The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-05-24
Replica Of Monument Erected In Mem
Org of Three Americans Who Fell
at BetheImont Is Sent to
Washington.

IiS LII &c young uSlOeS udu given their
lives for freedom, but the community
was situated so near the firing line
that the ceremony had to be held at
Nancy. Ambassador Sharp has sent
to the state department graphic re-
port on the subject. A large crowd
of distinguished people were present
at the dedication exercises.
M. Mirman, in his address before a
huge assembly at Nancy, emphasized
the fact that the three young heroes
in whose honor the monument had
been erected were not, indeed, the
first Americans whose blood had
tinged the battlefelds of France.
Young men from the United States,
impatient to fight, had enrolled volun-
tarily in the French and English ar
mics and already in 1915 their num-
Der exceeded 10000.
Carried American Flag.
A very touching incident illustrates
the patriotism of those Americans who
had Joined the French Foreign Legion
before the United States entered the
war. Not being able to fight openly
under the Star-Spangled Banner they
procured an American flag and decided
that each Of them, in turn, should car
~ 1t wrapped around his breast. In
this way our flag was present in all
those numerous combats in which the
colors of the Foreign Legion partici.
pated. Twice it was pierced by bul.
lets and stained with the blood OF
wounds. Once he who carried it fell,
the American volunteers searched the
field and found their dead comrade,
took from his body the weH-beloved
colors, and, armed with this emblem,
they went forward to new exploits.
When the United States took up the in
sulting defiance of Germany these
American volunteers, already veter,
ans, took their places in their Nation.
al army and presented to France this
flag which so proudly they had borne
through numerous battles, and the
French reverently deposited it at the
1nvalides.
A few days after the first Amerh
cans entered the trenches the Germans
desired to test the worth of their new
enemy. They directed an attack
against the sector. Valiantly did the
American soldiers support their hap,
tismal fire.
Did Not Yield an Inch.
They did not yield one inch of their
positions. The enemy who had pene,
trated for a moment into their trench
es withdrew, leaving numerous dead
Three Americans were killed in the
French lines, one pierced by revolver
shot, the other two stabbed with pom
iards. They were inferred in a field
below the hill on which are clustered
the houses of the village of Bethel.
mont. 1t was decided that the names
of these three first victims should be
inscribed on stone, and although the
project could not be given dimensions
in keeping with the Importance of the
historic fact to be cOmmemorated, the
design is artistic and was drawn by
Louis Majorelle. The cnss and the |
thistle Of Lorraine are entwined with
the stars of America. The Inscription
on one side reads:
LORRAINE. TO THE UNITED
STATES"
That ON the other side:
Here
in Lorraine territory
repose
the three first
American soldiers
killed by the enemy
on November Sd, 1917
Corporal JAMES B. GRESHAM
(of Evansville) A
Private THOMAS r. ENRIGHT
(of Pittsburgh
Private MERLE d. HAY
(of Clidden)
AS worthy sons Of their great
and noble Nation they have
fought for Justice, Liberty
and Civilization against
German Imperialism,
the scourge Of the human race.
THEY DIED ON THE BATTLE FIELD.