Imperial Valley press., 1918-11-29

dered to The infantry. His fearles
bravery and coolness was The decid
jing factor.
From then on throushout The 27tl
and 28th he continued to show hi
sterling qualities of leadership. Or
the 29th the company was ordered
forward with the first wave of in
ifantry on the right flank. This was
| in The famous forest of Argonnc
north of Apremont.
"The enemy had rushed new Prus'
sian divisions to Stop US at all costs
The infantry was finally halted BY
the enemy machine guns and artil
lery. Boyce went forward through
our lines and reconnoitered. He found
barbed wire entanglements which had
TO be cut, so he started in on the
job. The Germans raised Old NeC
about it, but he seemed 10 have a
charmed life. Three of our sergeants
seeing this, came forward and helped
him. When he had made The neces
sary opening, he led the company for
ward, the company commander hav-
ing become casually.
"He took position which eventu
ally permitted the infantry 10 ad-
vance again, and he continued to eX
ercise command, all the other Off
GERS falling. He would stand up and
reorganize the company when il
meant sure death and when every
German this side of Berlin seemed 10
be shooting al him.
"He was wonderful example for
the men. The afternoon of the Goth
our infantry was forced back a little
WAYS. Boyce held The company and
delivered fire at a critical lime with
terrible effect on the enemy. He fin
ally retired to the infantry line aftsr
they had gotten organized into new
position. Here Boyce reorganized the
company again. explained TO them
their new functions, put sergeant
in charge, and went forward to try
and locate the infantry commander.
at was ticklish job and an i'm
portant one. He never returned. We
learned that he was wounded in the
head slightly. but died in the base
hospital on October I, principals
from shock. Some portion of big
shell must have hit near him. l was
not with this company through tbs
battle, having been transferred 10 it
since
"The tale I have given is diges',
as / have been able to gel it, from
the enlisted men. Only wish I migkt
give You all their praise. All the
officers We're lost 10 Them, but they
grieve only for Lieutenant Boyce
Alien. He showed qualities far above
his grade. Yousr respectfully,
"ROY G. THOMPSON,
"Second Lieutenant, U. S. A.
"Apremont, just west of Verdun."
"Mrs. Ira Aten: l will write a
few lines. as / feel it is my duty. I
sure don't want to write, for
thought more of Lieutenant Aten than
of anyone whom / ever knew. l was
his platoon sergeant and l sure know
his action in action. He was man
among men and he didn't fear any
thing that the enemy had. He was
in command of our company and he
did excellent work. He would have
been made our captain. He was our
last officer 10 be- a casually. Lieu
tenant Aten did his part in winning
The war; He got his part of The Huns.
He did not finch, but said: eve arc
doing good. Go ahead" He was
wounded in the head by machine gun
fire. The other boys feel the same
as I do. EDWARD SCHUBERT,
"First Sergeant"
"Mrs. Ira L. Aten: On behalf of
Sergeant Hess and the entire COM
pany, take this time to offer our
syr1pathies 10 You in the loss of Lieu
tenant Boyce Aten. He was honored
respected and loved by all who knew
hiro. Officers and enlisted mon alike
b m in high esteem. He was
made of that tsuff typical of our
western men, and was courageous.
broad minded and as true as steel
Please accent our deepest sympa
thies. SERGEANT l.. HESS"