Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-07
0TTAWA'S OWN HERO
DESCRIBES HOW He
WAS GIVEN HONORS
LIEUT.. HARRY KELLY DES-
CRiBES PRESENTATION or
CROSS-OF-WAR - VISITED BY
WAR CORRESPONDENTS IN
FRENCH HOSPITAL.

Describing how he was awarded n
French war cross, and the accompany
ing the presentation Lieut.. Harry
nelly, IN letter home today tells
interestingly OF how he lay in a
French hospital as the honor was
conferred upon him with half dozen
generals standing by to witness the
performance. incidentally he is
looking forward to his trip to blghty
He says.
III Active Service, American Expedi.
tionary Forces. May 6, 1918.
Dear Father and Mother:
yesterday was certainly a big dav
ana suppose you already know from
me newspaper reports that your son
Is the proud possesor of the French
war cross for valor on the field OF
Dattle, II was indeed quite a surpr,s.
20 me to receive this honor. althouen
! had heard rumors before that sucn
was to happen, 1t was quite a cer..
mony. Three French generals the
American general of NV division
three United States colonels. nyc
united States majors and a very
large number of captains and lien.
tenants made up the party A French
lieutenant and another man from nv
regiment, both OF whom are here a,
the hospital, received the war eros.
also.
don qn0W that You realize ius,
what this means; that is. to receive
THIS decoration, but il is an honor that
! in my widest dreams never hopec
TO acquire. It will he home soon no,
qul'e the same person physically as
When | left for ! will be moving
around on one leg, but | certainly
cannot but appreciate the fact tina,
my efforts in doing my part have me-,
the notice of the French and other
generals in this community II Is
testimonial concerning valor which
leaves no one in doubt and | vii,
treasure il indeed TO my dying dav.
Rishtafter the ceremony they hac
big champagne party in the officers
ward where ] stay. There was French
pastry, cookies, cakes and as always
the French drink, champagne. All the
olllcers were in on Il and il was
quite "A celebration for hospital or
course was MOI in on the cham
payne part as ! have never vet had =
taste OF it, The French nurse saiG
they had to celebrate an affair tha,
happens so seldom here in The hospr
al Right after the generals left two
newspaper reporters came into the
room and they looked at the medar
and citation and got my address. etc.
They represented the International
News and they inquired "a 10 my
nome newspaper and said that the
report would he published in day
or 50 in all the papers in the states
That is why ! feel at This time muen
That | am writing will not be news
to YOU
! thought all these irregular pro.
ceedlnes were over with last nights
affair was mistaken. for division pho.
toeraphers were on the job this after
noon. ! was brought outside in lir
lhalr and first of all photographs
were taken and then moving pictures
with couple OF French nurses on
the scene attending me. They arc
government pictures which accord
ing to the operator will foremos.
probably be shown in he screen IN
the United States. so perhaps You
may later see me in the movies
am feeling fine today and ! am
writing this sitting in the chair. The
doctor told me this morning that
was getting too healthy to stay
around here. and that they would
soon move me Ia another hospital Ia
! Continued ON pagn g col al