The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-20
ALL GIRLS WERE
HEROINES, ASSERTS
BRAVE HELLO GIRL
PaSsaiC Lassie Who Received
Distinguished Medal Tells
of Deeds of Girls on French
BattIefieldS.

PAssAIC, N. J., Sept. 20. (spl.)-
Miss Grace D. Banker. Pasaalc girl.
nrst uniformed young woman Of the
United States army to 90 overseas, chief
Of the first United States unit OF tele-
phone operators ana who was PERSONAL
W decorated by Lieut., Gen. Hunter Liz.
gett with the distinguished service med
al, has returned from France after lS
months OF service overseas. She Is re-
ticent about her part In the war, but
hubDtng over with praise for the girls
mas been through II yer there and seen
some Of the really remarkable achieve
ments Of our brave men. The people
back here ran hardly realize what hard
ships they bore and what wonderful
things they did.
You can nay that the girls who made
up h telephone branch Of the signal
corps deserve all the credit in 1.-THE world.
They were such a fine. lot Of good sports,
never complaining and always ready TO-
work at ali hours. they were Just dan,
dy, faithful and every ready. Among
them were college graduates, wealthy
young women, one an author, others
business girls, all highly educated and
fluent users OF French. Many Of them
when they enlisted knew very little
o learned. II was their knowledge
Of French which was so much desired,
Yes. we were in danger Of being
bombed, but everybody In France was.
| wouldn't say we had any really mar
row escapes. II sounds so foolish to
make a thrilling story OF It" 4
But the ID. s.. M" she was asked.
II think the citation explains It," re-
piled Miss Banker. She showed the CT
tation, which reads:
For exceptionally meritorious and
distinguished services. She served with
exceptional ability as chief operator in
the signal corps exchange at general
headquarters, a. F, r.. and later in a
similar capacity at First army head
quarters. BY untlring devotion to her
exacting duties under trying conditions
she did much to assure the success of
the telephone service during the opera
tions OF the First army against st.
Mihiel salient and the operations to the
north of Verdun,"
Miss Banker denied she had received
a number of offers Of marriage. She
is a graduate OF Passaic high school and
Barnard college and was an instructor
for the New York Telephone company
In Manhattan when the call for volun-
teers came late In 1917. In January,
1918. she had completed organization OF
the first unit OF its kind In the United
for France In charge of SO operators.
She was five months In charge Of the
telephone service at United States gem
eral headquarters at Chaumont, then
with five of her group was In the thick
OF the fighting with the First army DUR
ing the last three months OF the war.
When the armistiee was signed Miss
Banker directed the telephone service
during the peace conference. After five
months In Paris she was sent to Cob
leng to supervise the telephone system
Of the army pf occupation, and II was
there, that she was decorated with the
ID. s. M,
A brother, Corp. Eugene Banker OF
enlisted IN April. isii. and was With
the army OF occupation when she d.
rected the phone system In Germany.
During her service overseas hcr father
died.