Evening star., 1919-05-09
D. c. HOSPITAL MEN
GET GLAD WELCOME
Unit of Rainbow Division Ar
rives at Union Station This
Afternoon.
WENT ABROAD IN 1917

With band playing and eager par
ents waiting to greet them, the Wash
ington Field Hospital Company of the
Rainbow Division, veterans of half
dozen battles of the war, arrived at
Union station at o'clock this after
noon.
1t was the first organization of
District troops to reach home in a
unit and the city showed by it's well
come that it was proud of the rec
ord they made for the National cap
ital in France. Out of three heid
hospital units in the Rainbow Divi-
sion, the Washington company was
picked 10 operate the advance sta
tion every time the division went
into action.
AS the men tramped up the train
shed with Lieut.. J. n. Elder of Rich
mond at their head, two companies
of the new District National Guard.
commanded by Capt. E. H. Grove.
formed a guard of honor and led them
through the station and across the
plaza to Liberty Hut.
Friends There to Greet Them.
Fathers and mothers, sisters and
sweethearts riveted their eyes on the
little band of men in khaki as they
marched in from the train, watch
ing for the first glimpse of their SOL
d1er AS each caught the eye of the
boy particularly sought waving and
cheering became general.
In addition to the relatives there
were at the station a committee from
Gen. Pershing Post. No /. headed by
Donald B. Atwell; Isaac Cans. chair
man of the citizens committee on well
come; Brig. Gen. Richard D. Simms,
commander of the new District Ma
tional Guard, and Brig. Gen. William
E. Harvey. former commander of the
Guard. Maj. Henry F. Sawtelle, who
led the men through the war, got
home several days ago.
The entire city will be given a
chance to welcome the hospital unit
at mass meeting to be held in their
honor at Liberty Hut at o'clock to-
night. The company will occupy seats
on the platform.
Addresses will be delivered by Com
missioner Louis Brownlow. Gen. Simms,
Gen. Harvey. former Commissioner
Henry B. F. Macfarland and Robert n.
Harper, president Of the Chamber of
Commerce. Isaac Cans will preside
and will present to Maj. Sawtelle, on
behalf of the Kappa Gamma Sigma
Sorority, silver loving cup.
Special Privilege Expected.
1t is expected the men will be per-
mitted to remain at their homes over
night and proceed to Camp Meade,
Md, late tomorrow. The Kappa
Gamma Sigma Sorority has made ar
rangements to entertain the COM
pany at a theater party tomorrow
afternoon. The men will be mustered
out at Camp Meade within a few
days.
The Y. NJ. c. A. had buffet lunch
con ready for the men when they
reached Liberty Hut from the station
this afternoon. Following the lunch
con the men were dismissed to spend
the afternoon at their homes
The streets Of the "old home town"
never looked better to these boys than
they did this afternoon, as they went
home for the first time in nearly two
years. 1t was August, 1917, when
the hospital company responded to
the mobilization call.
Dinner will be festive occasion
this evening In the homes of these
sixty-odd men: They will take their
old seats at the table and mix stories
from France with mothers cooking.
Treat by Knights of Columbus.
Charles F. O'Connell headed a dele
SNe'oA VI Mig VI TO the
station this afternoon and furnished
the men with cigars, cigarettes and
souvenirs when they arrived. The
knights also invited the soldiers to a
dance at X. Of c. Hall tomorrow
night.
The District field hospital company
was known in the war as the l65th
Hospital Company of the 117th Sani-
tary Train. Rainbow Division. 1t was
under fire In the battle of the Cham
payne in July, 1918; at Chateau-Thier-
ry. at st. Mihiel, in the Argonne for
est and at Sedan
The fact that the company lost onIy
one man. Capt William B. Hudson. is
regarded almost as miracle by mem
bers of the company when they recall
the many nights that shells dropned
all around the sheds in which they
were giving first aid to the wounded
On July 15. at the Champagne one
of their temporary hospitals was
wrecked by bomb. and although
several wounded patients were killed.
the washington men who were at
tending them escaped death.