Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-19
.PARDONED BY WILSON,
WILL FIGHT IN FRANCE
Carranza's Daredevil Becomes Mem
President Extends Clcmency.
REAL SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
Seen Much Service In Mexico, and
Won Fame for Success in Hazar-
dous Undertakings-Con Of
Urging Americans to Aid Carranza.
BY HOMER JOSEPH DODGE.

~ HOMER JOSEPH DODGE.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. August IS
Emil HoImdahl, armed with free par
don signed by President Wilson, and
the accouterments of private in the
United States engineers. has started
into 1t again. In France he expects
to prove the loyalty to the United
States which was questioned when he
was convicted six months ago OH a
charge of conspiracy to outfit a mill
tary expedition against friendly state
Mexico.
The pardon he carries Is for that
offense. The accouterments were given
when AdJutant General Mccain ordered
recruiting officer. unwilling to ac-
cept man with shrapnel in his system
to enlist that man if he only has one
leg"
1t was Holmdahl who. single handed,
killed three Mexican officers who helped
along the hideous massacre of eighteen
Americans at Santa Isabel and who
participated in the raid on Columbus.
~ NJ. 1t was Holmdahl who rode
ninety miles across the Mexican desert
it's grave the body of young Lieutenant
AEuilar. President Mudero's cousin, and
brought 1t bacl. on a pack mule.
Holmdahl Is thirty-two years old.
He was born in Iowa OF Scandinavian
parents. AT the age Of seventeen years
he enlisted in the regular army. and
after serving four years in the Philip
pines. was honorably discharged as a
sergeant with the recommendation from
his commanding officer that he was
capable to command company of vol
untecrs.
IIolmdahl WAS down in Topic. on the
west coast of Mexico. working for tho
Southern Pacific Railway, when the
Madero revolution broke out, Sympa-
thizing with the revolutionary cause.
he joined the Maderistas and was made
q captain of here, doing good service
in cleaning up the federals in his ter
rtory. President Madero, on the sue
cess of the revolution, made him cap
tain OF regulars and placed him under
General Trcviuo. He was sent to Chi
hnahua and w;'er ,ne Cro@co revolution
broke out in 1912 was active In sup
pressing 1t.
II was on that service that Holm
dahl rescued the body OF Agtilar. First
he had to dig up sixteen other Mexi-
cans who had huen executed by Orozco.
IIolmdahI commanded n regim cnt
of Madero's cavalry ard fought we'll.
The Huertistas got him once but he
escaped their prison. During the
struggles following he figured at
Guaymas. Chihuahua. Sonora and
Tuarcz ie fought under Villa for Il
while and was promoted to the rank or
major 10y him. When villa and Car
rama parted company, Holmdahl stay
cd with Carranza. lie served on Cen
cral benjamin Ifill's star. In 1915.
when the United States hegar to move
toward Mexico. Ifolmdnhl resigned
1t was for urging Americans 10 join
Carran2a that he was Indicted and
convicted by United states court.
While out on bail. Holmdnhl WAS sent
with General Pcrshlng.s expedition
after Villa. Scouting with two other
| Americans in an automobile ahead OF
n detachment Of fifty men. Holmdahl
| surprised General CiIgardo Lopez,
second In command at the Santa 1sa-
hel massacre. General, Julio Cardenas
and Mexican captain at the San
Miguel ranch. Those three he killed
single handed.
IT spite of this service The Court OF
Appeals held against him on the con.
spiracv charge, IIe came 70 Washing
ton and applied for clemency. ~ On
| Friday. July -, President Wilson sign
cd Holmdahrs pardon.
Exempt trom the draft because OF
his age. rejected ty a recruiting Once
because OF wounds, Emil Hoimdahi
| now is buck private In the enCineers
because Adjutant-Gsneral Mccain said
| the country needed him and he Is ON
| his way to France. or already thsrA