its surrounding complex of routes had a great deal to do with improving to gauge the right place and the right the key terminal to the French capital. Allied confidence in the Yanks, and cer- weight for response. Thus the Allied re- Foch ordered the American 2d Divi- tainly accounted for French willingness serves were postured in three groupings, sion—including a brigade (two regi- to trust a portion of the Marne defense one behind the British front, one be- ments) of U.S. Marines—and the Amer- THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 19 CONTINUED The Battle Record of the American Army in WWI

ican 3d Division to the Marne in order to write glorious history at Chateau- again on the night of June 21, 1918. By

to strengthen French weak spots without Thierry a little later on in the war. July 1, 1918, the Allies had stabilized drawing on his French reserves. They The 2d Division with its Marine the Marne positions and controlled the moved up with fleeing Frenchmen going Brigade of the 5th and 6th Marine Regi- dominant ground from Chateau-Thierry Paris-ward through their ranks. The 2d ments, was, by June 5, 1918, moved in to the west. The American effort at Cha- Division moved west of Chateau-Thierry as a division of the French 21st Army teau-Thierry and Belleau Wood had a and the 3d Division joined the French Corps and disposed in the French line tremendous effect psychologically on the 38th Army Corps on a line from Cha- facing the Germans in a very strong Allied Armies and the Allied countries

teau-Thierry eastward. The Germans high-ground position that provided the because it was such hard evidence of held the high ground north of the Marne. enemy with splendid observation and American combat skill, the involvement frantically seeking to take the bridges firing positions in the woods around the of American blood in Europe, and be- across the river and swing toward Paris town of Belleau, shown on the maps as cause the success came at a time when Chateau-Thierry, with two bridges, and the Bois de Belleau (or Belleau Wood). the Germans looked almost invincible. Belleau. on a tributary of the River On June 6, 1918, the 2d Division jumped It stopped the nose of the enemy drive

DEPARTMENT OF THE MiMV on Paris. Georges Clemenceau, Premier of France, made a public announcement of the American victory at Belleau Wood. The French Government directed that the name of the little patch of bloody woods be known forever after as the Bois de la Brigade de Marine. But perhaps even more important from the AEF standpoint, the 2d and 3d Divisions were now marked combat-ex- perienced. In addition, the lessons of Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood could be passed on as hard facts to the American soldiers now pouring into France and taking their final training in quiet sectors. Troop movements from the United States that had been only a trickle in 1917 were now a flood in the summer of 1918. In the month of June alone nine combat divisions and one depot division were landed in France, adding a quarter-million men to the AEF troop strength, and raising the total of American combat divisions to twenty, with seven (1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 26th, 28th and 42d) in the Marne area; nine (82d, 78th, 32d, 80th, 92d, 37th, 5th, 89th and 29th) going into training, largely in the quiet Vosges Mountains sector, and four (30th, 33d, 35th and 77th) training June 1918. 2nd Division troops advance in Belleau Woods. The battle proved American with the British. combat skill, shook the foe and stopped cold his first 1918 Paris drive. "The backbone of our Army must be infantry," Pershing said. In- Ourcq ("The O'Rourke," they called it off behind a rolling barrage to improve sturdy had it infantry in the AEF). were spots to be held if the its own position and thereby launched a deed, was the sturdiest of now Germans were to be stopped. bloody, never-say-die fight that took spreading into France in a thickening The 3d Division moved into Chateau- nearly twenty days before the Americans wave of olive drab. When the United Thierry and the Marne area (on sudden owned clear title to the Belleau Wood. States entered the war and adopted the orders) over a hundred-mile march, ar- The Germans had fortified the woods division plan as the basis for manning Expeditionary Forces in riving in battalion-sized units. Its 7th —a forest about a mile square, dense the American Battalion held Chateau- with undergrowth—with entrenched in- France, there were to be 25 divisions Thierry against the Germans the night fantry protected by mutually supporting made up from the pre-war Regular of May 31, 1918. By June 5, 1918. the machine gun nests disposed in depth. Army, to be numbered consecutively 3d Division was holding the south bank The Marine Brigade, under Brig. Gen. from 1 to 25. Fifty divisions, numbered of the Marne and patrolling into German James G. Harbord of the Army, who consecutively from 26 to 75, would be territory across the river. Highlight of had come to France as Pershing's Chief organized from the National Guard or this 3d Division action at Chateau- of Staff, fought a dogged and determined militia of the various states. Then the Thierry was its share in the combined battle here, grinding the tangle yard by men who were drafted by the Selective French-U.S. attack on the night of June yard and taking terrific casualties. The Service system would be organized into 6, 1918, to capture Hill 204 which dom- Marine Brigade was relieved in Belleau National Army divisions and numbered consecutively beginning with 76. inated the entire Chateau-Thierry area. Wood the night of June 15, 1 91 8, by the The 3d Division gained experience and 7th Infantry Regiment of the 2d Divi- Thus, as the American troops in

a feel for the terrain that would help it sion. But the Marines replaced the 7th France climbed in strength toward the

20 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 half million mark and began to carve out AEF had to have a tremendous logistics and light tanks for exploitation was or- the remarkable record of the AEF in and support establishment. The mere ganized in January 1918 and readied for France, already by the summer of 1918 day-to-day feeding, housing and clothing commitment in the forthcoming actions the American soldier in France repre- of all these Americans in France was an of the summer of 1918. But we never sented a cross section of his society. The enormous task. Add to this mail service, had enough tanks of our own.

1 st Infantry Division was a Regular out- entertainment, medical care, leaves-of- By June 15, 1918, the Air Service of fit; the 42d "Rainbow" Division was a absence and training and there were still the AEF had six pursuit service squad- slight departure from the original Na- more support requirements—truck trans- rons operational, together with the Bal- tional Guard idea and was a crack divi- port to be provided, effective communi- loon Section of the Air Service. Flying sion organized from a number of dif- cations, field construction—all designed French and British aircraft primarily ferent State Guard units. The 77th Divi- to maintain and sustain American troops (the accelerated production of American sion had virtually all its company officers over a supply line that began in the aircraft did not catch up with wartime —a thousand—trained for three months United States and ended in the villages, requirements until close to the Armis- only before commissioning. The 92d Di- byways and battle lines in France. tice), the Air Service eventually gained vision was an all-Negro division accord- Thus, there was created in the AEF 753 aerial victories at a cost of 357 air- ing to the custom of the era which put first a sprawling Quartermaster organiza- craft. colored soldiers in units of their own. tion numbering at its peak 5,100 officers Pershing, in pursuing his aim of an DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY independent AEF fighting in an Amer- ican sector, neglected nothing that might contribute to ultimate combat success. But the events of mid-July 1918 delayed the activation of an American sector

still further. At Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood, the 2d and 3rd Divi- sions had smashed the point of an enemy V pointing to Paris. Now the enemy decided to drive out of both sides of the V. On the evening of July 14, 1918, the Germans lunged again behind high ex- plosive, gas and smoke. Three American divisions were in the line in the sector of attack. The 3d Division vas on the Marne River at Chateau-Thierry, at the point of the enemy V. The 28th Division was on the Marne west of Jaulgonne, on the north side of the V, and the 42d Division was in the Champagne plateau west of Reims, south of the V. Shipley Thomas, historian of the AEF, quotes Lieutenant Lovejoy of the 38th In- ". fantry Regiment, 3d Division: . . The shelling on the river bank began about

3 o'clock. . . . Day was just breaking; and through the mist, fog, and smoke one could see the boats and rafts loaded to the gunwales with enemy infantry- men and machine gunners set out for the

southern bank. . . . Men of the 38th .. . met every attempt with rifle and auto- . Doughboys of the 1st Division hold in face of heavy fire, as they matic-weapon fire. Scores of boats were move up Hill 240, near Exermont, France, to oust Germans entrenched on summit. shattered and sunk. . . . Hundreds of water and were But the tests of Canfigny, Chateau- and 127,000 men and later the Services Huns jumped into the

drowned. . . . Thierry, Belleau Wood and the abortive of Supply which—with its associated fourth German lash at Montdidier- Medical, Engineer, Motor Transport, "Soldiers wounded in the early morn- Noyon in early June which grazed the Ordnance and Signal services—per- ing remained ... in their rifle pits un- 1st Division were only the beginning. formed miracles daily to keep the AEF flinchingly until killed. One man of Com- There were ominous signs of yet a fifth at peak combat effectiveness. Under Billy pany G was later found lifeless with his great German drive. During the period Mitchell, the Signal Corps' Air Service rifle and pistol empty and in front of him June 15-July 15, 1918, the British and was laying the foundations for today's a heap of twelve dead Germans. Another French regrouped their reserves, the Air Force. private's body was found surrounded by American divisions being shifted to con- In concentrating on logistics and ser- five of the enemy, all killed by a ; form to their missions within these vice support, the AEF did not neglect but his own rifle was clutched in his forces. General Pershing continued to necessary combat support to add range, hands, ready for more work, when he make available to Marshal Foch all his volume and lethality to the rifle and was stopped by a bullet from a machine ." American divisions as they finished their machinegun of the soldier in the field. gun. . . training in France. But there was still no Heavy artillery, much of it formed in The German attack was all east of American fighting tactical command as railway gun battalions, was created and Chateau-Thierry and the brunt of it fell such. The American forces were par- organized to back up division artillery. on the 3d Division and especially on celed out to meet the dispositions dic- A Chemical Warfare Service provided the 38th Infantry Regiment on the ex- tated by the French and British plans. poison gas attack and defense. A tank treme right of the 3d Division. The 1 25th Yet, with the American buildup, the corps with heavy tanks for brenkthroughs (Continued on page 40)

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 21 ALVIN YORK and FRANK

Alvin York never asked for all the fame that came companions or to have brought a far larger enemy force to its knees.

Myth sometimes has it that "this fight- ing doughboy killed or captured 180 his way when his rifle (jiielled 35 machine guns, and German soldiers single-handedly." Not

a word of that is true. York was not a typical "fighting doughboy." He went bagged 132 prisoners in a famous 15 minutes. into the Army reluctantly as a conscien- tious objector. He didn't fight alone. At the start of the action he was one of 17 By TOM MAHONEY more of themselves, suffered far more men. At the end he was one of 1 1 sur- and endured more over longer periods vivors, all of whom shared in the action ALL THE COMBAT soldiers in the of time. and three of whom were badly shot up. OF First World War. no American The main action that brought fame to The number of the enemy accounted for i-:ecame more famous as a fight- Sergeant York took barely half an hour. was probably less than 1 80, perhaps in ing man than the late Alvin Cullum York His most outstanding accomplishment the 160s. At least 157 are certain. Most ot . consumed about 15 minutes of that of them surrendered. Some of the dead He is known in history as Sergeant action. He came out cool and un- foe were killed by their own side's fire York. But on that October day in 1918 scratched. But he captured the imagina- and grenades. when fame came his way in the Argonne tion then and now by an individual per- When you have said all that, you have Forest he was Corporal York. formance at the precise moment when debunked Sergeant York all you can. By the thousands, other doughboys nothing in infantry training could have By telling it as it was, you only make fought in more savage actions, gave been enough to have saved him or his his claim to fame the firmer. After the imclWN IIKIIS. war there was some bitterness among the men who came out alive with him. But they sought not to discredit York—only to be recognized for their part in the incident. Otis Merrithew, of Brookline, Mass.,

is probably the last survivor of those 17 men who went behind the German lines on Oct. 8, 1918, to silence machine guns that were pinning their company down

on top of Hill 223 as it tried to help res- cue the famous "Lost Battalion." Mer- rithew helped mix up the history of the action by enlisting in WWl under the as- sumed name of William B. Cutting. It was years later before his own comrades knew he was Otis Merrithew and not Cpl. Bill Cutting. In 1929, Merrithew joined others in signing an affidavit testifying to the role of York's companions that day. Even so, Merrithew would not deny York's "sin- gle-handed" achievement. When, in 1965, Merrithew was belatedly awarded the at Ft. Devens, Mass., by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson, he had to make a speech. His closing words were: "The fellows who are pro- testing the Vietnam War should have

their heads examined. What if, during WWl, we decided not to help the French? There was a fellow in our outfit who was a , but once he was in the thick of battle he knew why he was there. He fought like a tiger and almost captured the whole damned German army single-handed.

. . . His name was Sergeant York. . . . ." He was a hero. . . Thus spoke the last of York's com- panions, men who had felt left out in all Sgt. York shortly after his Argonne feat. He joined the Army reluctantly as a con- scientious objector. Fame was not all sweet, and the tax people plagued his old age. {Continued on page 45)

22 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 LUKE: Legendary WWI Heroes

THE MOST controversial, PERHAPS The story of Frank Luke, Jr., the ^'^balloon buster,"' tempestuous and tragic of the American fighting men in the First World War was Frank Luke, Jr., a reckless, proud, insubordinate fighting aviator of Phoenix, Ariz., the legendary flying "balloon buster" whose remarkable war career lasted seventeen days. Luke was a proud and reckless with an incredible record. fighter who brought to aerial combat in AIR FORCE MUSEUM its infant days the instincts of a pro- fessional football player of today. In his brief, meteoric combat career he lived only to fight and swell his record. He was the first airman to win the Medal of Honor. His toll of three (may- be six) enemy planes and 15 German observation balloons on nine flying days was second only to Eddie Rickenbacker's 26 planes down in five months. To today's fliers, a balloon might seem a sitting duck. In WWI they were the most dangerous of targets, as well as a thorn in the side of one's own in- fantry, on which they directed artillery. The German balloons were protected by anti-aircraft fire, pre-registered to make the air around them deadly for the slow-flying craft of those days. Each had its guardian flock of fighter planes ready to leap on any intruder. Frank Luke deliberately sought them out. His record of 15 in so short a time was in- credible. Furthermore, he called his shots, foretelling at what minute of the hour his friends could look to see what enemy balloon would go down in flames. On the day he died he knocked three down, on schedule, in a few min-

utes, and it wasn't the first time. Luke died needlessly, trying to fight Frank Luke as he posed beside his plane during the brief 17 days when he won fame. the German army on the ground with BILL LUKE his pistol in a tragic final act. miner, land appraiser and county su- It is still moot whether he was so in- pervisor. His mother was born Tillie subordinate that he should have been Liebenow in Brooklyn, New York. court-martialed. Young Frank was an indifferent stu- Eddie Rickenbacker, the only other dent but a great athlete at Phoenix WWI flier to receive the Medal of Union High School, winning letters in Honor, called Luke "the most daring football, baseball and track. Despite a aviator of the entire war" in his recent broken collarbone, he continued in a autobiography. football game against Flagstaff and Today, a statue of Luke graces the scored the winning touchdown. He Arizona Capitol in Phoenix, where his worked first summers and then full time brothers and many relatives are leading in the copper mines. He was a crack citizens. Luke Air Force Base nearby is shot with a rifle and good enough with named for him, as is Luke-Greenway his fists to knock out a visiting profes-

Post 1, American Legion, in Phoenix, sional named Haney. which gave funds for a Luke plaque at Five months after America entered the Air Force Academy's Falcon Sta- the war Frank volunteered for the Sig- dium at Colorado Springs. nal Corps, asked for and got air ser- Frank Luke, Jr., was born May 19, vice. He was then 20 years old. 1897, in Phoenix, the fifth of nine chil- At Austin, Texas, he finished a nine- dren of German-American parents. His week ground course in seven weeks. Luke shooting down a German observa- father, born in Dahlhausen, Prussia, was Next came flight training at Rockwell tion balloon, one of the most difficult an early Arizona settler, a copper and dangerous air targets in WWI. {Continued on page 52) THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 23 THE AMERICAN LEGION'S

HE American Legion's 50th Na- air conditioned hotels or motels, many

I tional Convention was held in New with swimming pools. In 1922 the boys t;Orleans, La., from Sept. 6 to Sept. almost tore the town apart, something 12, 1968. The first convention was held that hasn't happened in several dec- in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nov. 11, 1919. ades. A local radio morning program One previous convention had been held announcer this year must have felt in New Orleans—in 1922. Then, some foolish. Each morning he warned his delegates came in freight cars and New Orleans' listeners to take cover roomed in them on rail sidings during lest the rampaging Legionnaires plague the convention. In 1968 they traveled in them with trick novelties, drop water better style, chiefly by air, and lived in bags on them from windows, etc., etc.

