New-York tribune., 1919-03-07
'Mincola,' War
Cry, as lO6tl,
Smashed Foe
''Fiahtiness of Iiah,cr-,"
Praises Colonel Ward,
First and Only Leader
Sang Way Into Battle
Hurried to Front When the
Crown Prince Menaccd;
1850 Casualty Losses

Fighting? It's the fightin'est regi-
ment in the world, and I'm proud Of
every man in it,"
Brooklyn's soldier sons of the 106th
Infantry were rewarded with these
words of praise by their commander,
Colonel Franklin w. Ward, when they
returned yesterday-3,7 strong-on
the transport Leviathan
The regiment was made up of mem
bers Of the old 23d National Guard
and parts of the old 18th and 14th, and
had the honor of being the largest
regiment brought back. This does not
mean that it did not pay heavily in the
engagements it fought. 1t was brought
up to full strength by replacement
units after it had suffered 1850 cas-
ualties out of his former strength of
5000.
The regimental record, given by Col
onel Ward yesterday, is: 315 deaths
in action, II deaths from wounds, 1877
missing in action, many of them un-
douhtedly killed, and 1874 taken pris-
oners, in addition to those wounded
Acted as Shock Unit
The 106th was selected as one of
the shock units of the 9th Division
in the great offensive which smashed
the impregnable Hindenburg Line.
"They stood up in the face of the
most terrible punishment time and
time again" said Colonel Ward yes
terday. Il believe there is nothing
they could not do. | have met many
brave men. l have known of many
heroic deeds. Yet l have never known
hraver, finer men than those of the
106th
"They sang as they went into battle.
They shouted their warcry OF Mineola'
as they went over the top. Brooklyn
cannot give them too great u welcome
They have made record second to
none"
Take it from Adjutant Captain
James P. Cook, the bravest man of the
regiment is Lieutenant Thomas F.
bombardment. he stayed in a she'll
hole for forty-eight hours, although
himself badly wounded in order to save
the life of Second Lieutenant II. Boul-
let, who had been shot through both
legs. For his feat Lieutenant Ward
has been recommended for the Distin-
guished Service Cross.
Many Decorated for Bravery
Captain Cook said that six OF the
106th men had already received the
d. s. c. and two the British Military
Cross. He said there were a large
number OF others who had received
decorations and citations for their con-
duct under fire.
at Tnr &c
Col, who is commander of Company G.,
rising from sergeant through his
fighting qualities, declared that the
l06th men were such fighters they even
scared the British.
"lf you want to make hit with the
brooklyn men, write about Father
Ellers, the regimental chaplain" he
said. ole was in the thick Of the fight
ing with the rest of them. No matter
how hard boiled these city boys were
Father Eilers kept them good and
clean.
"When we set out to break down
tho Hndenburg line, the Australians,
who feared nothing, said, Boys, you
can't do it. But we were the shock
troops OF the whole 9th Division, and
we did it. 1t cost us heavily, though.
Sergeants Led Despite Wounds
"Our sergeants were among the fine st
men. Sergeant Joe Maloney, OF Com
pany G, led his company after all the
officers had been killed, on September
%. A German sniper shot him under
the eye, but he kept right on directing
his men.
Sergeant Tim Jones, also of Company
G., won the British Military Medal for
organizing his company in the same
way. Then there was Captain Ireland.
He won the d. S. c. Wounded by a
she'll explosive, he went to a dressing
station but refused to be separated
from his command Next day he was
out in front when his men stormed
and captured their objective"
The 1o6th Infantry trained at Camp
Wadsworth, leaving Hoboken May 18,
1918. It landed at Brest May 80, and
was moved to Nicy, where it trained
for month with the British. Because
of the menace of Crown Prince Rup-
precht's mass attack, it was rushed to
the north of the battle line, being
brigadcd with the British.
The 106th got into its first action
July at Poperinghe, Belgium. This
engagement lasted until August 81.
Without rest it was rushed into ac-
ton again at the Dickebusch sector.
For month the regiment was given
a comparative rest, then joined the
rest OF the 9th Division in its famous
blow at the Hindenburg line toward
the last days of September
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