Gilpin observer., 1919-09-18

and beyond the call of duty" In
cdentally, this list could be easily doubled and
trebled. Again: The names of American soldiers
who other American British and French
decorations are legion six of the $4,000 Americans
who fought with the Canadians were awarded the
Victoria Cross, the British decoration correspond
ing to the Medal of Honor. One out of 15,400 SOL
diers In action received the Medal of Honor.
would like to see the official citations setting
forth the acts of supreme courage of each of these
76 medalists printed in full in every newspaper in
the land i would like to see these citations made
into textbook and put into the public schools
am not bloodthrsty, but l approve efficiency
even in killing Huns. And think such a book
would be an incentive to patriotism to every red
blooded American boy and girl-our future citi-
zens.
AS 1t is, there is space for little here besides the
names of the medasts. Study the list and find
out many interesting things for yourself
You will note, for instance, that 81 are officers
and 81 enlisted men. Nineteen paid the price
with their lives. New York leads with nine; nli-
nos is second with seven, and California, Missouri
New Jersey, South Carolina and Tennessee share
third hOnors with six each.
Military experts have long regarded the Marines
the most efficient fighting men of all the armies OF
the world. Nevertheless, 80 of the medals go to
the men of the National Guards; % to men of the
selective draft organizations, 13 to regular army
and marine units, to the tank corps and to the
air service.
BY divisions, the Thirtieth leads with IL medals;
It is the National Gaurd organization of the Caro-
linas and Tennessee. Second honors go to the
Eighty ninth division, which is the seective draft
unit of western Missouri Kansas, Nebraska Colo
RADIO, South Dakota and New Mexico. The third
Is the Thirty-thrd National Guard Division of
Illinois Fourth honors go to the famous Second
division of regulars, which includes the marines.
while fifth place is shared by the two New York
divisions, the Twentyseventh and the Seventy
seventh.
Sergeant Ellis. regular, put in a whole day far
in advance of the first wave of his company re-
ducing mnchine-gu nests singe-handed He killed
many of the enemy and captured ten machine guns
and more than so prisoners
Lieutenant Woodfll, also regular, reduced
three separate machine-gun nests killing at
least IL Of the enemy with rifle and pistol and
finally two with pick.
Lieutenant Luke, eighteen year-old volunteer
aviator, destroyed 1S enemy aircraft in II days.
Wounded and forced to make landing, he killed
attacking Germans with his pistol until he fell
Sergeant York originally a sincere consci-
entious objector. He was convinced from the Bible
that blessed the peacemakers." So he went
over to help make peace He killed "a Of the
enemy with rifle and pistol. put a whole machine
gun battalion out of business and marched 1872
prisoners back to the American lines.
Every possible kind of courage shown by
these medalists. Roberts. when his tank slid into
a flooded shell hole, deliberately gave his life to
save his gunner. Blackwell gave his life In vol
upteer attempt to get through heavy fire with a
message. Whttlesey is the go to hell" officer Of
Argonne fame. who would not surrender. LOman
wears also the Victoria Cross. Legion Of Honor. the
Medaille Millitaire and the Croix de Guerre.
Don't forget the cartoon In which the one-armed
hero and the potential hero who never got to the
nring-line each saying "You lucky guyw And
don't forget the potential heroes. Their hearts
were broken.
The Complete List
Atkinson, Joseph B., sergeant. Company 9. 10th
Infantry, 30th division, Atoka, Tenn.
ALEX, Jake, corporal, Company a. 181st infantry.
83d division Chicago.
A,lvsorth, Edward g., captain. Goth infantry. 9th
division, Crawford Wash.