Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-10-22

or any other battle. Machine guns of
the enemy were drought into play
with a most deadly effect, but un-
daunted by the death and destruction
of their forces the allies fought like
demons, taking trench.atter trench of
the enemy and forcing them to retreat
to other places of seeming safety for
shelter. Thus the battle ragged from
S 80 a. m. to about $3.50 a. m. when
the firing from one of these trenches
by machine-guns in the hands of the
enemy seemed so fierce and deadly
that it was most Impossible to advance
farther.
It was at this point that Sergeant
Milo Lemert, seeing that some ones
life must be sacrificed. called to his
men to "Come on boys. let's get them,
come on, rushed to one of these death
pits and while in the act of fireing,
was seen by one of his comrades to
place his hand upon his side, looked to-
ward his men as if TO say, II am done
finish the job and he fell back, dead !:
Thus ended the earthly career of a
noble son, a loving husband and a
brave soldier.
Of course we mourn the loss of so
noble a character, as we do many
thousands of our young men who SO
freely offered themselves up on the
alter of freedom that all men every
where might be free; that our homes
might be secure; that our women and
children might be protected, but let US
believe that the object Esought and OBJ
tanned justified the sacrifice SO freely
made by eur friend and brother and
that through his life and death the
world has been made better place in
which TO live"
When it is remembered that only "
of these medals have been awarded
by act of congress it becomes more
clear VIII a great distinction 1t is to
be thas recognizes. ahe medal Is the
highest honor that can be conferred
upon any one for bravery in action.
It is a beautifully wrought jewel
attached to a small piece OF blue
ribbon and bears the following in
scpiption on the back.
The Congress
to
First Sergeant
Milo Lemert
Co. q, 1l9th Infantry.
Near Beilicourt,
France,
September 29,
1918.
Before pipning the medal upon the
breast of Mrs. Lemert Col. deArmond
read the war department citation under
which congress acted in awarding the
medal. Following is the
CITATION.
"Milo Lemert lserial No. l315827),
first sergeant. Company G., 18th In
fantry. For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity above and beyond the call
of duty in action with the enemy near
Bellicourt, France. September 70,
1913 Seeing that the left flank of his
company was held up. he located the
enemy machine-gun emplacement
which had been causing heavy casual
ties. In the face of heavy fire he
rushed slngle-handed, killing the entire
crew with grenades. Continuing along
the enemy trench in advance of the
company, he reached another emplace-
ment, which he also charged, silencing
the gun with grenades. A third ma
chine-gUn emplacement opened upon
him from the left, and, with similar
skill and bravery, he destroyed this
also Later, in company with another
sergeant, he attacked a fourth ma
chine-gu nest, being killed as he
reached the parapet of the empalce-
ment His courageous action in de-
stroylng in turn four enemy machine
gun nests prevented many casualties
among his company and very material
ly aided in achieving the objective"
The other sergenat mentioned in the
foregoing citation is Sergeant Litton
=. Thurman, vino went on and put the
machine-gun nest out of business
after Sergeant Lemert was killed.
Sergeant Thurman told Nathan
Lemert, brother of the deceased, where
the body would be found and it was
found some days later as indicated by
Sergeant Thurman.
After the close of the exercises nu J
merous friends crowded around Mrs. |
Lemert to view the medal and extend |
words of sympathy.
Several persons had the pleasure of
meeting Colonel E. H. deArmond. He
efton the early train Monday for
S. T..