Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-05-21
RAINBOW BOYS ARE BACK
Five DEBORAH Boys Who Served for
Two Years With Famous Regi-,
ment Home Again
Went Through Some of the Biggest
Battles of the War and Won a
Proud Record

Five more DEBORAH soldier boys
members of the famous Rainbow
Division, have arrived home the past
few days. They are Sergeant Nicholas
Samuelson, Harry ~McLain, Fred
Amunrud, Leo. Payne and Clarence
Aasen.
The boys were mustered out OF
service at Camp Dodge last Satur,
\ day. Some 1900 of them paraded
through the streets of Des Moines
before the largest crowd OF vis.;ors
ever in the city, and the crowds that
damned and packed the city went
mad with Joy.
The Rainbow or AID Division in
the process of formation, the Third
Iowa Infantry left Des Moines Sept
! 8, 1917, bound for Camp Mills, New
York. AS the Hawkeye regiment left
the state line it ceased TO be the
Third Iowa, but became the 16Sth
Infantry, saith Brigade, AZ nd Div
ision, United States Army. To this
| famous regiment these DEBORAH boys
belonged. They were all volunteers
who entered the army shortly after
war was declared, and they served
nearly two years The Rainbow boys
fought in most Of the big battles
over there, the Champaign, Chateau
Thierry, st. M0fhel, Argonne and
Sedan. One of these boys, Clarence
Aasen, was only 1 5 years old when
he enlisted, and he went through all
! of these important battles. He is II
years old and has the Distinction
Of being one of the youngest soldiers
in the army.
One writer says the German
army, in its dicipline, had nothing on
the 16S regiment U. S. A. In the
ranks Of some of the companies there
seemed to be many who were mere
Toys. Regardless of the age Of boy
when he goes to the army, he re-
turns fully developed and full
grown man. These boys, who
seemingly belonged to the high
schools were weather beaten Their
muscles seemed made Of iron. They
had the swing ard the tread. We OF
the west, feel that it is easier tc
make a soldier out of a western man
than any other. This may be true
and it is no criticism upon an,
other men from any other part Of
our great country. Men from indoor
pursuits in the cities are receptive
10 training and fight like devils
when the war is on.
DEBORAH is proud of her soldier
boys and too much honor cannot be
showered on them. These boys who
have just returned have gone thru
some of the fiercest battles the world
has ever known. They are modest
though, about what they done. They
take it simply as their duty. sfa
In Governor Harding's official vel.
come to the 16Sth he said: "Wel-
come is the small word which ex-
presses the JOY for the return of the
iRainbow boys. What a record they
have made for themselves and the
state. This generation can find pride
and confidence in their boys who
wore the uniform of Uncle Sam. We
are glad that you have come back
to us, as we can only realize in a
small way what a sacrifice you have
really made,
The people of DEBORAH are glad
to welcome her boys back again.
They are entitled to every honor,
and we hope their future will be
bright and CHEEKY.
A number of Decorahians we're in
Des Moines to welcome their boys.
Among them were Ole Samuelsop
and daughter, Mrs. Sanford Grant;
Mr.. and Mrs. w. c. McLain, Chris
Aasen, Sergeant Nels Nelson, who
was a member of the Rainbow Div
ision and arrived home two weeks
hafnro and MoApl,auc