The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-06-13
CR0|X De GUERRE
IS RECEIVED BY
MRS. 0sTERLE
Awarded Son, George j. Osterle,
Killed in France
BENNINGTON VOLUNTEER
Citation States He Defended Advanced
Post With GaIIantry and Check
ed German Advance

ed German Advance
At least one Croix de Guerre has
come to Bennington. 1t has been re-
ceived by Mrs. Christine Osterle and
was in recognition Of the gallantry
displayed by her son, First Class Pri-
vate George Osterle who was killed
during a raid by German soldiers on
village in France June Is, 1918.
George Osterle was among the first
CT the Bennington boys to enlist for
the war and he was among the first,
If not the first soldier to be killed in
action.
Both his father. who died Is years
ago, and his mother were born in
Germany. but from the very first the
son had been extremely patriotic He
was the only son old enough to help
to support his widowed mother and
there was excnse enough for him to
ask for exemption. Instead, however,
he declared that this was his coun-
try, that it was his duty to fight for
1t and he enlisted with the company
Of the first Vermont. At the time
Of his death he was with the 1881
infantry.
Letters received from soldiers who
knew George Osterle and stories told
by Vermont boys who have returned
from France combine to make dis
connected account OF his death. The
letters and the stories vary in detail
and are probably not authentic in all
particulars but combined with the
citation from Marshal Petain are suff
icient to prove that the Bennington
boy proved himself hero on the field
of battle.
The citation states that he helped
to check a German raid on the village
brought back from France tell how
with two companions he held build
4 ing against superior numbers. how h,
had alone, taken several German pris
oners and how he was treacherousl,
shot by a Hun officer who had sur
! rendered at the point of the Ameri
cas- bayonet and was being taken t,
the camp behind the lines Howeve
much the personal accounts of th
young soldiers death may vary tn
wording OF the citation is explici
enough, 1t is as follows.
} General Headquarters
OF the
, French Armies of the East
Staff
Personal Bureau
, (Decorations)
Order No. 1898 %" Extract
With the appreciation of the Con
mander in Chief of the America
Expeditionary forces in France, tn
Marshal of France commander of tn
French armies of the East cities /
; the order of the army corps.
First class Private George Osterlt
. Co. l. 10S Reg, Inf.
Displayed unusual gallantry dul
ing an enemy raid on Xivray-Marvt
5 isin, June 16, 1918. He defended a
advance post with admiral courag
: and tenacity until he was killed. B
I his resistance he greatly contribute
;. to breaking the enemy advance eas
i OF the village
y At General Headquarters, Feb, q
: 1919.
+ The Marshal,
!, Commander in chief of the Frenc
a Armies of the East
A For Original Extract
The Lieutenant Colonel, Petain
Chief Of the Personal Bureau.
The Croix de Guerre is an excep
ionally artistic decoration. The eros
itself made OF bronze is the Maltes
\ form backed with two straigl
swords. The cross is attached to
:. heavy green silk ribbon with mario
J, stripes OF red. In the center OF III
y ribbon is a small gold star
y Private Osterle, who would hay
u been 25 years old had he lived unit
last Monday, enlisted June II, l9l
. and was in the service a year whe
: he was killed. Circumstances atten
ing his death we're particularly sa
as he was the nominal head OF far
y lily consisting Of his mother, w
2 grown-up daughters, q young daug
= ter and young son. AT the time
his enlistment he was employed as
weaver at the Black Cat underweI
o. factory. He was quiet, industrio'
young man and respected both by h
fellow workmen and his employers.
The soldiers parents came direct
q from Germany to Bennington. Th'
were married here and for tin
Is lived on River street. Later th'
,s purchased a small farm In Woodfo
Is Hollow which was sold after q
,r death OF the husband and father
al years ago. The death Of her son W
y. a crushing blow to Mrs. Oster
* from the effects OF which she has n
Id yet recovered Although she und'
k, stands and appreciates the gre
I'd honor that has come to her she st
d. deeply mourns his loss She is al
er depressed because Of recent illne
IN among her children which has resu
ed in one operation and prospects
,l. another.
)l. -
Children Cry