24 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 —

50th NATIONA

Old myths die hard. If he is under 30 good eating, good quarters, good con- William Galbraith, of Nebraska, as Na- such things haven't happened at a na- vention management and good (if some- tional Commander of The American tional Legion convention in his life- what warm and humid) weather com- Legion (election story on page 38, and time. As everyone in New Orleans knows bined to produce a record low of offi- Doyle biography on page 12). The they didn't happen in 1968 either. cial complaints of any sort from either President of the United States and all It was a good, satisfying convention the host city or its visitors. As the con- three major Presidential candidates for the average Legion and Auxiliary vention closed there were almost none, George Wallace, Hubert Humphrey and delegate. With the exception of the ill- which is almost unbelievable in the man- Richard Nixon—addressed the conven- informed radio mythologist. New Or- agement of such a huge operation. tion in that order in the space of three leans as a city and as a people was an William C. Doyle, New Jersey WW2 days. President Johnson and Gen. Wil- excellent host. Hospitality, kindness, Army veteran, was elected to succeed liam Westmoreland each received the

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 25 continuedTHE LEGION'S ATIONAL CONVENTION

Legion's Distinguished Serviee Medal. to lucky Legionnaires and Auxiliares

I he convention considered 473 pro- ( page 29) provided the usual convention posed resokitions, and adopted 142, color, pageantry and excitement in good containing the sense of 309 of those style. pioposed (see summary of resokitions Many convention actions and reports

starting on page 3 1). 1 he Legion's an- touched wholly or partly on the loom- ing 5()th Anniversary of the Legion, and

on its corollary, the Legion's approach to the next 50 years, generally known as the Future with a capital F (see separate stories on these two pages). Among the more important resolu- tions passed were those on the situa- tion in Vietnam; services to Vietnam veterans; lawlessness and student dis- orders; the PiiehJo; the treatment of GI prisoners by the Reds; the meaning of Czechoslovakia to our foreign and de- fense policies; relations with France; VA Administrator William Driver (left) and trade with Communist nations and rela- Texas Rep. Olin league, House Veterans Affairs Chairman, spoke at Convention. tions with others trading with North Vietnam: Social Security welfare-type President Johnson, a recipient of the Le- nual parade (see page 34). its national payments; U.S. territorial waters; rela- gion's 1968 Distinguished Service Medal, marching and music championship con- tions with the new Greek government; delivered keynote address on Sept. 10. tests (page 36), and the drawing from veterans' and widows' pension benefit in- among 36U. ()()() coupons in the Sea- creases; veterans' employment; veterans' military deserters and draft evaders; the gram Port's award of four automobiles educational benefits and aids; Cuba; future of NATO; national cemeteries;

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

THE Legion's 5{)th Anniversary plans Anniversary Committee, headed by Al- American Legion march to be played. It gave overtones to a good deal that bert LaBiche, of New Orleans, met dur- may have a TV premiere before then. went on in New Orleans. Postmaster ing the convention and further developed (2) March 15, 1969. Unveiling and General W. Marvin Watson's public an- the plans for observances. Nationally .switch-throwing in Washington of the nouncement from the Convention stage these start Nov. I I, 1968, and end Nov. Legion's Gift to the Nation—permanent that a Legion 50th Anniversary Com- 1 I, 1969. Though not 100% firm in all lighting of the Tomb of the Unknowns memorative U.S. Postage Stamp would details, they are: (see p. 5) —timed to go on closed- definitely have its first day of is^ue at (1) Nov. 11, 1968, ceremonies in Ar- circuit TV to the Legion's annual dinner Washington, DC, March 15. 1969, was lington Nat'l Cemetery, conducted by to the Congress, and perhaps over net-

hailed by the delegates. Anniversary ac- the Legion, and a luncheon-of-state that work TV. March 15 is the Legion birth tivities take two broad forms—honoring day at which Ambassadors of friendly date with many other events in Wash- the past and looking to the future (see nations are said to be planning gifts to ington, in the states and in the posts. A opposite page for the Future). The 50th the Legion. Meredith Willson's new lighting of Victory Flames in all state

capitals is projected. (3) May 6 to 10. The Nat'l Executive Committee and other nat'l bodies will meet in St. Louis—where final Caucus was held in May 50 years ago—instead of Indianapolis. Many events planned for there, then. Baseball Game of the Week in St. Louis May 10, may include two-inning game among old timers from major leagues who are Legion baseball graduates. Possibly a Bob Hope Camp Show may be recreated. Nothing final yet on these last two. Governor of Mis- souri will host special events. Time cap- sule to be placed in Legion monument near site of 1919 Caucus, etc. (4) Aug. 22-28, 1969, Nat'l Conven- tion, Atlanta, Ga. High on the agenda will be the report of the Task Force for the Future. Many other events.

(5) Nov. I I. 1969. NEC fall meeting The Legion gets an advance of $25,000 for its 50th Anniversary Gift to the Nation, in Minneapolis-St. Paul—siteof first Nat'l from the Auxiliary, as Nat'l President Mrs. Vernon H. Randall tenders check to outgoing Convention. Nov. 11, 1919—instead of Nat'l Cmdr Galbralth. Total $125,000 Gift to Nation will light Tomb of the Unknowns Indianapolis. Details of this final event at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery. Full Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of Legion membership 50th Anniversary are incomplete. are invited to pay for it with small donations (see announcement on page 5). of the

26 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 :

Delegates and guests, on hand for Convention business sessions and talks by notables, crowd New Orleans' Municipal Auditorium.

VA tuberculosis compensation, the fu- House Veterans AlTairs Committee; Wil- ture of Okinawa. liam J. Driver. Administrator of Vet- Besides the President and the ['resi- erans Alfairs; Mrs. Lloyd M. Bucher. dential candidates, the convention heard wife of the Captain of the U.S.S. Pueblo; from many speakers, including: Gov. Norbert Tiemann. of Nebraska: Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, Chief Gov. Robert Docking, of ; Gov. of Naval Operations; Fukuzo Yasui, of John J. McKcithen. of Louisiana (who the Japanese Disabled Veterans Ass"n brought the greetings of the host state); (who gave the Legion a $100 check for Mrs. Elizabeth D. Koontz. President, its 50th Anniversary Gift to the Nation) National Education Association; Pete W. Marvin Watson. Postmaster General Upton. National Director. American of the United States (who announced a Red Cross; Maj. Gen. James F. Cantwell. Legion 50th Anniversary U.S. commem- President, National Guard Association orative postage stamp with First Day of the U.S., and Legionnaire Albert V. Tom Miller, Nevada NECman, was honored of Issue at Washington. D.C., March 15, LaBiche, of New Orleans. with title of Past Nat'l Commander. 1969); Rep. Olin E. Teague, Chairman. Cmdr Galbraith presented PNC pin. LaBiche. a prominent New Orleans

A LOOK AT THE FUTURE—LEGION PLANNING TO START THE NEXT 50 YEARS

HEN THE Legion's 50th Anniver- broad terms. The Legion must, it said, in our urban centers." and suggested a sary drew near a few years ago. take in and put to work the Vietnam vet- "tremendous" local Legion effort to as- there was so much sentiment for looking erans, on an "equal basis" and "at all sist "returning GIs. both Negro and forward as well as backward that a spe- levels." It must not only see that they get white in pursuit of schooling and jobs cial Task Force for the Future was their legal veterans benefits, but en- ... to build a better America." No men- named a year ago. It was charged with courage and persuade them to use their tion of race had been made before in "reviewing American Legion programs educational and other rights, for the the area of vets' benefits, but the GI Bill in the light of current day conditions, good of the country as well as them- opportunities are so important for Negro envisioning the immediate future, and selves. The Legion must seek suitable veterans—yet could be so easily missed recommending a course of action for roles for it in the search for solutions —that many at the convention minced continuing elfective service in the years to the "problems that rack our cities, no words in saying that the Legion ahead," as Nat'l Cmdr Galbraith put it. our society, and indeed, the world." Na- should make special local efforts to urge At New Orleans, the Task Force for tional policies that might lead to an end and help Negro vets get their educational the Future read a preliminary report. to the Cold War. and within it the Viet- rights. A combined Legion-Urban (Its final report is due to be made at the nam War. on terms consonant with hu- League program in Chicago and a Le- Atlanta Convention next August.) The man freedom, must be encouraged. Ef- gion service effort in 1 5 Georgia counties Task Force spelled out some things in forts to achieve a workable world peace are known to have done this well. organization must not be abandoned, whatever the risks and disillusionments. Growth of Legion youth activities, many on a year around basis, would be desirable. Greater Legion contributions to a "return to social order and respon- sibility." and to "the improvement of our total educational system." and to the "maintenance of an open society with liberty and justice for all" were pin- pointed. Maritime Commissioner Similar thinking ran through other re- and Past Nat'l Vice Cmdr ports. The Americanism Commission ex- James V. Day (Me.)Chmn., Past Nat'l CmdrRay Murphy (Iowa), senior Task Force for the Future. pressed a "strong interest in the crises member of the Task Force for the Future. THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 27 CONTINUED THE LEGION'S NATIONAL CONVENTION

selves "sick and tired"' of the same things. About 30 "prolestors"' marched in a cir- cle outside the Memorial Auditorium in New Orleans' Beauregard Square as he spoke. They chanted and carried signs with such phrases as "fascist," etc. Wallace listed a host of grievances against the federal government under re- cent administrations. He took out after

" bureaucrats'" meddling in the private lives of the people and the communities while "the government has enough to do abroad without running the local schools,

labor, sale of private homes . . . etc." He Unrivaled champion Motorcycle DrillTeam labeled some Supreme Court decisions of Indianapolis Police Post 56 thrilled parade crowds with slick cycle maneuvers. as "asinine." Vietnam is a tough prob-

lem, he said, and we should press the ment, rundown schools and housing is free nations that we have aided to share an attack on crime. Meanwhile the po- problems of security in Asia with us on lice must receive support, and correc- a bigger scale. He would give dissenters tional institutions should be revised. He who trample on the rights of others short said that if elected he would throw the shrift, "starting in January." weight of the federal government behind Candidate George Wallace. local police, and of federal aid toward city, county and state correctional insti- merchant, is chairman of the Legion's tutions. 50th Anniversary Committee, and was Former Vice President Richard Nixon President of the Convention Corporation spoke to the Convention at 1 1 a.m. of the Louisiana 1st Legion District Thursday, Sept. 12. He made it a point which managed, and was responsible for, not to give a political speech to the Le- the Convention as a corporate operation. gion, in fact he expressed his respect for Two recently deceased Legionnaires President Johnson and Vice President among many memorialized at the Con- Humphrey as loyal Americans, and said vention were widely known throughout he wanted to talk as an American, not the organization for many years, and had a politician. For a moment he joked, friends and admirers in every state and saying it was better to "get stoned at a overseas. They were Henry Parke, of Legion Convention than in Caracas," New York, long the chairman of the Le- (where, when he was Vice President, gion's Merchant Marine Committee, and mobs threw rocks at his auto). Sedley Peck, of France and California, He spoke then chiefly on the serious who sat in many councils of the Legion problems before the country, at home for half a century and was long France's and abroad. They were the familiar prob- Nat'l Executive Committeeman. lems of the Cold War, violence and un- No convention ever had a greater ar- rest at home, Vietnam, etc. He chose not ray of public figures apearing in a few to project homemade remedies, but to days, or found itself with so much TV, analyze the nation's problems. press and political attention as this one, Candidate Hubert Humphrey. when President Johnson, George Wal- lace, Hubert Humphrey and Richard Vice President Humphrey spoke to

Nixon all made major speeches to it be- the convention that afternoon. He chose tween 10 a.m. Tuesday and noon Thurs- "law and order" as his topic. day. Press corps and political retinues Humphrey said that public officials swarmed all over the place, and for many don't commit crimes, criminals do, and hours on each day the Secret Service that it is "double talk" to inject "slogans" controlled all movement on the floor. about crime and violence into elections. President Johnson came, on short no- He said the solution to problems of vio- tice, at 10 a.m. Tues. Sept. 10. He talked lence is to be fair, tough, spend enough in plain language about the meaning of money and "know the enemy." "The en- the war in Vietnam and our responsi- emy" he said, is mostly juveniles and bilities in the world which it would be young adults, and the attack on this en- disastrous to duck in hopes of an easy emy should be such things as to way out. He made it clear that if passion, "strengthen family ties," change the wel- fear and impatience call for a short- fare system because it weakens family sighted compromise of freedom in Viet- ties; keep schools open longer and give nam, statesmanship does not. classes for parents as well as youngsters; Governor Wallace, first of the candi- develop more programs for youth over dates to appear, spoke on Wednesday longer periods of the year, along the lines morning, Sept. 11. He recounted the of the programs of the Legion, the Boys things in the United States that he was Clubs, the Scouts, etc. Most crime occurs "sick and tired" of, and predicted that among the poor in the slums, he said, at the polls the voters would show them- therefore an attack on slums, unemploy- Candidate Richard Nixon 28 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 Nixon spoke off-the-cuflf, without a prepared speech or notes, and reviewed national and world problems in detail and in broad meaning. The conflict be- tween East and West is unchanged in its nature, he said, while changes in the leadership in the are changes of "the head, not the heart." Czech events demonstrate this, and may have done some good in waking up some of our European allies from the notion that the Russian bear has fallen asleep.

The free part of Asia is one of the world's bright spots, he said. More prog- ress is being made there than in Latin America and Africa. Here at home, be- cause our system has machinery to bring Chalmette National Historical Park, established to commemorate the Battle of New Orleans, is visited by Legionnaires. Here, on Jan. 1815, 15 after about change peacefully, violence and 8, days the War of 1812 ended, a 10,000-man British force, under General Pakenham, attacked Andrew disorder are inexcusable. Jackson's smaller American force defending the city and was decisively defeated. Nixon refused to comment on what look every in the eye because they zens will in should be done in Vietnam or Paris. "I man they be the future. The Viet have done their duty," he said. Viet- will not say anything to win votes that Our vets, given an active role in the Legion, nam servicemen are a kind of will start it its might cost us lives or jeopardize the ne- "unique well on second 50 years, gotiations," he told the Convention. American soldier," he noted. They light Westmoreland promised. and build at the same time, and their Entertainer Jimmy Durante shared the President Johnson was given the Le- experience in helping the South Viet- billing with General Westmoreland. The gion's highest award, its Distinguished namese civilians as well as battling the "old schnozzola" kept the guests enrap- Service Medal, with a citation that noted foe will be reflected in the kind of citi- tured with his wit and songs, and they the following reasons for the award: His long years of service at the highest policy levels; his bipartisanship when, WINNERS OF FORDS IN SEAGRAM POSTS DRAWING as a Democratic leader under a Repub- ROAR OF DELIGHT went Up whcu 22nd annual Seagram Posts Automobile lican President, he guided administration A the first person to win one of the Awards. The country was divided into measures important to the country four Ford cars in the Seagram Posts' four regions. Coupons were placed in through the Senate; his reassuring con- 22nd annual drawing was not only pres- four drums to correspond to those areas, duct of the transfer of power at the time ent, but well known to many there. She and one lucky winner was drawn from of the shock of President Kennedy's as- is Mrs. F. W. Judkins, of Auxiliary Unit each drum. The Seagram Posts drawing sassination; his initiative (the greatest 41, Syracuse, N.Y. She literally ran from has become one of the most enduring shown by any President) in sponsoring her seat in the audience at the Parade of features of National Conventions. veterans legislation in the Congress; the Champions, radiating astonishment and "courage and firmness" with which he delight, while thousands cheered her onto honored America's pledge to South Viet- the field. nam, and finally, his removing himself Photos below show Mrs. Judkins (a) from "consideration for re-election" be- running and (b) radiating astonishment. cause he believed it would strengthen his Other winners of Fords were Charles efforts toward "peace in the world and Beaudry, Post 44, Marquette, Mich.; harmony within the nation." Mrs. Jean Pendergrast, Unit 40, Ft. Gen. William Westmoreland received Pierce, Fla., and Harold L. Goff, Post the Legion's Distinguished Service Medal 5, Emporia, Kans. in recognition of the leadership he pro- They weren't there and didn't have to vided our military when given the diffi- be to win. About 360,000 Legion and cult task of the overall command in Viet- Miss Doris Anderson, Nat'l Auxiliary Sec'y, Auxiliary members filed coupons in the nam. Westmoreland received his award draws Mrs. Judkins' winning number. at the Nat'l Commander's Dinner to Dis- tinguished Guests in the Jung Hotel's Grand Ballroom on Tuesday, Sept. 10. He had high praise for the strides for- ward that the South Vietnamese gov- ernment and army have made. We are "on course" there he said. Our capability to meet Red "war of liberation" tactics has grown, while the enemy's capability has shrunk so much that he has given up hope of winning except at the con- ference table. Westmoreland, now Army Chief of Staff, had special praise for the small Coast Guard force that has played a sig- nificant role with the Navy in sealing the South Vietnamese coastline. Our servicemen in Vietnam can, as veterans, "stand tall, heads high, and Mrs. Judkins runs from her seat to field . . . and registers astonishment. THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 29 :

oslovakian situation, and what the Soviet military suppression means to the world.

The lengthy resolution included a list of lessons which can be ignored only at the peril of freedom in the world. They included

1 . Communism and freedom are just as incompatible today as they were under Stalin. 2. Communism remains a "com- plete sham" whose pretensions are a trap

for the unwary. The naked truth is thai

it is actually a totalitarian system for enslavement by criminals in control of government, and has never changed a bit in this respect. 3. The actual concern

of Communist nations is with the preser- vation of the power of Communist parties, having no regard for the lives, well being, or desires of "the people" in whose names they pretend to rule. 4. Notions in other countries, including

our own, that "the Cold War is a thing

of the past" and that "understanding" is possible between free and Communist nations are exceedingly dangerous as as- worked him through encores enough to sumptions on which to base free world wear out a younger man. At the dinner. policy, and their total falsity was re- Durante received his plaque as a mem- affirmed by events in Czechoslovakia. the ber of Legion's 50th Anniversary 5. Enmity toward the West is as unbend- Prestige and Entertainment Committees. ing as ever in the Communist world,

Composer Sammy Fain appeared, and is a central part of its doctrine.

courtesy of ASCAP, and played popular 6. There is no change in the Communist songs he'd composed over 40 years. determination to rule the world. Among the 142 resolutions adopted The record of 142 resolutions adopted by the convention (all of which are sum- stood as the fewest in a Congressional marized on these pages) two under For- election year in recent history. With a eign Relations are worthy of special new Congress, all old Legion policies note. Res. 441 (arrived at jointly by the touching on legislation must be re- Foreign Relations and National Security adopted, or they die with that Congress. Committees and adopted unanimously) Thus in an election year a Legion Con- dealt broadly with Vietnam. It reaffirmed vention always has a large number of old the Legion's support of U.S. assistance resolutions to be passed. Most of those to South Vietnam against Communist ag- digested on these pages are old policies gression; commended our fighting men reaffirmed. and extended a vote of gratitude to them; In the last ten years a concerted effort deplored the continued loss of men while has been made to reduce the number Famed 75-year-old-but-young-as-ever en- victory seems denied them "because of tertainer Jimmy Durante wowed audience of resolutions adopted. Often, in the past, political limitations"; insisted on removal at Distinguished Guests dinner. Here he their sheer volume has watered down of political limitations which operate to gets Legion 50th Anniversary Medallion. their effectiveness, by "scattering the He's on the Anniversary Committee. make a victory through sound military shot" and giving the staff and member- strategy impossible; urged an expansion Finally, Res. 441 urged that a dead- ship more policies to support than is of military targets to include any which line be set for the period of negotiations practical. So serious did the problem of

afford actual or potential bases for action in Paris, and that if they remain unpro- too many resolutions become some years

against our troops, and urged no military ductive of a lasting and honorable peace, back that it was necessary for the Na- let-up, during negotiations, which might the U.S. should then turn to an all-out tional Executive Committee to set prior-

"delude the enemy as to . . . the deter- military drive to achieve the quickest ities on convention policies in order for mination of the United States to abide possible victory. the Legislative division to do its work at ." by its commitments. . Res. 519 addressed itself to the Czech- all.

