Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-02-14
PERsHING's TROUSERS
MADE THE BADGES.
William Green of Abilene,
Was Pupil of General.
: 4A4..4A4AAeAe e,

To have known in personal
friendship Gen. John ] Pershing is a
distinction that belongs to William
Green of this city, chief engineer Of
the United Telephone company. Mr.,
Green was a student in the Univers-
ity of Nebraska when Pershing was
commandant of the military depart
ment of the institution, back in the
middle nineties. Only the general
was not then a world figure but
merely second lieutenant. just out
of West Point and assigned to the
university. Besides instructing the
military division he also taught two
classes in mathematics.
at was characteristic of our love
for him that we boys always called
him, among ourselves, The Lieut. /"
said Mr.. Green today in recalling the
experience, He was strict disci-
plinarian, curt and business-like In
everything that pertained to duty
but out of class hours a teacher to
whom the boys went with all their
troubles. He was like a father to
us all and we felt that he was our
friend as we'll as instructor.
THE military company had an
nual competitive drills when some
outside officer would judge our abil-
ity and Pershing worked us hard to
make us perfect He wanted things
done. If there was parade ground
to be prepared, he was on the job
early and late until 1t was done
which makes reasonable his evident
Iimpatience now, as shown in his dis
patches, to get at the Germans.
"The second year fifty of the best
men were selected from the company
for an exhibition squad. ! was
among them. We visited county
fairs. sometimes under Pershing anc
sometimes with our own officers. We
called ourselves the 'Pershing Rifles
and The Lieut.. said he felt highly
honored. We met in his quarters t.
organize and the matter of distinc
tive badge came up.
What sort of colors do 70,
want. asked Pershing.
Cavalry colors-yellow ant
lblue, was the response.
az have the very thing, said Per
shing. He went to the chiffonier ant
took out pair of brand new cavalr,
trousers that been with him on hi
western tour service. With a pal
of shears he ruthlessly cut them t
pieces across the stripe, making
badge of blue with the yellow lie
stripe for contrast. To each of u
he gave a badge-maybe you thin
those souvenirs are not preciou
now!
1.-THE Rifles went out with him o
camping trips, staying for two week
at a time under strictest military reg
ulations. 1t was an experience wort
having.
Il left after graduating and Pei
shing went into active service and
the Philippines. Several years afte
1T was in Oklahoma City when b
came to town. We met and he sper
the whole evening talking over schoC
DAYS. We called on one of the cir
who had been in his mathematit
class as a tow-headed school girl
but now grown to a most attractiv
Young woman. He spent days ther
and his call was repeated so ofte
as to cause rumors of an engage
ment
but Pershing married the daugl
ter of Senator Warren and lost h
) wife and two daughters in the burr
ing of his home in San Francisc
One child, boy, survives and live
in Lincoln with Pershing's sister
typical American boy, who fair
hates any notoriety on his father
account"
{ AS indicating the human side
r Pershing, Mr.. Green tells of seeil
: him at San Antonio, after the Me
: lean expedition. Il was in San A
I, tonic looking after the telephone e
: change, tho with headquarters
: Waco, the day General Funston die
2 General Pershing was called there
: take charge as head of the sout
western division. / called at
n room in the hotel, but his adjuta
Q said there were a score of promine
e men waiting and it would be almC
impossible for me to meet him
excused myself and was turni
away when Pershing came out,
Hello he called, and tho he h
: plenty of troubles, he spent five M
utes asking after the boys and laue