The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1919-02-01
LESTER BLACK
ARRIVES HOME
IS FIRST WOUNDED SOLDIER
TO RETURN TO CITY
OF COLVILLE
Citizens Plan Big Entertainment
and Future Employment
for Soldiers

Lester Black, the first wounded
Colville soldier to return from over
seas, arrived in Colville Wednesday
noon. He is the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
H. l.. Black who live in Echo Va.
ley and was a student for short
time in the Colville high school. He
left September %, 1917, to train at
Camp Lewis and was sent overseas
in May, 1918, with company D, 47th
infantry.
He took part in the hard fighting
near Chateau Thierry sector from
July Is to middle of August. 1t
was in the Verdun sector, however,
that he received his wound. 1t
was on September % that he re-
ceived the she'll wound which en-
titles him to wear wound stripes.
On September 26 he and his COM
rades went over the top near Verdun
and drove the Germans for several
miles. They then took shelter in the
woods, where they were held by the
German machine guns and snipsrs.
When they could emerge into the
open, the shell which left it's mark
on the Colville hero struck against
the bank within five feet of him. 1t
killed two of his companions and
wounded him and two others.
A piece of the shell entered his
left cheek, going through to the
right side of his nose. A piece was
taken out of his left temple. He
has not as yet been given his wound
stripes, but will get them when he
receives his discharge at Camp
Lewis.
Mention of the Y. M. C. A. and it's
European activities, brought no en-
thusiasm from the returned soldier,
but he said that too much praise
could not be given the Red Cross
and Salvation Army. He left We'd
nesday for his home north Of Coi~
vile and expects to return to Camp
Lewis Sunday.
One by one the boys from this
section of the country are returning
to their homes, and with their re-
turn, the citizens of Colville are be-
ginning to plan what they are going
to do to welcome them and to aid
them in their resumption of civil
life. 1t is not possible at this
time for the community to give the
boys a big welcoming entertainment
because it is felt that such an affair
should wait until those overseas
return and there can be a big re-
union. Meanwhile suggestions as
to what form the entertainment will
take and what shall be done to pro-
vide employment for soldiers and
sailors, are welcomed. Colville
wishes to spare no time or money
in what it does for the boys in well
coming them to their homes.
"It's good idea to begin to plan
on the boys return now," said a
prominent Colville citizen. "Those
fellows cannot receive too royal a
welcome. Let's plan on the big
gest blowout" which has ever been
given in Colville. AS to employment
questions, I believe the Commercial
club members might get together
to discuss that and cooperate in
helping the boys. They, together
with the home service department
of the Red Cross, can solve the prob
lem in this community"
Mrs. L. G. Keller, chairman Of the
Colville Red Cross branch, states
that the Red Cross is desirous of
planning an entertainment for the
returned soldiers and sailors, but is
of the opinion that it will be a
month or two before sufficient num-
bers will be back.
"The main idea of those boys who
are coming home," said another
business man, "is to get good
square meal, get into civilian clothes
and get their old jobs again. Every
one should get busy on the subject
of helping them secure employment
which they want. Why wouldn't it
be a good idea in making local work
for temporary employment, for Col
vile to improve the appearance Of
Main street by paving it and let the
boys who wish work, be employed
to pave it,"
"It's noticeable how many Of the
men who have been in service wish
to continue in an outdoor life" said
a Colville man who has been in one
of the army camps. "Fellows who
had office jobs before the war, state
that they would rather 60 to the
-. III l~~ kk~s~ l{u{v. -