Evening star., 1918-11-09

His left elbow shattered, a frag-
ment of enemy shell buried in his
thigh and another fragment in the
calf of his leg. his life spared only by
a trench mirror that DETECTED bullet
from his heart, Col. John H. Ma
chine Gun" Parker continued to direct
his regiment, and only when he said
through a megaphone, "The objective
has been taken, and more, and we are
holding out" did he consent to be
carried from the battlefield.
The battle, the story of which was
told in a communication from France
to Mrs. Parker, who lives at Rutland
Courts, was one of the most terrific
engaged. 1t was fought September
81, but the location, for military rea-
sons, has not been disclosed. The
Parker is known in France, is re-
cuperating at a hospital in Bordeaux.
Previously Cited for Courage.
Before this engagement Col. Parker
been cited for extraordinary courage by
Gen. Pershing, who awarded him the
distinguished service cross. He was
then in command of the 102d Infantry.
Gen. Pershing in his citation gives three
! instances of Col. Parker's gallantrX In
| every case, the colonel, though not re-
quired by military rule or military Gus
tom, to do so, personally led his troops,
| galloping to the front ranks and cheek
| ing. his men onward.
April % at Seiceprey, before American
! troops had experienced more than a
taste of action, Col. Parker went out
in withering hostile barrage to inspect
| the firing step to the top of the trench,
with his back to the enemy and his face
! toward his troops. In this way he
cheered his men and improved their
morale.
The first bronze leaf was awarded Col
Parker July 81, after he had made .
personal inspection of the front, riding
| two kilometers on horseback, making his
body a target for the enemy, but en-
| thusing his own men.
Braved Death to Rally Men.
At La Fere wood July 25 Col. Parker
/; found that because of the shallowness
! of the trenches the Americans were
thrown temporarily into confusion.
Immediately appreciating the situa-
| tion, the father of the machine gun"
| rode up and down the lines while shot
and shell belched at him from enemy
! guns. The men, the citation says,
were restored to normal morale. For
| this he was given second bronze
| leaf
| 81 am prouder of the citation than
! if had been informed that my l1us-
| hand had been promoted to the rank
of major general said Mrs. Parker.
| 1.-The story I get from France is that
after. the colonel crawled into she'll
\ 101A f~Ov b nh hn nj k14
movements of his regiment. he was
attended by a wounded soldier. When
he had gained his objective he con-
sented to be carried to the field hos
pita..
HE was carried through a veritab BILE
the hospital all right. He is an hon
orary rough rider and who should he
meet Immediately on reaching the
hospital but Mrs. Allyn K. Capron,
whose husband, Capt. Capron, was
killed at San Juan Hill. He was COW
cred with blood, but she Immediately
recognized him and acted as his
nurse"
Son Also Is in Service.
Col. Parker, it is stated, used ma
chine guns for the first time in Ameri-
lean war history at Santiago. He has
established three schools in which the
Iart of machine gunnery is taught. He
is a graduate of West Point. He was
transferred recently from the 1920
Infantry to the 362d Artillery. It was
while in command of this regiment
that he was wounded.
| His son, Capt. Henry Burr Parker
is with the field artillery in France
and. a son-in-law, Maj. William j
jCalvert, also is with the field artil-
llery, commanding a battalion. Gen
Burr of the engineers, in charge OF
Ordnance, is Mrs. Parker's father
Gen. Burr recently returned from
France.