New Britain herald., 1918-10-05
BACK FROM SERVICE AT CHATEAU THIERRY
Private O'NeiI Wounded During Attack With U. s. Marine Corps

Private Charles O'Nen of the Limited States Marines, son of MT. and Mrs. Martin J. O'Neil of 132 Oak zstreet has returned from France and
 Is spending a 72 hour furlough in $ his city. Private O'Neil is the only Blew Britain Marine who has seen Service at Chateau Thierry and re- turned to this country. Another local boy Joseph Feingold saw service with the first to fight" in this bat
 lie and is in a French hospital for treatment.
 #l O'Neil was IT years old when he en-
 isted in the Marines. After @ course pf training in this country he was sent overseas, landing in France in the latter part of March, 1918. Dur < Ing his period of overseas service he
 Book part in three large engagements Negdun, Bella Woods and Chateau Tfierry, and tells an interesting tale pf the operations around these points preceding and during the engage nents. Of especial interest is his
 tory of the battle of Chateau Thierry, < he battle that put the names of the Marines in the hall of fame.
 The company to which the New Britain boy was attached, the 51st Marines, left Verdun in the middle pf May after they had seen consider hble service and had been given orders to go to the rear for short rest Before they reached the rest eamps news of a big German drive for Paris arrived and they were ordered to duty again to beat back the Hun drive. AS they neared the scene of Operations the French army had al-
 Aady started retreating and preced- gng them was a host of refugees, Moor peasants with their belongings, Tome of them carried on their backs and some with wheel-barrows and small teams The sight of the re- fugees many of them aged men and svomen, inspired the Marines to fight es they did in this battle and beat back the enemy.
 Wounded at Bella Woods.
 It was in the battle of Bella Woods ' that ONeil received the wounds that taused him to be sent back to the States to recuperate. A surprise at tack was planned by the Marines, hnd at the appointed time the boys Event over the top and at the Ger Enan lines During the engagement with the German troops in No Man D
 land a bullet struck him in the Bhoulder causing almost complete paralysis of the muscles of his arm. Binding that he could use the arm ho more in the engagement he started back for his trench and a shell burst hbout 1 3 feet away, sending a piece of Bhrapnel into his shoulder, He was, however, able to reach the American lines without aid.
 A After receiving treatment at the first aid hospital and the base hospital he was sent to Colamieres, behind the Zines for treatment. He was left in his city only a short time and was then moved to Nantes where he was kgiven most of his treatment for the wounds received. While at Colamieres he met the only two New Britain #boys he saw since he landed in France in March, Sergeant George Beckett and Private Dewey Selander Beckett had his left arm amputated Rnd Selander his right.
 While in the Nantes hospital Hun n 'Kultur" was very much in evil Hence, several attempts having been made by the Germans to bomb the Hospital. They were unsuccessful and received such damage to their aeriaI forces at this point that they abandoned the idea after two suc- cessive nights had proven especial hy expensive to them.
 & O'Neil speaks highly of the conduct of Lieut.. Leslie Eddy who was killed at Chateau Thierry. Although he did shot come in contact personally with hffn. one of his "buddies" had oc- gcasion to meet him quite often. O'Neil 8inquired as to Lieut.. Eddys health lone morning and was informed that he had been killed the preceding might. One hour later the local boy went over the top and was wounded
 There is feeling," O'Neil says "when 8, fellow first gets into the trenches that cannot be described. This however soon dies away and the men feel quite at home in their dug outs" Cooties did not give the 51st any great trouble, but the rats around # Verdun made up for both. At times < 1t was difficult to keep the rats away sjlong enough to prevent their hard Rtack from being eaten The boys &s@