The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-22

less than a week was detailed with a lot of other fellows and sent over to France In another week I was shot up here as a replacement While them other fellows are over there drilling here I am in the front line trenches in exactly six weeks. Now, ain't I the lucky guy?''
 That is what. Hank means by "sol- dier." 1t also explains why he wishes to be considered a soldier and not a hero
 G0WDY ENLISTS
 When war was declared against Ger many in April, 1917, Hank Gowdy was catching for the Boston Braves His sal ary was S7000 year, that being the actual grows with gossip. It was also possible for Gowdy to make about s250o more in side line pursuits that go with being a successful big league player.
 The Braves had just returned from the spring training trip when America en- tered the war, and even before the first league game had been played, Hank Gowdy, Johnny Evers and Maranville walked down to the commons in Boston to see if there wasn't a chance to en- list. They were not successful that time, but the idea of duty to his country grew In Hanks mind. He had been intensely interested in the progress of the world s war for two years; had read everything that he could find on the subject. Hank is really a serious thinker and he had felt sure for some months that America would eventually get in the war He also realized what it would mean.
 Therefore, when the time came, Hank Gowdy had made up his mind as to what he would do-what he thought that every able-bodied man ought to do. He did rot enlist in the army on impulse.
 If you will remember, it was very dif- ficult in those first few weeks to make ar m rpvp,nr Srfo he New units were being formed at widely scattered places and the system of re- cruiting had not been perfected. A great many people were of the opinion that America had no intention of sending an army to France,
 The new draft law was not yet in eff feet. In the regular army regiments were being broken up to make the nucleus for three new regiments. The National Guard units which had been doing ser. vice on the border and which had been sent home were being recalled into federal service, and it was necessary to add a lot of new men on account of the in creased size of the companies as called for in new tables of organization. By June 1 all these plans were beginning to reach a stage of practical fruition that could be understood by the layman.
 It was then that Catcher Hank Gowdy acted. Mind you, he had no precedent as a guide. He was the first of the men of his vocation to enlist
 When the Boston club started on it's trip west, Gowdy asked for few days off and went to see his family in Colum- bus. O. In that city he had spent his early boyhood. I remember him well as a tow-headed youngster who held the en- viable position as bat boy for the Column bus team in the American association.
 Hanks family is intensely patriotic. When he arrived there his mother and sisters were discussing the war and what it would mean with America in. Mother" announced Hank, rather sud- denly, 1T am going.
 You are going to the warT' they all gasped.
 "Yes I am going tomorrow. I don't know whether it will be in the artillery. the cavalry or the infantry, whether it be in the regulars or what, but l am going with something
 Having made up his mind. Hank gave the matter lot of thought He finally decided that as long as he had decided to join the army it would be preferable to join an outfit in which many of his friends were already serving. That de- cision led him to the headquarters oi l the Fourth Ohio infantry, where he made out his papers, stood the physical exam ination and was sworn in.
 IN ELN EIn IN N A IO1NfAA VI U 1AAND 1 Hank was not in the National Guart | before the war begun, as many have CT roneously stated. He had never served a a soldier of any kind until he was sworr in on July r, >1917, with the Fourth Ohit | infantry.
 | Notice of his action was telegraphed tt the Boston Baseball club and from tha day until a day in May this year Gowd,
 as gone from the diamond. The arm.
 had swallowed him up completely. Hi uniform and catcher's togs are still hang ing on the peg where he left them. The!
 had a new one for him when he reported to Manager Stillings in May.
 "I didn't make any fuss about goini into the army" Hank explains naively
 .because it really wasn't anybody busi ness but mine and my family. l simpl. felt that owed-ft to my country to con tribute what little share I could and tried to do the best I could. There wa