The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-09-19

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cidentaIIy, this list could be easily doubled and
trebled. Again: The names of American soldiers
who Wear other American, British and French
decorations are legion six of the 1000 Americans
who fought with the Canadians were awarded the
Victoria Cross. the British decoration correspond
ing to the Medal of Honor. One out of 1900 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
rs medalists printed in full In every newspaper in
the land. | would like to see these citations made
into q textbook and put into the public schools.
/ am not blOodthirsty, but l approve efficiency,
even in killing Huns. And l think such a book
would be an incentive to patriotism to every red
blooded American boy and girl-our future citl-
ZenS.
AS it is, there is space for little here besides the
names Of the medalists. Study the list and find
out many interesting things for yourself.
You will note, for instance, that u are officers
and 81 enlisted men. Nineteen paid the price
with their lives. New York leads with, nine; Hi
nois is second with seven, and California. Missouri.
New Jersey, South Carolina and Tennessee share
third honOrs with six each. tH
Military experts have long regarded the Marines
the most efficient fighting men of all the armies or
the world. Nevertheless, 80 Of the medals go to
the men of the National Guards % to men OF the
selective draft organizations, Is to regular army
and marine units. > to the tank corps and to the
air service.
BY divisions, the Thirtieth leads with II medals;
1T is the National Gaurd organization of the Caro-
linaS and Tennessee. Second honOrS 90 TO the
Eighty ninth division, which is the selective draft
unit of western Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska. Colo
RADIO. South Dakota and New Mexico. The third
Is the Thirty-third or National Guard Division or
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 Twenty-seventh and the Seventy
seventh.
Sergeant Ellis. a regular, put in a whole day far
In advance of the first wave of his company re-
ducing machlne-gun nests single-handed. He killed
many of the enemy and captured ten machine guns
and more than 80 prisoners.
Lieutenant WOOdfll, also a regular, reduced
three separate machine-gun nests, killing at
least II of the enemy with rifle and pistol and
finally two with a pick.
Lieutenant Luke, an eighteen-year-old volunteer
aviator, destroyed IS enemy aircraft i'm II days.
Wounded and forced to make a landing, he killed
attacking Germans with his pistol until he fell.
Sergeant York was originally a sincere consci-
entio,Is objectOr. He was convinced from the Bible
that blessed are 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 132
prisoners back to the American lines.
Every possible kind Of courage was shown by
these medallsts. Roberts, when his tank slid into
n flooded shell hole. deliberately gave his life to
save his gunner. Blackwell gave his life In a vol
unteer attempt to get through heavy fire with a
message. Whittlesey is the go to help officer Of
Aryonne fame. who would not surrender. Loman
wears also the Victoria Cross. Legion of Honor, the
Medaille Militaire and the Croix de Guerre.
Don't forget the cartoon In which the one-armed
hero and the potential hero who never got 10 the
are each saying "YOu lucky guy?' And
don't forget the potential heroes. Their hearts
were broken.
The Complete List.
Atkinson, Joseph g., sergeant, Company {, 10th
infantry. Both division, Atoka, Tenn.
ALEX. Jake. corporal. Company II, 131st infantry,
B3d division, Chicago.
Al,worth. Edward s., captain, Goth %infantry, 9th
division. Crawford, Wash.