The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-21
Nv ALEX. SULLIVAN

There is q little woman up IN Ha'tl-
straw that is feeling mighty prouu ~
day. She is the mother OF Nike Donaiu
son, q retired boxer. who mas oe'''
awarded the distinguished service cross
for his act Of extraordinary herots'll'
according to an announcements JuS.
made in Washington. Mike has inc
distinction of having had General JONI
J. Pershing, commander of the ~ T..
r decorate him in the name or
President Wilson. =,
Mike is a member Of the "old e9th'
and enlisted the day after the "'tIu
states declared war on Germany. RIO
surprised everybody along BROADWAY
by the patriotic spirit he displayed.
Some of his acquaintances even "cN.
so far as to suggest that ne hta
borrowed" the uniform he was wear
Ing, Mike was the last man IN 'he
world you'd pick up as nero aS "'
appeared 10 lack fighting spirit.
several wears ago Mike came to New
York CITY from up state and became 8
preliminary boxer. He did fairly wei
mt such clubs as the SharkeS' anu
eventually he was given mann events
hut his ring performances never az
,rsctcd much attention. He didn't care
much. anyway. for the sport OF give
and take. SO he quit it and tor t"o VI
three wears nc acted as Il sort or trainer
tnr several star boxers When the late
. Stanley Ketchcl was the nidole"e'sn l
champion he was q hanSer-on III MS
c,rnn 1t WAS not exactly because OF
Mikes ability to get a boxer in tip'"P
Ubanc FOR n battle but because ne pos
..,ssed = keen sense of humor. DON nl"'N
falling from mis- lips with every seH
tcncs. -,
When Benny kaufr was bought by the
Giants from the brooklyn reds nc ana
Mike became iuScparablc paiS. htNc
rubbing him down and also Keeping n'll
in good humor. Mike ono" SAID t">ll
the three greatest men ne haa ever nv
were President WILSON. Si"n''S
and Benny kauN. ,,o
"Thcyr" three cha'npi"hS' "@S
way Mike put II.
When tho war broke "utyM!ke mad q
Sigh, stoop in his ShC"!d'r$. ana III MS
"cjv!cs" looked anything but henec1
either Of the ring or trench 't't''E'
Rut before h. sailed away Tor fr"nce
win th. Rainbow division he hau
s,raightencd up and looked ike I'LL
lion dollars in his khaki SUIT.
In writing about his regiment NJ Sa."
ono dnv that a bunch OF them went "ut
in 4 rowboat. and So tough were ',,
ma, they had. rowcd for several mics
out 10 sea that tneE uIsco'e'eo ~
hey hadn't any oars.
Although Mike has been away 1r"''i
his home in NaverStraw Tor SeF''"I
years H., never failed to make treq'''"'
yisits Ia his mother there. He Always
rxor, a lock vi her hair attached 10 Il
scapular He said before he went ava!
tha1 no was sure they would save MS
life. In letters from the front nc tlc.
oucntly told the writer that ne h"e
b.ard tho little birds" singing. ana INA
if no was lucky enough 10 escape aea'"
he considered that nc had earned u,
rieht.,o live in ease and elegance tnC
rnst of his life He was originally 10
rho company, captaincd by jim VIC
Eenna who was killed while crossing
the Ourc1. AL,
7, sure is some distinction for M'ke
m be the only boxer III the Torld y
have such military honors heapru up'i
him. and when he returns 70 Bro2o"as
his friends and acquaintance plan I"
give him one of the biggest receptions
exer accorded anyone. They used Il
-syard hin, as n character" but no"
they are all ready 10 go out OF 'nell
way TO shake his hand. whereas oet"l'
the war many OF them were IN the hapt'
of sjdcstcpping him when he loomeq II
view. ~,
The war certainly proved Mike is th'
real champion Of champions among
goxerS.