The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-04
Wheeling Officer In
Pershing's s Army The
NatchLess Hero OF All
THRICE HONORED FOR
ACTS OF BRAVERY
American, French and Bel
sian Armies Honor Cap
tain Richard P. HiIdreth.

The highest honors possible TO BE-
stow upon a soldier OF the United
States has been conferred upon Cap
tain Richard Prescott HiIdreth. sec
ond son OF Dr.. A. E. HIdreth, End,
of this city. by General John J. Per-
shine, upon recommendation OF
President Woodrow Wilson, accord-
ina to information received by his
father and local relatives OF the
family.
A few days after New Years he
steopcd up and had the honor Of
havinq General Pershins pin upon
his U. S. uniform The distinguished
service cross Of the United States
Government. A few weeks prior
to that time the commander Of the
French armies, General foeh, pinned
upon the uniform Of the youth ottl-
Ger the Croix-de-Guerre. the highest
honor that France could besto".
He also wears the Belgium honor
emblem for bravery in action.
GALLANT EXPLOIT.
According to friends here Captain
Aidreth has been cited for bravery
on a number Of occasions The U.
S. government presented the official
emblem for bravery in action, when,
at the head of his company, of the
23rd U. S. infantry, he was COM
peIled to retreat. and, in ordering
the withdrawal of his men, he no.
ticed that three had fallen wounded
b.bi,d III. retreatina forces. He
ordered his company to halt, and,
with 4 handful Of picked men, he.
in person, returned and, despite a
heavy fusilade of machine gun fire,
rescued the three men and, with
them, returned to his company.
Later he was aided by REINFORCE
ments and returned and drove back
the enemy.
He has the honor of going over
the top on eight different occasions
and has looked into the muzzle OF
the Hun" machine guns many
times, but through sheer luck has
come out whole. He was In the
thick Of the fight practically from
the time that he arrived in France
and. no doubt. has seen more action
than any. other Wheeling district
lad.
HAS MILITARY. CAREER.
Captain Hildreth resided with his
parents on the National road,
Woodsdale. when here, and attended
Linsiy institute, following which he
went to Shenandoah Military Aeao-
eny. at Winchester, Va, where he
received additional military train
ina. At the outbreak Of the war no
was in Chicago, IT,, and enlisted in
IN. Illinois National Guards and re-
ceived a commission as second lieu
tenant This regiment was merged
with the U. S. regulars soon after'
and was one of the first to be sent
to France.
Shortly after going to France ne
was placed in charge Of construction
work and later was given command
Of a machine gun company, ana
while in this role he was cited TOR
bravery in action on several ocea.
sions. He was finally transferred
to the 23rd U. S. Infantry and here
also he showed the Same bravery
and went over the top with his resI-
ment in number of engagements.
At Chateau Thierry he was in the
tbickest of the fighting. and wrote
home later describing the a"fu'ness
Of the battle, and at this time ne
la,ded the American troops to the
skies and stated that the Germans
had finally found their match, al
thouoh he stated, "it Will take men,
and also money, to whip them" IL
was shortly after this battle that ne
was ,romoted to captain, being pro-
noted from second lieutenant to
first some time before that.
is STILL IN SERVICE
Captain Hildreth is still some
where in France, and the last heard
of him by relatives was to the e.
feet that he was near ST Nazalre,
which is one of the embarkation
ports. but it is not known just how
soon he will be home. He is about
Is years Of age and, therefore, Is
one of the youngest captains from
this part Of the country, and also
the first, as far as it is known, to
have received such high honors Tor
bravery in action.
His parents for some time have
been makinq their home at Charles
Town, w. Va. but at the present
time are at Winter Park, Fla They
are proud Of their son, and the many
other relatives here also are more
than pleased to learn Of the honors
bestowed upon him. It is possible
that some arrangements will be
made by the citizens Of Wheeling to
honor him upon his arrivaI home
but as he is very modest fellow, It
is likely that he will shun any plans
and claim that he did but his duty
,oopo the many other lads who