The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-07-26

prorer ceremonies ~ The Arizona state capitol in
Phoenix hy Brig. Gen II. Il lllckok, Governor
Campbell md other liEnitnries. But the main
thing Is that the medal was AWARDED aud Is now
where is belongs. And The fighting men of this
western country are mixed IN their feolings-di-
7lded between grief that they ran no longer wish
their net flyer Happy Landings" and pride that
he 80 well represented them That he was the first
flying officer to get the Congressional Medal of
Honoi.
Moreover, the mystery Of L,ike's fate that for
many months kept Ill the fighting men of this
western country on the lookout for news Of him
is now solved. Ana these western fighting men
are now ,nuhty proud that their air hero died
with his boots on TINT his grand finale was ct
tiuply glorious and rs heroic rs was his whole
mcteoric career.
Eighteen Hun Planes and balloons In seventeen
days Is part of Iuke's oHicial record. And mi
lounst" Yes. balloons. Don't make the mistake
Of thinking lightly IL IN aviator destroying q
bnlloon. Regulars. mnrines. uatlonal guards. ma
tionnl army. dougll,ovs, nrtillerists, englneers-ali
have their heroes. Iut don't overlook the hirthen
when nprurtionihg honors. And If there Is any
war business more dangerous than combating
enemy nirplanes It Is destroying enemy observa-
ton balloons. The quality Of the job i indicated
by The German practice Of ctediting with two vic
tories every pilot who stfafad II balloon And
ma vle This is why strafing balloons was he
chosen business and speciality of Frank Luke.
Here's il glimpse Of whit Lieut.. Frank Lukc's
comrades think Of his work The other day j.
10y Maloney returned Ia the Chicago Tribune
staff. lie had n pair Of II. NJ. A. wings and three
gold overseas service chevrors. and his pilot book
shows a5O hours In the air, $50 Of which were over
the lines. He was with the famed e4th nero
sa,ndron-Eddie Rickenbneker's own. lie was
pressed for news of his exploits.
",yeIl. I didn't do n darn thing. but I can tell
Won n story about a hero--n real hero, the bravest
man IN the war" said Mnloney.
"Ujs name was Frank Luke, Jr, he lived IN
Phoenix. Arlz., before the war aud he was prob
ably the most brilliant flyer we hnd.
"J1e would ny over our balloon officers and
,irop n note telling them he would knock down
a blinlp nj a certain time--nnd Mt that time down
would come the bag.
"On Luke's last trip up he made the most
sensational flight In history. He had dropped a
pote saving two German balloons would be crash
cd. They were. and then his. ar went bnd and
he had TO pump by hand, which means handling
The stick. the gas and Ill the guns with one hand.
Ue saw two Fokkers knock down an American
scout, go he went up and Knocked down the
boches. IN his way hack he saw seven French
mon trying 10 get n huge German triplnna. Luke
rot the ship. but shralnel stopped his motor,
"powp he went. Below wns Germany and
a,r,an troops That 20 year old kid love the
shin over the marching columns of boche troops
aud turned his machine gun loose on them. know
Ing he would he n prisoner.
"But he killed eight men. then set his snip
acup On Tho ground and whipped out his auto
matte. lie hit three boches when they came up
IN capture hlfn-n md they bumped him oil.
.Wten he died he had eighteen victories 10
hs e,elit md was keeping Rick humping"
This Is the Judgment Of a trained newspaper
man. used to getting facts, approaching 'he'f
value, and sizing up men.
Perhaps nobody is better able 10 tel the .fu'"
....,. I ulo thnp the man who commanded his
.nradron IN the fighting In which he took 40 pr''-
usnt 4 pert. That man. Harold o. Hartney. now
: lieutenant colonel and chief OF runnery 10 me
air service, Describes his first impression OF MN
=. TIM, oe IN youth keen and aqn'line. piue-eseu
and fair. With a strong Jaw and hair brnshed phcs
from i broad. high forehead"
,.... On vears old when he entered the
.--.... ua uas trained at the University OF