Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-04-22
EMPEY HOME after
LONG SERVICE
WITH II. S. ARMY TWENTY
ONE MONTHS-OVER YEAR
IN FRANCE IN AVIATION

Pvt. Sol. Empey, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. A o. Empey, returned to Wau-
sau Sunday, having received his dis
charge from the United States army
at Camp Grant, ILL.,, after serving
twenty-one months, over one year OF
which was spent in France with the
101st Aerial Squadron, Third Aviation
Center. After his long absence Sol
cannot walk down the main drag
without being waylaid by some inter
ested friend. He is hale and hearty
despite the rain of France and the
hardships endured in camps over
there. Among the first 100000 U. S.
soldiers to arrive overseas, Pvt. En-
pegs organization built it's own camp
at Issoundon.
Where Quentin Passed
Mr.. Empey was for many months
located at Issoundon, France, the third
aviation center, arriving there after a
long and tedious trip from Texas
Leaving Kelly Field, Texas, late in
1917, his organization was first sent
to Garden City, L. l., later to Phila-
delphia and then north to Halifax
where it was placed on guard at the
time of the Halifax explosion. Re-
turning to Philadelphia, the 101st en-
barked. Some time was spent at
South Hampton, England.
Issoundon is the aviation center in
| which both Quentin Roosevelt and
Eddie Rickenbecker were trained
Both of these men showed their abil-
ity and daring In camp. Mr.. Empey
whose work it was with others, to
keep machines in a hanger in flying
shape, outlines the interesting train
| ing career of an aviator. First he is
tried out in Grasshopper, machine
| which does not rise off the ground
Later in a "Twenty-three" he takes
| trial flights, finally graduating to an
| eighteen meter field, where he takes
his first flight. 1t he fails he has the
opportunity to take up observation
work and bombing, and if a failure
at this end, Pvt. Empey declares thai
| Field Is, the cemetery, completes his
course at the aviation center"
Believes "Y, Alright
81 believe the Y. M C. A. is alright,
Mr.. Empey said to a Pilot representa-
tive Monday. MANY of the men hat
| the wrong impression about the Civ
| ing away part of the thing. The !
was taking a responsibility which
| otherwise the government would have
been obliged to assume. Its creates
work was done in leave areas, where
| the men went on pass. Here the J
took over the responsibility for en-
tertainments and accommodations fol
soldiers. That in itself was a ire
mendous task"
Mr.. Empey tells of the "Waacs," ;
personal organization of the British
army, in which only women are en-
listed. In this organization, he de
clares, there are privates, corporals
sergeants and the officers. These ar,
located in special camp near Paris
On one occasion, Pvt. Empey says
the 101st Aerial Squadron entertained
at dance and group of the British
"Waacs" were invited. Enlisted mel
were not permitted to dance with tn
lady officers-likewise officers coul,
not dance with the women who wer
| prlNdIeS. NOF over IlOutu fNt. ELI
pey was located at Colombia La Belle
a point between the danger zone AM
the S. o. S., later being returned t.
Issoundon.
Leaving Rhinelander, where he en-
listed, ill July, 1917, Pvt. Empey wa
sent to Madison, later being trans
ferred to Jefferson Barracks, Mo. H
was soon sent South to Kelly Field
Tex. When at Halifax his organiza
ton was required to guard the, city
It's inhabitants, he declares, were il
a frenzy, their homes having been des
troyed, and many unable to locat
relatives and friends. Pvt. Empe
left France March IS, sailing on tn
U. S. S. Arizoman, and arriving in tn
United States on April 4. Wausa
looks good to him and he will remai
for a long visit.
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