At preconvention tour of Lockheed plant in Georgia, Nat'l Se- Familiar New Orleans sight is this below-water-level view of a curity Comm'n poses with the C-5 Galaxy, world's largest plane. Mississippi levee and a ship passing by practically overhead.

30 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 The use of restraint in times like these, continuedTHE LEGION'S NATIONAL CONVENTION when world and national conditions and Veterans Day as Nov. 11. hardly invite silence, didn't make the 30. Seeks law to deny state or national financial aid to student draft evaders. task of holding resolutions down any SUMMARY OF 59. Commends congressional committees in ex- easier. But the record of the 1968 Con- RESOLUTIONS posing Communist conspiracy in the U.S. 66. Condemns Students for Democratic Society vention's delegates is a good one. To and urges widespread attention to its subversive ELEVEN Convention committees met dangers. in advance of the full business meetings and recommended action on all resolutions offered to the Convention. With one exception, the committee rec- ommendations were adopted by the full Convention. The Convention considered 475 reso- lutions. The sense of 309 of them was embodied in 142 resolutions that were adopted. Referred for more study were 86, while 63 were rejected and 17 were received and recorded. A "received and Left, Postmaster General Watson an- recorded" resolution is one whose sense nounces a 1969 Legion commemorative is approved but whose passage is not 60 stamp. Right, Louisiana Gov. John McKeithen welcomes delegates. necessary for one reason or another ( ex- isting policy, already implemented, no There wasn't enough room in the Hotel compress the hundreds of suggested reso- longer needed, etc.) Roosevelt's Grand Ballroom to hold all lutions into a small package, while still Here is a digest of all of the resolutions those who sought to attend the Conven- reiterating those needing reactivation, that were adopted. The digest is a guide tion Memorial Service on Sunday, Sept. 8. was a toil for hundreds of members serv- resolutions, to the sense of and should 69. Opposes entry into the U.S. of Red students. stand- ing on convention committees and not be construed as representing their 70. Urges law prohibiting employment of Com- ing commissions in a four day period munists in defense facilities. exact terms. 96. Supports constitutional amendment permitting before the first full convention session. prayer in public buildings. The task of the delegates in closely AMERICANISM 97. Urges law exposing Communists and Com- muni.= t-front organizations in the U.S. 2. Opposes federal registration of firearms; following the committee reports in a 126. Seeks congressional investigation of ACLU. favors law prohibiting purchase of mail-order 211. Calls for legislation to restore the con^titu- three day period in which they also heard firearms by unlicensed individuals. 15. lav/ leaving Memorial Day as May 30 (Continued on page 33) major addresses by the President and the Seeks three major candidates (during which the hall was for many hours under the control of the Secret Service) was not At right are an easy one. But it can be said that, at the chairmen of New Orleans, the delegates (who out- the committees number those at major political party that screened conventions) were exceptionally atten- resolutions. tive and businesslike. Differences with committee reports were sharp and to the point when made from the floor, and AMERICANISM CHILD WELFARE CONSTITUTIONAL the delegates took pride in the despatch Daniel O'Connor Earl Franklin, Jr. AMENDMENTS New York Colorado Francis Giordano with which they did their work, as com- New York pared to the recent political conventions.

THE WORLD OF MUSIC

ECONOMIC FINANCE FOREIGN INTERNAL Clarence Campbell Churchill Williams RELATIONS AFFAIRS Vermont Iowa Thomas Whelan Frank Nietupski N. Dakota

Two Legionnaires sang for Convention delegates. Danny Scholl (I), who per- formed in the Broadway musical "Winged Victory" and with the Glenn Miller band before he was seriously disabled in WW2, sang his hit song "No Man Is An Island." Copies of the record are available with proceeds going to the Nat'l March of Dimes. (See ad on page 51.) Paul Wendel (r) who set the Preamble of the Legion's LEGISLATION MEMBERSHIP NATIONAL REHABILITATION Constitution to music in 50 measures, Clarence Horton William Gormley SECURITY William Lenker sang it for the delegates and later gave Alabama Pennsylvania Emmett Lenihan S. Dakota the music to the Legion. Washington THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 1968 31 CONTINUED THE LEGION'S NATIONAL CONVENTION THE GANG' SAIL HERE

BY GETTING up early and going to bed late, the conventioneers, as usual, managed to pile a lot of social life and sightseeing on top of the serious business and pageantry in a few days' time. Spe- cial breakfasts and lunches were sched- uled on top of evening dinners and spec- tacles. These photos give an idea of the conviviality. Long-time fixtures included the Schenley and Seagram posts recep- tions; the Founders' dinner; the His- torians' breakfast; the Chaplains' lunch- eon; the WWl Nurses' breakfast; the

At States Dinner, held in the Jung Hotel, 1,320 Auxiliaries and guests had a rousing good time.

Among the 1,600 guests at Nat'l Cmdr's Dinnef were Vice Cmdr & Mrs. Edwin Peterson (Utah) an ' Mrs. Lloyd Bucher, rt., wife of Pueblo skipperi

Sen. Russell B. Long (La.), rt., chats with Le- gion's Legislative Chmn Clarence B. Horton (Ala.) George Petrovich () samples home- Auxiliary members, temporarily freed from theiii at special lunch of the Legislative Commission. grown product at Alaska Seafood Party.

Part of the throng of thousands at the Drum & Bugle Corps championship finals and Parade of Champions, City Park Stadium, Sunday

• 32 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 1968 I RESOLUTIONS (CONT'D) Past Department Commanders' lunch- SUMMARY OF tional balance of power by limiting the authority eon (they named Eldon James, Va., of the Supreme Court. 219. Commends the FBI. N.Y., "Man president and Louis Drago, 254. Supports law providing citizenship to chil- of the Year"); the joint Canadian- dren of service personnel born in wedlock abroad. American vets' Anavicus luncheon; spe- 377. Seeks investigation of groups giving aid houses Puerto Rico, Mex- and comfort to the enemy. cial open by 432. Urges state laws requiring loyalty oaths ico, Alaska, etc. One old fixture, the for educators in public-supported schools. 433. Urges Legion Posts to observe special days Louisiana Party, was missing. Always of prayers for the President-elect. 449. Commends all college students who stand popular, it was feared that a Louisiana for freedom, patriotism and democratic prin- Party in New Orleans couldn't contain ciples. 459. Opposes organizations counseling draftees the crowd. Other socials were those of for purpose of draft evasion. Fodpal (overseas Legion departments): 480. Urges law amending Sedition Act of 1917. the 8 & 40; the 20 & 4 and the Legion CHILD WELFARE Press Ass'n. At a final party of the Le- An American Legion founder and still ac- 158. Supports educational efforts to rid the coun- tive in the programs of the organization try of the problems involving the use of narcotics. gion's staff, outgoing Nat'l Cmdr and 311. Seeks laws restricting distribution of por- is Gen. Frank Schwengel, of Seagram Post Galbraith were honored Mrs. William 1283. He was a busy man at New Orleans. with gifts.

Harold P. Redden (rt.) receives watch in appreciation of his long-time service as Canadian & U.S. vets at Anavicus luncheon. Finance Chmn from presentChmn Church Foreground, Past Nat'l Vice Cmdr A. R. Williams. Nat'l Cmdr Galbraith looks on. Choppin (La.) and Harry Foster (Calif.). nography to children. 534. Urges continued operation of Joint Commis- sion on Correctional Manpower and Training beyond March 31, 1969. 535. Urges that government-aided health centers include programs for the prevention and treat- ment of YD. 536. Seeks changes in regulations governing aid to families with dependent children, and old-age survivors disability insurance. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS No resolutions adopted. ECONOMICS 44. Supports the U.S. Savings Bond Program. 112. Seeks investigation of violations of veterans reemployment rights. 292. Asks intensification of aid to older and dis

Basking in the noon-day sun, Legionnaires and wives enjoy themselves on the ter- race of a historic Royal Street building. Convention duties, relax after a long day.

Vice Cmdr Louis Malo, R.I. , gives Legion's Amity award to Sim?on C. Medalla, President of the Philippines Veterans Federation.

abled vets on federal and state levels. 297. Continues Legion's support of the Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. 303. Seeks to reinstitute Area Economic Confer- ences. 308. Seeks to make veterans eligible for unem- ployment compensation immediately upon dis- charge. 316. Seeks law to adapt buildings at colleges to the needs of wheelchair veterans. 351. Seeks action to channel available adequate night, Sept. 8. Also on program was Seagram Posts' annual giveaway of four Fords. (Continued on page 35) THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 33 PUEBLO AW m CREW AMmNi£GI0P0STI4

I f

THE BIG PARADE

NEW Orleans newspapers called it the longest undelayed parade in the Legion's the city's history. Hardly Crowds behind barricades watched the parade with enthusiasm. longest-running parade, it was five hours long, started at 6:30 p.m., and

moved for 1 miles down Canal St. through the heart of the city. A few sprinlcles of rain fell during the final hour but that didn't stop the estimated 25,000 marchers from going the full route past sidewalks full of spectators heartily applauding the 17 floats, far more pretty girls walking and rid- ing, paraders in all kinds of uniforms from the 58 departments of the Legion plus bands and musical and marching units of all description. The military services participated with men and equipment during the first hour of the march while the U.S. Air Force Thun- derbirds precision flying team did fly-

bys overhead before it got too dark.

34 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 CONTINUED THE LEGION'S NATIONAL CONVENTION

SUMMARY OF RESOLUTIONS (CONT'D) 551. Seeks law providing GI home loans to vets living abroad. funds to public employment services and vet- erans employment service. FINANCE state veterans 408. Supports federal and employ- Unnumbered. Fixes Nat'l Legion dues at $2 for ment services. 1969 (same as last year). 410. Calls for continued preference to veterans in public employment service. FOREIGN RELATIONS 439. Endorses the reemployment rights program and requests the means to continue the service. 13. Seeks a firmer U.S. policy on territorial seas until that 452. Seeks special authority allowing federal and fishing rights such time a recog- be established. agencies to employ the severely disabled vet. nized seaward boundary can 455. Requests that Inter-Agency Civil Service 35. Supports and commends Radio Free Europe. Board process vets' job applications in federal 46. Calls for a study by the Legion of the Cuban agencies. problem and a report to be made at Convention 473. Urges Manpower Administration and U.S. in 1969. Employment Service to emphasize veterans 167. Seeks removal of U.S. boycott of commerce preference in employment. with Rhodesia. 538. Opposes all attempts to weaken veterans 262. Urges the U.S. to retain its rights in the preference in federal employment. Ryukyu Islands. 539. Urges that funds for unemployment com- 263. Seeks return of U.S.S. Pueblo and crew; denial of aid to any country meantime trading with N. Korea; and military action, if necessary, to return the ship. (Joint resolution with National Security Committee.) 264. Urges law to prohibit further trade with any Communist country assisting N. Vietnam. 265. Urges resumption of military aid to Greece, and encourages orderly return to parliamentary rule. 268. Calls for stern warning to N. Vietnam that it honor the Geneva Convention on POWs and demands Red China account for missing service- men of the Korean War. 414. Reaffirms Legion faith in the Monroe Doc- trine and calls on the U.S. to promote and im- plement it. 441. U.S. Government's policy in S. Vietnam. (See Res. 441 under National Security.) The Pennsylvania Legion won tiie 1968 486. Reaffirms position calling for initiation by Nat'l Cmdr's Department Public Relations Award. Beaming over plaque and accept- ing is Pennsylvania's Past Department Commander Theodore F. Foedisch. pensation to vets and federal employees be made available through a permanent indefinite appropriation. 540. Urges Labor Dep't to continue veterans preference in its disadvantaged persons train- ing program. 541. Urges revision in U.S. Code governing un- employment compensation rulings. 542. Seeks law to modify disqualifications im- posed on vets claiming unemployment compen- sation. 543. Seeks exemptions of job ceilings in agencies servicing veterans. Hearst Americanism Trophy 544. Seeks law to provide for a consistent un- employment compensation rate for vets. went to Dep't of Delaware. Ac- 545. Seeks law to authorize VA Administrator cepting is Past Dep't Cmdr Ed to regulate interest rates on GI housing loans. Knight from Dave Sentner, 546. Opposes transfer of veterans housing pro- of the Hearst organization. gram to any other federal department. 547. Seeks continued preference for vets in U.S. of policies to eliminate the Castro govern- training under the Manpower Development ment. Training Act. 487. Reaffirms position regarding continued U.S. 548. Supports law calling for a second White sovereignty over the Panama Canal Zone. House Conference on Aging. 489. Seeks economic and diplomatic retaliation 549. Spells out nine particulars of American against France and payment of debts owed to us. Legion Economic program. 494. Reaffirms Res. 524 (1967) and urges removal 550. Endorses the Small Business Administra- tion's "Project Own" program. {Continued on page 37)

The Legion's Americanism youth program representatives were presented to the Con- vention, marched in the big parade and, as shown here, appeared at the Drum & Bugle Corps Finals. They are (I to r): Donald J. Hodgdon, 18, Sons of the Legion Rep- resentative; Michael Hebert, 15, Port Allen, La., Representative, Legion Boy Scout units; Ray L. Larsen, 19, Northbrook, III., Legion Baseball Player of the Year; Peter C. O'Connell, 16, Lakeside, Calif., President, Legion Boys Nation, and John J. Cangilos, 18, Albany, N.Y., American Legion Nat'l Oratorical Contest Champion. THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 19S8 35 St. Lucy's Cadets, Post 300, Newark, N. J., won the Junior Drum & Bugle Corps title. Senior Band—Post 1284, Joliet, III.

OVER ] 0,000 spectators enjoyed a warm Post 390, Hempstead, N.Y. St. Lucy's 50th YEAR Sunday evening at New Orleans" Cadets, Post 300, Newark, N.J., won the City Park Stadium on Sept. 8 as they Junior Drum & Bugle title. Both winners watched the Legion's 1968 Nat'l Drum & also took individual top bugling and drum- MUSIC and MARCH- Bugle Corps Championship Finals and ming awards in their respective divisions. the Parade of Champions. Winning their The Senior Color Guard of First Nat'l ING CHAMPIONS laurels in the Senior Drum & Bugle Corps Bank of Chicago Post 985, Chicago, 111., contest were the Long Island Sunrisers of retained the title it won last year. In the

The 1968 National American Legion Senior Drum & Bugle Corps Champions—^the Long Island Sunrisers, Post 390, Hempstead, N.Y.- 36 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 SUMMARY OF RESOLUTIONS (CONT'D)

of weapons embargo against Israel. 495. Seeks erection of a U.S. flag pole and monu- ment on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima. 509. Supports Western rights in E. Germany and Berlin and opposes any U.S. concession in that area. 519. A Declaration on Czechoslovakia, deploring the recent brutal action there and drawing from such action evidence of the continuing menace of Communism. 555. Urges that local Posts actively campaign in opposing trade with any Red country assisting

N. Vietnam. . INTERNAL AFFAIRS 4. Petitions the Postmaster General to issue a stamp commemorating the Legion's 50th Anni- versary. (Already accomplished.) 165. Urges that the Legion do more to attract women war veterans as members. 315. Confers on Thomas V/. Miller of Nevada the title of Past Nat'l Commander. Miller, formerly of Delaware, was a founder at Paris, where he often presided; led in securing the Legion's Charter from Congress and headed its legisla- tive work in the formative years. Five others have been honored with the title Past National Commander, without having served as National Commander. 381. Urges that all future National Conventions be concluded before Labor Day. 438. Recognizes Paul Wendel's musical composi- tion written to accompany the Preamble to the Legion's Constitution. LEGISLATION AND RULES 8 & 24. Urges expeditious creation of a Com-

Junior Color Guard division, the all-girl 23, Milwaukee, Wis., took the Cliorus title outfit of Post 40, Momence, 111., came away from last year's champs, the Singing out on top. The snappy shooting of the Legionnaires of Post 15, Sioux Falls, S.D., Louisville, Ky., Post 229 Firing Squad while the Nabb-Leslie Quartet of Post 82, won them the Firing Squad title. Top Millville, N.J., won foursome singing Senior Band honors went to the A. R. honors. The Motorcycle Drill team of McAllister Memorial Post 1284 Band of Post 56, Indianapolis, Ind., was the champ Joliet, 111. The Champions of Song, Post in its division.

Mrs. Lloyd Bucher, wife of Pueblo's skipper, asked if U.S. had reneged in its responsibil- ity to protect its servicemen.

inittee on Veterans Affairs in the U.S. Senate.

NATIONAL SECURITY 27. Supports the office of Civil Defense and its programs. 37. Seeks change in existing law to allow service personnel to retire at age 55. 41. Urges strong laws imposing rigid penalties on military deserters in exile and others who seek or abet draft evasion. 92. Demands that federal agencies charged with law enforcement see that justice is done in their respective areas of authority. 93. Endorses action canceling deferments to students engaging in illegal demonstrations against defense activities. 147. Urges Legion Posts participation in survival training courses. 162. Urges all necessary steps be taken to main- lain such U.S. military superiority as will repel any threat to our security. 190. Supports law enforcement agencies and officers in reestablishing law and order in the U.S. 209. Supports law enforcement agencies and officials and urges that they heed the needs of the people to be protected in their liberties, person and property. 223. Endorses use of military resources to aid and support organizations, cities and states. 225. Seeks the development and procurement of superior air-to-air fighter aircraft. 226. Urges full support for the earliest possible deployment of an Advanced Manned Interceptor. 227. Urges the expansion of the airmobile divi- sion program. 228. Urges full support for the earliest possible deployment of an Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft. 229. Urges action to provide continued improve- ments in strategic airlift needs. 261. Strongly urges the maintenance of absolute and unquestionable strategic superiority. 263. U.S.S. Pueblo. (See Res. 263 under Foreign Relations.) (Continued on page 39) THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 37 ELECTION OF OFFICERS

THE 1968-69 Nationai Commander of The American Legion is William C. Doyle. 49. of Vineland. N.J. He was unanimously elected in the closing ses- sion of the convention on Sept. 12, 1968. A thrice-wounded veteran of WW2 service in Europe. Cmdr Doyle is pres- ently a brigadier general in the N.J. Army National Guard and is also Super- intendent of the N.J. Memorial Home for Disabled Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and their Wives and Widows at Vine- land, N.J. An active Legionnaire since 1945, Cmdr Doyle has held many positions in the Legion at all levels including many oflices in his own post. Captain James MacFarland Post 79, Burlington, N.J.,

Ed Lyons, Nat'l Executive Commit- teeman from New Jersey, nominates Doyle for Nat'l Cmdr.

department commander, county com- mander and Chairman of the National Security Commission, 1962-1966. In the past year he has served on the Nat'l Cmdr's Advisory Committee and the 50th Anniversary Committee. The following five National Vice Commanders were unanimously elected: C. Russell Huber. College. Alaska; John A. Jones, Weirton, W.Va.; Howard E. Lohman, Moorhead, Minn.; Lewis E. McCray, Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Maurice R. Parisien, Portland, Me.

