The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-07-11
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Corporal Walter r. Gaultney, Eleventh In
fantry, Fifth Division.-Corporal Gaultney was
picked out by his commander as an example OF
his finest type of soldier. Gaultney was wounded
that couldn't stop him. Alert, ingenious, speedy,
needless of personal danger, he went at the Hun
like Samson with the welI-knOwn jaw bone-only
this young Samson's jaw bone was that nice long
trench knife you see strapped along his pack.
Just what this young fellow did is not told; evil
IDENTIFY he is q natural-born fighter and the regular
army training has made him pretty nearly 100 per
cent efficient as an all-around fighting man.
Private H.. J. Devereaux. Company NJ, One Hun
dred and Twenty-fifth Infantry, Thirty-second d.
vision.-When his company crossed the River
Ourcu and captured the Bots Pelger, the corporal
Of his squad fighting beside Private Devereaux
was wounded by machine gun fire. The corporal
fell TO the ground and the enemy continued to fire
on the wounded man. Mad clear through, Dever-
eaux sprinted across the open and, single-handed,
attacked and put the machine gun out Of action.
Greatest Feat of War.
1t is also known that Chase has painted a por-
trait of Sergt. Alvin c. York Of Pail Mall, Fentress
county, Tenn, Company G., Three Hundred and
Twenty-eighth infantry, Eighty-second division. 1t
Is to be hoped that the painter did a tirst-class job,
for York's exploit was probably the greatest indi-
yidual feat of the war. York, then corporal, on
October 8, 1913, killed 20 Germans, captured 1872
prisoners, including a major and three lieutenants,
put 80 machine guns out of business, and thereby
broke up an entire battalion which was about to
counterattack against the Americans on Hill 223
in the Argonne sector, near Chatel-Chehery. He
outfought the machine gun battalion with his rifle
and automatic pistol. There were seven other
Americans with York, but 1t was Yorks fight and
but for him not a man Of them would have come
out alive except as prisoner.
Moreover, the man and his home and his sur
roundings are intensely interesting, being entirely
out Of the ordinary. Here are a few outstanding
facts:
He was born December 13, 1886, stands 6 feet
and tips the scales at 205 pounds. He Is red head
ed. He Is q dead shot-absolutely sure death with
either rifle or automatic; in the course Of his fight
he killed a German lieutenant and seven men who
charged him from a distance Of 20 yards. He is a
fighter who gets cooler and cooler as the danger
grows.
He used to drink. gamble and swear. He quit
In 1915 and joined the Church Of Christ and
Christian Union, of which he is second elder and
singing leader. He was a conscientious objector
until convinced by Capt. E.. c. B. Danforth at
Camp Gordon that the Bible proved it his duty to
fight. He believes in a personal God and looks
upon his successful exploit as a miracle. Blessed
Is the peacemaker,'" he says.
He is n farmer and blacksmith and provides for
his mother, one brother and three small sisters;
the other six brothers and sisters are married
His fOrbears for generations were Tennesseeans
When York landed the other day the Tennessee
society took possession of him and tried to make
him feel that New York city was his.
OF course York was having the time Of his life,
vet really, you know, he was regretting that he
wasn't home to lead the singing at the Possum
Trot spring revival.
And at the Possom Trot revival, In the valley
of which Pail Mall, with It's 70 houses. Is the CROSSE
roads metropolis. York's neighbors were prouder
over the fact that he had kept straight" than
over what he had done to the Hun. Besides, while
Alvin was "all right" God had had him in charge
since the day he enlisted. 1T wasn't Alvin" said
Grace Williams, who Is waiting for him, 1T was
the hand of God"
Which reminds us Of the first words Of the Hun
major captured by York.
"British?' he asked.
American" said York.
"GOod Lord"