Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-01-07
EXPERIENCES OF CAPT. PARKS


| EXPERIENCES OF CAPT. PARKS.
Wounded Fort Mill Soldier Home on
FurIough.
Capt. Samuel w. Parks Of Company
G, One Hundred and Eighteenth In
fantry, Thirtieth Division, returned to
his home in Fort Mill on a thirty day
furlough on Wednesday morning. He
was severely wounded on the morning
Of October 8, shortly after his division
went into the notable action between
st. Quentin and Cambria when the
Hindenburg line was first broken. He
had advanced probably three-quarters
Of a mile and was in sight Of Bran
court the objective, when a bursting
shell caused a fracture Of the ankle
and bad wound in his right foot. The
same shell caused the death Of Walter
Leazer, Fort Mill boy, who was near
him. Captain Parks was carried by
German prisoners on a stretcher to
first aid station, which was about three
miles to the rear and afterward received
treatment in hospital In Abbeville
before being sent to base hospital in
London, where he was confined to his
bed until December l.. On that day he
was permitted to wear his shoes and
put his foot on the floor. He left Lon
don December 8 and arrived In New
York December IS, where he remained
until December 27, when he was sent
to the base hospital in Atlanta
Captain Parks has seen considerable
service Of various kinds since he left
the shores Of the United States last
May. On board the transport which
carried him to the French port was
Harry Lauder, the Scotch entertainer,
who gave several entertainments for
the benefit Of the soldiers aboard the
transport. There were several months
Of service in the trenches in Belgium
and northern France and his division
was gradually moved southwark where
they were more or less in action for
some time before the day Of the big
battle when he was wounded.
Captain Parks Is proud Of the record
made by the men of his company and
has copies Of the commentator re-
ceived from a number of high military
officials, beginning with Field Marshal
Haig. His company was especially
commended for It's proficiency in bay
onet practice, though General Camp
bell, the inspecting officer, told him
that they would not have much use for
the bayonet since the Boche would not
stand long enough for them to get In
any efficient work. The hearty re-
sponse Of his men to the call Is best
shown by the casualty lists. This was
unusually heavy on the morning Of oc-
tober 8, but as Capt. Parks was wound
ed so early in the action, he has only
the report and commendation Of his
superiors as knowledge that his men
performed theirAdutya at the last as AZ
the beginning, 1T was they who, after
fighting their way up to their jumping
off place. in the face Of almost frantic
resistance by the Germans, broke the
Hindenburg line near Bellicourt, aid
afterward, undaunted and unexhausted
by the heavy fighting, carried the bat
tie many miles further toward Ger
many"
Captain Parks has been member Of
the Fort Mill Light Infantry since 1900.
He was elected second lieutenant In
1900 and afterward became first lieu
tenant, which office he filled until June
8, 1915, when he was appointed cap
tain. He served in the Mexican bor-
der campaign Of 1915 from which he
returned to his home and took up CIV
ilian work for four months until called
to the colors again on April IL, 1917.
His company served as bridge guards
until July t3, when they were sent to
Camp Jackson for training and on Sep
tember 25 to Camp Sewer for inten-
sive training for overseas service.
He Is an expert rifle shot and was
on one occasion a member Of the South
Carolina team in the national shoot at
Jacksonville, Fla. On five occasions he
was a member Of the state team. His
team has been the winner Of several
trophies, which he still holds with JUS
tifiable pride.
Captain Parks still finds the use Of
stick necessary while walking, but is
able to get around readily. Except for
his crippled foot he appears to- be in
fine physical condition and has suffer-
ed from no illness during his service
except that produced by the sea on his
trip across the Atlantic.-Fort Mill
correspondence Columbia State.