El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-08

DARIS, France March ST the con-
1 Eressmen back home who argued
against the lowering Of the draft age
had seen Pvt Luke Thayer. r., OF the
United States marine corps, they
might have changed their tune.
Pvt. Thayer, although only 19 years
old. wears three campaign ribbons
and a Croix de Guerre with palm
Incidentally, he wears two golden
wound strikes and the proud look OF
one who has done his duty.
The story OF Pvt. Thayer came out
the other day when he visited the
headquarters OF the Knights Of Co
1umbus in this city in search OF
smokes and recreation He got both,
and 7 got his story, but IL was harder
for me to get the story than IL was
for Thayer 10 get his smokes, for the
lad was modest TO the nth degree.
Stretched His Age.
Two years ago Luke IhayeE vas
living at No 1907 Arch street, Phila-
delphia. His father is chief OF police
AT Georgetown. Pa, a little place not
far from WilEes-Barre, Pa. One Of the
dandy posters used by 'the Soldiers
OF the Sea" IN prewar days caught the
eye Of Luke and he wandered INTO the
nearest recruiting office.
How old are your qUeTied the OF
ficer.
Nineteen" replied Luke. without
batting an eye. while he stretched his
five feet six inches TO the limit. he
passed even though the recruiting
man suspected Luke was stretching
his age as well as his body.
A few months after Luke enlisted
he was down in the wilds Of san Do
r,.inEo, where ne gained a little trop-
lea fever and his first campaign rib
bon A short time later Thayer was
battling IN Haiti. and By that time ne
had become q EharpshOOter. The ma
rines we're sent TO some other place
70 settle a dispute in the mailed fist
fashion. and Luke acquired more rib
bon. Then the big fuss started, and
the youthful Pennsylvania was one
OF the first bound oversees
At BelIeau Woods.
II was 10 the famous Belleau woods
that Luke performed the task which
resulted in the croiU de guerre and
the palm being added 10 the decora-
tons which half covered his chest
The company OF marines in which
Thayer was enrolled was with a
French division at the time. In a
little clump OF bushes on the crest OF
a small hill two German machine gun
nests were located and the spiteful
buzz Of them had made things IN
pleasant for all hands
Twelve volunteers were called for
20 storm those two nests, and Thayer
was one Of them. OF the Il who
started out, seven reached the OBJ
iectfFe. and needless TO say, the char
acter Of this story was one Of them
With three wen placed grenades he
put the crew Of one gun out OF com
mission. over near the other gunpir
Thayer's comrades were having a
tough time and two more Of them
paid the big toll. The youth settled
the day. and the hash Of the Germans
when he turned the gun he had cap
tured on the German crew still work
ing the other gun With the aid Of
the other four marines, two Of whom
were wounded, Thayer then repulsed
a counter attack made by about 80
Germans A bullet strick him in the
hip. but he carried on" until a short
time later aid arrived
Don't Like Kisses
Private Thayer got out Of the hos
pItal in plenty Of time 20 have the
crofx dc guerre and a couple OF kisses
pinned on him by 2 French general
and also 20 get into the mix I'd near
scissors. German artiuerymen saw
chat Thaver didn't get a chance 70