The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1919-03-28
MEDAL WATTS FOR
An UNKNOWN HERO
MAJOR sieERT SEARCHING FOR
CERTAIN sTRETcHER eeARER
OF 3oaTH INFANTRY.
STORY OF DESPERATE EXPLOIT
Flame and Gas Officer With Two Vol.
untcers Had Exciting Experience
Back Of Enemy lines-GaiIant Deed
of Unnamed Man.
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.

Observation-Disclosures in the
United States. or in France, is sol
der. name unknown. who If he can be
found will learn that he has been or
Is to be recommended for a distin.
guIshed service medal for high conduct
In face of the enemy.
This unknown soldier In late Sep
tember last was acting as stretcher |
bearer I'm Company X of the Three
Hundred and Eighth United States in !
fantry, which was part of the Seven
ty-seventh United States division.
In Washington today major of the
army, William o. Sibert of the gas
aud flame service, is doing what he
can to find out who this hero was in
order that his name can be put into
the proper place on the recommended
ton for medal.
Major Sibert went to France with
the writer hereof The major had
great luck. Almost Immediately he
got into the thick Of the fight, but later
his luck was not so great, for after
hard and heroic exploit he contracted
double pneumonia and WIS invaded
hack to the United States with a fine
record In the field to his credit Today
Sibert is entirely recovered and 1t is
his desire to endeavor to locate the
man who on an occasion In the Ar
gOnne forest showed himself to be
such q gallant American.
Got Behind the German Lines.
On September &c last Major Sibert,
who was the division gas officer of
the Seventy-seventh division, went out
to the last post at the front and from
there undertook, with three men who
had volunteered for the service, to To-
cate a. certain position. They went
over the top and worked their way as
well us they could through all kinds of
entanglements, artificial and natural.
One of Sibert's men became lost, but
later found his way to detachment of
engineers. The major and bis two re-
naming volunteers then struck out
straight north.
Before long. to their surprise, they
realized that they were well behind the
German lines. Instantly three Ger.
mans appeared round corner of q
knoll, an officer and two men. They
never will appear on earth again. The
Americans killed all three.
The Americans then endeavored to
make their way back toward theil
own lines and on the way they picked
up more German prisoners. Later
they gathered in others, for almost II
every instance the Americans succeed
ed In getting the drop on the surprised
enemy, although before that day.
Journey was ended the detachment hat
several severe fights and several close
shave escapes.
Finally the little outfit ran into al
American engineer platoon that ais,
had got behind the German line
through some error of direction. Tn
now enlarged detachment was making
its way up hill toward the plac
where 1t was thought French outfi
was stationed. 1t was opened on witt
heavy fire. The men broke for som
dugouts, losing several in dead an
wounded.
One of Sibert's original volunteer
had hole in the side of his head an
died an hour afterward. Several 0
the German prisoners were killed b
the fire of their own people.
Gallant Deed Of the Unknown Man.
Major Sibert called for two volur
teers to. crawl through to the Amer
can lines SO that word could be passe
to the artillery to get busy on Gel
tain German battery, and also to ii
form the Americans of the exact pos
ton of the little lost contingent.
One Of the men who volunteers
was one of the three original private
who had volunteered In the first II
stance to go with Major Sibert on HI
perilOus errand. AS will be remen
bered, one Of these three original va
unteers got lost on the way and al
other was killed. This third ma
made his way through terrific fire buc
to the American lines and performe
successfully his perilous errand.
1t Is for this man. name unknow
Major Sibert just now is searchin
He wants him to get his decoratio
Eventually his name probably will
made known and II alive he may g
the medal that he deserves, and
dead his parents may be given It in h
place.
Army Of Ball Players and Fans.
A general officer Of the American e
peditionary forces spoke one day
our combined units In France as q
army Of baseball players"
The general was not far from RICH
II Is probable that every man in OF
forces on the ot.Nr side Mt some tin
or other In his life had played Il
great national game. 1t also Is pro
able that at least three-fourths Of Il
men in the service overseas, and {
this side. too, for that matter, regula
" hod given over their Saturday afte
moons and their other times OF relea
from work to the sport Of baseball
There were many professional has