The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-07-10
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COrDoraI Walter E Gaultney, Eleventh In
fantry, Fifth DivisiOn--COrpOral Gaultney was
picked out by his commander as example of
his finest type of soldier Gaultney wounded;
that couldn't stop him. Alert, ingenious. speedy,
needless Of personal danger ne went al the Hun
like Samson with the well-knOwn jaw bOne-Only
this young SamsonS jaw bone was that nice long
trench knife you see strapped along his pack
Just what this young fellow did is not told; evil
IDENTIFY he is a naturaIbOrn fighter and the regular
army training has made him pretty nearly 100 per
cent efficient all-arOund fighting man.
Private H. ]. Devereaux, Company N, One Hun
bred and Twenty-ifth Infantry. Thirty-secOnd d.
vfsiOn-When his company crossed the River
Ourco and captured the Bots Pelger. the corporal
of his squad fighting beside Private Devereaux
was wounded by machine gun fire The corporal
fell to the ground and the enemy continued TO fire
on the wounded Mad clear through, Dever-
eaux sprinted across the open and single-handed,
attacked and put the machine gun out Of action
Greatest Feat of War.
IT is also known that Chase has painted a pOr-
trait of Sergt Alvin C York OF Pail Mall Fentress
county Tenn, Company G, Three Hundred and
Twenty-eghth infantry, Eighty-secOnd division It
is tObe hoped that the painter did irst-cass job,
for YOrk's exploit probably the greatest indi-
vidual feat of the York, then corporal,
October s, 1913. killed 20 Germans. captured 132
prisoners including major and three lieutenants,
put 30 machine guns out of business and thereby
broke up entire battalion which about TO
counterattack against the Americans on Hill DOB
in the Argonne sector. near Chatel-Chehery. He
OutfOUght the machine gun battalion with his rifle
and automatic pistol There were other
Americans with York. but it YOrk's fight and
but for him not a man of them would have come
out alive except as prisoner
Moreover, the man and his home and his sur
rOundings intensely Interesting being entirely
out of the ordinary. Here are few outstanding
facts:
He was born December 13. 1886 stands feet
and tips the scales at 205 pounds. He is red head
ed He is dead shOt-absOlutely sure death with
either rife automatic; in the of his fight
he killed a German lieutenant and seven men who
charged him from distance of 20 yards. He is
fighter who gets cooler and cooler as the danger
grows
He used to drink. gamble and swear. He quit
in 1915 and joined the Church OF Christ and
Christian Union, of which he is second elder and
singing leader. He conscientious ObjectOr
until convinced by Capt E c. B. DanfOrth at
Camp Gordon that the Bible proved it his duty to
fight. He believes in a personal God and looks
upon his successful exploit miracle. Blessed
is the peacemaker,'" he says
He is farmer and blacksmith and provides for
his mother, one brother and three small sisters;
the other six brothers and sisters are married.
His forbears for generations were Tennesseeans-
When York landed the other day the Tennessee
society took possession OF him and tried Il make
him feel that New York city was his.
OF course York having the time Of his life.
yet really you know, he was regretting that he
wasn't home to lead the singing at the Possum
TrOt spring revival
And at the Possom Trot revival in the valley
of which Pail Mall with its 20 houses is the cross
roads metropolis, York's neighbOrs were prouder
over the fact that he had kept straight than
over what he had done to the HUI Besides while
Alvin was 'alI right" God had had him in charge
since the day he enlisted 'It wasn't Alvin" said
Grace Williams who is waiting for him. "it was
the hand OF God"
Which reminds Of the first words Of the Hun
major captured by York
@BritishT' he asked
American" said York
Good Lord -