Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-04-14
.ATTEHP TO SECURE
D. S. N. FOR COWBOY
HERO Of 18TH FAILS
Who Risked Life To
Catch HOld-Up Men Is
Commended.

Tacoma, Wash, April 14.-Private
Henry J.. James, a Wyoming cowboy,
the hero of the 18th division, is not GO
ling 10 wear the distinguished service
medal, but he is going to cherish the
knowledge for the rest Of his life that
his heroic action at the time Of the
Camp Lewis bank robbery IN January
is officially ~aplauded by the highest Of
ticers Of the army.
He is deprived of the medal, appar-
emily, only because Of the fact that
existing laws do not grant it for other
than war service. Neither the 18th d.
vision nor James ever got beyond the
confines Of Camp Lewis.
With others Of the machine gun com
pany Of the 10th infantry, James, 2S
years and ten months in the service OF
Uncle Sam, was stepping OUT 10 mis- bar
racks for dinner, after the morning s
policing at Greene Park, when riot was
swiftly Embossed. Men were running,
guns pOpplAR.
James Takes Hand.
James was passing the army bank of
Greene Park as William Crehan, assist
ant cashier, who had just thrown a flat
"no" in the face of a command to
throw up his hands and for his temerity
had been fired upon by a pair of bank
robbers, rushed out in pursuit of the
heldup men. Crehan had a gun.
In Il flash James, steeled in the emer-
gencies Of frontier life, sensed the stu
alton.
"Let me have that gum" he said to
Crehan, and Crehan, recognizing the SOL
diorly efficiency Of the man, turned it
over.
James whirled in pursuit of the bank
robbers.
Scattering currency at every leap, the
robbers, two negroes, sped down the
main street of the amusement parry,
hating every few moments to turn and
engage the military police in hot but in
effective fire.
Main street in Greene Park at that ex-
! act moment was unhealthy for any per-
son still interested in life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. The firing
was heavy and continuous and seemed
to come from all sides.
Braves Hail Of Bullets.
Into the storm James plunged with
: but one thought-to get the bank rob
bers, He had reasoned, and remarked
to his companions, that this was a neces-
sary duty.
BY a flank movement he came upon
the quarry as the bandit pair were en-
plying their guns in another futile duel
with the military police.
"Get 'em up you --" he Rowted,
rolling the gun in deadly menGee from
one to the other. The pair obeyed.
The NJ. P.'s kept right on coming, the
one in the lead kept right on shooting.
"For Cod sake" James eI;od to
the man, "don't shoot me, I'm trying
to help you"
Apparently the M. p. thought James
was one Of the robbers. He was rattied
and came on pouring lead at the para-
lyzed trio, the bank robbers and their
captor. James was up against it. If
he fled he would lose his men; if he
would likely get hit and it didn' t occur
to him to reply to the fire.
Shot Through Lungs.
His decision was made for him by g
bullet. The sixth from the NJ. p. gun
went through his lungs and he fell to
the ground, only to struggle back to his
feet with his thoughts still on his main
duty.
"Keep 'em up" he commanded his
prisoners.
Again he fell. He did not rise this
time. He was carried to the hospital.
James may ride the range aguln in
around Hot Springs, Wyo., but his bron.
eho busting days are over. He hung
for weeks between life and death in the
Camp Lewis base hospital suffering
from the effects Of his wound and from
pleurisy and pneumonia.
He was bound to pull through, how
ever, or that s the kind Of a man he is.
Some weeks age the editor or the Ia
coma Times called Jemes' exploit to the
attention Of Senator Poindexter. Tho
latter referred il to the adiutant gen
eral Of the army, and IL was studied
and %applauded all down the line.
Medal Not Possible.
Today the Times received a letter
from the Camp Lewis adiutant saying:
81 nm directed by the commanding gen.
eral to transmit to you the following
statement from the adiutant general Of
the army, received at these headquar.
tiers this date.
"Whilc the conduct Of Private James
appears to have been highly commend
able, the distinguished service medal
cannot legally be awarded to him.
"It is hoped that future legislation
may provide a medal which may be
awarded in such cases"
SO James, while his cowboy shirt will
never sport a d. S. NJ. at least win re-
main unoffieially the hero Of the 18th
division, scattered though its members
now are to the ends Of the earth.
In the annual election Of Officers
60 4fn T-ta- H,rla-4~F. A-.4-.f