Rev. C. J. (Joe) Olander. Tchula, Miss., was named National Chaplain. Shortly after the convention, Nat'l Cmdr Doyle made a quick trip to his department convention (N.J. —Sept. 19-21) and then flew to South Vietnam for a firsthand briefing on the war and a tour of Southeast Asia defenses.

Mrs. Doyle caps Cmdr. Then, camera catches him in pensive mood at podium.

NATIONAL ELECTIVE OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, 1968-1969

Past Nat'l Cmdr Donald Johnson (Iowa) (r), presents outgoing Nat'l CmdrGalbraith McCray (V.C.) Jones (V.C.) Parisien (V.C.) Huber (V.C.) with Past Nat'l Cmdr's plaque and colors. Lohman (V.C.) Doyle (Cmdr) Olander (Chaplain) 38 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 continuedTHE LEGION'S NATIONAL CONVENTION

SUMMARY OF RESOLUTIONS (CONT'D) of dependency and indemnity compensation to survivors of veterans who died after April 30, 285. Supports full retention of U.S. commitment 1957. 143. Seeks to improve death disability to NATO. law and 307. Urges that funds be made available for an pension benefits program for wartime vets and improved and expanded anti-missile system. dependents. 333. Seeks forfeiture of citizenship of military 156. Seeks to continue the VA as a single agency deserters and draft evaders in exile. and opposes any change in such policy. 369. Urges strong support for and expansion of 200. Seeks to extend authority of War Claims Act the U.S. Navy Oceanographic program. of 1948 to Vietnam-era POWs or their survivors. 402. Supports and seeks expansion of the Junior 201. Seeks law to authorize educational assist- ROTC program. ance loans to veterans. 441. Reiterates Legion's support of Vietnam 202. Seeks law to restore statutory award pay- struggle and calls for intensified action to achieve able for arrested tuberculosis. political and military objectives in that country. 203. Asks exclusion of private nursing homes (Joint resolution with Foreign Relations Com- having a contract with the VA from Dep't of mittee.) Labor ruling. 204. Opposes legislation to reduce burial bene- fits. 205. Urges adequate funds for the operation of the VA and its facilities. 206. Seeks to continue present law excluding Railroad Retirement Act pensions from annual income. 246. Seeks law providing for education assist- ance to wives of totally disabled vets and for widows of vets who die of a service-connected disability. 248. Seeks law to increase widows rate of de- pendency and indemnity compensation. 249. Seeks exclusion from pension income deter- minations additional railroad retirement annuity payable to dependents. 271. Seeks law to restore to remarried widows their VA entitlement upon termination of their remarriages. 272. Supports law to exclude from income for VA purposes inherited bank accounts. New Orleans Mayor Victor H. Schiro (left) 273. Seeks law to consider as service-connected progressive muscular atrophy developing to a and James L. Boyle, Legion Founders compensable degree within seven years of sep- President and once Maine Dep't Adjutant, aration. brought greetings to the Convention. 275. Seeks increase of $75 to DIG of widow who is in need of regular aid and attendance. 503. Supports law to change present system of 276. Seeks law to increase statutory award for computing pay for retired military personnel. arrested tuberculosis and for loss or loss of use 533. Urges congressional action to provide ade- of a body member. quate funds to maintain U.S. supremacy on the 278. Urges VA to authorize increased compensa- seas. 552. Urges a strong U.S. Merchant Marine. 553. Urges that new library at Kings Point Mer- chant Marine Academy be named the Gordon McLintock Library. 554. Memorializes the late Henry C. Parke of New York, long-time Chairman of the Merchant Marine Committee. 558. Urges continued congressional support of the Manned Orbital Laboratory program. 559. Reaffirms support of Aerospace Educational program for American youth. 560. Requests the earliest possible development salute for National Convention delegates. and deployment of an Advanced Rescue System. 561. Seeks protection of students by inclusion of shelters in schools and planning to meet nuclear or other major emergencies. The Nat'l Education Ass'n's Mrs. E. D. Koontz speaks. REHABILITATION 25. Seeks law to authorize payment of educa- tion for a service-connected disability from the tional assistance allowance to vets pursuing date of admission to a private hospital. flight training. 399. Seeks law to provide for equalization of 36. Seeks legislation unifying national cemetery monthly rates of disability compensation and policy; seeks to rescind limited-burial in Arling- additional compensation for vets rated less than ton National Cemetery. 50% who have dependents. 43. Seeks law to increase veterans' burial allow- 416. Opposes any burials in national cemeteries ance from $250 to $400. of individuals other than members or former 47. Supports legislation increasing VA mileage members of the armed forces, or their wives allowance. or husbands. 53. Urges law to compel VA to honor conditional 425. Supports legislation to raise Administrator of discharges. Veterans Affairs to Cabinet rank. 55. Seeks legislation providing for payment of a 525. Commends the President and the U.S. Vet- special clothing allowance to veterans eligible erans Advisory Commission for its study of and to receive an artificial limb or brace from VA. report on the veterans benefits system. 56. Seeks law to increase amount of Servicemen's 529. Seeks to assure adequate medical and hos- Group life insurance. pital facilities for veterans residing in Puerto 57. Seeks legislation providing that members of Rico and the Virgin Islands. the armed forces shall be retired in highest 556. Opposes further delay by the VA of con- grade satisfactorily held in armed forces. struction of hospital approved for the Los 124. Seeks law to repeal restrictions on payments Angeles area. AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY OFFICERS FOR 1968-69

A PROUD moment, later followed by sadness. In photo above, Nat'l Cmdr Doyle presents a 50-year Legion diamond pin to his father-in-law, Rus- sell S. McCormick, 72, on convention podium after his election to the top Le- gion post. Mr. McCormick interested Cmdr Doyle in the Legion in the days immediately after WW2. En route home New President of The American Legion Auxiliary is Mrs. Arthur B. Hanell, of Culver from the National Convention, Mr. Mc- City, Calif. Officers, shown here, are: Mrs. Joseph Bass, Dothan, Ala., Nat'l His- Cormick suffered a fatal heart seizure. torian; Mrs. George Batten, Manhattan, Kans., Nat'l Chaplain; Mrs. William Gill, He passed away in Birmingham, Ala., on Minerva, Ohio, Central vp; Mrs. Hannell, President; Miss Vivian Titus, Paterson, September 14. N.J., Eastern vp; Mrs. Charles Bosley, Palisade, Neb., Northwestern vp; Mrs. Clarence Cumberland, Arlington, Va., Southern vp, and Mrs. David Kealoha, Western vp. THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 39 —

THE BATTLE RECORD OF THE AMERICAN ARMY IN WWl Infantry Division was pulled out of a (Continued from page 21) rest area) and moved to attack positions in an amorphous mass of 67,000 men, French Division, on the right of the 38th Thierry along the Marne itself. Pershing 5,000 animals and 3,000 vehicles over Infantry Regiment, fell back with the considered the Germans overexposed three roads in a single night. The con- divisions on its right to stand and fight and vulnerable. He urged Foch to use centration area in the on better ground. The right flank of the the Americans to strike across the base was Forest of Retz, near Villers-Cotterets. units 38th Infantry Regiment was thus ex- of this Marne salient. Foch, deliberating, The gath- ered in a great thunderstorm the posed to attack from the Germans who decided to attack the base of the salient on night of had already crossed the Marne on boats from the west by driving straight east for July 17 and found their way by "going toward the and pontoons and now occupied the Jaul- Soissons and beyond toward Reims, to sound of cannon." Such was the stress surprise gonne Bend. For fourteen hours the cut off the Germans in the salient toward on and secrecy that 38th, under command of Col. Ulysses G. Chateau-Thierry. the jump-ofl" was to be made without the traditional artillery preparation. The McAlexander, beat off the continued at- The risk was great—the Germans still only the tacks of two crack German divisions had a superiority in men and guns and concessions to support of this three-division which included elite troops of the Prus- the Allied forces were virtually ex- main attack at jump-off sian Grenadier Guards. General Persh- hausted from the defensive strains of were local attacks made elsewhere along the Allied ing called the action of the 38th at the dealing with five German spring and line south and east of Soissons

'". toward Chateau-Thierry and Reims. Marne . . one of the most brilliant summer attacks. But it was an opportu- the 4th, 28th, pages in our military annals on this oc- nity that Pershing thought should not be Here American 26th, 3d, 32d and 42d would conduct "demonstra- casion." To this day, as it goes about its tions" along with their French counter- duties in NATO defense in Europe, the parts. 3d Division is known as The Marne Di-

vision, and the 38th Regiment is the OPERATION, eventually Rock of the Marne. THE described The gallant stand of the American as the Aisne-Marne offensive, started total divi- and French troops at Chateau-Thierry on July 18, 1918, with a of 20 tanks. stalled the German attack and forced the sions and 350 The French 20th including the 1st Germans thereafter to try local attacks Corps, American and Divisions, in the le?.d. to gain some ground and imp'^ove their 2d was The Ger- positions. Thus the 28th Division (Penn- mans were thrown off balance, surprised sylvania National Guard), with no prior by the speed and power of the attack. 1st Divisions combat experience, was committed to The and 2d advanced six to miles in the total of four reinforce French units by putting in a seven days they participated and together captured company at a time. They acquitted them- prisoners and 140 guns from ten selves with distinction in their first ac- 6,500 different divisions at a cost of tion. The 28th took he-^vy casualties German casualties. one regiment lost 20 officers and 783 11,000 men. But the 28th gained vaknb'e ex- On the south and east, as part of the perience and confidence around the French Sixth Army, six more American western reaches of Chateau-Thierry divisions moved steadily into the Marne while the 42d Division, in position be- salient and two divisions—the 4th and hind the French 13th and 170th Divi- 42d—were under control of the Amer-

sions on the Champagne front, lost 43 of- ". " ican I Corps commanded by Maj. Gen. . . I souped it up. . . . Hunter Liggett. This was the first Amer- ficers and 1,610 men. THE AMEP.ICAN LEGION MAGAZINE ican corps headquarters to enter combat. The Germans retreated from the Marne BUT. BY July 18, 1918, three days lost and he felt that four veteran Amer- salient set defenses behind the after it started, this German drive ican divisions of the prior operations and up rivers. was crushed. It was the beginning of the were still fresh enough and eager enough Aisne and Vesle By August 4, end. German Chancellor Herling said: to strike. Maj. Gen. Robert L. Bullard's US III "We expected grave events in Paris be- Foch had been vastly impressed by the Corps headquarters took over control of fore the 15th of July. But on the 18th performance in action of new, inex- the 28th and 32d Divisions on the right even the most optimistic among us knew perienced divisions like the 3d and the of I Corps. So, for the first time, two that all was lost. The history of the world 28th in their roles in defeating the mas- American corps were fighting side by was played out in those three days." sive German offensive along the Marne. side. On August 6 the Aisne-Marne Cyril Falls, the eminent British his- Knowing that the American division battle was over. It was a key major battle torian, said the fighting value of the roster in France was increasing mightily of the war. Initiative now was in the Americans in this phase of the war was and acknowledging the battle efficiency hands of the Allies. out of all proportion to their numbers. of American divisions already in combat, Foch moved quickly to capitalize on "In defense and attack alike they had Foch now regarded the AEF not as a this advantage. In laying out his plans for no doubts and were prepared to make promise of future strength but as a the remainder of the year he said he the three remaining Ger- the heaviest sacrifices. . . . Despite the powerful fighting reality. would reduce small numbers engaged up to July So he decided to attack the German man salients and then go on a general

(1918) it is possible that defeat might Marne salient using two American divi- offensive. The task of reducing the St. not have been avoided but for their pres- sions—the 1st and the 2d—together with Mihiel salient (see map) was given to ence; it is certain that victory could not the famous French 1st Moroccan Divi- the AEF. The independent American ." sector with troops under have been achieved as it was. . . sion which included an element of the American By that July attack in the Champagne- Foreign Legion. Preparations went for- American command was at last a reality, Marne area, the Germans overreached ward with utmost secrecy—there could thirteen months after Pershing first ar- themselves. A bulge, or salient, between be no risk of a tip-off and thus a shift in rived in France. Soissons and Reims swelled forward to German reserves—and so the troops Pershing quickly announced his long-

where the Allies held it firm at Chateau- were assembled on short notice (the 1st planned organizational changes within

40 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 ,

the AEF to provide the necessary tactical grand offensive to extend along the whole Meuse-Argonne fight. The Americans structure for the American sector. He set Western Front, and it turned out to be took 15,000 prisoners and 257 guns at up Headquarters American First Army, the last battle. a cost of 7,000 casualties. with himself as commander, and moved The battle of St. Mihiel. the first to- St. Mihiel was not a hard fight, con- to take over the St. Mihiel sector while tally American operation of WWl. was sidering the casualties in the light of certain adjustments were made to meet aimed at reducing the important salient eleven American divisions participating, both French and British needs for Amer- covering the Metz and Briey coal mines but it was an excellent dress rehearsal ican forces. When the American First and the rear approaches to the heavy de- for commanders and staff's in the Ameri- Army was formed on August 10, with fense complexes of Metz and Verdun. can First Army in the handling of large headquarters at Ligny-en-Barrois, there The Germans had fortified it in depth. units. The American doughboy had were twenty-four American combat di- Pershing's offensive plan required two proven his battle worth in the Aisne- visions in France, and nine were veterans nearly simultaneous attacks, the V Corps Marne warfare. The leaders and staff' of battle action. (26th and 4th U.S.. and the 15th French officers got their diplomas at St. Mihiel. Fourteen divisions were assembled Colonial Divisions) against the west face The AEF was now combat ready in the under command of American First of the salient, while the I Corps (82d. fullest sense of the term. Marshal Foch Army prior to September 12, 1918, the 90th. 5th. 2d and 78th Divisions) and hastened to send a glowing message to date Pershing selected for the St. Mihiel the IV Corps (89th, 42d, 1st and 3d Di- Pershing, "My clear General: The Amer- attack. By the time the St. Mihiel effort visions) assaulted the southeast face. A ican First Army under your command was to a secondary French corps . . jumped off, there were twenty-seven make . . . has won a magnificent victory . effort exploit the success of the main combat divisions in the AEF, disposed in and skilfully prepared . . . valiantly executed. attacks. five separate groupings. In American I extend . . . my warmest congratula- First First Army were the 1 st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, With French help, the American tions." 26th, 33d, 42d, 78th, 80th, 82d, 89th, Army had over 3,000 guns to support 90th and 91st. In the vicinity of Verdun the attack. French and British contribu- THE American First Army and the and the Argonne Forest were the 28th, AEF would need all its battle worth 32d, 33d, 77th and 79th. At the Vosges and staff skill for the forthcoming Meuse- Mountains training area under French Argonne fight, recorded now in the his- supervision were the 6th, 29th. 35th, tory books as America's greatest battle 37th, 81st, and 92d (though the 35th to that point in its national life. Foch was sent up as a reserve division for the felt that the Allied ascendancy over the

St. Mihiel offensive on September 1 1 Germans created by the reduction of the 1918). The 36th Division was training major German salients justified an effort near Chaumont and the 27th and 30th to gain final victory in 1918. Accord- Divisions were in the Fourth British ingly, he planned an offensive along the Army south of Arras, organized in the whole Allied line in two great pinching Second Army Corps under the brilliant movements designed to seal off and, if American Maj. Gen. George W. Read. necessary, to destroy the Germans in France. The British would operate one As THE TIME TO go Over the Top, as jaw of the attack on the north toward . the doughboys put it, at St. Mihiel Aulnoye. The Americans would operate approached, Pershing's American First the other jaw of the attack from the Army and the AEF as a whole repre- south against Mezieres. The jump-off" sented a substantial segment of Allied date for the offensive was Sept. 26, 1918. striking power. But some experts, includ- Foch was insistent on that. ing Marshal Foch, felt the American di- The area of American First Army's visions in the First Army did not have attack lay in two roughly parallel river

"It's not that I don't care for you Ronald the artillery backup, tank, air and other valleys, the Meuse and the Aire, sepa- . . . It's just that you've been more like support units necessary to round out an a sister to me." rated by a broken ridge line rising in effective field army. Marshal Henri Phi- THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE dominating heights at Montfaucon. Ro- lippe Petain of France was of great help magne, Cunel and Barricourt. On the to Pershing in this regard, providing over tions gave Col. Billy Mitchell's air com- east, the Heights of the Meuse com- half the required artillery and half the mand the greatest concentration of air manded the battlefield and on the west airplanes and tanks. But Marshal Foch power seen up to that time—^1,500 air- lay the controlling tangle of the hilly Ar- wanted to split up the American First craft. gonne Forests. Across this area the Ger-

