Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-03
Ardmore Man Brings Back 81
Wounds to Show He Earned
Badge of Honor.
EXPERIENCES ARE VARIED
Eleven Days in Front Line
Trenches Was Introduction
to the Great War.

Special to The World.
ARDMORE. Dec. 2.-"There is
something fascinating about life IN the
trenches" said Arthur Sullivan, who
returned here from France, and II
had my hand back | would be in the
fight again"
Private Sullivan went to France
with the first ten thousand men that
went from America. He was the first
soldier to land on French soil, and
this same enthusiasm kept up until on
July 23, while in a she'll hole fifty feet
in advance of his trench, he was
wounded.
He and five other men were In the
hole and n hand grenade was thrown
among them and exploded. Four of
the six were killed outright one es-
capped without injury and sullivan re-
ceived as many as 27 wounds. The in
cident occurred at 11:45 In the MORN
ing and at 4 o'clock that afternoon he
was fifty miles to the rear In hos
pital and had undergone an operation.
The skull was crushed In two places
and silver plates were inserted. His
right hand was shot away: his lungs
were penetrated by pieces OF steel
from the hand grenade. and the ply
sicians told him he had but a few
hours to live. But he is here now as
happy as he can be and many more
times anxious to enter the service
than he was two years ago. when he
was 20, and volunteered in the regular
army.
Shortage OF Men.
There was a shortage Of machine
gun men. said Sullivan, and 1t became
necessary for some Of them to remain
In, ha tranrhac nt,nrfifpa Unln n
teered to take up his residence in the
trenches in France. He was there
eleven days before they got him, when
the average life of machine-gun
operator Is five hours, he states He
ate his meals and did what sleeping
was done in the trenches these eleven
days. They were from ankle to knee
deep in mud, but there were dugouts
leading from them where the men re-
SO on thru the merchers as they rise
rom their rest and speak to us again.
We know that we miss them. and
we love them as tho they were pre-
ent. Their chairs are vacant and can
never be filled; new loves will come,
but the old illAremain forever. They
| walked with US When we needed COM
panionship; they befriended us when
we needed assistance; they loved us
when we were lonely and friendless
and they cheered us when we were
downcast and detected. We hold
memorial exercises for them on earth
and IL our belief in the immortality OF
the soul Is correct, they are in sweet
communion for us in the better world
Someone Is presiding and from the
precincts of the great white throne
! their benedictions come to us thru the
spirit world and their presence is fell
| in every Elks' hall in the Union in
this hour of sorrow. When we have
Joined them others will come to I'll
our places here. Others will live bet
ter, perhaps, the teachings of our or
der than we have. Others Will hole
memorial exercises for us, and the life
Of every Elk ought to be dedicated tc
the fulfillment of his true belief. SC
that there may be- no tears of regre
for his shortcomings, but only sorrow
for his departure.
Twilight and evening bell and aftel
that the dark,
And may there be no sadness of fare
well when I embark,
For tho from out the bourne OF tim'
and place
The flood may bear me far,
| hope to see my Pilot face to fac
when l have crossed the bar.
Then "tiine shall be no more,
doubt shall be dissolved in vision, ant
"this corruptible shall put on incor
ruption and this mortal shall put ol
Immortality" There will be no vale,
of desolation, no vain cropping for un
seen hands.