The sun., 1918-08-19
MAI. M'KENNA WON
LEADING THE IRISH


COUttHutd from FUSt fuVt.
Duffy Of the six days Of battle that be-
gan there. that the Irish never think
of retreating until there Is none Of them
left to go back. Fortunately that was
not our case, for although We buried
some and sent others to the hospital
others survive to carry on the fight. Yet
I still have lump in my throat when
ever think of two lads with identifica-
ton tags that numbered more than a
million. showing they had come to us as
requirements only a few days before.
They had fallen In their baptism Of fire,
facing the enemy. I saw most OF our
boys the night before they crossed the
Ourcq, and all gave a fine account Of
themselves, every last one-of them"
McKenna's Spirit Marches On.
or the rush from the north bank to
the crest Of the first hill on the other
| side. where Major McKenna was
killed by shell conclusion without a
trace OF any kind OF a bruise or mark
on his body: Of the courage and
splendid leadership OF Capts. Martin
]. Meaney, John Patrick. Hurley, Rich
and Ryan and Van Santvoord Merle
Smith and Of the wrigglng. desperate
eight hour combat that carried thin
brown waves Of Americans past Meurcy
Farm 1t Is almost sacrilege for one
who was not there to write. II stands
out clear and plain in letters of bio III
on regimental standards that went
through more than a hundred memoir
able battles in the civil war. Suffice
to say that where McKenna's men left
Off those Of Major William S. Donovan
went son.
McKenna's body was brought in by
his Adjutant. Lieut.. Hugh X. Cassidy.
The fercest lighting was around
Meurcy Farm. where for three days
the Germans made frantic and futile
efforts to dislodge the Americans and
drive them back to the south bank Of
the Ourcq. Not only did the enemy
make full use OF infantry attacks. but
with low flying airplanes combed our
newly made trenches with bombs and
liquid fire. They used gas. artillery.
machine guns--everything they had
but they didn't bulge our lines an
inch. Always when they came on they
were hurled back.
Then came our advance through the
broken and beaten ranks Of the enemy.
Donovan's men pushed ahead up the
valley swept past an ancient chateau
in the forest OF Nesles, until by the
night of August this portion OF the
Franco-American line rested on high
ground. we'll beyond the woods, and the
fight was won.
Cook a Hero in battle.
Fully authentica ted acts OF individ-
| ual heroism during the foregoing fight
ing are legion Private William Lyons
came across a messenger who was
wounded. 1t was verbal message
and important Lyons. under the fire
of machine guns, took the message to
his Captain, then returned and carr led
the wounded messenger to safety. after
which he rejoined his company and said
nothing OF the exploit.
Cook Michael Abien in five days. made
sixty-eight trips through the enemF bar
rage. carrying food to the fighting SOL
ders, and carrying back wounded. Ser
geant Patrick T. Meniman. when all OF
his Immediate officers had been hit. took
charge and reorganized his company and
maintained a difficult position.
Corporal William II. Dynan. Private
| Thomas A. Boyle and Bernard b. Farley
we're relieved and told to ge~to the rear.
Instead they worked their way up front
and assisted in carrying back the
| wounded. BOYLE. after removing all the
wounded in sight. picked up an aban-
doned rifle and went out and captured
three Germans. Sergeant David Red
mond was relieved but refused to leave
front busying himself with carrying the
| wounded and with other necessary, odd
| jobs at the front.
! Corporal Thomas J. Courtney, besides
caring for two captured enemy machine
guns, unloaded ammunition and carried
il to the front. Corporal Michael Cooney
carried his wounded Sergeant hundred
and fifty yards and then went back to
his platoon and took charge. Private
John l.. r. Sullivan. short fat and per-
spring. volunteered to carry messages.
and twice an hour he waded the Ourcq
under FIRE, remaining In his wet clothes
three days. Private Frank McGovern.
when a eomrade was wounded, carried
him more than a mile to a dressing sta
ton.
Fought without Officers.
Sergeant Joseph Higginson. when all
Of his officers had been wounded. took
immediate charge and at great disregard
for his own safety charged an artillery
battery and silenced il. Privates Thomas
A. cullen and William Goldenburg and
William Rechmold advanced in the face
of a direct machine gun fire with an act
ing corporal. When THE corporal was
killed they continued on alone. captur-
ing two guns and saved their company
from being wiped out by enfilading fire.
Privates jeremiah J. Casey. Thomas j.
, Kelly and John c. Mahon worked two
hours under continuous machine gun
fire, building a base from which to fire
one OF our mortars. Sergeant John j.
Ryan and Private Charles b. Goecking,
after carrying wounded to the rear with
out being requested TO do so returned
TO the front line in time to help beat
off an attack. Cook A Wilker pre-
pared food and coffee for five days
while constantly under fire, his kitchen
being his repeatedly. Second Lieut.. Clyde
A. Ames directed our machine gun re-
prisals continuously for thirty-six hours
position.
Dentist wouldn't Stay Buried.
Sergeant William Maklinka. whose
mother was born in Kerry. after his
Lieutenant was wounded, assumed COM
mand of the company and directed the
advance. Lieut.. Eustin B. Lawrence, 4
dentist remained at his station three
days under constant bombardment by
big shells and when another officer was
wounded he carried him to safety. Being
knocked down and buried under
shower OF dirt he persisted and finally
got his wounded comradc into a hospital.
Corporal william Hughes and Privates
James r. Mason and William Helgers
Jr., after crossing the Ourca. were or
dered to retire. Instead they kept on
fighting and rescued three wounded COM
panions. Second Lieut.. James Collier
magnificently led charge which carried
everything before it Lieut.. James Hanly,
an assistant chaplain from the middle