The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-06
COMES THROUGH WORLD WAR
SHOT UP BUT A REAL HERO
Memphis Marine Experiences
Great Adventure in Series
Of Thrilling Drives on the
Hun-NoW ReCuperating.

The accompanying photo Is that of
f. c. Buford, son of II. G.. Buford,
1851 McLemore avenue, an ac-
will make interesting reading for his
many friends in Memphis, and his ma
tive county of Fayettc.
At the end OF three months training
on Paris Island, S.. c.. young Buford
had won a medal. turned down an Off
GERS commission and somehow succeed
ed in being placed Immediately in an
overseas battalion. lie wrote his father
that he felt it his duty to go to France
and hat he would rather be a private
in France, than an officer in his native
land. on landing in France at the criti-
cal moment when the Hun was driving
everything before him in the Marine
salient. young Buforu and his whole
company requested to be sent immedi-
ately into action, which, In the emer-
genCy was granted, and so he helped
form the iron WALL through which
the Hun could not pass.
On the first occasion over the top
at Chateau Thierry, he had his clothes
literally stripped from him, and had to
be rugged out entirely new, and later
received his near-mortaI wounds, on
the Marine front on July IS, one Of the
most glorious of the many epochGl days
Of the war; where the Hun was finally
stopped and, turned back to his doom.
The Letter Is interesting in its simple
details as showing the very hell Of fire
through which so many of our heroes
tassed as well as the indomitable spirit
and even C~omplacency with which they
have met and borne the direct afflic-
tons and pain,
Base Hospital 81, Nantes, Oct. %.
Dear Dad; I received today your
letter dated Oct. !, saying you had re
ceived only two letters from me, !
had the Red Cross lady write four for
me since I have been mere, so some
must have gone astray.
Il went straight to tue front as soon
as 1 landed. We went UP in a box
car. The whole company put in a
request to go directly into action, and
50 they. sent us up at once to the Cha
teau Thierry front. over the top there,
| had my clothes literally torn off OF
me, and had to be rugged out entirely
front we were hauled in a truck all the
night OF the 10th and marched all night
Of the 18th, and arrived at the front
on the morning of the 18th of July, We
went over the top and drove the Huns
about 10 kilometers by IL O'Clock that
\ morning. We stopped TO organize, and
went over again tina, afternoon and
was wounded the second time we ad-
vanced. | wish you could have seer
the boys running those Huns. We ad
vanced on machine gun nests when
bullets were flying as thick as hail
| was shot through the right eye, and
It came out on the lert side of my face
under the left eye, and ] was shot
| through both hands, was shot In the
knee and between the shoulders, and
| got two shots in the hea | was taken
first to a Red Cross hospital In Paris
| and was there about six weeks and Their
was sent on here where I have beer
ever since. The wounds in my head
are completely healed. leaving no bad
effects at all, only small scars which
my hair covers; my left hand is com
| pletely healed and Ianave perfect use
Of 1t; there is only a small scar there
that is hardly noticeable; my right
hand is getting along nicely, and In the
long run | shall have use Of that. Al
this writing the thumb and first finger
are still a bit stiff. so | can not use
a pencil or pen. There will be a little
scar on my right hand in the palm
have two scars on my face, but
don't ,hink they mar my beauty much
There is one over my left eye which
Is small, and there IS one over my
right eye which Isn't bad. ] think