The Lake County times., 1918-11-30
THRILLING
STORY TOLD
BY SOLDIER
G. III. Marsh, Who Enlisted
in Hammond Last March,
Back From Battles in
France With Croix De
Guerre.

From Hammond to Chateau Thierry
and Return" would prove a fitting
title for the thrilling story Of warfare
overseas being told BY Clyde r. Marsh.
who has returned to his wife and
horle north of Valparaiso on a fur
Tough from Fort Smelling Minnesota.
base hospital. Incidentally. Mr. Marsh
brings a record as enviable as its fea-
turas are startling In that he IS one
American soldier who came out alive
from that veritable hell at Chateau
Thierrv He is ayictim OF German
shell shock. he wears the Croix de
Guarre Cross or the French Legion Of
Honor for distinguished service, and
singularIy he has liked TO read his own
death notices
ENLISTED MARCH 20.
Mr.. Marsh enlisted at Hammond
March 20 in the meantime having Civ
en- up a lucrative position in the mills
at Gary, From Hanmond he was sent
to Jefferson Barracks. and one week
later found him at Washington. D. c.
Thence his. journey Aed him to Hoboken
y j.. from where he embarked and
landed at Brest, FNanee. in May be-
coming attached td nc Ninth Infantry
From Brest to Parszevs the next step
in the programs afH at the French
capital Mr. Marsl1s rrival was stimuli
tanfous with qernAn air raid. from
wilIfh -escsgp & vs. ft5ross ia5uFy. Tba
last link in his forward journey was
completed when the Americans merged
with their French brothers in arms in
front lines at Cantigny where he had
his first taste of actual warfare.
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER.
one battle now followed closely upon
the heels Of another until Mr.. Marsh
found hfEnself at Chateau Thierry. and
his description Of the lighting in that
neighborhood makes one shudder and
at the same time marvel at the savag-
cry displayed by the combating armies.
Here he was gassed and also wounded
by a German bullet, and also it was
in this vicinity that he won his cross
for signal bravery. German sharp
shooters in dugout We're playing hav-
oc with the Americans. Mr.. Marsh
armed himself with a load Of hand
grenades and edging to a point Of
vantage. lshelled the dugout When
the smoke cleared. it was found there
were twenty-six dead Germans in the
dug out For this act he was deco
rated with the Cross of the Legion
Of Honor BY the French commanding
officer.
VICTIM OF MANY THINGS.
\ few days later he fell a victim to
shell shock at Fishes Tho shell ex-
ploded within hve feet or him. and for
hours he lay on the battlefield. para
dozen wounds inflicted by shrapnel lie
was discovered and removed to field
hospital. and from there commenced
the round OF hospital TO hospital until
Mr. Marsh landed at Newport News. Va.
While there he read In the govern
ment's casualty list the name OF C.
II. Marsh" as reported killed. and he
wondered. He finally Secalled that a
c. H. Marsh OF Pennsylvania had been
encountered in one of the hospitals
bddiy wounded. and Mr.. Marsh knew
his name had been confused with that
of the other unfortunate soldier. l.
r. Myers. chairman Of the local Red
Cross. was informed OF the death OF
&C. H. Marsh" and Immediately noti-
ueld Mrs Marsh. who. in the meantime
had received word from her husband
to the effect that he had been trans
fcrred to the bose hospital at Fort
Smelling The error was thus cor
reeted.
SPEAKS IN 4 WHISPER.
Nh. Marsh is home on leave OF ab-
senee. By no means we'll man. The
effects Of gassiag are still notiRa5l
in severe cough and the she'll shock
has 80 Impaired his voice that he is
able 10 speak scarcely above a whis
per. and can only converse few mo-
ments at stretch
Mr. Marsh's statements bear out the
reports from overseas that the Euro
pcans never saw such fighters as the
Yanks who went into battles stripped
to the waist. and singing and yelling
at the top Of their voices, throwing
tho fear Of Uncle sam into the Ger
mans before a blow had been struck.