The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-09-06

Jr Oh yes 1t presented win
proper ceremonies at the Arizona state caption III
Phoenix by Brig. Gen. H. r. Hlckok, Governor
Campbell and other dignitaries. But the nain
thing Ia that the medal was awarded and is now
where Is belongs And the fighting men OF thls
western country are mixed in their feeiings-dl-
yided between grief that they can no longer WISH
their pet flyer Happy Landings" and pride that
he SO well represented them that he was the nrst
flying officer to get the Congressional Meoai oh
Honor.
Moreover, the mystery Of Luke's fate that for
MANY months kept all the fighting men OF this
western country ON the lookout for news or finn
Is now solved. And these western lighting men
are now doubly proud that their air hero dleo
with his boots on'-that his grand finale was ut
tingly glorious and heroic as was his whole
meteOric career.
Eighteen Hun planes and balloons in seventeen
DAVIS is part of Luke's official record. "And bal
looms" Yes, balloons. Don't make the mistake
of thinking lightly of aviator destroying
balloon. Regulars, Marines national guards, ma
tional army, doughboys, artillerists. engneers-al
have their heroes. But don't overlook the airmen
when apportioning honors. And If there Is any
war business more dangerous than combating
enemy airplanes it is destroying enemy obssrva-
ton 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 the
chosen business and specially Of Frank Luke.
Here's Z glimpse of what Lieut.. Frank Lukes
comrades think of his work: The other day J.
10y Maloney returned to the Chicago Tribune
star. He had pair OF r. NJ. A. wings and three
eold overseas service chevrons, and his pilot book
shows $50 hours in the air. $50 Of which were over
the lines He was with the famed oath aero
squadron-Eddie Rickenbackers own. he was
pressed for 'news' Of his exploits.
"Well, didn't do a darn thing, but can tell
oho a roQ1 10
man in the war;" said Maloney.
His name was Frank Luke, Jr, he lived In
Phoenix Arix., before the war and he was prob
ably the most brilliant flyer we had.
HE would fly over our balloon officers and
drop a note telling them he would knock down
blimp at certain time-and at that time down
would come the bag.
ION Lukes last trip up he made the most
sensational fight in history. He had dropped
note saying two German balloons would be crash
ed. They were, and then his air went bad and
he had to pump by hand, which means handling
the stick, the gas and all the guns with one hand
He saw two Fokkers knock down an American
scout so he went up and knocked down the
boches. On his way back he saw seven French
men trying to get a huge German triplane. Luke
got the Ship but shrapnel stopped his motor.
'Down he went. Below was Germany and
German troops. That 20 year old kid dove the
ship over the marching columns of boche troops
and turned his machine gun loose on tnem KNOW
ing he would be prisoner.
.Buf he killed eight men, then set his ship
down on the ground and whipped out his auto
matte. He hit three boches when they came up
10 CAPTURE him-and they bumped him on
.When he died he had eighteen victories TO
his credit and was keeping Rick humping"
This IS the Judgment Of trained newspaper
men used to getting facts approaching their
value, and sizing up men,
VI Perhaps nobody Is better able to tell the truth
,)hout Luke than the man who commanoeo ,r Ins
s,nnadron N the fighting in which he took - Drll-
nant mart. That man. Harold = Har.ney. nov ,s
I,s,'..,,ant colonel and chief Of gunnery in the
al .arvsce aescribes his first impression OF nm
8 that Of q yuuth keen and aquiline olueeyeo
and fair, with snung jaw and hair Drusneo DacA
from broad, high 1e<shead."
Luke was 20 yeazasold when he entered the
.Arsice lie was tsaiDsaet the University q