The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-12
Topeka Men in Ammunition
Train That's Coming In.
Twenty-One Were Transferred
From Battery A Unit.
117TH DID GREAT WORK IN WAR
Father and Son Went From To-
peka With Organization.
Many of KansanS Come Back
With Wound Stripes.

In August. 1917, twenty-one men
from Battery A, then stationed at the
fair grounds, were transferred to the
111th ammunition train, to be a part
of the Rainbow division, which was
to sail for France Immediately. These
men didn't like to leave the battery,
but orders were orders, and they sailed
for France with the division early in
the fall of 1917.
Now they are returning home, with
three gold service chevrons, some of
them with wound stripes, after having
seen some of the most exciting mo-
ments of the war. Several of them have
been in the national guard for three
years, having enlisted in the battery
at the time of the trouble on the Mexi-
can border.
TheTopeka men in the ammunition
train are Capt. Hugh MacLean, First
Lieut.. Donald F. Mckee, and William
H. Phillips, 1906 jackson; James F.
Alderman. 1909 Lincoln; Fred Albro,
325 Lawrence; William D. R. Bundy,
400 Harrison: Roscoe w. Lent, 500
Chandler; Harry L. Robbins; First
Sergt. Frank d. Wilson, 1853 Boswell;
Hardy L. Hammond: Henry o. Stein
metz, 1921 East Crane; Lester Work
man, 426 jefferson; Oscar H. Cha
pelle, 213 East Tenth: Clifford o.
johnson, 419 Lime; Zack Martin, 204
Washburn; Edward ]. Warner, 1858
Mulvane; Ralph NJ. Young; William
+. Bundy, 400 Harrison: Thomas
Evans $50 Norton avenue; William C.
Haynes. r. F. D. 3. Captain MacLean
is in a hospital in France. and will not
be home for several weeks.
Corp. George Hilfinger. Topeka high
school graduate and former State
Journal carrier. whose parents live at
1922 Norris avenue. is also a member
of the 117th ammunition train. He
enlisted from Kansas City.
Father and Son Went.
When young Bill Bundy joined the
ammunition train and prepared to go
to France, his father, old Bill Bundy,
couldn't resist the temptation to fight
so he Joined the same organization,
and the two Bundys were together all
the time in Europe. And the Joke of
the matter is that young Bundy out
ranks his father. Whether or not the
son ever feit IT necessary to discipline
the father is not known
These boys bring back realization
OF job well done. The following cf-
tation from the division comma nder
shows the class of work done by the
kanSanS:
General Orders No. 21-K
"As the period of service Of the
Rainbow division is drawing to a close
the comma nding general desires to re-
cite in orders the salient features Of
the service of the 117th ammunition
train.
'Tbruout the battles in which the
division has been engaged never once
has the steady flow of ammunition to-
ward the front been stopped In spite
or the long, dangerous hauls and al
! most insurmountable difficulties, the
1l7th ammunition train maintained
the supply necessary for the guns
The 117th ammunition train worked
as an integral part of the artillery bri-
gade. 1t ever functioned with the
ease of a well oiled machine Its
trucks We're always in splendid work
ing order; its caissons and wagon
companies were always ready for all
emergencies.
Served With the French.
undergoing its preliminary train
ing at Camp de Coetquidan, France it
served with the French in the Lune-
VILE sector. In the Bacarrat sector it
! perfected its technique. In the Cham
palgn sector it worked feVerishly dur
ing the dark days before the final
German offensive, to pile up that re-
serve of ammunition that made the
German defeat possible. During the
battle it continued to serve. 1t has
been the fate of this organization to
undergo dangers equally as great as
those of the troops in the front line
and to suffer these dangers without
being able to strike back.
AT CHateau IhlerrV 1t worked
night and day. feeding the guns Co
/ ing forward over unknown and badly
| charted territory, it always found the
! batteries. 1t was to be depended on.
1T went to Bourmont. then to St
Mihiel by night marches. Working
in the mud and slime, and on almost
completely destroyed roads. in the rear
or the Forest de la Refine. it again
laid the foundations of the attack. In
the Argonne Meuse. night and day it
tolled; heart-rendinE. muscle break
ing toll. Men were in the saddle for
days. al time. Trucks went where
trucks were never expected to go. A
measure of endurance was demanded
which would have been thought i'm
/ possible before Aeroplane bombs and
enemy shells did not stop it The re-
serve of ammunition was built up.
Then came the nights on the road
! to Sedan. and after the signing of the
armistice, the long. hard march thru
| France, Belgium and Luxembourg, to
Germany and the Rhine.
Thruout, one is struck with the si-
/ lent efficiency of this command. The
work was done BY its service, by the
devotion and loyalty of all ranks, it
/ has won the gratitude of the division
and the thanks of the division COM
mander.
! The 117th ammunition train has a
magnificent record, and Kansas may
/ wen be proud of her representation in
/ the Rainbow division.
by command of Major General
! F'lagler:
'WM n. HUGHES. JR.,
| Colonel. General Staff. Chief of
, Staff