Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-26
SHOULD SALUTE
DISC. WEARERS
arsenal Commandant, to Doff Hat
to An Having Distinguished
Service Crosses.
DISPLAY ISLANDERs AWARD
Late Fred C. Schaffner Only Tri-
City Man to Be Presented q.
8. Honor Badge.

@Not only military men, but ev-
cry man, woman and child should
salute the wearer or United States
distinguished service cross. I shall
salute and it makes no difference
whether the wearer be white, black
or green" Colonel Harry B. Jordan,
commandant at Rock Island arsen-
al said yesterday He spoke thus
after displaying a distinguished
service cross that had been award
ed Mrs. Fred C. Schaffner, 1924
Seventh avenue, mother of Phar-
macist Fred c. Schaffner, Jr., the
first Rock Island lad to make the
supreme sacrifice on the battle
fields of France. On his death, the
xSeross was presented to his mother.
SchaffneF is the only known tri-
city lad who was awarded a dis
dnguished service cross. His death
occurred in April, 1918.
THAT cross" Colonel Jordan
said, as he held the case containing
the award before a group of tr1-
city newspaper men yesterday af-
ternoon, lis not given by the Uni
ted States war department for moth
ing. In my estimation, it is one of
the greatest honors known, to be
the owner of one. / only wish that
/ possessed it.
"Schaffner was made of the real
stuff Despite the fact that he knew
that his death was close, he faced
the music and continued his work"
Sehaffner Cited.
In the Recruiters Bulletin, Off
49, 7VsTV1 acrl-
zine, a citation is carried concern
ing Pharmacist Schaffner as fol-
lows:
According to unofficial reports
from the American expeditionary
forces in France. three United
~Etates marines have been decorated
with the United States distinguish
ed service cross for conspicuous
heroism in action. One of the
crosses will be delivered to the
next of kin because Pharmacist
Fred c. Schaffner died as result
of his heroism.
"Schaffner, a naval pharmacist,
serving with the marines during an
engagement on the west side of st.
Mihiel salient, was awarded the
cross for the highly commendable
action he displayed in the care and
attention incident to the removal of
more than one hundred casualties
following a gas shell bombardment
April IS.
"He worked necessarily for the
comfort and welfare of the sick,
disregarding his own premonitory
symptoms, insisting that he was all
right, when the contrary was evil
dent. He had to be relieved against
his will and as result of the gass-
ing. died"
The Bulletin also carries the fol-
lowing story that explains in itself
the heroism of Schaffner:
"a story Of heroic action and self
sacrifice in the performance of
their duty on the part of two naval
pharmacist mates serving with the
marines at the front, came to light
when the death of one of them,
Fred C. Schaffner. was reported
among the casualties of the ma
zines.
'sThe other, Carl o. Kfngsbury,
is still in the hospital, slowly re-
covering from his injuries. The
two men were attached to a COM
pany of marines which was sub
iected to a severe attack Of mustard
gas, considered among the worst
forms of gas employed by the Ger
mans.
Lasts Four Hours.
The attack started at 4 O'Clock
in the morning and continued with
unusual severity and persistence
within a certain area Numerous
cases needed attention and the two
pharmacist mates commenced their |
work Immediately under the super
vision of the doctor and the gas Of
ficer in charge. The attack contin-
ued for more than four hours and |
then ceased. Although gas at |
tacts had occurred frequently. it |
was the first time that mustard |
was employed and it is believed |
that in some instances, the length |
>af time that this gas remains in the |
shelled area was underestimated |
for it was several hours after the |
cessation of the Smelling and after |
men had removed their masks that |
many cases Of gas poisoning devel-
oped.
'tSchaffner and Kingsbury worked |
continuously during and after the
attack and when the new cases
came up, despite the fact that they
were beginning to feel the effects