Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-30
FIRST ISLANDER
WARVETERANT0
RETURN is HERE
lr4hur r. Chalfant, Member of
Thirteenth Engineers. Honor
ably Discharged.
STRUCK BY GERMAN BOMB
Hated To Leave France and Action
But Is Mighty Glad TO See Fa-
miIiar Faces

Rock Islands first veteran of this
sresent war IS home.
He is Arthur B. Chalfant- who as
result Of a paralytiC stroke caus-
eli BY an operation which was made
uecessary after piece of Ger
nan bomb had lodged itself in his
snine. was given an honorable
discharge from the service and
faId thar he had done his part in
ne war and was to return to the
Trnited States to regain his strength
and health
In connection with being the first
Rock Islander TO be invaded and
sent home. he is the first member
Of the Thirteenth engineers to
leave France The Thirteenth en-
gineers was one of the first Amer
ican organizations to cross the wa
ter 10 take part in this present
var. Sent to England, the Thir-
tenth was made the idol of the
English people who turned out en-
masse to greet the Americans who
we're coming to their sid. A great
reception was accorded the troops
that first arrived to participate in
the great conflict
Life with the engineers is one
thrill after another. Chalfant, who
arrived IN Rock Island late Satur-
dav afternoon. told an Argus rep
resentative Not only are air raids
to be expected at any moment but
one cannot tell when the enemy
treachery is going to make its APP
pearance," he continued
"A German air raid was the
cause of my being back here" Chal-
FAINT said. Naturally when a raid
starts anyone who is nearby makes
8 dive for some protecting shelter.
We were on our train, on which 1
was q conductor, one night when
without warning a deluge of bombs
began falling about US We all
Owed to get under the boiler on
the locomotive I didn't get there
in time. A fragment of shell found
its way into my spine.
Taken 100 Miles.
ct was taken 100 miles in an am
bulance 10 an American hospital
and was there operated upon. The
paralytic stroke followed. / can
not say too much for the American
Red Cross. It sure was a wonder
ful operation I owe my life to the
surgeons and the Red Cross nurses
who nursed and cared for me until
I was again able to be about on my
feet
You see the Thirteenth engi-
neers, although an American or
ganization. fed and paid by Amer
Oh,
eminent We were given orders,
directions, etc, by the French gov
eminent, but if injured we were
sent at once to the American forces
for treatment or care.
after being caught by the
shrapneI, I found myself 100 miles
from the nearest American hospi-
tai The 100-mile trip, which, by
the way, was made in q car donated
by a Chicago club, was necessary
as a result Of the French regula-
tons.
81 was operated on at a hospital
near the headquarters of General
Pershing, the name of which city I
cannot divuIge because Of mill
tary rules.
Carries Prisoners.
'The Thirteenth boys will have
thousands Of tales TO tell when
they come home" Chalfant contin-
ned to say, closing his eyes as
though recalling his experiences of
the last year 81 have helped bring
from the front TO the rear of the
French lines $3.50 German pris-
oners in less than "a hours" he