The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-08-09
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Corporal Walter E. Gaultney. Eleventh In
fantry, Fifth Division.-COrporal Gaultney was
picked out by his commander as an example OF
his finest type Of soldier. Gaultney was woundedt
that couldn't stop him. Alert. Ingenious speedy.
needless at personal danger, he went at the Hun
like Samson with the wellknown Jaw bone-only
this young Samson's Jaw bone was that nice long
trench knife you strapped along his pack.
Just what this young fellow did Is not told; evil
IDENTIFY he is a naturalborn fighter and the regular
army training has made him pretty nearly 1OO per
cent efficient as an all-around fighting man.
Private II. J. Devereaux, Company NJ. One Hun
dred and Twenty-ffth Infantry. Thirty-second Oh
vision-When his company crossed the River
Ourco and captured the Bots Pelger. the corporal
of his SQUAD fighting beside Private Devereaux
was wounded by machine gun fire. The corporal
fell to the ground and the enemy continued to fire
on the wounded man. Mad clear through, Dever-
eaux sprinted across the open and single-handed.
attacked and put the machine gun out OF action.
Greatest Feat Of War.
It is also known that Chase has painted por-
trait of Sergt Alvin g York of Pail Mall, Fentress
county, Tenn, Company G, Three Hundred and
Twenty-eighth infantry, Eighty-second division. 1t
Is to be hoped that the painter did frst-cass job,
for York's exploit probably the greatest indi-
yidual feat Of the war. York. then corporal, on
October 8, 1918, killed 20 Germans. captured 1872
prisoners including major and three lieutenants,
put IS machine guns out Of business, and thereby
broke up an entire battalion which was about to
counterattack against the Americans on Hill 225
In the Argonne sector, near ChatelChehery. He
outfought the machine gun battalion with his rifle
and automatic pistol. There were seven other
Americans with York, but it was YOrk's fight and
but for him not man of them would have come
out alive except as prisoner.
Moreover, the man and his home and his sur
roundngs are intensely interesting. being entirely
out of the ordinary. Here are few outstanding
facts:
He was born December 13, 1856. stands feet
and tips the scales at POS pounds. He is red head
ed. He is dead shot-absoutely sure death with
either rifle or automatic; in the course Of his fight
he killed German lieutenant and seven men who
charged him from distance of 20 yards. He Is
fighter who gets cooler and cooler as the danger
grows.
He used to drink, gamble and swear. He quit
In 1915 and Joined the Church Of Christ and
Christian Union, of which he is second elder and
singing leader. He conscientious objector
until convinced by Capt. E. c. B. Danforth at
Camp Gordon that the Bible proved it his duty to
fight He believes in a personal God and looks
upon his successful exploit as a miracle Blessed
is the peacemaker.'" he says
He Il a farmer and blacksmith and provides fol-
his mother, one brother and three small sisters;
the other six brothers and sisters are married
His forbears for generations were Tennesseeans
When York landed the other day the Tennessee
society took possession Of him and tried to make
him feel that New York city was his.
OF course York was having the time OF his life.
yet really, you know, he was regretting that he
wasn't home to lead the singing at the Possum
Trot sprinG revival.
And at the Possom Trot revival, In the valley
of which Pail Mall with its 20 houses. Is the Cross
roads metropolis. York's neighbors were prouder
over the fact that he had kept straight" than
over what he had done to the Hun. Besides, while
Alvin was "all right" God had had him in charge
since the day he enlisted. 1T wasn't Alvin" said
Grace Williams. who is waiting for him. ut was
the hand Of God"
Which reminds Of the first words Of the Hun
major captured by York
British" he asked.
american" said York