The Washington herald., 1919-09-19
EARLY LIFE OF
GEN. JOHN J.PERSH HING
AUTHENTIC STORY
OF THE BOYHOOD DAYS
OF THE FAMOUS GENERAL
By HAROLD F. WHEELER.

But he was not to see much more
of the little town Of his boyhood. He
returned there on leaves from West
Point to visit his parents. But they
moved away before he was graduated
from the Academy-first to Lincoln,
Nebr.. then to Chicago. John visited
the town just the same. however.
when he had won his spurs and be
come a shave-tail second Lieutenant
His parents then were in Lincoln.
And he has visited the town several
times since but only to stay for a
very short time.
PcrshinE Remembers Lnclcde.
The friendships OF his boyhood, his
boyhood friends, though, he has never
. forgotten. He writes often to those
old playmates OF boyhood, and moth
ing gives him such pleasure as to
hear from them. What they mean to
him is best expressed by quoting the
general himself-quoting him through
the medium OF a letter which he sent
to some Of those old playmates-rne
now-acknowledging the receipt Of a
picture Of themselves which they sent
TO him in France last winter.
The picture was taken on the side
walk outside OF the Lomax and Stand
ley Bank-a picture of J. FL Hamil-
ton Clay c. Bigger, Henry c. Lonaax.
{ Mayor Edmund 8. Allen and Judge
Oscar F. Libby.
Reads the generals letter:
American Expeditionary Force
Office of the Commanding General.
PersonaD
France. Feb. II, 1Ta
]. T. Hamilton.
"Laclede, Missouri
MY dear friends:
1T would not be possible for Inc /"
express in words my appreciation O.
! the friendship of my boyhood ASST
ciates in Laclede. so vividly recallerl
| to mind by the photographs and >th"
letter just received bearing your sig
| ma tures.
The faith and confidence OF my
! friends is an inspiration to carry out
| to the very best of my ability my
own part in the task which the Amer
lean people have allotted 10 the army
| IN Europe
TO know that our friends from
! every section Of the country stand
behind Us and feel a pride In the
men they have sent forth from their
| homes to battle for civilization viii
| assuredly push US on to the victory
! that must be ours.
NO ties are stronger than those
, OF youth. and this personal touch
means much more to me than I can
say. Many thanks, many thanks, for
your thoughtful letter and for your
/ confidence
Yours always afrecuouately.
TNby hf
3 I.aclede forget the general?
Visit Lsclede with me last Fourth
Of July.
! LacIede Rene MI bers Pcrshing.
/ From all over Missouri that day
I came the folks OF Missouri to honor
their great son. Gov. Frederick D.
Gardner. of Missouri. came at their
head, way from Jefferson City, t.
pay the great son tribute. And
what a day 1t was! In all Laclede' S
history there never had been such
| crowds in the little town. The
/ crowds filled the little park where
the general fought his first battles.
{ charging snow trenches and attack
ling snow forts at the head OF ms
army" OF wooden sworded and dish
panned accoutred children. They
filed the little park. did the crowds,
then overf1owed into the streets.
All. what a crowd it was! And gath
cred for zone purpose-to honor
their general" For that is what
he is to them-their John, their
Johnny.
The governor spoke standing on
the handstand. the same bandstand
partly the same anyway-to
which so many. many years before
Gen. PershinS, then Johnny. huns
Capt. Loves goat Said the gov
ernor:
Fellow citizens and people of
issOuri-PershinS, VIZ are here!
'WoulI that the millions of bravs
J American boys now with the colors
could look upon this glorious scene!
| Would that they could feel the
spirit OF love and devotion, admira-
ton and confidence, that fr-s our
hearts and our souls as we gather
here at your old home and birth
! place,
To-day we honor John J. Pershiug
as man. as a citizen, and as a
/ leader of the American hosts on the
battlefelds OF Europe The people