Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-04-30
RAINBOW BOYS HOME.
Sergeant Nels Nelson and Lawrence
Riggs are Home From Over
seas


renee Rygg, two DEBORAH boys, who
were among the first to volunteer
! from here when war was declared
between the United States and Ger
many, arrived home from overseas
last week, after glorious record
with the famous Rainbow Division.
Lawrence Rygg arrived in New
York April 8 in the Leviathian and
Sergeant Nelson arrived on the Rot
, terdam. They enlisted in April 1917
at Charles City, went to Fort Des
Moines, left there Sept. 8 for Camp
Mills and sailed Oct. IS for Brest,
France. They were out days and
returned to New York. 1t was feared
that acid had been put in the boilers
by German spies, so it was said at
the time. They stayed on Governors
Island until Nov. %, when they
sailed for Halifax and then to Liver
pool, landing Dec. s, 1917. They
went to Winchester Camp, Salisbury
Plains and trained and went to
France Dec. II. On Feb. IS they
went to the front and into the
, trenches, and on the 9Th of March
saw service in the trenches on the
Lorraine front, and took over the
front lines. They served 10 days in
this sector. Left there in June 1918
for the Champaign front arriving
July 4. On July IA the big drive to
Paris was planned by the Germans,
but they were stopped in Champaign
and Chateau Thierry. In this drive
the Germans laid down the biggest
artillery barrage that was witnessed
in the four years of the war. But the
Americans and allies put one over
that beat the Germans.
After this drive they were taken
out and sent to Chateau Thierry, and
went over the top on July &c, taking
part in the American drive, relieving
the 26th Division. They attacked
! for eight days and drove the Ger
mans back ten miles. They were re-
lieved on Aug. a and went back near
Chaumont, Gen. Pershing's head
quarters, for rest. After resting
for while they again hiked for the
front and went over the top at st.
Meihle on Sept. u, and reached the
second army objective on the morn
ing of the 18th.
On Oct. IA the boys went over TIE
top in the Argonne, and stayed with
them until-the second offensive,
When they were sent back to the hos
pital sick. They were at the Mars,
hospital center when the armistice
Vas signed.
In one of the big drives Sergeant
Nelson came near losing his life.
and owes the fact that he is alive
today to pocket bible that he car
ried over his heart. He was struck
by shrapnel one day, and the shots
struck the bible, and saved his life.
These two soldiers saw about as
much real service as any man would
want to go through, and fortunately
they escaped without being wounded.
It goes without saying that they put
a ggood many Huns out of business.
They, like the rest of the DEBORAH
and Winneshiek soldier lads, proved
their worth as true Americans and
fighters with courage Of adamant.
Both boys are looking in the pink of
condition, and they have many
stories to tell about the happenings
over there.
The boys were rendered re-
ception last night at the Woman
hall by about eighty of their friends.
A dance was enjoyed and refresh
ments served. Both soldiers gave
a fine talk and related some of their
varied experiences over there. The
evening proved most enjoyable one
and the boys were kept busy re-
ceiving the congratulations of their
friends.