The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-07-25

proper ceremonies at the Arizona state capitol In
Phoenix by Brig. Gen. II. X. Hlckok, Governor
Campbell and other dignitaries. But the main
thing Is that the medal was awarded and is now
where Is belongs And the fighting men Of this
western country mixed In their feelings-di-
vided between grief that they longer wish
their pet flyer Happy Landings" and pride that
he so well represented them that he was the first
flying officer to get the Congressional Medal Of
Honor.
Moreover, the mystery of Luke's fate that for
many months kept all the fighting men of this
western country the lookout for Of him
Is solved And these western fighting men
are now doubly proud that their air hero died
with his boots on'-that his grand finale fit
tingy glorious and heroic his whole
meteoric career.
Eighteen Hun planes and balloons in seventeen
days Is part OF Luke's official record And bal
loons'' Yes, balloons. Don't make the mistake
Of thinking lightly of an aviator destroying
balloon. Regulars, marines national guards. ma
tional army, doughboys, artillerists, engneers-a
have their heroes. But don't overlook the airinen
when apportioning honors. And If there is any
business dangerous than combating
enemy airplanes 1t Is destroying enemy observa-
ton balloons The quality of the Job IS indicated
by the German practice of crediting with two vic
tories every pilot who strafed balloon. And
maybe this Is why strafng balloons was The
chosen business and speciality Of Frank Luke.
Here's glimpse of what Lieut.. Frank Lukes
comrades think of his work: The other day J.
10y Maloney returned to the Chicago Tribune
staff. He had a pair of r.. M. A. wings and three
gold overseas service chevrons, and his pilot book
shows $50 hours In the air, $50 of which were over
the lines. He was with the famed Oath
squadron--Eddie Rickenbackers own He was
pressed for news" of his exploits.
"Well, didn't do darn thing, but tell
you story about hero-a real hero, the bravest
man In the war" said Maloney.
Jx,1-1
Phoenix, Ariz., before the and he prob
ably the most brilliant flyer had
"He would fly balloon officers and
drop telling them he would knock down
a bnIp ut a certain time--and at that time down
would come the bag.
"On Lukes last trip up he made the
sensational flight in history. He had dropped
note saying two German balloons would be crash
| ed. They We're. and then his air went bad and
he had to pump by hand, which means handling
the stick, the gas and all the guns with one hand.
| He saw two Fokkers knock down American
scout, he went up and knocked down the
boches On his way back he seven French
men trying 10 get huge German tripane. Luke
got the ship. but shrapnel stopped his motor.
Down he went. Below was Germany and
| German troops That 20 year old kid dove the
| ship over the marching columns of boche troops
and turned his machine gun loose on them, know
| Ing he would be a prisoner.
| but he killed eight then set his ship
down on the ground and whipped out his auto
| matte He hit three boches when they came up
| to capture hm--and they bumped him off.
| sWhen he died he had eighteen victories to
| his credit and keeping Rick humping.
This is the judgment of a trained newspaper
man. used to getting facts, appreciating their
| value and sizing up men.
Perhaps nobody is better able to tell the truth
about Luke than the man who commanded his
SQUADRON In the fighting in which he took so bril-
| liant part. That man. Harold T. Hartney, now
| a lieutenant colonel and chief of Gunnery In the
| air service describes his first impression OF him
| as that of "a youth keen and aquiline, olue-eyed
and fair, with strong jaw and hair brushed back
! from broad high forehead"
| Luke was 20 years old when he entered the
| service lie was trained at the University OF