Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-04-22
WHY WE SHOULD GO OVER
THE TOP
Story Told the Pilot by a Camp
Visitor

The following is told a Pilot re-
porter by one who had recently Wis
tied the camp at Rockford, ILL., Read it:
"a cold driZZly rain was falling when
the train pulled into Rockford, and
the discharged soldiers from Camp
Grant were gathered on the station
platform with their canvass bags
thrown over their shoulders, ready to
make the last lap of the journey from
far away France and the horrors of
its desolate wastes to the comforts of
their American homes and firesides.
The train was crowded and 1 found
my seat in the little space opposite
the lavatory at the extreme end of the
coach. l was scarcely seated when
the train pulled out for Chicago. There
were many men crowded into the
coaches, and the one in which I had
been fortunate to find a seat was
packed even to the aisle. We were
scarcely out of Rockford, when there
was considerable confusion in the car
behind, and l heard the soldiers near
| the door saying, Here Bud, take this
seat. Take this one. Here's a place.
This continued until l saw through
| the narrow open door a fine looking
young chap making his way slowly
| on crutches with stout pal assisting
him. | made up my mind that the boy
must take my seat. When they neared
me l said nothing, but rising and TAX
ing the casual by the arm, turned him
| around and he sat down before he
| knew what was going on. This was
| my introduction to Harry--, and
how l wish that l could tell you
the story l finally wormed out of that
boy, who had given a leg and the
use of good right arm in order that
| democracy might live, and that the
yoke of oppression might be lifted
| from the soldiers and serfs and slaves.
He told of the anxious moments wait
ing to go over the top. He told of the
shrill blast of the whistle that seemed
| to release all of the nervous tension
| that stretched there in that ragged
| muddy line. Then the leap and the
bound over the parapet of sand bags,
and out across the shell torn waste
| of No Mans Land. attacking and coun-
ter attacking all through a long weary
night, and then in the first hours of
wet and rainy dawn the signal came,
and they passed out of the protecting
trench, and into the valley of death.
Harry was separated from his COM
pany to find shelter in shell hole half
filled with water. All through the
earlier hours of the morning he was
concealed, but as the day grew older
some slight movement on his part re-
vealed his hiding place to the watch
full eyes of an awaiting shipper. Two
or three shots were sufficient to warn
him that he had been located, and
needless to say he crept we'll down
into the protecting hole. Now a shell
falls so feet to the right, now on a
dead line with him, but 40 feet for
ward, then they found the range and
dropped a she'll into the very middle
OF the puddle scarcely Is feet behind
him. Great columns of mud and
water flew into the air. Then the ter
rors of waiting. His iron rations all
but gone and the day wore into night,
and the night wore into day, and still
attacks and counter attacks kept
friend and foe alike away from him.
The second day closed, and the cold of
the night resuscitated him until the
early dawn when the rain ceased to
fall. and the sun came out with its
warmth to lead this soldier boy of
democracy back into higher plane
of hopefuiness.
Then came one o'clock, then two
and three and four; but as the twi-
light shadows fell on Flanders Fields
he heard the voices of American bud
dies just TO the rear, and he knew that
the ordeal vas ended and succor had
arrived.
Then came the grilling trip back to
the dressing station; then the ride in
the Red Cross ambulance, humping,
pounding around from side to side.
Then came the day on the operating
table in the ,,ase hospital, and the
ragged stump was cleaned. and the
wounded arm was examined, and the
bones were twisted beck into shape.
and the ligaments were sutured, and
then came bligllty.
Harry's older brother had been one
of the first Americans across. A
young barrister, he had given up his
profession and answered his country's
call. In ninety days from the time he
laid down his law books. little white
cross in Flanders Fields marked his