The Washington times., 1919-07-02
Retreat? He'll, No." Says
D. C.. Devil Dog Captain,
Holding Post Till Death

IChateau-Thierry, despite his repeated
denial, came from Capt Lloyd NJ
Williams. 51st company, 9Th marines
Six days later Captain Williams
gassed and torn by sharpnel, died as
he was placed in an ambulance.
A French division. exhausted by
days OF desperate lighting against the
relentless German advance, was with
drawing down shell-torn roads around
Chateau-Thierry, past the relieving
| I'd division.
Captain williams company Of the
I'd, half doughboys and half marines
with a sprinkling OF navy medical
men, was awaiting the withdrawal OF
the French. They were taking for
the first time the front line positions
which Americans were to hold against
the pick Of the German shock troops.
"HeII, No." His Reply.
A French major, moving with his
battalion along the dark road and
believing a general withdrawal had
been ordered. told Williams to fol-
low
Retreat" the American asked.
Hell. no"
williams reported the incident to
his battalion commander, Colonel
(then major F. W. Wise. The mes
sage, according to officers who said
they saw it, was:
French drawing back through US.
French major ordered me to with
draw with him Told him TO go to
hell"
WILLIAMS, c. o."
The company. with the rest OF the
I'd. completed their relief and formed
a line the German never broke. Cap
tain williams was killed six days
later-June II, 1918. Gassed and
wounded by sharpnel, he was carried
to the rear by four German prisoners.
On the way back, a she'll struck near
by Two OF the stretcher bearers
were killed and Captain Williams was
thrown to the ground. He lived. how
ever, until he was placed in an am
bulance.
A distinguished service cross for
extraordinary heroism was sent later
to his home at Berryville, Va. where
he had lived before he graduated
from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Since 1910, when he entered the ma
rines. he had made his home at Wash
ington.
Attributed To Many.
Though every hour of the following
four weeks was filled with excite
ment. officers and men who heard
Of or saw the incident remembered
IT and repeated it. Then it followed
the usual course OF stories.
First the saying was attributed TO
the battalion commander, Colonel
Wise; then to General (then ColoneD
W. c. Neville. commanding the Fifth
Marines: then to Cen. James G. Har-
bord. commanding tho marine brigade
of the Second division. and finally to
General Bundy. division commander.
according to officers.
General Bundy. now in command of
Camp Lee. Va, when interviewed at
Camp Lee by a United Press CORE
spondent. denied emphatically he had
made the statement. He refused TO
discuss the incident for publication.
Officers Of the Second division de-
cIared fatty that Williams made the
statement and that, passed along by
word Of mouth, it's authorship had
been credited to Increasingly higher
officers.
The message was a part OF the rec
ords Of the Second battalion, Fifth
marines-now a part of the army OF
occupatiOn-it was stated. The fact
that it did not come TO light before
was because few men knew OF it, and
they. in the exciting months that
followed. were unable TO stop the in
ternatIOnal publicity given It, II was
said.