The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-03-13
MAI. WHEEL0N PRAISES
n. D. farmer LADS
Returning From Service in France,
Minot Officer Pays Glowing Trib-
ute to the Lads From North
Dakota Farms.
Major Frank E. Wheelon, who ha

Major Frank E. Wheelon, who has
Just returned from service in France,
was the speaker of the evening at the
Goth annual dinner of the 1nquisitors'
Club held last evening at the Elks
Home.
The Major, who left Minot in charge
Of the Medical Corps, Of the Second
North DakG1a regiment, was placed
in charge Of the hospital at the Ar
tillery training camp at La Courtine,
in the Department Of Grouse. Here
he remained turnout the war until his
release.
Major Wheelon is re-opening his Of
fees in this city for the practice OF
medicine and surgery.
Major Wheelon in his address, said
in part as follows:
II am just back from France and
have been there during the whole
time that the American troops have
been doing such wonderful things, and
| would like to tell you at first hand
of those deeds and accomplishments
which have made the old world think
that the crazy Americans are wiz
ards and .magicians of efficiency, and
the bravest soldiers on earth. Bur
what can l tell you that you do not
know, My post, two hundred miles
back from the front, was certainly
more peaceful and quiet during that
time than your own town. An ar
tillery target range for the training
Of troops newly arrived from the y,
IS. situated on branch railroad. We
trained our troops and sent them to
the front. We received a new batch
trained them and sent them on. No
one ever came back. On the main lines
there were always officers and men
travelling back and forth with stories
of this battle and that advance, and
always the wonderful hospital trains
and the stories of the wounded. AT
our post, however, the travel was al
WAYS from seaport towards the
front with stop for a few weeks as
at way station. AS to French news
papers, war news was limited to offic,
ial reports sent out by three or foul
different army headquarters and never
more than that of a few sentences. ;,
i am disappointed that cannot tel
you of the interesting things. tina
were happening everywhere in France
while l was there and it was bitter
disappointment that l was not permit
ted to share them. I left here II
charge Of the medical troops attached
to the End N. D. At Camp Greene
our companies were transferred t.
the LIST N. D. to fill up it's companies
to a strength Of $50 men each. Thu
men had enlisted as hospital corp
men were distributed to various othe
medical units. The names of the Ma
jors were shaken up in hat and IN tn,
lottery, drew the command of Fourtl
Field Hospital. Co. G Of the Smash
ed Second" was assigned as personnel
Co. G had been recruited at Rolla
!. N. D., and was made up OF farme
hoys from several counties in tina
vicinity with liberal mixture Q
Turtle mountain Indians and breeds
These were fine boys and as infantry
would have been as good as the hes,
But Indians are not particularly ad
, apted as nurses nor are farmer boy
. noted for having gentle hands. Be
: sides they had enlisted to fight Gel
mans and were actually broken heart
, ed to be put into an outfit that nc
only was noncombatant, but was ne
even allowed to be armed. Nevertht