The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-02-06
EvADER MAKES
full ExPIATION
Kenoshan Branded a de
serter' Comes Back Home
ExOnerated by a
Wound-Stripe.
NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH
George zilius Declares a Pocket-Comb
Saw Him Through-Fought at
st. Mihiel-Wa Victim Of
False Charges.
NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH

In December, 1917, George Zilius
left Kenosha under an armed escort,
He had been branded "desertero and
was on his way to Fort Sheridan to
stand trial by court martial. He pro-
tested his innocence but was accorded
no consideration by officials who be-
Heved him a Stacker of the yellowest
dye.
The other day he came back home.
His sleeve was decorated with two over
seas service stripes, one wound stripe,
and scarlet chevron indicating an
honorable discharge from the army.
Nor were these the only things that
belied the charges brought against
him. His left foot dragged - weari-
" as he walked and from time to
time his left hand clutched his hip =
convulsively. His face, too, showed
sllrapnel scars beneath eyes that had
seen death and faced it fearlessly.
George zilius was no "deserter. -
A yellow streak is deepened by dam
ger and the man who came back home
was red white and blue from top to
toe.
incidentally, the charges against him
were dropped some time ago. Hardly
had he reached the guard house at Fort
Sheridan until affdavits proving his
innocence were in the hands of Off
Gals there thanks to the prompt
ness of his attorney, Frank symmonds
land had accomplished his acquittal.
Was Wounded at st. Mihiel.
From Fort Sheridan zilius was sent
to Camp Custer where he soldiered "
his way down the long, long, trial from
q rookie to a regular. BY April, 1913,
lie was ready for service overseas and
was shipped to Camp Merit for en-
bark alton.
Upon reaching France he was sent to
the front almost Immediately. AS a
member of Company K of the 9th In
fantry he did his part in sustaining
severl attacks of the Boche upon the
new American line. He was gassed so
often that "his eyes got used to it,
and his nose became expert in de-
tecting even the faintest fumes of
phosgene chlorine or brom-acetone.
On three different occasions he
"held the line while his buddies went
over the top until CHS turn came at
last" in the fearful fighting at st.
Mihiel. It was here ne sustained the
wound that put a silver plate in his
back and sent him back home complete
" exonerated.
Pocket Comb Saved His Life.
GA pocket-comb pulled me through, y
he said this morning, as he proudly
showed the trophy.
cit was in the pouch Of my blouse
when I went over. When they went
through my clothes as the dressing sta
ton they found it there with three bull
let dents in it - just as you see it
here. -
He pointed to the strange little life
saver and then went on:
"But the shrapnel got me in the leg.
I couldn t 60 forward so I dropped
into shell-hole that I saw by the
fash of a star-shell. I stayed there
until morning when some one picked
ne up and carried me back to the sta
ton.
Gin the meantime, though, got it
in the hip with piece Of shrapnel that
kept me in the hospital for four and
"a half months. That's most long
enough, ism t it,"
Praises Surgeons and Nurses.
The interviewer, who had been in a
hospital once, agreed that it was and
asked the soldier about his treatment
there.
ooh they were good to me" he
said. "They put in silver plate
where my hip bone used to be and
fixed me up so that can walk at least.
OF course I limp a little but I don It
have to use crutches and that's more
than lots of the boys can say.
"They took good care of me, too,
while I was there so that didn t suf-
fer much well as much as I might
have if I'd been captured or some
thing
Denies He Was Deserter.
When questioned about the charges
Of " desertion" placed against him
Zilius declared that he was the victim
of trumped-up case.
~ never got my notice. he said,
stand as soon as heard they were look
ing for me went to the board and gave
myself up. I found that the mailman
had carried the card in his pocket for
several days and that was the rea-
son I didn't get it and didn t report
when they wanted me.
tried to tell them that but they
Wouldn t believe me. At the Fort it
was different. They had afidavits