Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-05-01
ne SERVED wITn HONOR.
Paul Gieissner's Brother Offecrs Tell
Of Ills Heroistn.

parents, Mr. and Mrs. j. M. Gleiss-
ner, from his captain and brother
lieutenant giving the details and pay
ing a high tribute to the herOism and
devotion to duty Of one Of Abllene's
finest young men.
Captain Edward Harrah Of Co. A,
3sth Infantry, writes:
MY acquaintance with Lieutenant
Paul Gleissner began on September
| II, when / assumed command OF this
company At that time, he was In
good health, and, like the rest Of us,
we'll satisfied with life in general.
We had just finished a two weeks
hike TO the st. Mihiel front, where
the regiment was in reserve, which
was the hardest physical ordeal we
had so far experienced. The marches
were long. and 1t rained continuously.
However, after St Mlhiel, we took
| It comparatively leisurely up 10 the
Argonne, In preparation for the at
tack which began September 25th.
"On October 8, we were In sup
port position In a field near Mont
faueon. The weather had been rather
cold and raw, and think Lieutenant
Gleissner had contracted cold at
| that time. On the day following. we
went into action, capturing hin be
tween the villages OF Cunel and Ro-
magne- sous Montfaucon. We re-
NAMED on that hin until October ~,
sleeping in shell holes. under artillery
fire that was literally unending. The
nervous strain, as well as the physi-
zeal. was extremely heavy, and we
were All pretty well In by the time
we were relieved We went back
into support position, where II was
comparatively quiet. by this time
lIIeut Gleissner had a very bad cold,
and | think, too. that he had gotten
n tonch of gas. The Germans gassed
us during the high explosive bonn
bardment. He was, by this time, the
only officer left with me, for the
others had been wounded, and he
did not want to go to a hospital. |
do not think anything could cause
YOU greater pride than to know that
II required a positive order from his
company commander to make him go
to a hospital. He left on October il.
This was the last time | saw him.
Iieutenant Moore, one of the com
Ipany officers. met him In the nospi-
tai at Limoges, and by this time, ms
cold had developed into pneumonia.
Answering your question, he had not
been wounded before being taken TO
the hospital His final illness lasted
about three days. He was given a
military funeral in the Z. 5. Military
cemetery at Limoges, and Lieutenant
Moore was among the number Of
paIlbearers."
Lieutenant }. r. Moore, of the
same company, writes: paul and
became very warm friends; he wa%I
fraternity brother and weeks OF
close companionship strengthened our
bond Of friendship He was a prinee1
of a fellow and his sudden death
proved blow to me and he has beenE
missed greatly by both men and Off /
GERS in his company" He tells OF
Paul having had a cold but recoy-
cred; then they went into the Ar
gonne sector: 1t raincd and they hadI
no bedding. They slept In holes IN
the ground and the cold came back
He was urged to go to the hospital,
Int he got treatment and improved |
Later the Germans put over a
counter attack. / found Pau' with
his platoon over at the right, sitting
in shell hole, looking exhausted but
with a smile This disappeared wAen
he saw | was wounded and he was
much concerned about me. He SAID
he was tired but otherwise all right. !
| did not see him again until In me
hospital later Other officers were
wounded or killed and only the cap
tain, Paul and another lieutenant
were left in command. His cold
grew worse but he refused to leave
until relieved Later in the hospital
he said: There were other men there
as bad off as l and as, an officer It
was up to me to set the example. y
The boy showed such wonderful
spirit"
Lieutenant Moore visited with him
In the hospital and it was Thought
that Paul was recovering but one
night he became worse and died be-
fore morning of pneumonia. He says:
"The chaplain who conducted the
services. had met Paul in the bank