Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-01-21
CLARK COUNTY HERO
VISITS FRIENDS HERE
cecil EIkin Upheld Highest Traditions
of Gallantry and Bravery of Ken
tuckians In Many Battles.

Wearing two wound stripes and a
rsd cord given by France for numer-
ops citations for bravery, Cecil EIl1inr
of Clark County, who has many rela-
.ires and friends here, came to Rich
,,ond Saturday, and was guest of
n y. ]. Williams, and others here.
u paid the Daily Register an appre-
ciated call.
Few of the boys who went to the
sorvice of their country from this sec
,ic- so distinguished themselves as
did Young Ell1in-
Frzin is home on 80 days furlough
after which he will return to New
York for further orders. He is a
rsrber of the 18th Company, 9Th
rrfment. L. S. Marines, and enlisted
u cincinnati little over a year ago.
.Vo has been in France since January
E5rd.
FIkin tells a gripping story OF
cover the top" and the horrors and
-rorics of war. 81 would not take a
fortune for my experiences" he com
-~snted. "but would not give penny
+, 20 through any Of them again"
He took part in the famous battle
Or Relleau Wood, where an American
officers Retreat hell; let the boches
,-.-sst ~ was the turning point of the
great war.
FIkin was in the trenches when
thousands of his comrades were lying
dead and wounded about him. One
becomes so used to the horrors of war
he explained, that the fighting soldier
will take aim at the enemy without a
culver of muscle, over the stacked
bodies Of those who few moments
before were his friends and comrades.
On June 3rd, Elkin received a bad
leg wound, caused by bursting shell.
The same shell killed his closest COM
rade. Emmett Finney, II, Of Missouri.
Firey's body, his scalp torn of, fell
across young El<in, who merely had
strength to thrust him aside. His
own body was drenched with the blood
Of his friend.
How long he laid before the
s--etcher bearers arrived he will new
er know. But relief finally came and
he was taken to hospital, where he
-5mained until August. In speaking
Of his experience in the trenches, he
said:
Our battalion suffered terrible
losses in Belleau Wood. At one point
! was with Ga men, who laid down in
q skirmish line-only IL of us got
Up. 1t was here that Finney was
killed and l was wounded"
After Ellin's recovery he was re-
turned to the front line trenches, and
on October oath was badly gassed.
He was again taken to a hospital,
where he remained until the order
came for his return home.
Elkin accounted for at least four
Germans. "One was a shipper" he
said, whom ! discovered hiding in
the bushes thirty yards away. / saw
his helmet protruding. After shot
I ran out and got his rife"
A year ago / would not have be-
lieved I could have taken aim at hu-
man being to kill him like would a
bird. But in the trenches, knowing
the treachery and atrocities of Huns
I found l could take pleasure and
pride in picking him off before he
could me, or any of my comrades l
always chuckled when felt / had
made a particularly good shot"
EIkin was a student at Berea Col
lege and expects to resume his studies
after he is discharged. He is p years
old His recital of his experiences
is singularly free from any spirit OF
bravado, but grips his hearers with
pride in the u S. Marines, and dis
gust against the fiendish Hun.
EIkin saw French children with
their fingers cut off and their hands
twisted and deformed by the ruthless
acts of the German soldiers
It's good to be back home among
old friends again." he said. This is