The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1918-08-01
BOY FROM MISSOURI ONE OF
81 TO GET CROIX DE
GUERRE
High Honors Awarded Little Group
That Repulsed Kaiser's Best
Troops.

| Hat NCPHASC0 AdISC1 oCSt
Troops.
Washington. July 27-There is
eaaHtsse to-day fer the little little of
Rich Hill. No, to proclaim itself to
the world as the home of George c.
Brooks. son of Susan A. Brooks. At
one time, just one of the many thou
sands Of small-town boys who went
to do battle for their country, George
&. Brooks, today is proclaimed by the
French as worthy of the Croix de
Cure. a distinction accorded to few
and badge of honor worn and dis
played with pride by the men of YER
dun and the first Marine
The opportunity came to Brooks, a
private in the Marine Corps, and he
along with gallant thirty others, in
Guiding five officers and twenty-five
non-commissioned officers and men,
made good Opposite them was the
flower Of the German Army. the men
who boosted of their proves and
who were known to the other German
divisions as the famous specially
trained assault troops Of the linden
burg circus"
1t was the hour for the relief of a
battalion and Brooks and his COM
rades went into the guod-natured
taunts and warnings of the marines
relieved
you're going to have lively
time and they'll get you if you don't
watch out" shouted some OF the men
going out.
Never mind, we'll take care of
them and we only hope they come
while we are here for we know we
will handle the job was the equally
goodnatured reply The laugh of the
relief battalion changed into the ex-
pressions of tense earnestness few,
moments later, for it became evident
the Germans were up to something.
Evidently they knew of the hour
for relief and were preparing to take
advantage of it. They opened with y
their batteries and trained them on
this particular sector. For more than
an hour they pounded the sector with
an intense barrage The first shells
dropped in the front trenches and
then moved on, wreaking destruction
and death.
Then the Boche came, came first, :.
few of them, just IN behind the bar
rage, creeping across No Mans Land
to cut the wires. a few more of them
followed to hurl their grenades into
the marines and keep them occupied.
The famous "llindenburg circus was
at its best, trained for the moment to
create havoc in the lightning
trained" Yankees.
There was no confusion in the YAM
KEGS front lines at that moment. The
ihcn of "lightning training went to
the task, Machine guns popped and
grenades answered those of the Ger
mans. The main body of the Hin
denburg Circus" came on for the final
assault. and they met the marines,
ready and anxious for the light to the
death
The Germans came on farther and
hen stopped, entered into a surprise
hey had not expected and gave bat
lie. The marines gave not an inch,
stood their ground. and then when the
American artillery gave them assist
lnce they hurled themselves upon the
amous troops. 1t was terrific fight
If only a few minutes and then the
iermaps broke and retreated back
lcross No Mans Land. leaving be-
lind heavy toll of killed and wound
d.
1t was only short time later that
his bit of gallant work ci the marines
anne to the notice OF the French COM
nander. And it was not long until
orders were received at the front for
he thirty marines to- appear at GER
ain date and place. When they ar
wed they were marched into hol-
ow square of men of their company
md alongside number of French
leroes OF recent combat.
Only eleven OF the thirty could re-
pond. Three, Gunnery Sergeant Ed
ward G. Warren, Corp. John l.. Kuhn
md Private Edward c. Gehlert, had
lied in battle.
Sixteen were recovering from
Wounds in the hospital. Then while
heir comrades cheered the French
commander called each one forward
n his turn and pinned upon his breast
he coveted Croix de Guerre.
They were wounded in the course
# lively night attack OF the enemy.
nut courageously remained at their
ombat post and continued to fire
nd display heroic courage, finally
orcing the enemy to withdraw read
he official statement made public by
he French.
The French commander shook the
and of each man, congratulated him
ersonally and then while the bands
!ayed the March Lorraine the
french heroes. led by a bronzed, wiry
eteran mounted on horse and with
is saber raised at salute, moved on