The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-18
LIEUT.. GRAFTON
RECALLS SERVICE
. FOR B COMPANY
Doesn't Know Whether Re
Prospect or Prospect
More Interesting
SEES MEN WITH
MILITARY TITLES
Refers to Company B As
Great School of Edu-
cation

Lieut.. Col. G.. c. Grafton of the
First North Dakota regiment, and
one Of the veterans in military serv-
ice of the state, views with consider
able satisfaction the snlendid body
Of trained officers now in the service
Of the United States, many of whom
got their early military training and
development in Company B, First
North Dakota infantry, Fargo.
II do not know whether the retro
spect or prospect is more interesting
to me just at present" said Lieuten-
ant Colonel Grafton today, who was
caught in a reminiscent mood. II
find myself wondering, as look into
the possibilities which the future
holds of this world war, how many
Of my students may become generals.
AS look into the past, contemplate
with interest, the start OF these men
in their military careers.
Assisted in Its Training.
at has been my privilege to as
sist in the training and the develop
ment of Company B, First North
Dakota infantry, and in thinking
over the record Of that organization,
am reminded that it has been a
school of education for a considerable
number, who are in the rank and
file, but whose whereabouts or posi-
ton I do not know at the pres
ent."
Lieutenant Grafton stated that
among those he helped in the early
stages of their military career, are
the following:
Col. George A. Nugent, coast artil-
lery corps, United States army.
Captain Heidner. United States
army.
Lieut.. g. A. M. Anderson, Four
teenth infantry, u. s. A.
Maj. Walter T. Bates. adjutant
generals Office, u. S. army.
Gen. G. A. Fraser. adjutant gen.
eral of North Dakota.
Maj. Harold Sorenson. quarter
master corps.
Maj, E. c. Gearey, jr.. Second
North Dakota infantry.
Capt. r. F. e. Colley, captain Co
B., First North Dakota infantry.
Lieut.. Ernest Sylvester Hill. First
North Dakota infantry.
Lieut.. Richard NJ. Still, Company
E, First North Dakota infantry.
Lieut.. VIII Comrie, officers reserve
corps.
Lieut.. Earl South, Company B
First North Dakota infantry.
Lieut.. cap" Ecker, First Montana
Machine Gun company.
Capt. Phil Matthienson, First
Idaho infantry.
Capt. ]. w. Murphy, Company A
First North Dakota, infantry
Capt. o. F. Gross, Company B.
First North Dakota infantry.
These men," said Colonel Grafton
"all had their military training in
Company b, and had the pleasure
80 NJ q
the following officers are also gradu-
ates of Company B:
Officer Graduates of Company B.
Capt. John B. Kline, First Wash
ington field hospital.
Lieut.. Jack Thompson, officers re-
serve corps.
Lieut.. Chester Fouts. quartermas-
ter CORPS.
Lieut.. Col. G. C. Grafton. First
North Dakota infantry. ....
AT times when our appropriation
for expenses was small" continued
the colonel, land the local interest
in the company waned, we had diff
Guilty in keeping the company to-
gether and the work was occasional
ly discouraging, but a small body OF
men, devoted to the service, always
brought the organization through,
with the assistance of friends, and
looking at our struggles and efforts
to maintain a military organization
in the city, there is, at present, con-
siderable satisfaction to see this
splendid body of trained officers now
in the service OF the United States,
and / take pleasure and considerable
pride in having been instrumental in
helping to maintain and support the
Fargo institution.
"Of course, there are many men
now in the federal service, both COM
missioned and enlisted, whose pres
ent whereabouts ] do not know, but
from the present knowledge ! have,
of those who are efficiently helping
in this great struggle, derive con-
siderable satisfaction from my serv-
ice"