The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-01-30
Nephew of Charles Zweenic
and Son of Former Keno
sha Woman Comes
Back Home a Hero.
HE WEARS TWO CROSSES
The Croix de Guerre ana the Cross of
the Legion Were Awarded to
Him After verdun and
Mont Blanc.

"Well = the kid got decorated and
he's come back home.''
This was the remark of Charles
zweenic of 175 English Ct, as he told
his. friends about his nephew, Pvt. Ralph
Y. Peters, son of Mrs. B. T. Peters, of
Milwaukee, who was formerly Miss
Lizzie Zweenic of Kenosha. "The
little shaver as "Charieo later re-
ferred to him, fought his way all
through the battles of Verdun, Chateau
Thierry, scissors, and Mont Blanc,
without a scratch only to be seriously
wounded in the final struggle in the Ar
gonne forest.
Young Peters, who has frequently
visited Mr.. Zweenic and his mother s
relatives in Kenosha was members of
| the Sixth Marines of the famous Sec
/ nd Division. He returned to Wiscon-
sin on Wednesday and expects dis
charge from the service in the near
future.
He has been decorated with the Croix
de Guerre, wears the red fourragers of
the Legion of Honor and the honor di-
vision red, white, and blue shoulder
insignia of the Second Division or
I" 1ndians.' He also boasts the red
and green croix de guerre ribbon, the
American expeditionary force ribbon,
containing all the colors of the Allied
nations, two gold overseas service chew
rons, wound chevron, and sharp
shooters medal.
That s notaa bad collection for
| kid, ehgo Charlie went on as he proud
lly displayed a picture of the boy with
his medals on "and everything"
Has Many Citations.
Private Peters citations include
eleven that were accorded to the en-
tire division, granting them the right
to wear the croix de guerre and spe-
cial citation received with nineteen
other marines, who volunteered to take
motor truck load of ammunition from
| Montreuil and Bouresches through
mustard gas bombardment and the con-
slant hail from the Germany TIPS.
"The marines had sent hurry call
for ammunition, said Private Peters.
The truck carried machine gun and
rifle ammunition and hand grenades.
We started at IL p. M, with our gas
masks on. We never thought we
would get through. We made the
trip and unloaded the truck in two
hours, getting through without hit.'
Private Peters saw his first action
at Verdun, February, 1913, where he
remained until May %, when the
marines were sent to Chateau-T hierry.
"We travelled nineteen hours in
motor trucks and were Immediately
sent into action, holding off the Ger
mans five days before we began to
attack. At Bouresches we stayed in
the trenches twenty-five days before
being relieved for forty-eight hours.
Immediately after this rest we re-
turned to the trenches, remaining
from June % to July II.
st. Mihiel Was Easy.
| Gone night Is march took us to the
Scissors front where we sustained
frightful losses. We were replaced by
| the Scottish highlanders and sent to
rest camp for two weeks. The st.
Mihiel fighting was easy. We started
from Somme-py, advancing twenty
miles, and taking ground that the
Germans had held for four years. We
were relieved by the Thirty sixth divi-
sion and returned to Suippe for rest.
We were called again and marched
| fifty-two kilometers, to find out we
were not needed. Our next move was
to the Argonne forest, where my right
knee was blown away by shrapnel.
The charm which got me through
without a scratch had been broken. I
was shipped to an evacuation hospital
and later taken to the base hospital at
Nantes. / was discharged from the
hospital Dec. "a. y
Has an Unusual Souvenir.
Here is one of the citations Private
Peters cherishes:
France, Oct. IL.
"Oficers and Men of the Second Di-
vision:
cit is beyond my power of express
sion to describe fifty my admiration for
your heroism. You attacked magni-
fcently and you seized Mount Blanc
ridge, the key to the arch constituting
the enemy's main position. You adj
vanced beyond the ridge, breaking the
enemy's lines, and you held the
ground gained with a tenacity which
| is unsurpassed in the annals of war.
"As direct result of your victory,
the German armies east and west Of
Rheims are in full retreat, and by
drawing on yourselves several Ger