The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-11
TWO BRATTLEBORO
BOYS DECORATED
Distinguished Service by
1st Lieut.. Miles and
Pvt. Stephens
FORMER ACTED FOR
OFFICER KILLED
Latter Helped Repulse Particularly
Savage German .Attack-Private
Stephens Returns to Brattleboro with
Croix de Guerre.

First Lieut.. Appleton Miles, son of Mrs
C. \. Miles of this town, recently was
awarded the highest order of the French
| war cross, palm being added to the
lcroix de guerre which he received about
a year ago The citation came from
General Petain for distinguished service
in August during heavy bolnbardment,
when he took the place of French colo
mel OF 4 sanitary service after the colo
mel was Killed. Lieut. Miles is in the
United States army ambulance service
attached to q French division. He went
to France in September. 1916. He knew
nothing of the citation for the palm until
toward the end of November Since re-
ceiving the croix de glierre Lieut.. Miles
has had at least three stars added.
Another Brattleboro soldier who has
been awarded the croix de gtierre is Pri-
lNate George F. Stephens of Company c.
| l02d United States infantry. who has
just returned to Brattleboro after being
discharged at Camp Upton. Private Ste
phens. who was born in Plainfield. y. j..
has lived in Vermont the greater part of
his life being resident of Bfattleboro
II AtfF pdNA IT ANtAiFs bVaAhAHE Win ~.
Emily Allen of la Vernon street He
formerly was employed at the Central
Vermont round house. later was em-
ployed by Contractor j. c. Pellett in
erecting the Crosby grain elevator and
ut the time of his.enlistment in Company
II. lst Vermont regiment, in 1917, he had
a position in L. H. Stellman & Sons ma
chine shop.
Private Stephens went with the Yer
mont regiment TO Fort Ethan Allen and
was transferred from there to Yale field,
New Haven, Conn. in August, 1917. He
went overseas in September and went
into the trenches in February. 1918. On
April 20 the Germans made an attack on
the sector where the regiment was sta
toned. and although they killed many
and took others prisoner they were re
pulsed. Several of the men in Company
{ were killed or taken prisoner.
Many of the regiment were cited by
General Edwards of the 26th division for
distinguished service and the French
/. awarded them the croiX de guerre. fif-
teen i'm Company c received these honors
Tie following extract is from general
orders No 40, headquarters of the 26tf
division. issued in France May l3:
-. At 3 o'clock ON the morning OF
April 20. 1918. the enemy opened on oui
|. sector in the neighborhood of Seicheprey
La violent artillery bombardment from
, concentrated artillery. which involved al
1.-THE rear area as well as the trenches ant
, ltlugouts Shortly thereafter, under th'
, protection of heavy barrage and dens'
, fog. he launched a determined and yigor
: Gus attack preceded by force OF storm
. ltroops estimated at at least 200, ant
1.-TWO infantry battalions with machin'
guns. sappers, and pioneer troops accom-
pauied by much material. The enem,
made bold aud determined attempt t
gain permanent foothold in that par
I .of olu' sector.
The engagement lasted we'll on int
, 1.-THE Dist when the enemy, after partic
lllarly desperate struggle at close quar-
tiers was forced to retire without having
lattained his objective and after beini
Iseyerely punished The fight. by the yer,
necessities of the case. under the smoth
ering artillery bombardment of shrapne
: and high explosives. and a drenching o
Gas shells. became struggle of resist
anee by platoons and smaller units, in
! diyiduals. and machine gun squad.
a These units-ofiieers and men--held thei
I ground; sonie died i'll their tracks, bu
none fell, back.
5 ..The troops engaged in repeliing thi
7 attack and throughout the battle prove
u themselves a stout hearted lot of lad
/ true to their tradition.
q "On behalf of the 26th division, | col
h gratulate the following named officer
e and enlisted men on their gallant condut
i'm this engagement
Then follow the names of the person
cited among them being Private Geore
F. Stephens Company c l02d infantry
The order is signed &C r. Edward
/ Major General, Commanding.
Private Stephens learned afterwarr
that Lieut.. c. Arnold Pellett of Brattl
le boro was back of the lines guarding a
C observation balloon. but he did not 5,
e him.