The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-03-21
Unrecooulzed War Heroes.

Not all OF the men who gave the
country valuable service during the
great war have been given the recog-
milton their sacrifices. hard work. hero
ism and loyalty entitle them to"
This remark was made by a soldier
Of long service. When requested to
enumerate some of the classes he had
in mind he readily complied.
I'm the first place, there are classes
that from one cause or another have
failed to organize. Organization. in
these days. seems to be a necessity
One of the types Of men who did the
nation service none Of us should for
get or ever fail to appreciate are the
army telegraphers. They organized.
but through modesty or lack of proper
machinery in the organization they
have not been able TO bring to bear
influence which in modern times is re-
quired before recognition comes.
Their services we're as necessary as
that Of the men in the ranks. They
encountered innumerable obstacles;
they frequently were placed in posi-
tions Of great danger; they helped to
win battles. Many of them were
killed. others were made prisoners,
and still others returned to their
homes broken in health. There are
few, if any, men in the civil war who
more richly earned the right to pen
sions, in cases Of lost health or
wounds. They have received no bene-
fits. AS member of The Grand Army
of the Republic and Loyal Legion
would be very proud to receive into
membership in those organizations
any of the war telegraph srA who stood
right up to the rack and did their
duty in those four troublesome years;
and | am really sorry that the rules
and regulations OF these two soldier
organizations were not so formed that
worthy men who were army telegraph
ers could be made members. They
were a bright, intelligent, well-in-
formed class of men, and as | have
already said deserve more recogni-
tion at the hands of the government
that they so faithfully and bravely
served in its days of greatest trial
There are hundreds of war CORE
spondents and many Of them the most
capable, bright-minded. enterprising
men employed on the papers they rep
resented. These men, with few ex-
ceptions, were the steadfast friends Of
the country, Of the army and the men
who commanded the army. And they
were brave men. too; they had to be
brave men to perform their duty to
the publishers who sent them to the
front In many instances war CORE
spondents were among the most eff
cient aids and messengers the general
officers had In time OF battle A con-
siderable number Of this class lost
their lives. others were wounded and
some of them imprisoned. If they
have ever organized I know nothing
about it. At all events they are pass
ing away unrecognized, when, in fact.
they should stand well to the front
among men who had part in the
mighty struggles Of the eos. What
splendid fellows they would be at the
banquets OF the post and legion and
at department and national encamp-
ments. Those men who saw so much
and were part of so many Of our
great campaigns could give US chap
ters the equal of those given by Az
Of our soldiers or their officers. have
always regretted that we could not ac-
cept into our soldier organizations this
splendid class of brilliant. high-mind-
ed, patriotic men. They have long
lacked recognition. Long ago there
should have been provision whereby
all worthy men who acted as war cor
who wrote the most in
teresting chapters OF history that the
soldiers made in those trying times,
should be with us in membership. hav-
ing the same honors and the same
rights that we have "--Leut--Col. ]. !
A. Watrous, U. s. A.