The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-04-30
a YEAR OF WORK AND DANGER


at Blue Ridge and brief visit home,
was sent to New York, from where he
soon sailed to France He was trans
port secretary on the Dutch liner,
Wilhelmina, which our government
had Communicated, and overcame his
tendency to be seasick enough to be
a right smart of help to the "boys" on
the ship.
Mr.. Gary went over with the first
rush of the khaki tide against which
the feld-gray reefs stood in vain, and
which never ceased to roll onward
until its outward spray dashed the
bridgeheads thirty miles beyond the
Rhine.
Mr.. Gary landed at Brest May %,
and went to Paris. The battle on the
western front was hanging in the
balance then-several German drives
had been checked, but they kept on
coming-their long range gun was
dropping shells in Paris, and the
question was could enough Americans
come over in time-and the more i'm
portant question, how would they
fight? Mr.. Gary remained two weeks
in Paris. Soon after Mr.. Gary's ar
rival, the more important question
was answered-our marines stopped
the Huns in Belleau wood.
Mr.. Gary worked on the western
front, in Epinal, Girard Mere and
too many small villages to remember.
Then he was sent to the st. Mihiel
sector, where the Americans conduct
ed their first independent operation on
large scale. During these weeks, he
had continuous hard work, but was
never in any great danger.
In September, however, he was as
signed to the Verdun sector, and sta
toned near Hill 304 of fearful fame.
This was in direct range of the Prus-
sian guns, tho operations were not
lively on that front at that time. But
soon began the Argonne drive, Amer
Mr.. Gary and his associates differed
but little in hard work and danger
from the soldiers in the ranks.
For six long weeks they shared in
the difficulty and exposure of this ter
rife campaign. They were nearly al
ways under fire. Their only "vaca-
tions" were when a small party was
sent back to a field base after sup
plies, and in these they often had to
run thru a barrage going or coming.
They carried hot coffee and chocolate
to men on the firing line, they brought
off the wounded under fire, they buried
the dead and acted as water boys"
drawing water from wells spotted by
the enemy's guns. carrying it to the
wounded. And when there was any
chance whatever, they gave the boys
little recreation to rest their minds
as well as their bodies from their fear
ful task.
The "Y" had 800 secretaries In the
Argonne drive. Mr.. Gary's contin-
gent was right behind the firing line
the day the armistice was signed. He
went thru the campaign unhurt, but
say many of his associates wounded
or gassed and some killed He says he
doesn't think it will be any use to tell
the veterans of the Argonne that the
"Y" wasn't up front. And as for the
assertion that the "Y" charged for
everything, his own particular bunch
sand francs worth of chocolate, chew
ing gum and other things that are so
welcome to a soldier in the stress, of
a hot campaign.
After the fighting was over, Mr..
Gary was in regular secretarial work,
looking after supplies and helping to
keep the boys amused. He and his
party were stationed in a city in Lux
emburg, where they kept big estab-
lishment, supplying the soldiers with
all the conveniences of canteen, also
keeping up large theater with some
entertainment every weekday night,
and helping the men to send money
home. This was before the army
postal service was established in that
region, and the "Y" in Luxembourg
sent home three million francs (almost
| S600,000) for the soldiers.
Mr.. Gary showed us picture of the
group with which he worked. 1t was
| made up of healthy, husky, energetic
men and women. There were repre-
sentatives from half the states in the
Union and members of all churches,
and some of no churches at all. Judg-
ing by their looks they were all happy
in their work. =
Mr.. Gary had a short vacation dur
| ing the winter, and took advantage of
it to visit the south of France and
cross the border into Italy. He also
went a little ways into Belgium and
Germany. He had a brief tussle with
the "fiu," after which, as he thought
! he could be spared, he applied for
leave TO come home.
He sailed from Brest, and in the
short time he spent at that port, wait
ing for a transport, he visited the
camp of which so much complaint has
been made He said it was in good
condition, and the soldiers seemed
well satisfied with it.