Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-06-21
MODEST HERO REVEALED BY
STORY RELATED ~ coMPAn.
IONS IN ARMS.
AwEs ENEMY WlrH
ONE AUTOMATIC RIFLE
Forces Germans and Their Officers TO
Surrender With Their Guns and
Equipment, Including Two Mssssn.
ger Doss-captor, Says They just
Marched Into His Hands.

Burlington, June 21--Arthur Oetken.
Jr., returned to Burlington with the
mere title OF private and devoid Of war
crosses. but in the eyes OF seven com
rades who fought with him thru the
war from the Quarter reserves. to the
Meuse., the young man is a hero and
one worthy Of the highest racommenda-
ton of the nation. His comrades base
their admiration Of the young man on
the fact that. unaided, Oetken affected
the capture OF sixty German soldiers.
and four officers. along with two mes
senger dogs, guns and ammunition.
The feat was one of the most spec
tacular displays of individual courage
In the history Of the regiment, but
Oetken received no official credit for
his bravery. The captures altho made
single handed were credited to the en-
tire company. as a whole. a.
Oetken was a member Of Company
C of the 360th infantry. attached to
the Ninetieth division: so were seven
other Burlington young men-Joseph
Thomas. Henry Tiemeier. oliver Upton.
Frank WEIGH, Lawrence. Adolph Rolf
and Ralph Ralston. All of these young
men. except Frank WEIGH. have, re-
turned to Burlington. WEIGH Is lying
in the army hospital at Fort Des
Mihiel.
Mihel.
Comrades Tell Of Deed.
II was the comrades of>Oetken who
told Of the bravery of the young man
upon their arrival. They likewise
voiced their disappointment at the
failure of the government to recognize
his courage. Private Oliver Upton was
the first to express his thoughts in the
matter.
The story Of how Oetken unaided
captured nearly an entire company OF
German soldiers, as told by his COM
rades is as follows:
1--WE were fighting in the Meuse sec
tor with the American troops in attack,
meeting determined and obstinate re-
sistance from the German forces. Dur
ing an especially warm attack the
members Of the company separated py
a murderous machine gun fire were
hiding along . ridge waiting until the
smoke cleared TO attack German troops
in valley below.
oet<en Surprises Germans.
"while waiting it appears that a
company OF Germans moved up the
hill to attack and they headed for the
place where Oetken alone with "sho-
sho" or automatic rife was hiding.
Oetken saw them as they emerged thru
the deep smoke that filled the valley
while but twenty or thirty feet away.
Attic he knew himself to be without
aid, he charged towards the Germans
with the automatic rifle. The surprise
of his attack carried the Germans on
their feet and the sixty men In the
company surrendered. Four officers
were routed from their dugout and
forced to line up with the privates.
At about that tuncture. the other
members Of the company came to the
assistance of Oetken and the Germans
were marched to the rear. In this
manaersthe company was given credit
for the capture and not Oetken. as an
individual"
Admits Act After Urging.
When interviewed Oetken at first re-
fused to say anything about it. After
repeated urgings he finally admitted
that the story Of his comrades was