Baxter Springs news., 1919-02-07
BROTHER OF BAXTER CITI-
ZEN HOME FROM BAT
TIE FIELD
IS N THE CITY TO-DAY
Wounded In Chateau Thierry
BattIe-Cited With 2Sth d.
visiOn-Five Months
In Hospital

1Ag1 0SAOaol ~ - 0~~N~I W. -
city Mon. visiting at the home Of his
brother, Grin Strong, the newspaper
man. The young man within the
week received his honorable discharge
from the National Army. His exper-
fences, he modestly declares, were not
out Of ordinary, nevertheless they
were terrible and thrilling. From the
~. Scott Tribune we clipped the fol-
lowing account Of Mr.. StrOng's ser
vice overseas:
StrOng's experiences, while not as
varied and extensive as some, give one
q striking picture Of the bravery, suf-
fering and unalterable courage Of the
American soldiers as they first stem
med the Hun tide at Chateau Thierry
and then, with brilliant dash and ag-
Erebsiveness, showed him back across
the Vesle river to his first real de-
feat. While not q combatant, his du-
ties took him often to first lines where
he, with his brother-in-arns, kept
open the communications to headquar-
ters, so necessary in battle. Strong
was connected with the 10Srd Signal
battalion, fifth platoon, 111th regi-
ment. Twenty-eighth division, which
has often been cited for bravery. He
wears the keystone, symbolic Of the
Pennsylvania National Guard. Strong
is wearing also the special French de-
coration, giving to the entire 2Sth di-
vision, when it was cited for its brave
ry at Chateau Thierry. 1t was lined
up beside q French division and the
casualties here heavy. Pershing
named this the "Iron Division" as it
was composed mostly Of Pennsylvania
troops.
The decoration consists Of a braided
silk cord, attached to the uniform at
the left shoulder, with metal pend
ant. Strong also wears the pin Of the
allies, and also a pin of red, white and
blue, showing that he was wounded in
action. The Chateau Thierry drive be-
gan June 25th and Mr.. Strong re-
ceived his wound August 9th.
Private Strong was called into SER
vice early in 1918, leaving the emplay
Of the Tribune Monitor composing
room. He was first sent to Camp
Funston, but later transferred to Fort
Leavenworth, from which place he de-
parted for the seaboard with an over
seas detachment. He was assigned to
Camp Merritt, N. j., but was only
there few days until he received or
ders to embark for France.
Strong's contingent marched over
land to the Hudson river where he
was placed aboard the Shropshire, a
British troop transport. His vessel,
along with eight others, was conveyed
across safely and he landed at La
Harve, France, July 4th, where, after
two days, he was placed aboard a
train and taken to COudes, signal
classification camp.
From Coudes, Strong was sent to
the front, by way of Noisy LeSecs.
transportation Of troops in France is
not what one could call pleasant, as
they rode delux in box cars and ate a
Ia carte from canteens along the road.
After one day at Noisy LeSecs,
Strong was dispatched to the Mane
river where the Germans had almost
succeeded IN driving a wedge into the
French lines, but had been stopped by
the bravery of the United States ma
rines and two divisions Of dOughboys.
Here he was attached to the signal
battalion, and given direct field duty.
Here is where Strong heard the
first din Of battle and the loud deton-
atiCns Of light and heavy shells; first
donned mis- steel 'katy" and hurriedly
forced his gas mask into position, for
the Germans were using the now fam
ed mustard gas, which was fatal to so
many brave Americans.
The 111th was Immediately thrown
into action. They fought gailantiy
through Chateau Thierry, Fere forest,
Epieds, Rouge farm and distinguished
themselves 30 thoroughly at Serges.
Cut to pieces and hungry, this regi-
meut slowly pushed back the famed
Prussian Guards, to whom they were
opposed. Never once did they falter.
The 18th, just opposite, was losing
its personnel, and had already been
cited for bravery. Practically every |
officer in DE l11th and 112th had
been wounded or captured before the
Vesle river was reached.
Strong saw his comrades fall round
him Despite the fact that The Ger !