The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-09-07
DAVIS MARINE HAS
BEEN bODYGUARD TO
THREE PRESIDENTS
SERGT. JOHN l.. PRATER WAS
WITH WILSON ON BOTH
TRIPS TO FRANCE

Davis, Okla, Sept. 6.-John L. Pra-
ter, former Davis boy, for 16 years
past an enlisted man in the United
States marine corps. has the distinc
ton of having served three presidents
of the United States as personal body
guard on important tours and occa
sions. He is a sergeant now and is
stationed at 4 recruiting station at
Portland, Me. Sergeant Prater is Il
son of Mrs. Ann Dent of Davis. The
Portland Express and Advertiser re-
Gently published n long article on the
career of Sergeant Prater, which is
condensed below:
Sergt. John l.. Prater, bodyguard
and orderly to President Wilson on
his trips to France, serving in a like
capacity to President Taft and the
late President Roosevelt a lhrtici.
pant in every campaign in which the
United States Marines have figured
during the past Ii years. during which
time he has visited every port in the
world, making five complete trips
around the globe, and enjoying service
on nearly every ship in the United
States fleet, are but few of the in
cidents and distinctions in the life of
Gunnery Sergeant John l.. Prater, L.
S. NJ, who is now attached to the local
recruiting staff of the Marine Recruit
ing Station in this city.
Sergeant Prater has probably been
in closer contact with President Wilson
than any other enlisted man in the
entire American forces. Acting as his
personal body guard on the transport
Washington, Sergeant Prater contin-
ued with him throughout his trips TO
Paris, London and Rome. He was
picked for this duty from Il group OF
$50 Marines who competed for the
honor, and he is proud of the fact that
he served in a similar capacity with
the late Theodore Roosevelt and Will
liam Howard Taft, while they held
chief executive positions and with
them made three trips to the Panama
Canal Zone.
Perhaps one of the greatest distinc
tions that has come to Sergeant Prater
was his being picked to guard the cof'
fin of Admiral John Paul Jones when
his body. after being buried for ll5
years in the city of Paris, was taken
and brought to the United States to
be placed in u special tomb in Indian
apolis.
Now on the final lap of his fourth
enlistment in the Marine Corps, Ser
geant Praters' IL years of service have
carried him through every campaign
and expedition in which the Marines
i.,t,, tod hA I'nitaI
entered the war, Sergeant Prater was
assigned to the U. $. 5. Seattle anC
with the signing of the armistice was
returned to New York where he re
manned until chosen for the duty ol
bodyguard to President Wilson. 1t wa:
upon the recommendation of Presiden
Wilson that the big Marine, Wh'
stands six feet tall in his stocking fee
and weighs $50 pounds was sent Il
the training station at Quantico, Va.
where he studied four months bu
declined commission expressing the
desire to remain an enlisted man.
Sergeant Prater'S folks We're among
the first whites to settle in Oklahoma
and it was from this state that he en-
listed in the Marine Corps, being INT
first from oklahoma to enter tins
branch of Uncle Sans big fighting
machine.
TO return to Sergeant Prater's ser
vice US bodyguard with President WI
son in Europe, the big marine formed
the acquaintance of various members
OF the famous peace commission, ant
numerous high officials from Wash
ington who We're then in France II
connection with the affairs of the Unit
ed States. Sergeant Prater's service
rendered in France prompted Exam
bassador White, who was Il membe
of the peace commission, to write
letter TO Washington commendin;
the presidents private orderly, whll
expressions of appreciation were made
by Secretary Lansing and others OF th'
Washington staff.
In December of this year Sergean
Prater's present enlistment expires bu
he states that he will not permit an!
gap in his long record and will ut once
re-enlist.
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