Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-14
F IpST SHOT
SCI CORPORAL OSBORNE De MPlLA
R1FTEaY G. SIXTH Us. FIELD ARTh-LERT
who Fired The FIRST Shot Of the A1neriean Army

Unjust have shufrled OF a lot OF boches
that night. l have never had OUT.
that we squared up for the, fanhse
boys who were gassed. The Amer
leans who were killed in the attack
had taken refuge in dugouts.
It was certainly q strange expert
ence firing a rs with a gas mask on.
Ii had a smotherinE feeling at first,
and could hardly see the sights OF my
gun. But I got used to- 1t after a
Right in front Of ou battery was
a graveyard where many OF
French soldiers had. been buried.
Occasionally a shell would light in
the cemetery and dig up some Of the
for a superstitious person. We were
all dog tired when the firing died
down and we quit for the night.
My battery came into action again
on January 20, when the Huns threw
a box barrage around n OF our
listening posts. cutting on our men men
Of the Yanks in the post saw four
Huns approaching. He popped at
them with his automatic and saw one
Of them fall. He kept ON firing until
shell sprinters hit him on tire head
and arm. He lost consciousness, and
didn't wake up until he reached the
hospital.
Right here I want to assure Amer
1ican mothers, wives and sweethearts
that the best Of surgical care in the
world is available to their loved ones
fighting in France.
First there is a medical organiza-
ton attached to each regiment with
a regisental infirmary for simple
cases. There is also a regimental
surgeon and medical oficer ranking
as captain to each battalion. To each
divisions there Is attached an ambul-
ance company, q hospital corps n
a division hospital for first aid.
In action these work as n unit.
EThe wounded are given first aid at
an emergency station right hack of
the line, then taken on stretchers to
al ambulance for transportation to
an advance hospital some miles be-
hind the front. Operations are to be
avoided at this hospital unless the
cas- absolutely demands. When the
patient Is able to be moved or If he
can be forwarded without danger by
postponement of operation, he is sent
to the "a by division ambulance and
railroad to a base hospital. These
to be considered almost outside the
army zone.
The men in charge Of these \base
hospitals are the very cream of Yam
kee surgeons and medical men.
They rank rs majors in the United
States reserves, with the title Of di-
rectors. Many of them have interna.
tional regulations as specialists in
their particular fines. Some Of these
chaps have abandoned big incomes
to serve their country at a majors
pay.
threw down a practice in New York
which Melted him a cool 100000 a
year. And he didn't look q bit wor-
ried about 1t either. He always had
a pack Of cigarettes for us artillery
buddies, and every time he passed
our dugout he would stop and swap
stories. MY freckles used to amuse
him. and nearly every time he saw
me he'd bawl out:
"Hey, Reddy, when are you going
to let me graft some decent white
skin over those copper spots?"
Never" I would come back.
Foolish boy" he would return.
You'd be quite a handsome chap If
you let me eradicate those freckles.'
Sometimes l think he was really
serious about it, and wanted to take
q hand at experimenting with my
freckles. But he didn't have q
chance; my freckles and> red hair
are the badge Of the &. fighting de
Varila1, and I wouldn't part with
them for anything.