East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-09-20

dfat age. 1t can be said to the credit
OF the Indians, however, that half of
tnose on the service flag went into
the various branches OF service in
voluntary enlistments.
Thirteen enlisted in the land fight
ing branches of the service. some
becoming engineers, others signal
corps men and one was in limited
service. Several were sent overseas.
The navy attracted seven who enlist
ed and the marine corps had two en-
iistments. The selective service draft
took 22 for the army.
1t was no fault of large number of
drafted Indian boys that they did not
get to France. Some were shifted
from camp to camp in this country
and had their divisions changed nu
raefous times. One man, however,
made from the reservation TO the
front lines in about two months. He
was Grover Minthorn, who was placed
IN the nth division and hurried
overseas in record time. Minthorn
was in the fighting for nearly two
months but escaped without SO much
as wound
Other Indians who saw France
either did not get into the battle lines
or were fortunate enough to escape
injury in the short time they were
exposed to hostile shell fire.
Indian boys who served in the navy
had more experiences than those WHO
were in the army. One of the gobs
Dan White enlisted for the four year
term and had made five round trips
across the Atlantic when i'll health
Eecessitated his discharge from the
service. White had a pretty good idea
of rough water, submarine scares and
French seaports when he finally fold
ed his blues in mothballs.
Sam Luton, another reservation
sailor, travelled about half way around
the world as a member of the Amerf-
can navy. He was with the ship until
the Pacific fleet struck home waters.
He served throughout the war on the
big battleship Texas and was dis
charged when that ship reached San
Diego early in August.
johnson Barnhart, also in the navy,
is quite an airplane man besides be-
ing an accomplished sailor. After
several months in regular service he
was transferred to the air service sec
carious capacities. Numerous times |
he was taken on flights in naval sea- |
planes and he was stationed Rocka- |
way Beach at the time the trans-A At |
antic flights of the NC 1, 8 and |
were begun. Barnhart assisted in pre-
pairing one of the big Nancies for the /
ong voyage across the Atlantic.
When the British dirigible R-34 |
arrived at New York and landed at |
'ockaway, Barnhart was one of the
ietail which appointed to look af-
er the British monster and he stayed |
with the job until it had started on
he return flight.
No Slacl<ers Found.
There were no slackers on the res
,rvation during the war. according to
L. L. Swartzlander
When the men between 21 and 81
we're called for registration on June
-9l7, there were none who failed to
espond, although in one or two cases
! little argument and persuasion was
necessary to enlighten the Indians as
o their duty. When subsequent draft
egistrations were allied, however. all
nen in the eligible class responded
nd on September 5, 1918, when the
egistration took place for all men
etween is and 45, there were 72
ames added to the rolls on the res
rvation.
The service flag with its stars was
purchased by the Indians at home
nd is displayed prominently in the
eadquarters of the agency. The In
ians are proud of the part their boys
layed in the war and were generous
With their welcomes home to the re-
urning boys,