The state herald., 1919-07-25

Jr. oh. yes. II presented with
proper ceremonies at the Arizona state capitol In
Phoenix by Brig. Gen. II. r. Hlckok. Governor
Campbell and other dgnitnries. But the mnin
thing is that the medal was AWARDED and Is now
where is belongs. And the fighting men Of this
western country are mixed in their feelings-di-
vided between grief that they can no longer wish
their pet flyer "Happy Landings" and pride that
he well represented them that he was the first
flying officer TO get the Congressional Medal OF
Honor.
Moreover, the mystery of Lukes fate that for
many months kept all the fighting men OF this
western country the lookout for news Of him
is solved And these western fighting men
doubly proud that their air hero "d!ed
with his boots on"-that his grand finale was At
tingly glorious and heroic his whole
meteoric career.
Eighteen Hun planes and balloons In seventeen
days IL part Of Luke's official record. "And bal
looms" Yes balloons. Don't make the mistake
Of thinking lightly OF aviator destroying q
balloon. Regulars, marines, national guards
uonal army doughboys, artillerists engineers-all
have their heroes. But don't overlook the airmen
when apportioning honors. And II there is any
war business more dangerous than combating
enemy nirpnnes Il II destroying enemy observa-
tion balloons The quality of the job is indicated
by the German practice OF credIting with two vic
tories every pilot who strafed balloon. And
maybe this Is why strafing balloons was he
chosen business and speciality of Frank Luke.
Here's glimpse Of what Lieut.. Frank Lukes
comrades think OF his work: The other day J.
10y Maloney returned to the Chicago Tribune
stnff. lie had pair OF r. N. A. wings and three
gold overseas service chevrons. and his pilot book
shows $50 hours In the mir, $50 Of which were over
the lines. He with the famed cath nero
sQuadron-Eddie Rickenbackers own He was
pressed for news" OF his exploits.
swell, didn't do darn thing. but ! can tell
you n story about II hero-a real hero. the bravest
man in the war;" said Mnloney.
His name Fyank Luke. Jr., he lived In
Phoenix, Arx., before the war and he was prob
nbly the most brilliant flyer we had.
HE would fly over our balloon officers and
drop n note telling them he would knock down
blimp nj certain time-and at that time down
would come the bag
"on Luke's last trip up he made the most
sensational Night In history. He had dropped a
note saying two German balloons would be crash
ed. They were. and then his air went bad and
he hnd 10 pump by hand. which means handling
the stick, the rns md nli the guns with one hand
He saw two Fokkers knock down nn American
scout. NO he went up and knocked down the
bochss On his way back he seven French.
men trying TO get n huge German tripiane. Luke
got the ship. but shrnpnel stopped his motor.
Down he went Below wns Germany and
German troops That 20 year old kid dove the
ship over the marching columns Of boche troops
and turned his mnchine gun loose on them know
ing he would BE- n prisoner.
'Bui he killed eight men, then set his ship
down the ground md whipped out his auto
matte. He hit three boch.s when they came up
to capture him-and they bumped him on.
"when he died he had eighteen victories TO
his credit and was keeping Rick humping"
This II the judgment Of n trained newspaper
mnn. used To getting facts. npprecinting their
yniuc. nnd sizing up men.
Perhaps nobody ~ better nble to tell the truth
about Luke ,hnn the man who commanded his
saup dron In the fighting In which he took bril-.
limit n part. Tint mnn. Harold u. Uartney now
~ lieutenant colonel and chief Of runncry In the
mir service Describes his frst Impression Of him
~ TINT of IN youth keen md nqulllne bluc-eyed
aud fnir. with n strong jaw md hn'r brushed bnck
finir q broud high forehead"
Tut. WIS 20 years old when he entered The
.,-sir,. lie was trained NJ the University Of