The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-09-11
AIKEN BOY HERO
OF BELLEAU WOOD
CAPT. GAINES MOsELEY OF THE
18th MARINES RETURNS HOME.
Recipient of Honors.
Led His Men Over the. Top in June,
1918, Cleared the Wood and
Took 500 Huns.

Aiken, Aug. 25.-Captain Gaines
i Moseley, of the forty-seventh COM
pany, fifth marines, hero of Belleau
5 Wood and member of one of Aiken's
oldest families arrived home on a
three weeks furlough last night.
Capt. Moseley joined the United
States Marines in 1897 and has seen
service in South America and on the
1 Mexican border. He entered the
!. World War as a sergeant but was
1promotedS rapidly for gallantry, step
" step, to the rank Of captain.
In June, 1918, after two preceding
companies were shot to pieces in an
endeavor to take Belleau. Wood, he
was elected to head his company, the
forty-seventh, backed by the six
teenth, to break the German hold and
clear the wood. The gallant Ameri-
cans went over the top at p. M,
about 200 strong, and after a terrible
onslaught in which about 125 men
were killed, they cleared the Belleau
Wood, taking 800 prisoners and leav-
ing the ground strewn with hundreds
OF German dead.
Well Deserved Recognition.
For his brave act in being the first
8 to turn aside the fearful rush OF the
enemy, Capt. Moseley has been the re-
cipient of many honors and high
praises. On his breast, as he passed
down Pennsylvania Avenue, in Wash
sington recently, while the United
States Congress adjourned to review
his splendid contingent, proudly hung
the silver-crowned metal of the Order
Of Leopold, for King Albert, Of Bel
gium. had knighted him as "Cheve-
Her!" The gratitude of FRANCE was
shown in her twin medals OF the
Croix de Guerre, the one bearing
silver star and the other star o.
bronze. By the side of these were
the purple bars Of his own United
States for service in eight major
engagements and the bronze medal
for distinguished service. In little
pasteboard carton, the hero has hid
den safely away citations from Gen,
Pershing, King Albert and Gen. Pc
tain, and only for the pleasure OF
his kindred and:irm friends gathered
around him on the porch OF his an
cestral home was he induced to dis
play them this evening.
His Citations.
Reads one: ':on October 4, 1918,
Capt. Gaines Moseley showed in COM
mand extraordinary courage during a
heavy artillery and machine gun bar
rage at st. Etienne." Signed, Ulio.
(. Another citation reads: Captain
Gaines Moseley showed extraordinary
sheroism and exceptional gallantry at
Bois de Belleau in the operation OF
the American Expeditionary Forces"
Signed, John ]. Pershing.
And vet another IS as follows:
acapt. Gaines Moseley of the o: S..
Marines is cited in recognition of his
yalor and splendid service in the COM
smon cause" Signed, Petain.
Does Not Display His. Ronors.
Capt. Moseley does not wear his
medals and it was only through the
urgent request of his kindred and
friends that he was induced to show
them to his visitors. He speaks but
little of the awful ordeal that he and
his gallant men went through but
the gold bar on his right sleeve tells
most eloquently of the wound he re-
ceived while facing death in the fear
full fire of the enemy. In one engage
ment the collar was shot away from
his blouse, scorching his throat, but
he lost not minute in rest or atten-
ton.
In the terrible charge at Belleau
Wood. in which 125 of his fine young
companions lay dead at his feet, he
was wounded severely in the ankle
and being unable to stand he cheered
ON his men with a waTe of his arms
while lying on the ground. The cheer
was heard and the voice of the Aiken
bow led the American forces on to
victory. For thirty days Capt. Nose
lev did not once remove his shoes.
The gallant young officer is fine
specimen of manhood, standing over
six feet in height and weighing about
100 pounds. He comes of real old
estates Rights fighting stock, being
the son Of Gideon Moseley, who en-
tered the Confederate army under the
age of fifteen, under his brother,
D;rchnav Nose1ev IF Orange