The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-01-03
CLARENCE M'KEE
RELATES THRILLING
STORY OF BATTLE
MAURY COUNTY MARINE WAS IN
THICK OF FIGHTING AT BEL.
LEAU WOODS.
AMERICANS NEVER lRETREAT''
Occupied Battle Front that Was Be-
ing Given UP BY the French-cap-
tured 100 Prisoners and 80 Machine
Guns First Day.

SuHS riTSt LAY.
/ Private Clarence Mckee, the first
wounded Maury county soldier to re
turn home from the battle front, now
recuperating at the home of his faith.
err, r. II. Mckee, of Hampshire, re.
lates many thrilling stories of his
great adventure. He was member
of the 10th company, 9th regiment OF
Marines, Second Division, which was
rushed to the front to repel the at
tack of the Germans which threaten
ed Paris in June. 1t was in this bat
tie, on June IL, that he was wounded,
but he gave good account OF him.
self and won the praise Of his captain
as one who had helped win the fight
stretcher.
Mckee is one of twelve marines
who recently spent two weeks at FIT
Mcpherson, Ga, base hospital Hs
says that the French speak of Bots
de Belleau no more, but that historic
spot is now known in France as
"Bois de Marines"
He crossed over in September,
1917, and served on the Alsace-
Lorraine front, Toul sector, and,
after following Captain Overton
through the thckest of the fight at
Belleau wood, was disabled by q
high-explosive while waiting for the
German counter attack. He said the
last words he heard as he was borne
from the front was the command
from Captain Overton to the stretcher
/ bearers, Take care of this boy, who
has helped to win this fight"
Story Of Battle.
In connection with the great ac-
Movement of the marines at Belleau
wood, he tells the following story:
1--WE were training on the Marine
sector. We had not expected to be
called into action before we had re-
ceived more training. But the or
ders came that we must reinforce the
French at Belleau wood, so one after
noon at 5 o'clock we made ready to
board the trucks when they arrived
| We waited all night and all day. and
| at last they came and we were soon
on the way to the front. When We
reached our objective we found the
French occupying the front line un
der heavy barrage from the Ger
mans We filed in the rear of the
French lines and pretty soon they
| began to retreat, filtering through our
regiments, telling us that we were,
| fools if we did not retreat ! can
not ever forget how | thrilled with
| pride when General Bundy said,
Americans never retreat" The face
of every man in the regiment lit up
with pride as we passed the word
uOWH the llHeS.
Americans Hold Line.
1.-THE French returned to the front
again, but later retired and gave up
the front to us. There was very lit
tie action for the first three days,
and in the meantime the Fifth regi-
ment came up to relieve us.
"On June 10 Captain Overton took
charge of my company, and we fol-
lowed him through veritable hell
of fighting straight to the first OBJ
jective Here we captured 100 pris-
oners, 80 machine guns and other
booty and Captain Overton gave us
permission to advance while he and
private remained behind to ques-
ton the prisoners; but little later
he followed us and commanded us
to stop the advance on account of
the great risk that lay ahead. When
we reached our objective the machine
guns were set up and turned on the
Huns
"The same day, as we were adj
vancing down a steep ravine, an
army reserve lieutenant who was ad
vancing with us and a party of pri-
Yates were entering a narrow pass
when saw hand move from behind
a tree. | yelled warning in time
to save the party from being blown
to pieces by the grenade which the
German behind the trees tossed at
them.
1--WE were in the trenches after
we had gained many detectives be-
| fore got my medicine.