Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-01
THIS HERO MISSED
FEW WAR THRILLS
Sergeant John J. O'Hanlon,
of Philadelphia, Had
Eventful Career
PRINCETON MAN HURT
Days Casualty List Contains
Smallest Total Since Early
Part of Summer

Torpedoed on the Maldavia while en-
route to France, thrown into the ocean,
still icy cold though 1t was late In May.
rescued by n British destroyer. Just as he
felt that he was about "all iE." fully re-
covered in time to take part In the
Fourth of July parade in Paris. were
only few of the events In the war
career of Sergeant John J. O'Hanlon, OF
this city.
He fought through every engagement
in which the American army took part
and escaped unscratched until the Battle
of the Meuse. when a piece of shrapnel
fractured his left arm
He camounaged his injury and stuck
10 his unit until the next day. only to
have another piece of shrapnel smash
his left leg and put him out Of action
for keeps.
Invalided home several weeks ago,
Sergeant O'IIanlon is spending the holi-
days with his family at 2223 North
Fourth street. He will return in n
few days to n convalescent camp in
Maryland, where he will remain until
entirely recovered from his wound.
Sergeant O'IIanlon Is twenty-four years
old and enlisted two days after Congress
declared war on Germany. choosing the
infantry branch of the regular army. and
ment. He was trained at Gettysburg
and a Camp Greene.
Danger Considered Over
Speaking of the sinking of the Mad
davia. he said that it took place when
all danger was considered over Fifty
six lives were lost, but the men kept
their heads and the great majority were
saved. He was fortunate, he added, and
when the days at the front passed and
he was never touched by shell or bullet
he began to feel that he bore a charmed
life. That notion was shattered, how
ever, on October 4, as his division was
pushing toward the Meuse River.
when the shraprfel got me in the arm
It hurt like the deuce. and knew / was
badly injured, but I did want to stick
along with the bunch. so 1 never let on
that my arm was virtually useless, and I
kept going until the next morning. when
another chunk of steel cracked my left
leg. That ended 1t and had TO let them
carry me to the rear. / was at Chateau
Thierry. and II was sure hot there. My,
but the shells were flying thick and
fast"
The combined casualty lists today
give the smallest total since the early
part of last summer when the Amer
ltdu lTOOlJS were just DtelIltllnB " get
into the trenches. only 219 are named
from the country as whole, while the
total for Philadelphia and vicinity is
only fourteen. None of these reported
! have been killed or have died of wounds
or disease. but eight are named as Sc
verely wounded, four as missing and
two. previously reported prisoners, have
been released and returned to their regi-
ments
Princeton Athlete Injured
Two Marine Corps officers are among
the severely wounded, one lieutenant
Daniel w. Bender, of the LenoN
Apartments, Thirteenth and Spruce
streets. having been previously reported
through unofficial sources. while another.
Lieutenant Thurston J. Davies. former
basketball star at Princeton, is made
public for the first time today. He was
wounded six times. but is still very
much alive and is now in Germany with
the army of occupation.
Lieutenant Davies is another of our
wounded heroes who forgets his own
troubles and counts them as unworthy
of his serious thoughts; for he is the
proud father of fine baby girl. whom
ne has never seen, but whose picture
he can smile over. The mother, who
lives at 43i North Thirty-ffth street
can hardly await her husbands return
for she is so anxious that daughter and
father shall meet
Lieutenant Davies wears six wound
stripes on his arm. each one represent
ing wound received In action in France
lie was first wounded on July 81, while
leading his company. Company X. Fifth
Regiment. marines, of Chateau Therry
fame. His captain had been wounded
and Lieutenant Davies. being next in
command. continued to lead the company
in action until he was himself wounded
In the famous battle of Chateau
!Thierry, which saved Paris from cap
ture, Lieutenant Davies had his shoul-
der badly torn by shrapnel. Shrapnel
from the same shell also struck him
in the neck and cheek. fracturing his
iawbone. on November 2 he was again
wounded. but has fully recovered from
mis- many injuries. and Is now some
where in Germany" with the army of oc-
cupation.
In his last letter TO his wife lie stated
that he and his men were marching
through Luxehburg on the very heels
of the boche.
Lieutenant Davies joined the marines
in the summSr of 1917 and was sent to
Paris Islandtto attend the officers train
ing camp, lie was commissioned a sec
ond lieutenant on September II of last
wear and vent overseas with the Fifth
Regiment in April of this year. He was