The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-05-15
HASKELL TELLS HOW IT
FEELS TO MEET A KING
Requires More Nerve Than Winning
Cross, Returned Officers
Opinion.

OplnOn.
The following article refers to Capt
Arthur |. Haskell, famous brother of
H. l.. Haskell, Minot clothing mer-
chaut on north Mair s:',St:
In the living room of her quiet little
house, at 1923 Fifth street north, Mrs
Karpel Haskell welcomed her boy
home from the front yesterday morn
ing.
Less than three months ago ne
walked into Buckingham palace, Lon
don. as the honored guest Of George
V, king of Great Britain and Ireland
end emperor of India.
The "boy" is Capt. Arthur Irving
Haskell, famous inferno at the City
hospital. As an officer in the Amer.
lean army medical corps. he served 20
months with the British armies and
saw eight months uninterrupted
fighting at Mount KENNEL. For con-
spicuous gallantry in action. he was
decorated by King George in Buck
ingham Palace on February Is.
To his mother, and to his relatives
and friends who crowded into the lit
tie house at 1923 Fifth street north
yesterday afternoon, Captain Haskell
is something of hero. He cannot see
it that way himself, however.
"Tell us how you won that British
medal" they begged,
II don't know" he replied.
Forget the Hero Talk
They heard that it happened in the
second battle of the Somme, year
ago; that he had disobeyed an order to
fall back with the British, abandoning
a large number of wounded; that he
stayed with his Tommies, picking
breaks in heavy barrage, through
which he succeeded in sending them all
back to their comrades; and that he
himself escaped, last of all, only a
few seconds before the Germans came.
"Is that how you won it," they
persisted.
1T might have been," he grinned.
They could get no more out of him.
Forget the hero talk" he told
them.
The neighbors thought he looked
pale and thin. They wanted to know
all about how he was wounded and
gassed. He had little to tell.
"Oh, | was scratched couple of
times he told them. mot badly
enough to warrant putting myself on
the casualty list. Got some gas in
the Somme. Nothing serious though"
He was more willing to talk about
the incident in Buckingham palace
because he regarded it as pretty much
of a joke on himself. Any one can
win military cross, according to Cap
tain Haskell's idea of the matter. But
when it comes to being decorated-it
takes a brave man for that He was
cited for the War Cross in May, 1918.
In August he went to London to re-
ceive his decoration from King George.
Says He Lost His Nerve.
81 was in London a week." he said
"and had my appointment with the
king all fixed. When the morning
came, however, well, ! lost my
nerve and went back to the front.
His relatives smiled approximately
Evidently Captain Haskell is not not
ed for holiness, in some things.
when ! went back to London ir
February ! decided to go through
with the thing, even if it killed me
just to see what it was like" he went
on. 'When the day came, felt pref.
ty sick again, but had made up my
mind not to back out. 1t was a most
impressive ceremony"
A description of what it feels like
to be decorated by the king of England
can best be told in Captain Haskell's
own words.
"We went up some stairs anc
through a waiting room. in which {
line Of people were standing" he said
''Then we came to an audience cham
Der, where we found the king. HI
stood on dias, with a general OF
| either side Of him. We fellows wht
| were receiving our crosses were the
only other persons in the room.
King Not ''Prepossessing."
1.-THE king is small man, mild ant
| not particularly prepossessing. H,
wore the uniform Of field marshal i,
the British army-a khaki colored ma
terial, a little lighter than the Amer
lean uniform. stepped forward ant
| bowed, and the king held out his hand
Il was a-well, a rather limp hand
| shake. But he had low. musica
voice, and he spoke as though he wer'
sincere and very much in earnest.
"'Captain Haskell?' he asked.
| IeS, sir. l answered. 1t occur
red to me after it was all over that
might have said, Your Majesty
~ am very glad to meet you.' tn
king said, and then, 4 understand yo1
have seen extensive service with m,
armies
eyes. SIR / replied.
"'With what unit are you serving
Captain Haskell?'
"'With the Ninth Scottish division
sir
They are some of my best soldiers
| Captain Haskell
ayes, sir, they are fine men,
"Then the king picked up the cross
and pinned it on my blouse. He hel,
ont his hand az DIN