Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-05-08

OF the three men, Miller was the
moro composed. Almost at the last
minute he had saved himself from
any possibility of accusation-and
his face showed his satisfaction He
oven glanced at the other two with
malicious amusement.
some people," went on Ben. N
aware Of the tension in the room,
don't seem to realize just what this
war means. didn't know, myself
until landed in France. used to
like to fight; but always did my
hghting by myself Just because I
liked to, fight. 1t was different over
there. IT'S queer feeling that grips
q fellow when there's a bunch Of
other fellows all around him - all
dressed alike and all fighting for the
same object. There's something about
It that gets under a mans skin and
fills him with something he can't ex-
press.
"A man loses something-it's his
individuality, think. But he gains
more than he loses. I've heard fel-
lows call it discipline and training
and stuff like that. But know it's
something else. For long time 1t
bothered me, and then finally
thought it cut It's country-nothing
less; it's pride of race; it's in know.
ing that you are doing it for the folks
at home; that they are back Of you.
watching you, cheering you on-doing
all they can to help you lick the
other fellow. It's in knowing that
your folks back home are putting
their trust in you; that they are ex-
pecting you to bring home the bacon
that they know you are going to do
1t. A fellow just has to fight Like
bfazes when he realizes that"
How did you-how were you
wounded, Mr.. King?"
This was Miller; his voice was low
and solemn.
Ben flushed ana his jaws frightened:
and he laughed shortly.
"a fragment of shrapnel. Hit me
a glancing blow square between the
eyes. paralyzing the nerves. Put me
clean out. spent three months in
'blighty'.''
"Where?" Again Miller spoke.
''Where did it happen?"
while we were Strengthening out
the San Mihiel salient. 1t was pretty
hot there-while it lasted"
He paused, but in response to Mil
ler's request that he describe the bat.
tle-or rather that part of it in which
he was engaged-he went on, laugh
ing lowly:
'T used to think that IL ever got
into battle would keep my senses
about me so that would be able II
describe what had seen when l gov
back to Gods country. But I've dis
covered that in battle about all ones
senses are definitely and firmly fixed
upon SELF 1t all seems to be horribly
unreal. You find individuality on
the battlefeld-you find that you are
you; that you are alone, in spite of
the fact that men are all around you.
You've got to use your own courage;
you've got to fight yourself. You can't
borrow courage.
when we went over the top that
morning there was great level
stretch of country Immediately in
front of me. 1t was place OF
CHASTITY silence. bleak and gray in the
faint light that precedes the dawn.
We had been ready for several hours.
for we had been told at what hour
We would attack, and we had slept
those of us who did sleep-with our
nerves strained to hear the word.
"Ten minutes before the time set
for the advance we were aroused by
. whispered word, passed down the
trench. The fellows. chilled by the
cold night in dugout and trench. tool
It in variouk ways.
II saw hen half paralyxed with
fear, trying to smile-to show theiI
fellows that they were not afraid.
saw others. with horrible pouts or
their lips. cursing at trivial things
working themselves into Q rage In an
effort to keep up their courage. Many
OF the fellows did not speak word
/ think 1t was because they couldn't
trust their voices. Some of the boys
were jerky and touchy, with theil
nerves 30 keyed up that they jumped
at the slightest sound: others ap
peared to be stoldly waiting. Those
were men who did not permit theil
fright to become visible. I saw mer
who gripped their rifles until I,
seemed their fingers would press
through the steel; saw others hold
ing theirs gingerly. loosely, as though
they were some strange object with
which THY were not yet familiar
And there were some fellows who
breathed shrilly, with great gasps. az
though they had just finished lont
run. And in every mans eyes was Z
light that no man in this world car
describe.
II couldn't help but see those
things. because looked closely a
every man near me. had to. L
there was any excess courage arount
there wanted tc feel it. For need
cd 1t.