The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-03-29
MEDAL WATTS FOR
AN unknown HERO
MAJOR sIsERT SEARCHING FOR
CERTAIN sTRETcHER BEARER
OF 2oaTH INFANTRY.
STORY OF DESPERATE EXPLOIT
Flame and Gas officer With Two VOL
unteers Had Exciting Experience
Back of Enemy Lines-GaIiant Deed
of Unnamed Man.
By EDWARD 3. CLARK.

Tuiicd States. or in France, is sol
der. name unknown, who if he can be
found will learn that he has been or
is TO be recommended for distin-
guished service medal for high conduct
in face of the enemy.
This unknown soldier in late Sep
tember last was acting as II Stretcher
bearer in Company X of the Three
Hundred and Eighth United States In
fantry. which was part OF the Seven
ty-seventh United States division.
In Washington today "A major of the
army. William O. Sibert Of the gas
and flame service. il doing what he
can to find out who this hero was In
order that his name can he put into
the proper place on the recommenda-
ton for n medal.
Major Sibcrt went to France with
the writer hereof The major had
great luck. Almost Immediately he
got into the thick of the fight, but later
his luck was not 50 great for after
hard and heroic exploit he contracted
back to the United States with fine
record in the field TO his credit. Today
Sibert is entirely recovered and ii Is
his desire To endeavOr to locate the
man who on an occasion In the Ar
gonne forest showed himself to be
such u gallant American.
Got Behind the German Lines.
On September 20 last Major Sibert,
who vas the division gas officer of
the Seyenty-seventh division, went out
10 the last post at the front and from
there undertook, with three men who
had volunteered for the service, TO To-
cate certain position. They went
over the top and worked their way as
well as they could through all kinds of
entanglements, artificial and natural.
one of Sibert's men became lost. but
later found his way to detachment of
engineers. The major and his two re-
manning volunteers then struck out
straight north.
Before long, 10 their surprise, they
realized that they were well behind the
German lines. Instantly three Ger
mans appeared round a corner of a
knoll. an officer and two men. They
never will appear on earth again. The
Americans killed all three.
The Americans then endeayored to
make their way back toward their
own lines and OH the way they picked
up more German prisoners. Later
they gathered in others. for almost in
every instance the Americans succeed
ed in getting the drop on the surprised
enemy, although before that days
journey was ended the detachment had
several severe fights and several close
shave escapes.
Finally the little outfit ran into an
American engineer platoon that also
Ind got behind the German lines
through some error Of direction. The
now enlarged detachment was making
its way up hill toward the place
where II was thought French outfit
was stationed. 1t was opened on with
heavy fire. The men broke for some
dugOuts. losing several In dead and
wounded.
one of Sibert's original volunteers
had u hole in the side of his head and
died an hour afterward. Several of
the German prisoners were killed by
the fire Of their own people.
Gallant Deed of the Unknown Man.
Major Slbert called for two yoIun-
teers To crawl through TO the Ameri-
can lines so that word could be passed
TO the artillery to get busy on a GER
tain German battery. and also to in
form the Americans of the exact posi-
ton of the little lost contingent.
One of the men who volunteered
was one Of the three original privates
who HAD volunteered in the first in
stance 10 60 with Major Sibert on his
perilous errand. As will be remem-
bered. one of these three original VOL
unteers got lost on the way and an
other was killed. This third man
made his way through terrific fire back
10 the American lines and performed
successfully his perilcus errand.
II Is for this man, name unknown
Major Sibert Just now is searching.
He wants him to get his decoration.
Eventually his name probably will be
made known and IL alive he nav get
the medal that he deserves. and II
dead his parents may be given il In his
place.
Army Of Ball Players and Fans.
general officer of tie American ex.
peditionary forces spoke one day of
cur combined units in France as ian
army Of baseball players"
The general was not far from right
II Is probable that every man in our
forces on the other side at some time
or other In his life had played the
great national game. 1t also is prob
able that at least three-fourths of the
men Ia the service overseas. and ON
this side, too, for that matter regular
y had given over their Saturday after.
Moons and their other times of release
from work to the sport of baseball
There were many professional base