Army nonetheless. In a heated argument The battle began at 1 a.m. Sept. 12. mans had built a defensive network with Pershing, he said. "I must insist on 1918, with a heavy artillery prepara- nearly twelve miles deep, tied together the arrangement." Pershing answered, tion, and the infantry went over the top by a complex maze of barbed wire, strong "Marshal Foch, you may insist all you at 5 a.m. By the end of the first day's points and machine gun nests, and please, but I decline absolutely to agree fighting most American outfits were on manned by ten German divisions with to your plan. While our army will fight objectives scheduled for the second day ten more in reserve. wherever you may decide, it will not fight and so Pershing ordered the schedule The American First Army's take-over

except as an independent American stepped up. On the morning of Sept. 1 3, of the sector was hurried to meet the army." 1918, the 1st Division advancing from Sept. 26 jump-off date. Preparations had Finally, Foch and Pershing reached the south linked up with the 26th Divi- to go on while the St. Mihiel fight was agreement. St. Mihiel would proceed as sion moving in from the west and by the under way. The more experienced troops planned by the Americans but it would end of the day all objectives were taken of the AEF stayed at St. Mihiel and the be a limited attack using minimum force and the St. Mihiel salient was erased. Meuse-Argonne buildup used green out- and it would be followed about two Immediately, French units began re- fits with little or no combat experience. weeks later by a larger full-scale attack lieving American divisions so that they Nearly one million men were shifted extending from the Meuse River to the could be moved at once to the area of during a three-week period over inade- Argonne Forest. That was part of a concentration for the forthcoming (Continued on page 42)

THE AMERICA LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 41 8

THE BATTLE RECORD OF THE AMERICAN ARMY IN WWl broke through on its front. Then Ger- (Continued from page 41) many capitulated. The Armistice the next day ended the quale road and rail lines in time to meet Pershing replaced green divisions with Meuse-Argonne battle and the war. the planning schedules, due largely to veteran outfits as they moved up from St. the brilliant ctTorts of Col. George C. Mihiel. He continued the drive on Oct. Counting the actual fighting and the necessary support, over a Marshall, operations officer of American 4. On Oct. 8. a French-American attack backup and million First Army. But at times the traffic jams made important gains along the Heights American soldiers of the AEF shared in the Meuse-Argonne triumph were incredihlc. of the Meuse. They were followed by 1 Pershing planned three phases for the Corps" drive to the west to knock the at a cost of 120,000 casualties. Other outfits, campaign. First, a combined advance Germans off the hills and to gain Grand- AEF less prominently mentioned, fought elsewhere in the victory of the by the American First Army and French pre. This let the French Fourth Army Fourth Army on both sides of the Ar- advance up the Aisne river valley and last Allied offensive. gonne Forest to link up at Grandpre. in turn freed the American left flank American divisions, the 27th and Second, a further advance to a line be- from punishing German enfilade fire. Two tween Le Chesne and Stenay to outflank As the weather worsened the Germans 30th, played a conspicuous part in the Germans behind the Aisne River, piled in reinforcements, taking some of the British attack on Aulnoye. They thereby clearing the way for the advance the pressure off the British to the north. jumped off on Sept. 27, 1918. On Sept. on Mezieres. Third, the capture of the 29, one regiment of the 27th Division Heights of the Meuse. took the heaviest one-day casualties of any American regiment in the war, The American First Army divided its front into three areas and assigned each nearly a thousand men being killed or that day. to a corps. It furnished each corps with wounded divisions to do the job. Ill Corps (33d, The 37th and 91st Divisions partici- 80th and 4th Divisions) was on the right, pated in the November 1 0 attack toward its right flank on the Meuse. V Corps Brussels, the final action of the war. The (79th, 37th and 91st Divisions) was in 2d and 36th Divisions fought with the the center. On the left, connecting with French Fourth Army west of the Ar- the French in the center of the Argonne gonne during the Meuse-Argonne cam- paign. conducted a brilliant fight Forest was I Corps ( 35th, 28th and 77th The 2d Divisions). In reserve were six divisions at Blanc Mont. Within the AEF there —1st, 3d, 32d, 82d, 29th and 92d. Across were a total of 29 combat divisions and the Meuse on the east side of the Amer- 1 3 depot, replacement and labor divi- ican sector, Pershing had command over sions, plus the great roll of separate num- the 17th French Corps, the Second bered outfits, large and small, who each French Colonial Corps (including the provided a share of support, and so de- American 26th Division) and the Amer- servedly are credited with accomplishing ican II Corps (42d. 89th. 78th, 90th and the AEF mission in France. 7th Divisions). These forces were dis- Around the world civilians were de- posed to cover the in the re- lirious with joy at the news of peace. Germans THE A.MKHICAN M.GIUN MA(;.\ZINE cently reduced St. Mihiel salient and The war had been so gruesome and hor- were also poised for movement along The Americans beat their way through rible that D. H. Lawrence wrote that the Heights of the Meuse or to the east the vicious Argonne Forest and cleared all the great words had been used up for as the situation might later dictate. it. In the process they added the heroics a generation. of The Lost Battalion and Sgt. Alvin On Nov. 12, 1918, the day after the THE OPENING ATTACK OU Sept. 26, York to the undying legends of Amer- Armistice. Pershing published AEF 1918, was designed as a swift, massed ican fighting men. General Order No. 203 announcing the double penetration to seize the heights of Toward the end of October, Pershing German capitulation, congratulating his Montfaucon. Romagne and Cunel. It was organized the American Second Army forces, and saying, "Your deeds will live the open warfare Pershing had urged and under General Bullard. He put Gen. forever on the most glorious pages of trained for. at long last. The opening Hunter Liggett in command of Amer- America's history." Each soldier of the bombardment began at 2:30 a.m. Sept. ican First Army, and now functioned AEF. whether combatant or non-com- 26. At 5:25 a.m., the French Fourth himself as an Army Group commander batant, received a personal letter from Army jumped off west of the Argonne in preparation of an eastward advance Pershing, the Old Man's personal word, ". on the American First Army's left. Five from the St. Mihiel area. On Nov. 1. the ending . . May I ask that you carry minutes later the Americans pelted over American First Army, having regrouped home your high ideals and continue to the top into a fight that lasted forty-seven and improved its artillery and air sup- live as you have served—an honor to days over a front of seventy-two miles port, opened up the last German defense the principles for which you have fought and involved, in all, more than 630.000 northeast of Bouzancy. By capturing key and to the fallen comrades you leave troops of the AEF, plus 138,000 of their terrain west of Bouzancy they cleared behind." French comrades-in-arms. The German the way for the French Fourth Army to Now Pershing is dead and even the opposition numbered 607,000 total. cross the Aisne River. By that night the youngest veterans of the AEF are in their

Initial American progress was good Germans were in retreat. late sixties. But it is not hard to see, even except at Montfaucon where the Ger- In those last days, new divisions came through the refractions of fifty years, mans stubbornly hung on until Oct. 7. in to relieve others. Then the French how it was the AEF brought inspiration, 1918, thereby gaining time to reinforce. borrowed the 35th and the 81st took its valor and eventual victory to the Allies

1 1 The Americans suffered from a shortage place. By the night of Nov. 6. the Amer- in WW 1 . The legacy of the AEF of 9 of tanks. Those on hand were rapidly icans were in front of Sedan and the —courage, tenacity and the skill to win used up. and Col. George S. Patton, Jr., vital Sedan-Mezieres railroad line was — is treasured in today's Army wherever commanding a tank brigade, was under artillery fire. The III Corps cleared it stands, from Vietnam to Germany. wounded here and won a Distinguished the Heights of the Meuse by Nov. 7, and The AEF is an American living legend Service Cross. on Nov. 10 the American Second Army in the 20th century. the end

42 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 jer of Black Creek, Wis. You can even soap

it first if desired. The package folds small enough for your pocket. Of course, those LIFE IN THE OUTDOORS paper towelettes in sealed foil packages are ideal if you can remember to bring them.

DRAGGING a deer out of the woods is Animal tough work, but P. A. Koennicke has a suggestion for making it a cinch. Just take along a sheet of heavy plastic to put under the deer so it'll slide. Protects the hide from ONLY marsupial (animal with a pouch) wasps, bees, hornets, etc., are an- THE WHEN damage, too. Works on dry ground, even in the U.S. is the opossum, strange rela- noying, you don't need a poison spray to better on snow. tive of the Australian kangaroo, and it typi- discourage them. Women's hair spray will fies law of "survival of the fittest." nature's finish them in seconds, and it's safer for use DO YOU SHOOT an autoloading shotgun Its new-bom young, as many as 20, are as around food, children and pets, writes Mark and reload your own shells? Then you can small as bees, and immediately upon birth Kormanik of Clinton, Ohio. use a Seymour "Shell Catcher." It replaces they compete in a life-and-death race to the bolt handle on your Remington 1100. climb the mother's stomach and enter her SHELL POUCH, new from Challanger holds the fired shell for you so you can re- pouch. But unfortunately, inside the pouch Mfg. Corp., is made of suede-textured cow- move it by hand. Price: $5.95 from Harold are only II to 13 breasts. The weakest in- hide with flap cover, and will hold six boxes Kaufman. 321 Elmora Ave., Elizabeth. N.J. fants, arrive late cannot find one which and of shotshells or the equivalent in accessories. 07208. of these feeding stations, starve to death. It has a hand strap plus a shoulder strap for Not very intelligent, the opossum has an- easy carrying. Price: $25. For catalogue of BOWHUNTERS, when hunting in wet other most interesting behavior habit: when sportsmen's utility and gun cases. Write: weather, rain will effect the fletching suddenly frightened, it immediately falls in- Challanger. 105-23 New York Blvd., Ja- (feathers) on your arrows carried in a to a death-like coma, hence the expression: maica. N.Y. 11433. quiver. Protect them by putting a plastic 'playing 'possum." Actually, this is a de- bag over them, held in place with a rubber fense ploy since most predators will not LIGHTING a camp fire in a strong wind band, writes Richard Hall of Oshkosh, Wis. touch dead prey. with a match isn't easy, even with a good The bag can be removed with a quick tug Australia's is a weird duckbilled platypus that fire starter. The trick, says Henry Josephs when big buck appears. species. Although a furbearer, it lays eggs of Sarasota, Fla.. is to stuff some cotton in- like a bird. But these eggs, usually three, are FIRE side the end of a soda straw to a depth of STARTER, new from BernzOmatic, leathery and joined together in a triangle. Rochester, N.Y., has outmoded birchbark an inch or so, then soak it in lighter fluid The mother hatches them not by sitting on and inflammable liquids. Each is a white. and ignite. It's a match that's guaranteed them but by curling around them and re- I '/i -inch cube, dry and clean to handle, not to blow out. maining motionless for ten days until they waterproof and freezeproof. Will ignite in- hatch. For defense, the male platypus has stantly, even after being soaked in water. in a hollow spur on its hind foot which con- A HOLE your trousers pocket while you Flames average 14 inches in height and last tains a poison. are on an outdoor trip can be remedied tem- over nine minutes. Will not flare up or ex- The deadliest animal for its size in the porarily without needle and thread, sug- plode when ignited. Price: 98<' for package U.S. is the shrew, a mouse-like midget that gests J. Homer McLin of New Albany, Ind. of 24 cubes. weighs about an otmce. Its saliva contains Just turn the pocket inside out and wrap a venom. Although unlikely, if enough a rubber band tightly around it to seal off If you have a helpful idea for this feature the hole. shrews were to bite a man, he would die. send it in. If we can use it we'll pay you Also, its appetite is insatiable; it is able S5.00. However, we cannot acknowledge, re- turn, or enter into concern- to consume at one meal a baby mouse its FOR CAIVIPING in the wilderness with no correspondence ing contributions. Address: Outdoor Editor. own size! It is so ferocious that in Africa wash water available, carry a damp wash- The American Legion Magazine. 720 Fifth natives stage shrew fights; the winner, of cloth in a sealed plastic bag, says Lori Bunt- Ave.. New York. N.Y. 10019. course, eats the loser. And the little African shrew also has the strongest backbone of any animal. An adult man can stand on one for several minutes on one foot; when re-

leased, it shivers a few times, then runs away unhurt. Like the hummingbird, the shrew has such a high metabolic rate that

it must eat almost constantly. In the bird world the capercaillie, a Eu-

ropean grouse as large as a turkey, is so wary that no one ever sees one—except when it's mating! As it calls the hens from a treetop perch, the cock is deaf and blind for almost a half-minute. During these brief

intervals only, can it be stalked by a hunter. The limit per hunter is one per lifetime! Nature made a mistake in the black sea bass of the Atlantic Coast. There are too few females and their life span is short. To rectify it, she changes many middle-aged males into egg-laying females! And the por- poise, famed for its intelligence, has another fascinating characteristic; its unusual honey- combed, double-walled skin ripples ver-

tically as it swims, mysteriously reducing

friction and enabling it to swim effortlessly at amazing speeds. Submarine designers are busy trying to discover this secret. 'I'll sure be glad when he gets his voice back!"

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 43 A HISTORY OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR them as Medal holders, such as free (Continued from page 11) transportation on military planes when space and flights are available; special wounds for which there seems to be no Upon the eventual return of Greely appointments to West Point, Annapolis salve. One of the winners himself. 2nd and six skeletal survivors, they were re- or the Air Force Academy for qualified Lt. Samuel I. Parker, at Soissons, garded as ghouls rather than heroes be- sons without Congressional recommen- France, in 1918, expressed the feeling cause of unsubstantiated reports of can- dation, and a $ 1 00 monthly governmenl quite well when he said, "Sometimes a nibalism. The War Department felt it pension, if applied for, after age 40. Most very, very thin line exists between an was better to attack Greely than to be live quietly, and will tell you the Medal award of the Medal of Honor and a trial attacked for failure to rescue these men is "upstairs in a drawer somewhere." by coiut-martial and the matter stood that way for years. There has been jealousy on the part of Lieutenant Parker knew whereof he In 1935, when Greely was finally some who never achieved this honor. spoke. He disregarded standing orders awarded the MH, it was clearly to make This was evident in the case of Gen. against invading an ally's sector. The amends for past dishonors. Greely, sitting George A. Custer, the unmedaled brother enemy gun position was technically in in his rocking chair with a shawl about of Lt. Tom Custer, who was the proud the French .sector but he led his depleted his shoulders, seemed unimpressed at the possessor of two MHs, both for captur- platoon and some leaderless French co- award. "When you're 90." he said, "little ing the enemy's regimental colors. The lonial troops in a mad rush up a hill to medals and things don't mean much." General wrote to his wife caustically take the enemy position by storm. The charge brought about the capture of six machine guns and 40 prisoners. How- ever, Parker was more concerned that he would be court-martialed than decorated for leaving his own sector. Parker was not the only winner so be- set. Many who were ordered to turn back, to retreat, stayed to cover the re- treat of their buddies and were deco- rated for their efforts, often post- humously. Many, warned not to attempt a certain suicide mission, plunged ahead to win their way to glory. At least one,

Frank Luke, WW I ace, was so disre- spectful and irresponsible that his com- manding officer once said of him, 'T don't know whether to court-martial Frank and then recommend him for the Medal of Honor or recommend him for the Medal of Honor and then court-martial him." He was defying orders on the day he won both the Medal and death. (See "I know perfectly well who did that!' separate story Luke in this issue.) on THE AMEI11C.\N LEGION MAGAZINE The Medal faced a battle from still another quarter only recently in the form The MH was often a ticket to pub- complaining that "Tom appeared at of complaints that many more MHs have licity—the wrong kind. Korean hero Ma- formal mess wearing both his baubles." been awarded in the Vietn mi war. in pro- rine Sgt. Alford Lee McLaughlin was At least one other man so desired this portion to elapsed time and numbers par- convicted by court-martial for drunken- "bauble" that he appeared with it il- ticipating, than in WW2 and certainly in ness and threatening an officer. His wife legally. It was in Ohio in 1949 that the

Korea. said persistent needhng about his MH discovery was made that a former WW 1 The Pentagon quickly refuted this had caused his troubles. Lt. Col. Charles Marine was donning a braided master theory and showed that the "ratio of W. Whittlesey of the so-called "Lost Bat- sergeant's uniform and pinning on nu-

Medal of Honor winners in Vietnam for talion" of WW I committed suicide after merous decorations, including the MH. any statistics available—and there are being constantly badgered for tales of his Before he was arrested by agents he had lots—runs far below WW2 or Korea." five days in hell. Perhaps the best-known received many local honors. A six-month To early September 1968. according case was that of Sgt. Alvin York whose jail term was suspended on condition that to a recent report in the N.Y. Daily troubles with the Internal Revenue Serv- he give up his galaxy of medals and dress News. 45 MHs had been awarded since ice dragged through the courts for years uniform. A $100 fine went to the pawn- the first combat units arrived in Vietnam until, finally, money was raised by public broker who gave him his decorations. in March 1965. donation to pay off his debts. But the 3,206 holders of the coveted

In 32 combat months in Korea, 131 A few made it big, however, and per- award have not been forgotten. These MHs were awarded. WW2 showed 430 haps the Medal helped them. Audie honored citizens will have a permanent winners among 12 million men in uni- Murphy became a movie star. Jimmy memorial to them at Valley Forge, Pa., form. Doolittle, the famed Tokyo raider, be- where 52 acres have been set aside, one A few minor rhubarbs also have in- came an oil executive and Eddie Ricken- for each state, with an additional two for volved the MH. A famous one occurred backer, WW I flying ace, a president of Puerto Rico and the District of Colum- after Maj. Gen. Adolphus W. Greely's an airline. Joe Foss became Governor of bia. A living dogwood tree will be battle against nature in 1881, on his ill- South Dakota and Nathan G. Gordon, marked in the name of each one and the fated Arctic Expedition. Greely and his Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. records of their deeds will be housed in 24 volunteers were left to starve for The rest of the less than 300 survivors a nearby building. In addition, there is a three years while the War and Navy De- face the same battles as most men—that new Hall of Heroes in the heart of the partments argued over whose responsi- of meeting the bills and paying the mort- Pentagon's A Ring, where the names of bility it was to rescue the party. gage. They enjoy the privileges given to all the winners will be inscribed, the end

44 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • N OVEMBER 1968 — —

SERGEANT ALVIN YORK — (Continued from page 22) This box of 25 that went to Alvin York. mountaineers who won at Kings Moun- the accolades PERSHING the American Revolution than Yet, until the moment of truth, Mer- tain in SQUARE doughboy. CIGARS rithew had had serious doubts about he was like the typical WWl DELUXE York's reliability in battle.* Alvin York was one of 1 1 children of York was a big, good-natured, red- a farmer-blacksmith at Pall Mall, Tenn., 99

good standing I can keep receiving FREE cigars every trained at Plattsburgh. The officers knew 3 months . . .EVEN FOR LIFE.

