The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-05-31
COLONELLUKELEA

Ready to sail on the first ship avail
able, Colonel Luke Lea, of Tennessee,
the commanding officer of the Hath
Field Artillery, organized as the First
Tennessee Field Artillery, is now at
port of embarkation. He win be in
France with his men in a short time
ready to go upon the firing line and
there make whatever sacrifice may be
required of him in civilizations Arma-
geddon. That he will acquit himself
with honor and credit to his uniform,
his state and his nation no one WHO
knows him viii for moment question.
Luke Lea is altogether the most re-
markable character in the state. He
is today probably Tennessee's best low
ed citizen-soldier By all who admire
real manhood, by all who truly love
the unselfish, the noble and the honor
able in character, Luke Lea is beloved.
Only those who through malice or
spite or envy bear him grudge, will
now withhold from him the honor that
he has won in making the supreme
sacrifice. At times he has been heart
lily hated, because wholly misunder-
stood by large element of the states
population. But many of his enemies
have been distinct credit to him.
No man from Tennessee made
greater sacrifice to enter the army and
place his life in peril than Col. Luke
Lea. The head of devoted and inter-
esting family, the owner of "a great
and influential newspaper, holding
with hoops of steel the friendship OF
many of the first men of the state in
every hamlet and county, the posses
sor of wealth, position and perfect
health, years beyond the draft age,
it required measure of sacrifice upon
the part of Luke Lea to offer his servi-
ces to the nation on the field of battle |
probably not made by many others
who have gone forth to armed com
bat. But Col. Lea did not hesitate.
Probably the only former member Of
the senate of the United States to go
to the blood-soaked battle plains as a
fighting man, Col Lea took the posi-
ton that his stake in this was was
just as great as that of any other man
in the nation, and his duty to country,
to humanity and to civilization must be !
placed above all other earthly consid-
erations.
As a senator of the United States,
Col. Lea long saw the gathering storm
Of war. He was from the beginning
of the struggle in Europe consistent
Of national honor and firm
believer in the Righteousness of the
cause for which our heroic allies have
given so much in blood and treasure.
He realized from the first that sooner
or later America must take her stand |
on the side of honor, virtue and civil |
ization. And when war did come he
promptly rendered his services to the
nation through the governor and was
commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel
to raise a regiment of field artillery.
Due largely to his efforts and 71sesf
larity the regiment was soon recruited |
and when mustered into the service on
August 4, had its full war strength.
Although without previous military
experience Luke Lea, with that per-
sistent, tireless energy, unconquerable
optimism that have always and ever
been his chief characteristics, applied
himself diligently to the task before
him. So quickly did he learn the les
sons required that soon after the reg
iment was mustered into the federal
service he was appointed colonel by |
President Wilson. With his own
hands, Brigadier General Galley, Col
LEAFS immediate superior, took the ca
giles that he had worn as colonel fof
twenty years and pinned them on the
shoulders of the gallant young Ten
nessean,
Ordered to the great school Of fire
and tactics at Fort Sill, Luke Lea, al
ter strenuous course of three months
graduated with almost the highest /
honors, only one or two in large class
making a higher grade than he did, /
He is today one of the most efficient,
and assuredly one of the best loved /
field officers in branch of the serv-
ice that is highly technical.
Tennesseans, loyal to the primer
Piles that gave this nation its birth,
gratifed that at 1T the nation has
taken its cstand with the defenders of
civilization and against the German
power, will follow with feelings of
pride and love the future career of CO..
Luke Lea, This prayer will go with
him to the battlefelds, sustain and
cheer him in his efforts in behalf Of
human freedom and Christian ideals.
Thank God for Tennesseans and Amer
cans like Luke Lea. Men like him
give the lie to the oft repeated charge
hat the people Of this generation have
legenerated and that our civilization
IS effete.
Luke Lea will not only make cred
table record as a military commander
put better than that he will be an in
ipirations and a guide to the hundreds
i brave youths committed to his care.
A man who has walked in the paths of
one who has been clean ana
Upright in his living, believer in the.