Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-09-21
Men Of National Army WIN Be
Accorded Same Recognition
as Regulars.
MEDALS OF HONOR PRICED
Changes May BE Made In Present Law
How Some Enlisted Men in the
United States Army Won
Medals for vsIor.
BY EDWARD Q. CLARK.

acts OF personal gallantry In the feel,
viii be accorded them under the Law
that Is now given to officers and mer
OF the regular service.
There are enlisted men Ia the serv
ice TO-DAY who have won medals OF
honor for conspicuous personal gal
lantry Ia the field. and II can be said
that the possession of one Of these
metal tributes TO courage Is priced
above all things else that the govern
ment can bestow.
by the time that the new American
army troops In any numbers strike
the Germans In France. IL is probable
that congress will have made some
changes IN the laws governing the CIV
ing Of certificates Of merit and medals
~ homer for high nets OF courage on
the field OF battle.
There Is a law governing IN the mat
ter today but II Is said that army Of
iicers believe II 10 be hedged In with
50 many requirements that some men
who deserve certificates OF merit are
prevented from getting their earned
ably nre 10 be made VIII In no way
aid the undeserylng to secure prizes
which are intended 20 so only TO those
whose conduct Is OF the highest In
face OF great danger. Young men who
are about to enter the training camps
should know that In this matter OF
recognition for courage. they VIII be
an lei
stoned officers. Gnllantry In man, not
gallantry IN rank Is the thing recog
nized.
How Medals Have Been Won.
II Is possible that men selected for |
service IN the new National army, and
perhaps others. may be interested TO
learn how a few OF the many enlisted
men IN the United States army have
earned their medals for valor"
When Clusters expedition struck in
10 the Sioux country In 1876, the COM
manding officer ordered Major Reno
with his squadron OF the Seventh to
make the dctour 20 the right. Custer
then rode into the valley. where with
his command he met his death. Reno
striking TO the right met huge force
OF the Sioux and In bitter battle
which followed he lost many men.
While ibis engagement was at It's
height u pnck mule carrying n con- .
siderable part OF the carbine ammunl-
lion OF the troopers broke away and
toward the Indians. An en-
listed man named Hanley knew what
hs loss OF ammunition meant and he
eft his troop and circling round to
he right lie managed TO capture the :
mule at point directly In front OF the +
indian line.
ilanley threw himself on the ami !:
nails back and lashing II into a run.
nede straight back for his command.
lie was under the closr and direct fire
4 the Indians. Hundreds of rides
iarked at him, but he escaped UNI
cathed by seeming miracle. The
was saved and congress.
the enlisted mans devo-
lon and gallantry. voted TO give him
he coveted medal OF honor for his
Ugh service.
The bushwhacling war In the Phil
oplnes produced OF heroes n hundred,
ut the world usually was given only
ne names OF the commanding officers
/ the fights which made individual
crolsm possible. Who. on reading
lese lines, can remember ever before
aving seen or heard the name Louis
edeon1
Escape Was Marvellous.
Not so long ago &c" company OF
le Nineteenth infantry went into nc
on near Mount Amla. Cebu. Philip
ne Islands, The captain of the COM
my was mortally wounded and the
lrtunes OF the fight left him on the
ia defended only by Private Louis
cdeon. A force OF the enemy adj n
need 10 give the captain his death IS
roke. but the private soldier faithful
HIS duty aud 10 his officer faced the
looming baud. as army record hath It, q
ingle handed and alone" Although
posed 10 q concentrated firc. Gedeon r.
his marvellous workmanship. aided
atcrinlly by his GOODNESS in the pres
&C OF what seemed certain death.
pt the enemy back. L
Private Gedeon might nave escaped.
2 could have slipped into a ravine
a have Joined the main body Of en-
,ops. In fact. It is said that the ap
.scSen officer knowing that his own boz
,und was fatal, ordered Gedcon 20 ne'
I'VE him. but the private soldiers tn,
swer was 10 kneel by hts oillcer's tel
Ie and TO offer his body as pro- try
ton.
Gedeon's escape that day was rs ha,
Irvel0us as anything ever set down dei
the pages OF fiction. He held his Gle
u and hep came before the pri- Wis
te's wounded charge died. The Off J
! whom the private had saved from rar
, knives and the bullets OF the en- 4
y breathed his last. surrounded by Kan
, men OF his command. |
congress recognized the bnyery OF Ne
orge NJ shelton. who was a private VA
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