The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-03-13
COLORADO MEN commENpED
Tho Example Of Thsss Four Cslorado
Soas Should Pet the victosy
loaa Over

Il
Four of Colorado's overseas boys
have already been mentioned for es-
pecial bravery in connection with
Americas participation in the war.
The four are Captain Marcellus H.
Chiles, 1856 Infantry, Denver; Lieuten-
ant j. Hunter Wickersham, 1853 In
fantry, Denver; Privte Harold J..
Johnson, 1856 Infantry, Denver; and
Private Jesse N. Funk, 354 Infantry,
Calhan.
Recently the war department de-
cided to make list of the men who
should be cited for especial bravery
and Colorado had four in the first list
that was published. The citations
are from General Pershing to Secre-
tary Baker and are authentic.
In the caes of Captain Chiles. Cen
eral Pershing says:
| For CONSPICUOUS gallantry and in
trepidity above and beyond the call
of duty in action with the enemy
near lie Champy Bas, France, Sd No
vember, 1918.
"When his battalion, of which he
had just taken command, was halted
by machine gun fire from the front
and left flank, Captain Chiles picked
| up the rifle of a dead soldier and
calling on his men to follow, led the
advance across stream waist deep.
in the face Of the machine gun fire.
Upon reaching the opposite bank,
this gallant officer was seriously
wounded in the abdomen by sniper
but before permitting himself to be
evacuated he made complete arrange
ment for turning over his command
to the next senior officer, and under
the inspiration of his fearless leader
ship his battalion reached its objec-
tive. Captain Chiles died shortly af-
ter reaching the hospital" Home
address: John H. Chiles, 2S15 W..
37th ST.. Denver.
The case of j. H. Wickersham is
especially commendable because after
his right arm had been disabled he
continued to fight with his left until
he fell dead General Pershing in
commenting on the Lieutenant, says:
"For conspicuous gallantry and in
trepidity above and beyond the call
| # duty in action with the enemy
near Limay. France, Sept. IL, 1918.
advancing with his platoon during
the St. Mihiel Offensive, Lieut. Wick
| ersham was severely wounded in four
places by bursting Of high explo-
sive shell. Before receiving any aid
for himself, he dressed the wounds of
his orderly. who was wounded at the
same time. He then ordered and ac-
companied the further advance of his
platoon, although weakened by the
loss of blood. His right hand and
arm being disabled by wounds, he
continued to fire his revolver with
left hand until, exhausted by the loss
Of blood. he fell and died from his
| wounds before aid could be admins
tered" Home address, Mrs. E. E. Da-
mon. mother, 3416 Colfax Av., Denver.
General Pershing makes the follow
| ing comment on the services of H. L..
Johnson:
For conspicuous gallantry and in
trepidity above and beyond the call
of duty in action with the enemy
near Peuilly, France. Nov. 9, 1918.
"When information was desired as
to the enemy's position on the oppo-
site side of the River Meuse, Private
Johnson, with another soldier, volun-
teered without hesitation, and swan
the river to reconnoiter the exact To-
cation of the enemy. He succeeded
in reaching the opposite bank. des-
pite the evident determination of the
enemy to prevent crossing. Having
obtained the information, he again
entered the water for his return.
This was accomplished after severe
struggle, which so exhausted him
that he had to be assisted from the
water, after which he rendered his
report of the exploit" Home address,
Mrs. Belle Renshaw, mother, 1l4S
Speer Boulevard, Denver.
| Jesse N. Funk, Private 1st class,
received the following praise from
General Pershing;
For conspicuous gallan,ry and in
trepidity above and beyond the call
of duty in action with the enemy
near Bois de Bantheville, France, Oc-
tober 81, 1918.
Learning that two daylight pa
trolls had been caught out in No
Mans Land and were unable to re-
turn, Private Funk and another
stretcher bearer, upon their own in
itiative, made two trips five hundred