* the Bible too and discussed it with York. Parts of this article attributed to Otis Print Name_ Merrithew are from an unpublished "as told When York quoted "Thou shalt not to" manuscript titled "I'm the Last of Sergeant Address York's Squad." It was written with Merrithew's kill" and "Nation shall not lift up sword City -State. -Zip- approval by writer Bob Cahill, of Salem, Mass., against nation," they replied with other this year. Quotation and condensation from the Area Code & Home Phone_ Marrithew-Cahill manuscript are by permis- fines that justified killing and said "the sion. They have been added to author Tom Signature Mahoney's original article on Sergeant York. {Continued on page 46) ^ THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 45 —

SERGEANT ALVIN YORK 1 3 privates slipped down the hill, across — (Continued from page 45) a field of rifle fire, through some woods, thence through some underbrush, then Christ who drove the money changers few of our prior battles," and during along an unoccupied trench and finally from the temple was a fighter." If training at Camp Gordon "he had been into deep woods behind the main enemy York's conscience forbade fighting, Bux- in jail more than he was out, not because front positions. Simultaneously the sun ton promised to help him get out but he was wild but because he objected to came out and Sergeant Early realized gave him a ten-day pass home and asked war." If so, York must have got himself they'd lost their bearings. Says Merri- him to think things over. York returned in the brig by balking at some of the thew: "Early ordered us to circle back after the ten days and announced that training. toward the front lines." On a winding he was going to war. Says Merrithew: "York and Sergeant dirt path two German medical corpsmen On Oct. 8. 1918. the 82nd Division Early had fought over the subject of kill- spotted them. Cutting's squad gave chase was in line on the 13th day of the great ing. . . . York had continued on about lest the enemy medics raise an alarm. American offensive of the Meuse- the foolishness of war until Bernie [Ser- They returned to Sergeant Early after Argonne. Facing it in the tangle of the geant Early] threatened to blow his ten futile minutes of scouring the under- Argonne Forest were some 400,000 brains out, and that had ended the argu- brush, to be told that Savage's squad had Germans in a vast defense in depth of "found something much more interest- prepared gun positions. Co. G of the 328th Infantry Regiment was one of ing." those to go over the top at 6 a.m. in one Then began the events that made "Ser- of several attacks to relieve the Lost geant York" a household phrase. Battalion of the 77th Division to the In a little clearing, Cpl. Murray Sav- left. At jump-off, Co. G's first mission age, who now had but a few minutes was to advance in a hail of fire across of life left, had spotted 30 German sol- open ground to Hill 223, thence toward diers "just sitting around a campfire gab- the Dacauville railroad supplying the bing." Their equipment and their ranks Germans in the forest. (one was a heavy set major) indicated Within Co. G was the platoon of Sgt. that Savage had stumbled on the battal- Bernard Early, of New Haven, Conn. In- ion headquarters controlling the gun em- cluding Sergeant Early there were 19 placements in front of Hill 223. Sergeant men in the platoon. The other 18 were Early hid his men in the brush and told divided into three squads of six men York to hold his squad hidden in case each (one corporal and five privates). of need. On command, they all then The platoon was to advance with Cpl. opened fire and "in the first blast 15 to Alvin York's squad on the left, Cpl. Wil- 18 of the Germans fell dead or liam Cutting's (Merrithew's) in the cen- wounded." The survivors fell to their ter and Cpl. Murray Savage's on the knees crying "Kamarad" as a sign of right. surrender. "This is murder," said Sergeant Early. WHEN WE SPEAK of Cutting in the "Who has the frog legs?" "Cease firing and let's get these Germans battle we will call him Cutting, THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE out of here on the double." He entered when we speak of him today we will call the camp with Cutting's and Savage's him Merrithew. Cutting feared he might ment. What would York do now, I won- squads. "Are you English?" asked the dered. Would he run and leave us ex- be killed in the action to come and be surprised German major. "No, Ameri- posed? Would he fight? I didn't know, buried as William Cutting. He ap- cans," said one of the men. "Good God!" and not knowing bothered me, for he was proached Sergeant Early to tell him that said the major. protecting the platoon's left flank in the his real name was Otis Merrithew. He Keeping York's squad hidden, Early midst of heavy enemy fire." had adopted the name of Cutting on the had the other two squads line the pris- spur of the moment at enlistment, be- But York's squad held the flank and oners up in a column of two and collect cause as a boy the other kids had teased advanced in position across the open their firearms. him about his real name. He wanted ground to swarm up Hill 223 with the rest. On the way both Cutting and Sav- none of that in the Army, though he THE NEXT MINUTE they kucw they'd came by "Otis" as a result of being a age each lost a man killed from their underestimated the situation. A com- direct descendant of the Revolutionary squads, reducing the platoon to 17 men. mand in German was called from a hill- patriot, James Otis. "When our company reached the top side, the prisoners fell flat on their stom- As Cutting tapped Sergeant Early on of the hill," said Merrithew this year, achs and "all hell broke lose." Machine the arm. Early looked at his watch. See- "the Germans sent a barrage of gas." gun fire from no more than 30 yards ofT ing that it was 6 a.m. he cried, "Charge!" The men of Co. G slipped on their gas raked back and forth across the clearing. (It would be 1929 before Early would masks, though a few of the slower were Grenades came lobbing down from the learn Cutting's real name.) felled by the gas. Then a murderous ma- hill. One grenade blew Savage to bits. They charged for Hill 223. chine gun fire pinned the whole company Nine Yanks were hit and six killed on By a few accounts, Alvin York had down on the crest. the spot. Besides Savage those killed stopped objecting to war after he'd come The company commander ordered were Privates Maryan Dymowski, Fred back from his ten-day pass, had settled that a detail sHp down the hill and Waring, Ralph E. Weiler, William Wins down to being a good soldier, kept a la- around the left flank of the main enemy (sometimes listed as Wine) and Walter conic diary and won all the marksman- machine gun positions, with orders to E. Swanson. The three wounded were ship honors in sight. That is not quite so. knock out as many guns as possible and Sergeant Early (with six bullet wounds In fact, Merrithew notes, York had to try to cut off the foe's supply line to in his back); Cutting (with five bullet continued to object to fighting and it automatic weapons nests from the rear. wounds in his left arm. several holes worried him as they advanced through Sergeant Early's platoon was elected. through his helmet and more slugs murderous fire toward Hill 223. York A low-lying mist helped protect them as stopped by cans of rations in his back had "hesitated at killing the enemy in a Early, York, Cutting, Savage and their pack), and Pvt. Mario Muzzi, sole sur-

46 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • N< /EMBER 1968 .

vivor of Savage's squad (shot in a shoul- viving privates kept up an intermittent American force hidden in the bushes der). Sergeant Early lay among the fire. that was capable of such firepower. Had dead and wounded in the clearing calling Though the hill and woods were in- they suspected that only eight un- to Cutting to help get them out. Cutting fested with the foe, York—still hidden wounded Americans remained below, and Muzzi froze in the brush with their in brush—saw every head that showed and that the German casualties came wounds, while the enemy gunners on the itself in a machine gun position and principally from but one marksman hill paused to see if something might coolly disposed of it with one shot. The among them, it is doubtful that what move to make a fresh target. Frozen automatic weapons were silenced. After followed would have followed. with them were the two remaining pri- a brief council of war on the hillside a The major blew on a little silver whis- vates of Cutting's squad. German lieutenant led seven men in a tle. The last of the firing stopped. The Merrithew said that running along the shooting charge down the hill, rushing major cried, "We give up!" York shouted, 40-yard crest above the clearing 35 ma- with fixed at the precise point "Come down with your hands up," and chine guns pointed down at them. Now in the brush where York's rifle was speak- 90 German soldiers threw down their three enemy gunners stuck their heads ing. York laid aside his rifle and picked arms and came out from behind trees up while Cutting wondered what had up his Colt automatic pistol. He calmly and over the crest of the hill to join happened to Cpl. Alvin York. A rifle shot them in turn from the rear forward those lying in the camp ground, living spoke from the brush three times and so that those in front didn't know they'd and dead! three bodies tumbled down the hill. Alvin lost their support. Merrithew says that Cutting, his left arm useless, ordered York was turkey hunting again. the German lieutenant, the last to fall, the major to hand over his Luger pistol, At this sign of life, two grenades came tumbled not ten feet from York. After which he did in full sight to confirm the down the hill, but they landed among this there was mostly silence on the hill- surrender. Only then did York and his the German prisoners in the clearing, side. squad emerge from hiding, their weap- killing four more of them. "Come on down and give up," York ons at the ready. called to the invisible foe. Cutting told Said Merrithew: "We lined up the IN THE NEXT few minutcs, 13 more the German major that they'd kill him prisoners in columns of two and counted heads showed above the machine gun and all the surviving German prisoners them. We had 1 1 0 German captives, in- muzzles and 1 3 shots from Alvin York's who lay in the clearing if those on the cluding three officers. There were 25 rifle picked them off. A German rose in hill didn't surrender. The German major Germans lying on the ground." Others, the brush to toss a grenade and York called to York that if he wouldn't shoot never counted for sure, lay on the hill- shot him between the eyes. All told he any more he'd make them give up. The side. picked off 16 gunners at their posts and major, who had spent some time in Chi- "A makeshift stretcher was made for one grenadier. Now the other enemy cago, spoke a fair broken English. Both Sergeant Early, who was in pain," says gunners didn't dare show their heads. he and the hidden gunners on the hill Merrithew. "Private Muzzi and I patched Meanwhile, Cutting, Muzzi and the sur- were in great doubt about the size of the {Continued on page 48)

AMOUNT OF INSURANCE, DETERMINED BY AGE" OFFICIAL AMERICAN LEGION LIFE INSURANCE Age Basic Full Unit Total Coverage During- 1968 As a Legionnaire, you can protect your family's well-being for as little as 7^' a day Under 30 $10,000 $11,500.00 30-34 8,000 9,200.00 with Official American Legion Life Insurance. Just mail this application with a check 35-44 4,500 5,175.00 for $2 or a full unit of protection for the rest of 1968 (beginning November 1). 45-54 2,200 2,530.00 55-59 1,200 1,380.00 Normally no medical is required. If your application is not accepted, your $2 will 60-64 800 920.00 be promptly refunded. (And now, provided you join the plan before age 70, your 65-69 500 575.00 70-74 330 379.50 coverage can stay in force through age 74.) "After you sign up, your coverage gradually reduces.

OFFICIAL APPLICATION for YEARLY RENEWABLE TERM LIFE INSURANCE for MEMBERS of THE AMERICAN LEGION AMERICAN QUESTIONS CHECK LEGION PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT ANSWER ALL MUST ACCOMPANY THIS APPLICATION LIFE Full Name Birth Date INSURANCE . .Last First Middle Mo. Day Year PLAN Permanent Residence. IMPORTANT Street No. City State Name of Beneficiary _ .Relationship. If you reside in New ' Example : Print 'Helen Louise Jones,' Not 'Mrs. H. L. Jones" York, , Ohio, Texas, Wiscon- Membership Card No. Year_ Post No. _ .State

sin, Illinois, New Jer- I apply for a Full Unit of insurance at Annual Premium of $24.00 or a Half Unit at $12.00 sey or Puerto Rico, do The following representations shall form a basis for the Insurance Company's approval or rejection of this not use this form. application: Instead, write to 1. Present occupation? . Are you now actively working? American Legion Life Yes If No, give Insurance Plan, P.O. No reason_ .

Box 5609, Chicago, 2. Have you been confined in a hospital within the last year? No Yes If Yes, give date, length of Illinois 60680. Appli- stay and cause cations and benefits 3. Do you now have, or during the past five years have you had, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, diabetes vary slightly in some areas. or any other serious illness? No Yes If Yes, give dates and details MAIL TO: I represent that, to the best of my knowledge, all statements and answers recorded on this application AMERICAN LEGION are true and complete. I agree that this application shall be a part of any insurance granted upon it under

LIFE INSURANCE the policy. I authorize any physician or other person who has attended or examined me, or who may PLAN, attend or examine me, to disclose or to testify to any knowledge thus acquired.

P.O. BOX 5609, Dated. 19. Signature of Applicant. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS OCCIDENTAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, Home Office: Los Angeles GMA-300-6 EO. S-63 1168 60680 j THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 47 SERGEANT ALVIN YORK — (Continued from page 47) —

up our wounds as best we could with and induced 132 of the foe to surrender pieces of cloth. Then began our unique —chiefly with one rifle. TABLE & CHAIR CATALOG FROM parade of 110 prisoners, guarded by ten Remarkable as it was, his feat was doughboys [two of whom carried Ser- overlooked for a time in the rush of geant Early], heading for the front lines. events. The Lost Battalion, 194 gaunt MONROE During the long trek the major continu- men of 679 who had attacked, was re- Buy quality ban- ously asked, 'How many men do you lieved the same day. The 82nd crashed

quet equipment have here?' I remember York replying, ahead, suffering 6,000 casualties in the at direct- from- 'Shet up an' keep marchin' and if one Argonne. York was promoted to sergeant factory prices. of your men makes a move to escape, on Nov. 1 and received the Distinguished WRITE TODAY! " we'll tetch off the whole lot of you.' Service Cross. There were many heroes. THEMONROETABLECO. There wasn't a Yank there who Another D.S.C. winner, Sgt. Harry J. 69 Church St., Colfax, Iowa 50054 wanted the major to think they were any- Adams of the 253rd Infantry, was cred- thing but part of a much larger Ameri- ited with capturing 300 Germans. OUTFIT STARTS YOU IN handful was - can force. This audacious BIG MONEY SHOE BUSINESS! going to march its big bag right through WAS AFTER the Atmistice before Run your own profitable 'stioe store' IT business Aro/n home in spare or full the German forward positions before York received press attention. When time. We give you— fflff— com- they were home free—two corporals a New York artist, Joseph Cummings plete Starting Outfit tfiat makes you $217.00 EXTRA each month (one wounded), seven unwounded pri- Chase, appeared at Bar-sur-Aube to do a for ju$t 2 easy orders a day. You feature 275 fast-selling dress, vates, one wounded private and a ser- portrait of Maj. Gen. George B. Duncan, sport, work shoe styles for men a stretcher herding 1 10 of the commander of the 82nd, the general and women. Air-cushion shoes, many other special features! geant on Sizes 4 to 16—widths AAAA to EEEE. Draw on 300,000 enemy. York and Cutting knew just how suggested that York deserved to be paint- pair stock. Your own shoes FREE. Discounts to your fam- ily Prizes, bonuses —even a new car—at no cost to you. they were going to chance it. They took ed, too. The Tennessean was summoned Rush postcard for your FREE Starting Outfit today... Now! to the woods to avoid both friendly and from 20 miles away and that night Chase MASON SHOE, Dept. h lOe, CHIPPEWA FALLS, WIS. enemy fire, and the trek took hours. talked to him for two hours while paint- Coming on the German forward posi- ing his portrait. ^900 in Spare Time Made tions from behind, they halted barely A few days later Chase ran into I made about $900 last year with my Foley equipment out of sight and leveled their guns at George Patullo, correspondent of the Sat- by sharpening saws in my spare lime." Leo H. Mix. the prisoners. York and Cutting told the urday Evening Post, and told him about No Experience Needed major to order all German gunners fac- York. Patullo and Major Buxton, who Willi a Foley Automatic Saw I' i 1 e r anyone can ing Hill 223 to surrender or all the pris- had been made historian of the 82nd, sharpen hanrl. band and cir- cular saws with professional oners would die. and other officers took York back to the accuracy. No canvassing — business comes to you. scene of his heroism and had him show We Help You Start, we give MAJOR WENT tO his silvCT whistlc what took place. They photo- you insiiic t ips on how to build them a sound n-prai business; how THE FREE BOOKLET again, then shouted to the Germans graphed him on the spot as a light snow **Money Making ollirrs have succeeded in this shows how to proMlable saw liling business. Facts" IVIFG' COMPANY in the trenches to come out with their covered the hill where the machine guns start. Write today. Foley Bldg. No salesman will call. rfll FY 1139-8 Wfcfc I Mpls., Minn. 55418 hands up. Twenty-two emerged and had been. On Jan. 26, Feb. 6 and 21, joined the parade, bringing the total of they took sworn statements about the ac- OF TEACHING SECRETS YOURSELF MUSIC prisoners to 132! Then, says Merrithew, tion from Beardsley, Wills, Konotski, Ihis Money-Saving Way "We saw, about 125 yards away, our Donohue, Sok and Saccina. (These YES! Teach your- own Battalion Adjutant, Lt. Charlie "fresh memory" documents were ac- self Piano, Gui- tar, ANY instru- ksfi Woods, and Company Sgt. Harry Par- cepted to settle points of conflict with ment—even if you ." don't know a note nowl Famous proven Course sons coming toward us. . . affidavits solicited 1 1 years later by Ser- makes it ea.sy as A-B-C. Play actual pieces right away. FREE BOOKLET. U.S. SCHOOL OF MUSIC Mission accomplished! geant Early.) Studio 4611. Port Washington, N. Y. 11050. (Est. York, as the only unwounded non- The public first learned details of 1S9S. Lie. N. Y. State Educ. Dept. ) Tear out ihis ad. com, marched the prisoners back to bat- York's heroism from an article by Chase MAKE ¥^"^12 AN HOUR AT HOME talion, then brigade and finally division in the April 1919, World's Work, illu- Let Me Prove It To You FREE! headquarters. Astonishment, centering strated with his painting of York, and I'll show you how Plastic Sealing and on York and his deadly eyes and aim, from PatuUo's lengthy "The Second El- Laminating at home, spare time, can give you as much as $112 each hour you spread through the division, then the der Gives Battle" in the Saturday Eve- operate. Table-top machine seta up anywhere. Easy. Fun. No experience needed. We furnish Army, and, more slowly, the nation. All ning Post for April 26, 1919.* In the everything. We'll even help finance yov. No | ^^--^ .--y^ 1 house-to-house seilinp. Orders come by mail . \ of the wounded survived, and 2 years meantime, York received the Medal of

