The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-10-29
HOME FROM FRANCE
Personal FRIEND OF MADISON
MAN RETURNS FROM
FRONT.

j. j. Sollitt, OF Madison. has re-
ceived the following account of the
return from the French front OF a
personal friend published in the
Candy. Mimi. News:
John Bowe, in the uniform of
French soldier, arrived here on the
early morning train Wednesday from
St Paul, after his three years in the
4 trenches in France fighting the army
of the kaiser, looking well and hearty
/ though afflicted with a toucn of
/ rheumatism.
He went at once to his home
where he was greeted by his family
and rested for the day. The city
firemen made a social visit to Mr..
Bowe Wednesday night in a body,
but plans for a big reception and din
ner in his honor by the business men
of Candy was forestalled by Mr..
Bowe himself. who modestly declin-
ed the honor
Several trophies of his war expert
ence are to be seen in the window of
lC. Anderson d Son company.
The following is from the st. Paul
Dispatch of Tuesday:
John Bowe. former mayor of Can
by, Mimi, and the first American to
wear American. French and Servian
honors, reached st Paul yesterday,
after two years of continuous fight
ing on the French front.
He was the guest of Otto N. Raths,
postmaster. at a luncheon at the st.
Paul association, before going to
Candy.
In January, 1915, Bowe enlisted in
the second legion d 'Etrangers or for
eign legion of France. A few months
later while fighting in the Cham
pagne district, the 5000 men of the
regiment were cut TO S25.
Bowe shifted to the One Hundred
and Seventieth French regiment.
This in turn was cut to pieces. He
went to the One Hundred and Sixty
third and then to the Ninety-second
regiments, each of which was demol-
ished After he entered the First
legion d'Etrangers which he belong
ed to when given leave a short time
ago.
To receive the French cross and
four French citations for bravery al
the front, in addition, he was one of
the men chosen from the first foreign
legion for the Serbian cross which
was awarded by r. Nivelle, com
mander-in-chief of the French ar
mics
Just Fool for Luck, He Says.
I'm lucky guy to be home" he
commented briefly. Il was wounded
only once; then fragment of shrap-
mel hit me in the forehead. | have
seen thousands of men killed.
don't know how | escaped.
This spring rheumatism, caused
by life in the trenches, prostrated me
At one time | could not bend my
knees. That was what caused my
return TO this country.
No. | don't like to speak of tht
reasons for my winning honors.
don't care TO toot my own horn"
Did you perform any acts ol
bravery"
Say. you're doing that all ths
time over in France. as just q
fool for luck"
Would Go Back with L. =. A.
4 Are you going back?"
Not right away. In France wher
a man reaches my age-I am Al
years old-he is not permitted or
). the front. He is sent back to worl
/ in the rear | never could stanc
a that. | want to get into the Amer
d lean army and return to the front
;, His citations by the French gov
IS ernment said. In honor of mos
dangerous and perilous missions a.
d the front"
i In addition to his French anC
II Serbian medals, Bowe wore Spanish
d war, Philippine and congressional
e medals won in American wars.