Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-25
OF TUMWA BOY
IN TRENCHES;
IS DECORATED
Lieutenant Walter Schafer
Wins War Honor In
France.
RAIDS GERMAN LINE;
FINDS ENEMY GONE

Lieutenant Walter Schater, son Of
Mr.. and Mrs. John M. Schafer, 137
South Ward street, has been awarded
the Croix de Guerre, French honor
medal, for his work in raiding an en-
emy trench. Lieutenant Schafer has
been at the front for sometime and he
has written lengthy letter to his
parents telling them Of the first
American death In his sector.
Lieutenant Schafer had just finished
a stretch OF twenty days in the
trenches when he wrote his last let
ter. He spoke Of having received his
first letter from home which was
dated September ~. William Gala
CHER, also Of Ottumwa, belongs to the
same battalion as Schafer and is now
in Europe, according to Mr.. SchaferS
letter.
MEDAL BIG HONOR.
The Croix de Guerre is one Of tho
most priced honor medals given for
distinction in service. Lieutenant
Schafer and two other officers led
their men against a sector Of the
enemy trench in night attack. He
says it was 4 "fizzle," as the trench
was unoccupied but their bravery in
storming the enemy's line earned for
them the medal.
Following Is Mr.. Schafers letter:
Dear Mother:
II just received letter from you,
the first I have received from the
states. It was dated September q,
nearly two. months old. It arrived
whom ], Was In. the trenches and they
sent It after me. Il left the trenches
last night without getting the letter
and It was returned today.
IN TRENCHES WITH FIRST LOT.
81 had twenty days in the trenches,
To say the least 1t is distinction
to go in the trenches with the very
first. Our company entered and took
its place the night of the big German
raid, which resulted in several deaths
and lost us some men as prisoners.
Eight days later came out and
entered with the third battalion and
the first death occurred on the first
night in the sector that my platoon
had held. This was the first Amer.
ican death to result from q rifle bui.
let, in fact the first to occur after the
raid. helped to carry the man In
and intended keeping his helmet as
as bullet pierced 1t. but
decided that l had enough junk. The
mans head was shot nearly OF.
SENTRY FELL ASLEEP ON DUTY.
II saw the shrapnel burst that
caused the first death from artillery
fire. 1t was also in the sector former
ly occupied by my platoon. The man
killed had gone to sleep on me the
had threatened to have him shot. One
Of my men.'is to be tried today for
going to slep on post The captain
wants him shot but am Indifferent
l furnished the information that will
be placed against him but he is
harmless and utterly brainless person.
However. when man sleeps on post
he endangers the life of others and
has to be done.
IN FIRST AMERICAN RAID.
"The first American raid was pulled
while I was at the front and was
one of the three officers that did It,
The thing was a fizzle because the
place assigned by the French general
for us to raid was unoccupied. Never
theless we examined the point and the
three of us are to get the Croix de
Guerre cross, a French medal OF
honor. Everything is going fine ex
cept that we now settle down to hum
drum winter.
Since returning have been moth
ing more or less than the boss Of u
bunch Of lumber jacks. We are get
Ting in our wood.
Last night 1t showed and is still
1t it, but it is not cold. We are due.
Il seems, for q long winter In dead
place. However, we have a good
bunch of ohicers, eight or ten to the
company and we shall pass the time
more pleasantly. Bill Gallagher. is
now with our battalion. He rooms a
lew doors from me and is in my mess.
We have eight officers in the mess
and have fine food and a good time.
"All companies but ours started to
drill yesterday, the first since leaving
The trenches. Our company, being a
new one is doing what the Others
have been doing for two weeks, max
ing walks, cutting and carrying wood.
Personally. am taking things easy.
Il sent letter to see what is the
matter with my aviation. think
lost track of me,and los
ing track of their officers is about the
best thing that the government does
1t the present time.
with love, Walt. -,
COLLEGE TO SAVE COAL.
Mt Vernon. Dec. 24.-Cornell col