The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-05
FIRST ACTUAL COMBAT


 were sent to the Lorraine sector" Cor poral Freeman stated yesterday at the Morris hotel "On March 1, 1918, I was one of patrol of five men. We ran onto Il Germans in our front trench. They saw us and began firing. Sergeant Werner Hall of Boyles called to us to look out, and we jumped behind the traverse in our trench. The Germans then began throwing grenades at us. We lodged and threw our grenades at them. It soon got too hot for the Germans and they climbed out of the trench, yelling Kamerad' We could see them outlined between us and the sky line-it was II 30 O clock at night. They had their guns pistols and grenades in their hands. We didn't trust them. and as soon as We could organize again we began firing at them. didn't see Sergeant Hall, so I called to him and asked if he were hurt He said he did not know.
 Just as we got organized the Germans started for our trench. We opened fire and nine of them dropped dead on top of our trench The other two jumped down into the trench, rifle bullet fired by one of our men striking the log of one German. breaking it. He was done for. The other German grabbed Corp. Homer Whited of Bessmer around his waist. I saw the two men fighting, but could not distinguish them in the dark
 Corporal Whiteds helmet had fallen off. l went close to them, asked Whited which was he. He spoke and I recognized his voice. He was holding the German 21S pounder-around the neck and beat ing him over the head with his gun. I stuck my gun against the German 8 stomach and fired. fired twice, boring two bullet holes through him. He re- leased his hold on Corporal Whited and dropped to the ground. Corporal Whited had emptied his gun before clinchins: with the German and could only use 1t as a club. As I came up Corporal Whited told me to shoot the German loose
 We picked up the two Germans and went back to headquarters. Not one "of our squad received even a scratch In the fight"
 GIVEN SERVICE MEDAL
 For this act of bravery the five mem. bers of the squad were cited and re- ceived the American distinguished ser vice medal and the French cross of war. The 167th regiment was brigaded with French units at the time and following this incident the French commander, General Segonne, issued the following or der, which Corporal Freeman carries with him:
 "One hundred and sixty-seventh infan- try regiment. D company. Private QFree- man was a private at the time) Herbert Freeman. Gallant and disciplined sol dier. During liaison patrol he engaged in fight with enemy superior in num- Der and contributed to the capture of two prisoners"
 The German shot through the stomach by Corporal Freeman recovered from the wounds which at the time were believed to be fatal.
 In the squad with Corporal Freeman were Corporal Homer Whited of Besse- mer, Sergean Werner Hall of Boyles Cor poral Crawford Teske of Coal Valley and Sergeant Wess, member of company F. Each of these was cited and received the two medals.
 From the Lorraine sector we were sent to the Champagne on March 4, the day after our brush with the Il Germans. said Corporal Freeman. We hiked all day as we were told that we were te go over the top on the 9th, but when we got to our destination we learned that the Germans were preparing for big drive and we made no attempt to go over We were sent to the second line trenches, as support. and did not take active part in the fighting in the big drive started by the Germans about March IS. WOUNDED AT CHATEAU THIERR
 q received my wound at Chateau Thierry on July 26. I was directing an automatic rifle crew when a German sniper in a tree got me with an ex- plosive bullet It tore great hole in my back, near the waist line. lay there two hours with the bodies of my seven comrades. members of my squad lying about me. Every one of them