Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-01

For bravery shown in going out
after wounded men under heavy bonn
bardment on the western front in
July, Private Harold B. Rodier of
this city has been cited by his di-
vision commander. Rodier went
through the war with the District
hospital unit of the Rainbow Division
and is still with that organization on
German soil.
,, Private Rodier Joined the District
National Guard about two years ago
and was on the Mexican border for a
short time. He went to France with
the Rainbow Division in October,
1917. In a letter written to relatives
in this city on July 20 Private Rodier
described some of the incidents of
July 10, for which he was cited by
his commanding officer. Telling of
the day, he wrote, in part:
Has Narrow Escape.
Just before dawn we became short
of dressings and I volunteered to OBJ
tain some from the infirmary. This
was rather near where I feared more
Company 1 men might he. SO l ran
across the field and made another
search, without result. ] returned to
the infirmary. Ass I entered a shell
burst about twenty feet from me.
Though flying steel went all around
felled me. I secured my dressings
and returned to the aid station.
I'VE were working in a shallow
trench with, a sap just big enough
for one doctor and the patient. Van
Epps and 1 worked in the trench,
meeting the wounded as they came
in. dressing them, tagging them and
getting them out of the way.
Bombed Wounded Men.
Shortly after daybreak. the firing
having slightly decreased. enemy
wounded men and litter bearers in
the trench they opened fire with ma
chine guns and signaled, directing
their artillery fire on US. The shells
burst on all sides, but again God was
with US, for no one was killed and
but one wounded"
Cross for Capt. Gordon.
For extraordinary heroism in ac-
ton" Capt. Erskine Gordon of the
319th Infantry, q son of William A.
Gordon of 3013 o street northwest,
has been awarded the distinguished
service cross by President Wilson,
according to an announcement Of the
War Department today.
Capt. Gordon is cited for his heroic
acts in action near Gorcourt. France,
September 1921 last. According to
the War Department announcement
after the assaulting companies had
passed over three machine-gun nests,
which, not having been destroyed,
opened heavy and effective fire, Capt.
Gordon reorganized scattered e1e-
ments of his own company and Of
two others and fearlessly exposing
himself to the fire of these guns as
well as that OF our own artillery, per-
sonally led an attack on three nests,
captured them with fifty prisoners"
Was an Attorney Here.
Capt Gordon was a practicing
attorney of this city before he entered
the Army. He has been in almost
continuous service since he went to
Europe last May. He saw his first
service with the English troops in
Flanders. He later fought through
the battle of Argonne forest. He at
tended Western High School. and is a
graduate of the law school Of George
Washington University Of the class
Of 1904. He is a member of the
Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
In letter dated October 16 Capt.
Gordon told Of some hard battles he
had been through, and said he was
unable to understand how he came
through uninjured.