The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-01-10

With American Army In France
Loss of one foot and part Of the 9th
er did not end the fighting career of
Owen Cobb Holleran Of Atlanta, Ga.
A man with artificial feet Is unfit for
Infantry duty, so Owen was hOnOrably
discharged from that branch Of the
service. Being a soldier Of fortune
Holleran refused ITO be dumped on
the army scrap heap" as he ex-
pressed it.
In spite Of his physical handicap he
wormed his way into the British air
service, won pilots license, Operat
ing type of plane that did not re-
quire foot manipulation, became lieu
tenant, captain and flight commander.
Some climb for fellow with wooden
feet, but not surprising if you knew
HOlleran. He had all sorts of thrills
4 and adventures, and then one day
but l am getting ahead Of my story.
Better let Capt. E. G. Lowry tell
1t as he told 1t to me on rainy
night while l was with the British
army. He was attached to the Amer
lean embassy in London before enter
ling the United States army 1t was
while at the London embassy that he
d first had the case of Owen Cobb Hol-
4 leran called to his attention. Captain
ALowry's home also Is in Atlanta.
n Stranger Than Fiction.
Il There is material for book In
u Holleran's experience" said Captain
Il Lowry. stranger than fiction in
spots. His papers came to me at the
embassy and he has kept up CORE
u spOndence. There is a lot In the
N chap. He is as clever and brave az they
make them. He was employed as n
4 clerk in the Office of the Southern
Bell Telephone company In Atlanta
Il Like many other young Americans he
wanted to see the great war. 1t got
D into his blood long before our coun-
try was involved. In 1915 ne started
Il out from Atlanta with friend named
Il Gray. They had just 500 between
&them for the big adventure They
went to New York and tried to enlist
VI IN the British army. but the consul
said he couldn't enroll Americans.
IL
N learned that a cattle boat was to sail
next day. They decided to work their
n passage. They applied and got the
Job. Reaching London. they were ac-
copied at a recruiting station in Scot
Il land Yard. The recruiting sergeant
wanted 10 know what branch of the
service they preferred. Holleran re-
oh Inc
Yin one branch as the other My only
#request is that you send us to a warm
#climate. l came from the South and
~ like ii hot
Al You can get II hot enough at any
part of the front replied the ser
&geant see your point. lad, aud
well see what can he done. With a
#name like yours l think an Irish out
Hft Is the Face for you Holleran was
#assigned TO the Dublin Fusileers. His
#friend Gray went to the same rcgi-
Nment. In a few months Holieran's
#regiment was sent TO GallipoH. He
#served through that campaign and saw
&hard fighting. The regiment went
with other British units to Egypt to
80 itAllcd dtitT the ddiilnOii scrap.
n Feet Badly Frozen.
III Next Holleran went with the Dub
lin FuSileers into Serbia with the first
allied expedition. In the mountains
many of the soldiers suffered from
frozen feet and hands. Hollerans
feet were badly frozen. and he told
Nme with a grin that he couldn't help
seeing the funny side of it after hay-
ing asked to be sent TO hot place.
j Fate began to extend helping
hand TO Holleran away out there. At
Hached 70 :he British field hospital in
Serbia we're two American surgeons.
kpne from Georgia and the other from
South Carolina. Learning that Hol-
5eran hailed from Atlanta, they took
Special interest Ia him. They did
everything possible TO save his feet,
put. later, TO avoid more serious COM
plicut!ons and possibly death. they
4mputated part of each foot.
q hosaeran returned to England.