Write forfactsFREE. No salesman will call . ^^w^'^' later Sergeant Early got the Distinguished at Castres, France, on April 16, WARNERELECTRIC.1512Jarvis.Dept.L-8-M0,Chg0, III. 60626 Honor Service Cross. It took an Act of Congress and decorations from all the other Al- BASEMENT TOILET to clear the way for the Silver Star to go lied nations. He represented the 82nd Di- to Cutting-Merrithew just three years vision at March meetings in Paris launch- FLUSHES UP ago. ing The American Legion. to sewer or septic tank The unwounded privates who survived "I was there," he wrote in his diary. no digging up floors. (in addition to the wounded Muzzi) "The meeting lasted all day until about

WRITE , . . McPHERSON, INC. were Percy Beardsley, Roxbury, Conn.; 5:30 in the afternoon. I attended all the BOX 15133 TAMPA, FLA. 33614 Joseph Konotski, Holyoke, IVIass.; Pat-

rick J. Donohue, Lawrence, Mass.; LEARN George W. Wills, Philadelphia; Michael * This was hard to find. The Post then had more than 2,000,000 circulation and was Ameri- A. Saccina, Feodor Sok and Thomas C. MEAT CUTTING ca's leading publication, but not until 1920 the last three all of York. was it indexed in the "Reader's Guide to Peri- I rain quickly in 8 short weeks at Toledo Johnson— New for a bripht future with security in vital odical Literature." This now indexes more meat hu.Bincss. BiE pay. full-time Jobs— According to Merrithew, none but he is magazines, including several of 50,000 and one HAVE A PROFITABLE MARKET OP of only circulation, but does not cover YOUR OWN! Time payment plan avail- living. 5,000 able. Diploma Kiven. Job help. Thou- now The American Legion Magazine with more sands of successful graduates. OUR 45th \'EAR: Send now for bis new illustrated All told, York had killed at least 25 than 2,500,000 and several other publications FREE cal.ilo;,-. No obliealion. G.I. Approved. of wide circulation and influence—much to the NATIONAL SCHOOL OF MEAT CUTTING Germans and silenced 35 machine guns researchers. Dept. A- 12. Toledo. Ohio 43604 distress of many librarians and 48 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 1968 .

sessions. I knowed it was going to grow lated interest, the claim grew to into a big organization. It seemed right $172,000 by 1960. York then had prop- that the buddies who fought together in erty worth $31,625 but only $2.20 in his B0RR0W*1000 France should have some sort of organi- checking account, and was supporting ON YOUR SIGNATURE zation that would keep them together in his wife, a sister-in-law and himself on BY MAIL ONLY! his vet- m peace." monthly checks of $135 from CASH YOU WANT Patullo called York's achievement eran's pension, $38 from Social Security Amount No. of Montfily Write American Loan Plan, "the greatest individual feat of the war." and $10 as a Medal of Honor winner. to of Loan Pay'ts Payments City Na tional Banl< BIdg., % 100 30 { 4.77 it "the greatest Omaha, Nebr. 68102. Find Marshall Foch said was Tennessee American Legion posts in f 300 30 $14.33 out how easy it is to borrow by any private soldier J 500 30 $23.55 thing accomplished the fall of 1960 started a fund to settle by mail . No endorsers, no personal interviews. Details % 800 36 $32.27 in all the armies of Europe." General the claim. President John F. Kennedy mailed i n a plain envelope. $1000 36 $39.65 Pershing said and later wrote that York, wanted to forgive it completely but found AMERICAN LOAN PLAN. Dept. RA-042A Lt. and Maj. Charles W. this couldn't legally be done. The revenue I City National Bank Sldg . Omatia. Neor. 68102

I Whittlesey were especially memorable of people agreed to accept $25,000, point- all the millions who fought. Whittlesey ing out that this was all that York's prop- commanded the Lost Battalion.These are erty was likely to bring at a forced sale. hard things to measure. The Marines at Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn be- Belleau Wood did more than a country came chairman and Rep. Joe L. Evins could ask, or expect, for instance. Lone of Tennessee, a WWl veteran, treasurer men stand out or fail to when opportu- of the fund campaign. More than 10,000 nity and circumstance set the stage for an people contributed nearly $50,000. The individual performance. claim was paid in 1961 and a trust for York returned in May to big welcomes York started with what was left over. A in New York and Washington, but bore little later, S. Hallock du Pont, a Wil- his honors with dignity and simplicity. mington, Del., financier, set up a trust Back in Tennessee, he and Grace were fund to give York $300 a month. married. They had two daughters and Automatic Cards, Marker six sons. He named one of his sons WHICH had brushed him in the fOU DEATH I NEED Cards, Electric Blowers, Flashboards, FROIH f Buxton for his caught up with the old George Edward York Argonne Throwaway Sheets or Tickets, Coges, ' ONE SOUR CE I wartime commander. hero in the Nashville Veteran's Adminis- Balls, Etc. for any size Bingo Party. FREE BULLETINS give Tennessee named a highway and a tration Hospital on Sept. 2, 1 964. He was you HUNDREDS of IDEAS (over bridge for York, gave him a farm, and taken back to his mountains for one of 400,000 printed words) to help you build BINGO PAR- helped him start the Alvin C. York Ag- the biggest funerals in Tennessee history. successful TIES. WRITE TODAY FOR FREE fOR ricultural Institute to give mountain chil- Once again he was with the 82nd Divi- INFORMATION... please include dren the education he missed. He also sion, now an airborne outfit. Its band name and address of your Organ- ization. fARJIES! founded a Bible school. Prohibitionists played hymns. Paratroopers were pall- The"BINGO KING" CO., Inc. nominated him for Vice President but he bearers and Gen. Matthew D. Ridgway DEPT 472 BOX 1178, ENGLEWOOD, COLO. 80110 declined. As president of his local draft represented President Johnson. The board, he sent two of his sons into WW2 President sent Mrs. York a letter: NEW PET and later kissed one of his granddaugh- "So long as our nation strives for jus- GROOMING TOOL your the It's easy to trim ters, Mary Elizabeth York, as she en- tice and freedom for all men," wrote dog or cat (even listed. President, "Sergeant York will be hon- horses) with this 10 inch long comb. Tiny ored in the hearts and minds of his coun- teeth at one end remove dead, UNTIL 1928 did he allow Tom trymen." NOT shedding hair with- Skeyhill, a fellow veteran, to pub- When York first came into the lime- out pulling. Reolnce- able, safety shielded lish an authorized book about him and to light, he was often embarrassed, mono- blade on other end re moves snags, burrs, print his wartime diary. Not until 1940 syllabic, taciturn. As he mingled with all tangles. Only $1 .25 Money Suarant did he allow Warner Brothers to make a sorts of people he became an effective, . . . plus 25c shipping. Back Ryter Products, Dept. SL Madelia, Minn 56062 motion picture based on his life. He somewhat polished speaker. He was elo- agreed on condition that he be played by quent on Memorial Day of 1941 at the and that an actress of dig- marble tomb of the Unknown Soldier in SEE ADVERTISEMENT nity play his wife. won the Arlington Cemetery. ON SECOND COVER role. The film won honors for all in- "There are these," he said, "who ask MONEY BACK GUARANTEE volved. me and the other veterans who fought in Niresk Importers, Dept. PR-75 It also brought York income tax 'What did it get you?' Let an- WWl me 210 S. DesPlaines St., trouble. He paid a capital gains tax on swer them now. It got me 23 years of liv- Chicago, III. 60606 his $150,000 from the film but the In- ing in America where a humble citizen Please rush at once the fabulous collection of 10 World Famous Fragrance perfumes for only $4.95 each Service ruled it ternal Revenue was from the mountains of Tennessee can set— plus 25t for postage, handling and insurance— straight income. Some gifts also were stand on the same platform with the on full money-back guarantee.

I enclose $ disallowed as deductions. If a law sub- President of the United States. It got me n Ship C.O.D. plus postage & C.O.D. fees. sequently enacted by Congress and signed 23 years of living in a country where the Charge to my Diners' Club Acct. No Charge to my American Express Acct. No by President Truman for the benefit of Goddess of Liberty is printed on men's General Eisenhower when he sold his hearts, and not only on the coins in their Name

memoirs had then been on the books, pockets. . . . Address York probably would have been in the "Liberty and freedom and democracy

City . clear on the first point. But it was not are so very precious that you do not fight and the tax men asked $85,442 more to win them once—and then stop. Lib- State Zip Code from him for 1943. erty and freedom and democracy are Order 2 gift packages for $8.90 plus 50«^ postage. (Save $1.00.) York refused to pay and after a prizes awarded only to those peoples Send . . . additional sets @ $4.45 plus postage each. confined him to his bed in 1952 it was who fight to win them and then keep 25^ Canadian orders filled same price. obvious that he could not. With accumu- fighting eternally to hold them." the end

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 49 —

THE NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION— 1968-1969 junior drum and bugle corps. It's a (Continued from page 12) strong Post, and was doing things for the youth of Burlington, for veterans and to staff sergeant in the 130th Regiment. pitalized, and, with the shifting battle for the community that I wanted to be The outfit was en route to the Aleutians scene, "I was evacuated all over the a part of." when he was called back for Officers place." Early in the new year he returned Candidate training at the Infantry to his regiment and took Command of QUESTION of that. Doyle joined to School, Ft. Benning, Ga. June of 1944 Co. F. Nobe a worker, and brought so much saw him a first lieutenant and company With the regathering of the shattered energy to the Post's programs that they commander of Co. E, 114th Infantry Allied line after the Bulge battle, Doyle's made him an officer immediately. He Reg't—by sheer chance the same regi- regiment joined in the final offensive, headed the building committee his first ment in which he served in the Guard crossed the Rhine at Frankenstein, year as the Post procured a new home. prewar. moved south through Manheim to Hei- In his second year, as membership chair- The 1 14th Reg't was part of the 44th delberg. There he escaped serious in- man, he saw to the induction of 150 Division. Doyle went with an advanced jury when he was on the Heidelberg new members in a single ceremony in a Post detachment, commanding Co. G., bridge when the Germans blew it up. that was, prewar, 125 strong. Doyle put through Omaha Beach to Cherbourg in The 7th Army swept on to Innsbruck, so much energy into his Legion work July 1944, to pave the way for the stag- Austria, and joined up with the 10th that before his Post could raise him to ing of the 44th Division at Cherbourg as Mountain Division moving up from Commander, the Burlington County soon as the 79th Division cleared the when the war in Europe ended in Legion organization snatched him away, port from enemy control. made him County Commander in 1949 The 44th was held in reserve, first with and then its executive committeeman on the 9th Army, then the 3rd, until, after the state level. the fall of Paris, the 3rd and 7th Armies These the same years linked up at Luneville in September. It were when he was then attached to the 7th Army, was rising in the National Guard and which formed the southern anchor of joining with his family in building his ill the Allied sweep to the Rhine. The 44th INDUCTION father's firm from a local to a national corporation. (His mother died in 1947 gave infantry support variously to the CENTER and his father in During this same U.S. 4th Armored and the French 2nd < 1950.) period he served with the Burlington Armored, first going into action in the Fire Department, the city's Veterans' Foret de Parroy, near Luneville, in Service Council, and the Burlington City mid-September. There it relieved the Planning Board, as well as other public 79th Division, which had preceded it since Cherbourg and had been locked in and civic groups. a savage struggle in the Parroy forest on You can't put that kind of energy into the approaches to Sarrebourg, Stras- public causes without attracting atten- bourg and the Rhine. This was pretty tion. Ike Colkitt, long a member of the "They burned my draft card!" much inside and beyond the old St. Legion's Rehabilitation Commission, called Doyle to the attention of the late Mihiel Salient of WWl. The 44th took THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE Sarrebourg in mid-November when its William McKinley and Albert McCor- armored support was pinned down. It the spring of 1945. By then Doyle had mick, who for years had given the New drew up to the Rhine with the U.S. 7th received his second promotion and was Jersey American Legion top-level coun- and French 1st Armies and took part in a captain. sel and guidance. They became Doyle the capture of Strasbourg. The 44th was returned to the States, enthusiasts and unhesitatingly recom- earmarked to take part in the invasion of mended him for state commander in 1952-53, a position he served with such DOYLE RECEIVED his first wounds in Japan. When the Pacific war ended in the Foret de Parroy in November. August, that was unnecessary. Doyle distinction that he attracted the admira- The French armor which he accom- was separated in December 1945, with tion of many national leaders, and panied, having taken an objective, was the right to wear a host of decorations Legionnaires in other states. His first na- getting retaliatory artillery fire in dense including the Silver Star, Presidential tional Legion appointment followed, as woods. ("The worst place for infantry to Unit Citation, Bronze Star with Cluster, he became chairman of the Legion's take artillery fire," he says.) Before they Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart Aeronautics Committee (part of the Na- 1954-55. could dig in he received shrapnel leg with two clusters, and three Battle Stars tional Security Commission) in wounds. A surgeon dug the steel out at on his ETO ribbon. The following year, because of his the nearest aid station, and he went back He had married Martha McCormick, stature in peacetime military affairs in to battle. In December, near Hinsborg, a former schoolmate, back in 1942. Her his state, Nat'l Commander Seaborn he and his men came under 20mm fire father, Russell S. McCormick, an active Collins switched him to chairmanship of while accompanying tanks. This time member of the Burlington Legion Post, the Legion's Military Affairs Committee Doyle received multiple wounds of leg, lost no time in signing Doyle up. (On the (another Security subcommittee). Then arms and back. He was carried out, but stage of this year's Nat'l Convention, Bill Nat'l Commander James E. Powers returned when he missed his aide, found Doyle gave his father-in-law his 50-year named him chairman of the full National him wounded and still under fire, and Legion Medallion. Having just lived to Security Commission. brought him back. "His name was Camp- see his son-in-law become National For the last seven years Doyle's name bell, he was from Wisconsin. I haven't Commander, the elder McCormick suf- has been almost synonymous with the seen him since, but hope to." It was then fered a heart attack and died in Bir- Legion's National Security Commission. December 1944, and to the north the mingham, Ala., on the way home.) He was chairman five years, and when Battle of the Bulge had just opened. "I'd have joined the Post in any he resigned because New Jersey had en- (Doyle's unit had been pulled north event," says Doyle, "but my father-in- dorsed him for National Commander above Bitche—to fill in when Patton's law saw that I wasted no time. I had two years ago, he was twice appointed 3rd Army shifted north to the Bulge played Legion baseball as a boy and been National Commander's Representative when he was wounded.) Doyle was hos- a drummer in the MacFarland Post on the Security Commission.

