New-York tribune., 1918-08-08
WoundedJerseyBoy
Drives Auto From
Trenches to Safety
Ralph Pagan, of Millville,
Unable to Stand, Saves
Self and Comrades
An Expert Chauffeur
Propped Up in Ambulance, He
Races Through Rain of
Shells to the Rear

Wounded so badly he could not stand
erect, Ralph Pagan, of Milville, N. j.,
proved his American pluck recently in
France when he drove an auto ambul-
ance from the firing line to the rear,
where he and two companions, also in
jured, received medical attention.
Fagans father yesterday was noti-
fed officially that his son, a private,
had been knocked down by high ex-
plosive she'll and seriously wounded.
When the three soldiers were taken
to the ambulance, no chauffeur could
be found. But Pagan, an expert at the
wheel, volunteered to drive. Unable
to stand, he was propped up, and put
ting the car on high, raced through
d rain of shells to safety. He had been
shot through the hip and ankle.
Lieutenant Frank J. Mcconnell, of
500 Chestnut Street, Richmond Hill,
killed in action on July 20, was a
student at Princeton who went to the
Plattsburg Training Camp last year.
At Princeton he rowed on the fresh
man crew and was we'll known as q
tennis player. In recent letter he
told of German she'll exploding in
his dugout, but he escaped injury. His
parents are now in the Thousand ISL
ands. The telegram announcing his
death was forwarded to them.
Private Daniel Chisholm, reported
killed in action, has four brothers
fighting in France. Chisholm, who
lived with his parents at 1928 Nelson
Avn Al.
9th Engineers last May. At the same
time the telegram was received an
nouncing his death, there came let
ter from him stating he was in the
best of health
Private Paul Curchi lived at 10
Mott Street and was only nineteen
years old when he enlisted a year
ago. Last week he was severely wound
ed in France. He had been only three
years in this country when he enlist
ed. He was q bootblack. A mother
and two sisters live in Italy.
Private Carl T. Wetz, reported
killed in action in to-day's casualty
list, was the son of an American citi-
Mr.. and Mrs. William Wetz, live at
1000 Forest Avenue, The Bronx. Pri-
vate Wetz. who was twenty four years
old. had been mentioned in the casu-
atty reports three times since he land
ed in France. He was reported in
action June 20, but his family received
Telegram on July q that he was
back on duty. To-day they received
the announcement of his death. He
had been in the service four years as
a member of Company Fl, 2Sth In
fantry.
Hugh Haggerty, of Company F, 165th
infantry. wrote to his mother. Mrs.
he was wounded His letter reached
her yesterday few moments before
the arrival of the official telegram
announcing that he had been severely
wounded. In his letter Haggerty told
OF the fighting around Chateau Thierrv
on July Is.
Il have been slightly wounded in
the head and ankle" his letter said.
81 received the wounds from a piece
on the 10Th. | have been operated on
and am getting along fine. and will be
back with my company by the time this
letter reaches you.
IL must say. mother, it was a terrible
day for the Germans. They attacked
us about o'clock, and we Just heapsd
them up dozen high. There were a
HuHper OF our boys wounded and
killed. but the number did not compare
with that of the Germans. Their dead
we're heaped up so high they could not
advance. The French and Americans
drove them back, and later we occupicd
what had been their first line.
when the dawn was breaking they
sent up about fifty aeroplanes. Thcy
shot machine guns at US and dropp,d
bombs in our trenches. | know I
Knocked off a few of those Germars
and am happy to know did nv best
and did it we'll"
Captain Joseph Katz, of Atlantic CITY,
mentioned yesterday as among the
wounded, is a captain in the 9th In
fantry, Company H. He enlisted in
October. 1917, was commissioned lieu
tenant in December at the officers
training camp at Fort Sheridan. Illi-
nois, and has been in France since last
January. The last word received from
him was dated July Ia, and reached his
brother, f. f. Katz, yesterday He told
of going cover the top" four times
and of big capture of Germans all
along his sector. In his letter he also
told of being commissioned a captain.