The Washington times., 1919-02-15
COLORED HEROES TO
CAMP MEADE SOON
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(CoptiROed from First Page)
,sf him contributed largely to the
success OF the regiment,S ~Ig
This citation only hints at the real
accomplishments Of Ma3oE Dickson
according, to his men. He is only
twenty-seven years old.
,'.Hero OF ETe4oes.yf
By the men, -Sergt. Ira Payne. OF
: S25 Fifteenth street lsoutheast. Wash
ington. D. G. is proclaimed the "hero
OF heroes among the hghters. Payne
wears the Croix de- Guerre and tho
Distinguished Service Cross and isn't
afraid of the devil himself" according
reporter for The Times. Sergeant
Payne said:
During the fightfng at SeehauIt
the Germans were picking or the men
in my platoon from Behind q bush.
The Germans had several machine
guns behind that bush and kept. up
a deadly fire in spite Of our rifle fire
directed at the bush. We did our
best 70 stop those machine guns. but
the German aim became so accurate
that they were picking off FIVE of my
men every minute. We couldn't stand
for that
sWef. I decided I would get that
little machine gun nest myself. and I
went after it, left our company,
detoured. and by q piece Of luck got
behind the bush. I got my rifle into
action and knocked on two OF those
German machine gunners. That end
ed it. The other Germans couldn't
stand so much excitement The
bocbes surrendered, and I took them
into our trenches as prisoners
Dispateh Carriers Decorated.
Another hero is Benjamin Butler,
a private. awarded the Croix de
Guerre, His citation reads: For
displaying gallantry and bravery
and distinguishing himself in carry
ing out orders during the attack on
Sechault on September %, 1918, uR-
der heavy bombardment and machine
gun fire"
Butler said: oT did very little. Dur
ing this fight. with several others,
carried dispatches to the first line
trenches from headquarters. They
decorated me, suppose. because
was the only one lucky enough to es-
cape being knocked OF"
Private Charles z. Cross, Of 1852
Twenty first street northwest was
awarded the Croix de Guerre for chs
speed and reliability in carrying or
ders 20 platoons in the first line un-
der the enemy's bombardment on Sep
tember 90 1915"
an some cases. Cross said, 81 had
10 creep across No Mans Land, and
a greater part of the time 1 was eX-
posed to enemy fire"
First Sergt John A Johnson. OF
11I7 New Jersey avenue northwest,
was termed in his citation and award
of the Croix de Guerre a heroic sol
der"
just @Stueko With His Men.
Near Sechault. during the time the
District men were making a big ef.
fort to capture the town. was put
in the front lines not fifty feet away
from the enemy" johnson said. a
greater part Of the time / was ex-
posed to machine gun fire. suppose
I got my medal just because I stuck |
with my men. Quite few District |
boys were bumped OF at this point"
Defeated Bear Attack.
Private William H. Braxton, mem
Der OF the machine gun company Of
the regiment, who lives at 21O6 Ward |
place northwest, received the Croix /
de Guerre for displaying Jealous |
bravery"
"An enemy party" his citation reads,
"having filtered through his platoon |
and attacked same in rear, Private /
JSrsxton displayed marked galIant~y /
in opening fire on the enemy and /
killing one and wounding several |
others. finally dispensing the entire
party"
''The men who stuck by me when
death stared them in their faces, de-
serve just as much credit as T. Brax-
ton said 81 was only temporary lead
er of the men,"
Other District men who received the
Croix de Guerre are Sergt William A.
Carter. Private Norman Winsome,
Private Charles NJ Murphy, Serst
John S. Marshall, Private Homer Crab
tree, Private William Alexander, Pri-
vate John Parks, Private William
Dexon, Private Joseph McKammey, /
Private March Graham. Private Thom-
as A. Frederick, Private Uohn z.
White, Private Ernest Payne, and Pri- 1
vate Nunley Matthews. These men
were decorated for displaying excep-
tional bravery and GOODNESS under
fire and for special deeds.