50 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 The Legion's National Security Com- disabled veterans over 50, if their hus- mission fulfills a unique role in Ameri- bands have been admitted. The state, ex- NO NEED TO WEAR can society. Through it the Legion is one ceedingly conscious of the growing needs of very few civilian groups that bring in- of the needy and helpless aged, now has formed public opinion to bear on matters a $10 million master plan for further A TRUSS of national defense, without having a expansion. vested interest. The federal government Meanwhile, Bill Doyle's special en- has little to go by in getting the benefit thusiasm for programs dear to the Le- FOR RUPTURE of civilian opinion in this area except gion runs strongly in yet a third direc- — That Binds, Cuts, Gouges, from those with a special bone to pick. tion. "Above all else," he says, "I'd like Slips and Does Not Hold The latter range from those who have to see us move to increase the scope of If you must wear a Truss for Rupture, don't miss this. A Post Card, with name and address, If there special local interests in defense estab- our outstanding youth programs. will get you FREE, and without obligation, the lishments or seek contracts, to the Com- were any way to double the size of our complete, modernized Rice Plan of Reducible Rupture Control. Now in daily use by thou- munists, who hope we disband our en- Boys' States, I'd come out for it strong. sands who say they never dreamed possible tire military. There's nothing the Legion does for this such secure, dependable and comfortable rup- Doyle recently summed up the Le- country that surpasses the importance of ture protection. Safely blocks rupture opening, prevents escape, without need for bulky, gion's defense role. "The Security Com- its youth programs. As a member of the cumbersome Trusses, tormenting springs or pressure. of mission continuously studies all aspects National 50th Anniversary Committee harsh, gouging pad Regardless how long ruptured, size, occupation, or trusses you of national defense. It formulates, ad- it has been my hope that in our second have worn. TRY THIS, and send your Post Card vises and recommends on policy matters 50 years we will find ways to double, today to W. S. Rice, Inc., Adams, N. Y. Dept. 8P affecting the national security of the na- triple or quadruple—if possible—the tion, and has special subgroups that spe- number of boys and girls whom the Le- cialize in the various branches of the gion can bring into programs that get Free Chair/Table service, as well as the merchant marine. them involved in the responsibilities of /Cli Shipping "Congress has always welcomed our citizenship, and teach them the meaning Catalog! M'°= opinion on anything from total mihtary of true leadership and sound American • BANQUET/MEETING appropriations to servicemen's PX privi- values early in life. The work of the Le- FURNITURE PITTSBURGH leges. The heads of the Armed Services gion has been so important in this field • TENNIS TABLES lOS ANGELES • COAT/ HAT RACKS welcome our support and our criticism, that we should never be satisfied with ediaie De/zVery! too. Even if they don't agree with us, the number of youngsters we reach." they know we are constructive and Adirondack 276-0 Park Ave. So : N.Y.C. 10010 knowledgeable. Our unique role has ALL OF THIS GIVES you a pretty good been a good thing for the country, too, introduction to Bill Doyle, a seri- MAKES A WONDERFUL GIFT act now tor CHRISTMAS. GLEAMING I think. We have kept the services on ous, energetic American whose middle GOLD BRANCH OF SERVICE. Tie/ lapel/blouse TAG. their toes, given support when needed name is "work"—the sort of fellow SOLID 14K GOLD HEAVY WT. $12.50 LIGHT WT. $8.00 as well as criticism, and brought them who'd have invented many of the Le- ARMY* NAVY* AIR FORCE* MARINE CORP SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER ACT a better sense of public opinion in de- gion's programs if that hadn't been done NOW. SOLID 14K GOLD SERVICE RING. HEAVY $38.00 LIGHT $26.00. fense matters than they could get on in 1919 and since. QUALITY PAYS SATISFACTION their own." On the personal side, here's a bit more GUAR. GIVE RING SIZE AND SERVICE BRANCH. Send cash, check or M.O. If Doyle brings a vast energy and about the Doyles. ( No COD I . BELL JEWELRY, Dept. AL capacity for work to the Legion Com- Bill and Mrs. Doyle have two daugh- Box 81, SomerviMe, N. J. 08876 mandership, and if he brings a superior ters. They are Barbara (Mrs. William knowledge of national defense problems, Hicks) of Cedar Lake, Ind., and Mary he also brings special knowledge and a Jane (Mrs. Eugene Maliszewskjy) of Book Authors! Join our successful authors in a com- FREE proven record in the field of veterans af- Oxon Hill, Md. Each has two children. plete and reliable publishing program: publicity, advertising, handsome books. fairs, includes writer of these is prejudiced which exceptional tech- The words Send for FREE report on your manu nical competence. on behalf of Bill's wife, Martha, known script & copy of How To Publish Your Book. He started to gain it early as part of as "Martie" to the Doyle's host of CARLTON PRESS Dept. ALK the Veterans Council of his home town, friends. We have known her so long that 84 Fifth Ave., New York, 10011 but he's now steeped in it as a result of if we should express our opinion we his direction of the New Jersey state might be suspected of bias in her favor. ORDER BLANK soldiers home. Martie gave up an active career in the For Danny Scholl Record The full name of the home in Vine- Auxiliary when Bill's Legion work grew. Of land is quite a mouthful—The New Jer- Someone had to stay home. sey Memorial Home for Disabled Sol- As if Bill Doyle hadn't taken on "NO MAN IS AN ISLAND" diers, Sailors, Marines and their Wives enough between the National Guard and Dear Sir: and Widows. Founded right after the the Legion, he is or has been active in Enclosed please find $ for Civil War, the home had a capacity of a list of things of which what follows is records of "No Man Is An Island" on Counter about 250 at the time Doyle became only a part: Elks; Retarded Children; Part Records. Records are $1.00 each. Enclose Cash or Money Superintendent. This was at the same Boy Scouts; Burlington Water Commis- Order, and send with this coupon to: time that the critical need for more ade- sioners (Past President); Fire Chief; quate nursing care began to attract na- V.F.W.; D.A.V.; Holy Name Society. Danny Scholl—March Of Dimes tional attention. The Jersey home, under He has served as both president and vice Post Office Box 1412 , Ohio 45201 Doyle, was the first to take advantage of president of the Nat'l Ass'n of State Vet- Public Law 88450, to add nursing care erans as president Homes; of New Jer- Please send my records to nne at: beds on its 29-acre grounds with VA sey's Army and Air Nat'l Guard Ass'n.; matching funds. Its capacity has been en- as president of the Burlington County Na larged to 350, and a second nurs- Vocational and Technical Board of ing care home will raise that to 450. It Education. Address is one of the few state soldiers homes His portrait is the portrait of a that will take wives or widows of needy, busy, dedicated American. the end Phone ... THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 51 FRANK LUKE was pure fiction," wrote Laurence La -(Continued from page 23)- Tourette Driggs, a war correspondent in the area, who could not possibly have Field, San Diego. Frank was first in his Luke made no claims for his first known. Luke became a lonely and de- class to solo and became engaged to a two flights over the lines but one was spised man pecking out forms at a type- local girl named Marie Rapson. On Jan. an exciting affair. On Aug. 1, he and writer for witnesses to sign confirming 23. 1918. he was commissioned a Sec- 17 others went aloft in their Nieuports aircraft shot down. ond Lieutenant in the Aviation Section, to protect two French photographic He was even more lonely after the Signal Corps Reserve. After a farewell planes. They were attacked by eight tolerant Hartney was promoted on Aug. leave in Phoenix, he sailed on March 4 two-seater Fokkers of the Richthofen 21 to command of the whole First Pur- for France and advanced flight training checkerboard squadron and several suit Group. Capt. Alfred A. Grant took at Issoudun. He survived a crash on other German planes. In the ensuing over its 27th Squadron. A winner of the May 3 and was first in his class in flying melee, at least six of these were shot Distinguished Service Cross, Grant and second in gunnery. down. Five of the 27th Squadron pilots found Luke a menace to both discipline He did not hide his disappointment were lost and a sixth crashed to his death and morale. when assigned to ferrying planes at as he landed at Saints. But Luke found a friend in 1st Lieut. Orly. "1 came to fight," he complained, Two days later Luke volunteered to Joe Wehner, of Everett, Mass. Wehner's "not to ferry." But this gave him expe- accompany Hartney to the front in a German name put him under suspicion rience flying Spads, Nieuports and Brit- Packard Twin Six to look for the bodies of being an enemy agent. He was re- ish Sopwith Camels. On July 26, he was of the 27th pilots killed in this fight. peatedly interrogated, even in France. sent to the 27th Aero Squadron, First They did not find them but viewed two Wehner was quiet, easy-going and the Pursuit Group, at Saints, 25 miles south shot-down German planes and a hill opposite of Luke in many ways but they of Chateau-Thierry. He arrived with covered with dead men. Returning near were devoted to each other. eight others, including Norman Archi- Fere-en-Tardenois, they saw a German When the St. Mihiel offensive began bald who recalled the day later in Albatros shoot down an American ob- on Sept. 12 and orders came down from "Heaven High—Hell Deep," a classic of servation balloon in flames. As they Billy Mitchell to attack German bal- air warfare. watched, the pilot darted at a second loons, Luke and Wehner volunteered. Commanding the 27th was Major balloon being reeled down, set it afire, Both shot down balloons that day. Harold E. Hartney. a tough little Ca- and hedgehopped away. Luke's report said: "Saw 3 E.C. nadian who had shot down five enemy Luke was silent all the way back, (enemy aircraft) near Lavigneville and planes, whose brother had been killed and Hartney was convinced that what gave chase following them directly in action, and who had been shot they saw that day determined the Ari- toward Pont-a-Mousson where they dis- down four times himself, once by the zona youth's future. But Norman S. appeared toward Metz. Saw enemy great Baron Manfred von Richthofen. Hall in his worshipful book about Luke, balloon at Marieville. Destroyed it after "School is all over," he told the nine "The Balloon Buster," claimed that three passes at it, each within a few replacements. "You have a man's job. Luke heard more experienced fliers at yards of the balloon. The third pass was You are now members of the finest fly- mess agree that shooting down a bal- made when the balloon was very near ing outfit on this front." Hartney re- loon was the most dangerous and diffi- the ground. Both guns stopped so pulled membered Luke that day as "a clean- cult job, and that's wh it decided him to off to one side. Fixed left gun and looking, tow-headed youngste., with go after the big bags. turned about to make one final effort piercing blue eyes, and quick motions." The 27th's Nieuports were soon re- to burn it, but saw it had started. The America has placed with troublesome Spads and the never had any nobility, next instant it burst into great flames unit got an advance base at Coincy. but many of our early air fighters wore and dropped on the winch destroying From there Major Hartney. on Aug. tailored uniforms, were rich, well born it." 16, led Luke and 14 others on a patrol and from ivy league universities. There Luke landed his plane in a field to protect a picture-making observation was a fairy tale air of chivalry about alongside the nearest American balloon. plane. The Spads had a troublesome aviation. Even in 1918, the pilot of a "Are you hurt?" demanded a runner. reduction gear which got out of line German observation plane forced down Luke shook his head and had two of- with any propeller trouble. It would out of gasoline at a French air field, ficers sign his blanks confirming his vibrate and the engine would miss or expected to be refueled and allowed to shooting down of the balloon. Though die. As they flew from Fere-en-Tarde- go on his way. All fliers were volun- much of the First Army had seen it, nois to Fisme, Spad after Spad dropped teers. If they didn't feel up to flying or he was taking no chances with his cyni- out with engine trouble. felt their planes were not in shape, they cal mess mates. didn't take ofi". With some basis, the air- Hartney found himself at 18,000 feet men regarded themselves as the knight- with only one other plane, while under Two DAYS LATER Lukc and Wehner hood of the war, far above the mud. heavy fire. He streaked for Coincy. began to hunt balloons together and There he found 13 of his planes and The Arizona youth didn't fit this pic- within a week shot down nine plus four ture. While he respected Hartney, Luke their pilots. As he joined them in curs- enemy machines. They developed a the 14th in "with didn't regard his fellow fliers as knights ing the Spads, came technique of attacking at sunset and the pilot goosing his engine and causing or even his own equal as a pilot and landing after dark—a new and danger- marksman. "Luke's self-confidence," re- a terrific racket." It was Luke. ous thing. On the evening of Sept. 16, called Hartney later, "caused most of "I've got one!" he shouted. "I've got Luke told Hartney that they would the pilots to regard him as a boastful one!" shoot down three balloons beginning at four-flusher and many never liked him He claimed to have shot a Fokker off" 7:05 p.m. At that exact moment, there even to the end." The fact that he was Hartney's tail beyond the German lines. was a burst of fire in the sky. There was a big winner in the Saturday night crap Hartney was inclined to believe him at another at 7:21 and a third at 7:30 games did not add to his popularity the time and later was convinced that p.m. They flew home in bullet-riddled though he dumped the money in the he was telling the truth. But almost no- Spads to receive the congratulations of plate at a nearby Catholic church the body else did. There was no confir- Col. Billy Mitchell and Capt. Eddie next day. His nickname was soon "The mation. He was jeered and taunted, Rickenbacker as well as their own of- Arizona boaster." and he cursed back. "This first victory ficers.

52 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 In a typical balloon attack Luke their field, on Sept. 28, Luke flying would get high above a sausage and alone shot up a balloon at Betheniville, Doctors Find Way To dive for it full throttle, holding his ma- and spent that night with the French Shrink Hemorrhoids chine gun fire to the last second. too. Grant is said to have grounded him this, he immediately flew to a The balloon ground crew would start for but And Promptly Stop Itching, hauling the bag down while filling the 'Verdun field where Hartney was. On Relieve Pain In Most Cases. air around it with lead and tracers. this is based the story that he won the Often the observer would parachute Medal of Honor along with death in Science has found a medication with from the bag, while enemy fighter defiance of orders. But Hartney said he the ability, in most cases — to stop planes flocked to attack Luke. His guns sent him off from Verdun at exactly burning itch, relieve pain and actually were forever jamming. When they did 5:56 p.m. after more balloons. A few shrink hemorrhoids. he'd pull off to clear them, ignoring his minutes later an American balloon unit In case after case doctors proved, attackers, then zoom back on the bal- picked up a note dropped from a pass- while gently relieving pain and itch- loon. He'd often follow a balloon to the ing plane. It read: "Watch out for those ing, actual reduction (shrinkage) took ground, strafe the ground crew and its three nearest balloons at Dl and D2 po- place. the planes, sitions Luke." Soon, over the Meuse, guns, and take on enemy — The answer is Preparation H®— after the balloon was done for. The there was a burst of flame, then an- there is no other formula like it for Allied infantry got to know him and other, then another. hemorrhoids. Preparation H also cheer him in the little time that he set No American ever saw him alive soothes inflamed, irritated tissues and his record. To the Germans he was a again. Perhaps the Fokkers were wait- helps prevent further infection. In menace, and to the veteran French ing for him this time. They engaged ointment or suppository form. fliers in nearby outfits he was one of him, they shot him up, but they didn't the wonders of the world. Luke often shoot him down. (Apparently he got Helps You Overcome visited and lunched or dined with them, two more Fokkers in the melee.) He instead of returning to the 27th. landed behind enemy lines, wounded, FALSE TEETH No other man went for balloons so his plane riddled. None of this was Looseness and Worry until after the Armistice. recklessly or lasted long enough to known The No longer be annoyed or feel Ul-at-ease be- claim so many. His plane was often proud, blue-eyed boy had simply disap- cause of loose, wobbly false teeth. PASTE:etH, an improved alkaline powder sprinkled on riddled like cheese, and on one occasion peared, unaccounted for. your plates, holds them firmer so they feel more comfortable. Dentures that fit are essen- he barely landed it in a nearby field and tial to health. See your dentist regularly. To borrowed a motorcycle to ride back. AFFIDAVIT avoid embarrassmen t caused by loose, wobbly The undersigned, living in the town of plates, get PASTEETH at all drug counters. Riddled or not, he'd land near the Murvaux, Department of the Meuse, certify closest Allied outfit to get written con- to have seen, on the twenty-ninth day of $20,000 In 6 Months firmation of his latest feat. September, 1918, toward evening, an American aviator, followed by an esca- Joe Miller. Duncan, Okla., averages $20,000 working 6 months a year as a storm loss adjuster. No college or experience to drille of Germans, in the direction of Liny, LUKE HAD HIS greatest and also his sad- start. He learned how in spare time at home lor 33 cents a near Dun (Meuse) descend suddenly and day Income far above average. Check your opportunities in this dest day on Sept. 1 8 over the Rain- j vertically toward the earth, then straighten amazing field. Send for FREE BOOK of facts No obligation. 6801 Hillcrest, Dallas, bow Division. He shot down three bal- out close to the ground and fly in the di- V A. Approved. Write Universal Schools, Texas 75205 Dept. AL-11. loons and two planes in a furious ten rection of the Briere Farm, near Doulcon, he a captive balloon, which he minutes! But his friend Wehner was where found burned. Following this he flew towards killed in action. His score made Luke Milly (Meuse), where he found another the leading American ace of that date. balloon, which he also burned, in spite of In an effort to patch up old differences, an incessant fire directed against his ma- chine. he apparently there was a dinner in his honor in the There was wounded by a shot fired from rapid-fire cannon. From mess hall of the 94th and 147th Squad- there he came back over Murvaux, and rons. He was called upon to speak. with his machine gun killed six German "Fellows," he said, blushing like a soldiers and wounded many more. schoolgirl, "I haven't done anything ex- Following this he landed and got out of his machine, undoubtedly to quench his cept what you all are doing. We are all thirst at a near-by stream. He had gone trying to get as many as we can. But some fifty yards, when, seeing the Germans there is one thing I want you to know. come toward him, still had the strength to If I am shot down, they won't take me draw his revolver to defend himself, and a moment after fell dead, following a serious alive." wound received in the chest. He was so morose over the death of Certify equally to have seen the Ger- Wehner that Grant packed him ofT to man commandant of the village refuse to Paris for two weeks' leave, thinking have straw placed in the cart carrying the dead aviator to the village cemetery. This he'd respond to the joys of Paris like same officer drove away some women bring- others. While there he read of Ricken- ing a sheet to serve as a shroud for the backer getting two more victories and hero, and said, kicking the body: taking command of the 94th Aero "Get that out of my way as quick as possible." i 1968 CHRISTMAS Squadron. Luke didn't know it but The next day the Germans took away the Rickenbacker had asked that Luke airplane, and the inhabitants also saw an- serve with him. As Paris only bored other American aviator fly very low over him, Luke cut short his leave on the the town, apparently looking for the dis- appeared aviator. sixth day. Signatures of the following inhabitants: Sept. 26, Luke Lt. Ivan A. On and Perton Valendne Garre Roberts of Massachusetts went after Rene Colin Gustave Garre balloons but met five Fokkers. Luke August Cuny Leon Henry Fight tuberculosis, Henri Gustave Cortlae Delbart shot one down. The others shot down air Eugene Coline Gabriel Didier emphysema, pollution. Roberts. This depressed Luke so much Odile Patouche Camille Phillipe that he went visiting the French. From Richard Victor Voliner Nicholas Space contributed by the publisher as a public service. THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 53 — —

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54 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 1

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SLEIGHT OF MOUTH Who strikes back at his foes With speedy bon mots? Who hurls repartee Like a whirlwind? Not me!

If 1 could but think As quick as a wink, I'd respond on the spot While the irony's hot. Edith Ocutscii

UP IN SMOKE An old-fashioned clambake takes a lot more clams than it used to. D. O. Flynn

SPECTATOR SPORTS Participants in sports and games Acquire physical fitness. We who watch, enlarge our frames By too much physical sitness. Eugene McAllister

JUMPY FELLOW Paratrooper: Air male. Lane Olinghouse

CAUSE FOR SPECULATION 'These are the things you find out aiter you're married." When I, in grocers' stores, buy eggs That are labeled "Large," or "Extra Large,"

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE And I find them small as a ping-pong ball, My ire doth crackle: And I wonder if the poultry yeggs— The hens that laid those pygmy eggs- LIFE ON THE RUBBER CHICKEN CIRCUIT Had the utter gall to cackle. A man was forced to accompany his wife to a dinner of state politicians Peter Cartwright where she was going to give a speech one evening, and tire following day he was talking with a business associate about the affair. TALKATIVE "Was the food any good?" asked his friend. Neighborhood Gossip "Chicken, mashed potatoes and 4,321 peas," replied the man glumly. —Gab Bag Mary Alice Clemens "C'mon," protested the friend. "How do you know how many peas?" "Just what do you think I was doing while my wife was talking?" snapped the man. Dan Bennett

TALE OF WOE AND DOUGH A psychiatrist was trying to help a man who had gone through life obsessed with the notion that there was a huge fortune awaiting him somewhere. The habit had become so ingrained that it took the psychiatrist several years to make some progress toward "restoring him to reality." "And then," sighed the doctor as he told the story to friends, "just as I seemed to have him over the hump, there comes this letter in- forming him someone had left him a great fortune!" Harold Helper

MESSAGE RECEIVED A wealthy man had an urge to have a grandchild. He had four daughters and four sons, all married, but as yet none of them had gratified his desire for a grandchild. At the annual family gathering on Thanksgiving day, he chided them gently for their failure to bless his old age with their progeny. "But I haven't given up hope," he said. "Yesterday I went to the bank and set up a one hundred thousand dollar trust fund to be given to the first grandchild that I have. Now we will all bow our heads while I say a prayer of thanks." When he looked up, he and his wife were the only ones at the table. "Your estimate runneth over." Howard L. Farnham THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE

56 THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 1968 .

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