The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-06

ROS6EO ~ fHON
Former Company A Now in tn
Fighting Zone
This casualty, coming on top Of tn
death of Raymond Gillett, of Minot
would indicate that the First regi
ment, now the 1G4th u S. Infantry
is actually in the front trenches" sait
Adjutant General Fraser last night in
commenting upon the Associated
Press dispatch reporting the death
of Louis Ousley, of Wilton, and the
wounding Of Joe Matthews, of Bis
marck, both members of Bismarck
pioneer national guard unit, Co. A OF
the Fighting First.
ceived here by parents who have boys
serving with this unit, .anded in
France only week or two ago. The
fact that the First regiment has been
Immediately rushed to the front would
indicate preparation there for an early
drive on the part of the enemy. The
Fighting First was selected for one
of the first line trenches, should this
prove the case, because, as Adjutant
General Fraser says, there isn't a
finer regiment in the service any
where" The Fighting First is Differed
almost entirely by veterans Of the
Philippine campaign and by men who
have been quarter century or more
In the service.
Company As Past
Co. A is a direct descendent OF the
old Garfield Light Guards of territorial
days. Later this organization became
the Governors Light Guards, under
the late Capt. Call, who was succeed
ed in the old state militia organiza.
ton by Capts. Bennett and Whitaker
Co. A served through the Philippine
campaign as a unit of the First North
Dakota volunteer infantry, under
Capt. w. T. Moffit. Following the re-
turn Of the Philippine veterans. the
entire First regiment was reorganizee
under new national guard rule, and
Capt Henry T. Murphy, who left Bis
marck as commander Of the headquar-
tiers company of the Second regiment,
headed the Bismarck company for
many years. Capt. A. B. WEIGH was
commander Of Co. A for long period,
and it was under his command that
the company served on the border.
When Capt Welch was given an in
dependent detail early in 1917, John
w. Murphy, another Philippine veter
an, was made captain of Co. A. Co. A
with Co f, of Mandan, X of Dick.
insOn and Fl of Jamestown, was must.
cred into the federal service last
March and assigned the task Of guard.
ing important Northern Pacific bridg.
es. Cos A and were stationed at the
Missouri river bridge, while Co. H was
divided between Valley City and Far.
go and Co X for some time served at
a Montana outpost These boys, there
fore, have been constantly under arms
for almost two years, dating from the
time Of their mobilization for the
Mexican border troubles, and with
only brief respite from their return
last February until they were again
called out the latter part of March.
May Have Been Air Raid
There is Of course possibility that
these boys were injured in air-raids,"
said General Fraser. Anyone casual
ty sustained in line of ones military
duties is recorded as having occurred
in action This report, therefore, does
not necessarily mean that our regi-
ment is in the front line trenches, or
even in the immediate war zone"
The fact, however that there have
been so many casualties during the
last week in the ranks of the First
would indicate that if the boys are
not on the firing line they are iccupy,
ing some exposed position very close
to the center of hostilities.
ousIey Well Known Here
Louis Ousley, or Lewis" Ousley as
his name appears on official records
here, is very we'll known in Bismarck.
He, with his brother, Lawrence, enlist
ed in Co. A last April, while the unit
was stationed at Camp Frazier at the
Missouri river bridge here. The young
man was well known in Bismarck,
where he made many warm friends
during the several months the battal-
ion OF which co A was unit spent
at Camp Frazier and Fort Lincoln.
Private Ousley was son of Mr.. and
Mrs. A. b. Ousley, prominent Mclean
county farmers residing seven or eight
miles north of Wilton, where the
young man had spent all his life up
to the time Of his enlistment. He is
survived by his father and mother, his
brother Lawrence, who was fighting
at his side in France, and by number
OF relatives in Mclean county.
Another Bismarck Boy.
Joseph Matthews, reported in Tues
days dispatches as slightly injured,
Is brother of Mrs. John R. Falconer,
who resides near Bismarck. He is al
so very well known here. He enlisted
ia Co A early last summer.
Under the war department rulings,
a record Of Ill enlistments in Co. A
accepted from the time that unit was
mustered into federal servie last
March is kept at washington, and the
fact that Private Ousley was mem
luar OF CO, "A was ascertained through
ftSSto4kd5 WHICH, +. Holmboe ms pfo