El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-05
Col. Stevenson
Praises Work Of
Texas Soldiers
Ell Paso Officer Declares
War Has Improved Men
Who Served.

FL Paso soldiers. members OF the
36th division composed Of Texas and
oklahoma troops. earned a just share
OF the glory Of that division and win
return home improved so TO 100 per
cent morally. mentally and physical
~ as a result Of their experiences
This is the opinion OF Lieut. Col
! Herbert E. Stevenson. commander Of
I the 111th ammunition train. one OF
. the highest ranking officers TO 80
I from FL Paso to the war, who re-
I turned Friday afternoon from Camp
Bowie, Fort Worth. Tex, where the
unit was demobilized.
Like Maj. T. J. 1IcCamant who
recently returned from France, and
scores Of other officers and soldiers.
Col Stevenson is glad TO be back
home and settle down once more.
Col Stevenson, at the beginning OF
the war, organized the five units
which came from FL Paso and Joined
the 36th division at its camp in Fort
Worth, being at that time q staff
officer OF the Texas national guard
The units, all Of which participated
in the fighting in France. are: Com
panies A and 3, Of the 1st Texas in
fantry; field hospital company No.
al, formerly commanded by Maj. Nc
Camant; sanitary train and a supply
company commanded by Capt. WIND
ham Of this city. Col Stevenson COM
manded the 141st infantry for some
time after reaching Camp Bowie, but
vas later assigned as commander Of
the l1lth ammunition train, which
he selected and organized himself
Indians Avoid Omen.
On his left shoulder Col Steven
son wears the insignia OF the 36th
division IT. enclosed by an arrow
head OF peacock blue. The 'Tf' repre-
sents Texas and the arrowhead Okla
homa- The point Of the arrowhead is
downward. but IS worn by the In
dams OF the division with the point
upward for sentimental reasons the {
downward point Of the head meaning Z
defeat in battle.
1T was first intended to wear a /
lone star. as all Of the Texas troops
desired this designation. but as many 4
divisions had stars. this idea was .
dropped" said Col Stevenson. Many /
q the Indians In the division from /
Oklahoma objected TO the downward I
point Of the arrow and wore theirs I
with the point M. The Indians fought
and covered themselves
sinks Three U-BoafS.
The 36th division, OF which the I
-1lth ammunition train was a part !
sailed for France IN July and landed
IN August En- route 10 France the 1
livision had quite an exciting sub
marine battle. the sinking Of three /.
Indersea boats being accredited to
he ship on which Col Stevenson was
sailing. Il
"a part OF my command was sent
Onward 10 serve with the infantry
n the san Mihiel sector, while a
'art vas kept with the reserve artil-
cry OF the eTpeditionary forces"
aid Col Stevenson The United
itates had many troops in the re
erve, as the number which was
brown against the Germans went
trough the enemy in quick style. The
Germans made stiff resistance and =
nee or twice threw the Americans 4
aek temporarily but they reformed !
nd gained their points each time
n the san MihieI sector the list and ,
I'd brigades OF the 36th division I
lashed with the Prussian guard.
Germans Fight Hard. 4
When the Germans found that v
hey were really up against the II
mericans they went to pieces al o
hough ii must not be understood I L
hat they did not fight bravely. The 7
.mericans would not give up at any I %
oint and always gained their objec- b
We The 36th division made a Won a
remain unwritren, as the p
vision did not have a press staff, as s
I'd the marines. E
The men who really won the war 2
re those who form the Infantry rsgi- r
tents. The artillery did pave the q
-ay for many infantry attacks but e
was the sturdy doughboy each time Z
no won out II can be said that they q
irtually won the war.
THE FL Paso boys did very well 2
nd earned a Just share Of the di- y
ision's glory. MAJ. Richard Burgess d
FL very we'll as did al Of the Fl q
aso commands. Maj Burgess took n
lmmand OF his battalion. after Mai v
'utchins had been killed. and led 2
lem over the top.
Wen Benefited. 2
OF all Of the soldiers who went q
France I can speak generally but 9
Z the men OF the command which IN
-ganized and took TO France and g
Zen brought back ] can say that
ley are improved from 50 to 100 per
mt morally, physically and mental n
p The nth ammunition train was h
imposed OF the pick Of the division. o.
.valry. infantry, artillery and mo- Ili
n men being combined in this unit n
heir improvement IS very apparent 10
Id was noticed by numbers Of moth p
g and fathers Of Oklahoma men LEI
lo welcomed their sons when we p
ere coming through that state" II