Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-28
FATHER BOUCHER WENT
 OVER THE TOP
Former Montville Rector Showed Ex- eeptionaI Bravery While Under Fire

The right to special conmendatiOn for going over the top with his men is riselaimed by Chaplain Osias Bou- cher, formerly of St. Johns church, Montville, who recently received the Croix de Guerre from the French gov ernment for gallantry in action, m letter made public in New York.
 My major he wrote, 'iaas recom- Hended me for the war cross. It is very kind of him, but I only performed my duty. When duty called me out there in the open amidst the shells and bullets went. I went over the top with the men, so there is no merit on my part"
 Father Boucher was one of the chap lains sent to France last fall by the Knights of Columbus.
 4 despatch from Boston says: Bringing home the first shell fired by Massachusetts troops at the Germans, Lieut.. William Drohan of the 1e1st infantry, arrived from Paris last night. The shell which was fired just before the first raid on the. German trenches on Feb. 23 will be presented to Gov ernor Mccall. together with a rifle captured by men from this state. Lieutenant Drohan was loud in his praise of the bravery df the American | troops. Their work has thrilled both French and American officers he said
 "One of the brave acts I saw" he 1 said, twas when a German shell struck a trench dugout, burying it's inmates in dirt and debris. Sergeant Mott and the Rev. Father Boucher of New Bed- ford rushed in under a heavy artillery fire and dug the men out. Father O. 1 Connell and the Rev. Mr. Rollins oi old Fifth also did gallant duty in aid ing the wounded and dying under | fire"
 Lieutenant Drohan said: ] The bravery of our men during the raid attracted the attention of al France as the story was learned. Lieu | tenants Coobs and Davis and Corpora Hurley and Private LiDsky. especially displayed unusual bravery. They were cited for decoration-the Croix de Guerre. But when Colonel LogaI heard of it he insisted that all of the men be decorated And all were. Ev- cry man of the 101st who took part ir i; that raid is teday wearing the coveted Croix de Guerre."
 l Lieutenant Drohan paused. He seemed lost in reflection. The remem- brance of the CroiX de Guerre had re- called another happening-a tragedy | He spoke of it moment later Tears i, filmed his eyes and his voice was hus- ky.
 There was a day about that time, I he said, when we had our first req l tragedy. The fire from the enemy ar tillery had been unEsially heavy The shells were whistling overhead, burst l ing all about. Huddled in one Of the dugouts just back of the front line were ten men of the 101st. I can't re-
 call the names-just one of them now The one that comes back to me is tha'
 of Corp. Homer J. Wheaton one -timt
 sporting editor of the Worcester Ga.
 zette, and as lovable a boy as ont ever meets
 '"There was an explosion. A shel had found it's target-the dugou
 where the 10 men huddled The eartl
 cayed in and the men were caught lil1
 trapped rats. Then it was that tn
 stuff our men-our Boston men ant
 the men of tall the 101st-showed Tw heroes came to being-Father Boucher
 cne of the chaplains, and Sergean
 Mott.
 With an enemy fire raking tn
 lO1st's positions-Wave upon wave c enemy artillery fire sweeping down
 these two men rushed to the dugou , and started desperately to rescue tn
 imprisoned men. Six were saved. Cor l.lofal wheaton and three others me their death.
 "A few days later Father Bouche and Sergeant Mott received the Crou ] de Guerre-received it for exceptions
 bravery under artillery fire i That recalls an interesting thin
 about Mott" the lieutenant interjeci P ed reminiscently. You know he the son of Dr. Mott of Boston, ar was employed as an interne at u 1. City hospital. At the time the Gil hospital wished to experiment wit !, certain germs-searlet fever. or typl s old, believe they were-and wisht 7 some interne at the hospital to volul
 teer for inoculation, Mott it was WI t. volunteered. Ready then to risk, h s life in the cause of humanity, he VI , ready in France. And of such as - is the 101st made up. Already it h;
 won for itself in France the honor
 being known as the best infantry rel
 iment in the allied service"