The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-21
HEMR|CO BOY ACTS AS
GUARD TO PRESIDENT
II. j. Waddeli Now mt Camp Merritt
Hates to Be Marooned in New
JERSEY

Camp Merritt, N. J.. March 90
Guarding President Wilson in Paris
was the pleasant duty, assigned to
~ '.,1s.As..ss--s !. ~, -, 1k---41 II
who ,canie back 10 America on the
George Washington with the president
and who is now at Camp Merritt
New Jersey. He was telling the boys
about 1T here in the Y. M. c. A, hut
today. Waddell is one of the ESQ
men in the presidential guard, made
up OF picked men from most of the
states. and representing almost every
organization in the American Elk
peditionary Force. His selection to
serve in the presidential guard is no
small honor. Men of the finest cali
bre were chosen for this cherished
post by General Glenn of the Eighty
Third division.
That the men of the presidential
guard proved escorts befitting the dig
nifty OF chief executive in foreign
land may be Judged by the following
commendatioD written by Brigadier
General William W. Harris. command
ing general of the District Paris.
The $50 enlisted men who were
on duty as United States guards at
the presidents residence on the
Place de Murat and at the Hotel Grill
ION from December % to February
IA performed this duty in creditable
nnd commendable manner. Their ap-
pearance. soldieriy bearing and smart
performance OF duty has been the
comment The commanding general
of the District OF Paris wishes TO
convey his congratulations and ap-
probation for the service"
Waddeil was in training for a com
mission when the armistice was sign
ed, ending the urgent demand for Of
ficers. His reward came in the orders
to report at Paris to serve as personal
bodysuard to the president
During his stay in Paris he was
with the president almost daily at
the Hotel Murat. where the president
lived, and at the Hotel CriiIon, where
the peace delegates from the United
States were staying. He frequently
saw Clemenceau, I1oyd-George Poin-
care and the other international
figures at the peace conference.
Young waddeli has the distinction
nf being one of the first body of
American soldiers to act as a guard
for the chief executive of the United
states in a foreign land. He had
ample opportunity TO see Paris when
not on duty 1t was as pleasant an
assignment as any enlisted man had
overseas.
The presidential guards were quar-
tered at seventy-one Boulevard Perter.
IN the large building assigned to the
American war department Captain
Il. r. Hood commanded the unit
When the president sailed from Brest
on February Is his guards came with
him on the George Washington. Ten
days later the president landed at Bos-
ton. where the presidential guards
first set foot ON native soil st Hobo
ken the next day.
From there they went north in
New Jersey TO Camp Merritt where
they have been held nearly % month
HOW No other unit has remained at
Merritt more than week after land
ing. There is 81 ruruor that the presi-
dental guards are 10 be used TO
stimulates sales in the impending Vic
tory LcAas
That Vas the pet peeve Of Waddeil
as he was waiting for the basketball
game to begin In the big Y M c. A..
building at Camp Merritt today.
say. when do We go from here?"
he demanded. I'D rather be back In
Paris than rnaxooned in New Jersey"