The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-13
Commander RdinbOU DiDisiOn

NOL BENSON W. HOUGH looks V every inch the. commander; his
 tall, slender. soldierly- ly-lookink fig ure, towering high above the average man, his keen, direct eye, his dignified rnien. combine to make him leader, and as national commander of the Rainbow division Colonel Hough wears his hon. ors gracefully and graciously
 When I asked him how he felt when the honor was conferred upon him he smiled with genuine satisfaction, saying
 We had wonderful convention in Germany and before I knew it the boys of my regiment were proposing my name for the leadership and it had gone too far for me to stop It; not that l wanted to, but was surprised, as I had not sought it. When I was finally informed of the honor that had been paid me, or course I was tremendously gratified to be the first president of the great or ganization."
 Colonel Hough comes from Ohio, which abounds in presidential timber and na- tional celebrities, and when l remarked upon the fact that next November ono would be heard from, with a merry twinkle in his eye he said;
 "Yes, looks like we are bound to have President from Ohio this time.
 Asked about the two prospective can didates, Colonel Hough expressed hin- self in the most complimentary terms, both in regard to Senator Harding ana Governor Cox, both of whom he knows we'll and likes, and being in the politlcai ring himself is naturally greatly lhter- ested in all matters concerning poltics' Colonel Hough will tell you very cahuIu- ly that he is a practoner ot Ia" TOT money and that his political aspirations at the present moment are the supreme court bench of Ohio, and he adds that at present his chances look very ilpe.
 Of good old English stocll-his father, with two brothers coming from Engiano some yeaers back the three settilhg III three different states of the unloh, New York, Pennsylvania and Nirginia-Coionei Hough has all the grace ana eiesahoe for which his ancestors are fameu, coiii- i bined with true Amerlcanlsm "iiloh 10 fascinating to degree
 In speaking of his military careei' Colonel Hough said:
 '.When the border call came rev years back I happened at the time 10 be adjutant general of the state oi ohlo, on the governors staff l resigned anu tool, my old rank of lieutenant coiohei in the Fourth Ohio and went llto SGT ice on the border. after which my resi- ment was mustered out ana theii mug. tered in again, all wlth2 siNly tha the interim I had been promoted to the nosition of colonel of the Fourth ono and soon after that my regiment was designated to be the Ono regiment o- the Rainbow division.
 "Cann Perry was the objective polnt' he continued, flor mobilization ana~ or ganization and when the infantry uillle were assembled l had practically m my reein,ent every county in the state ol Ohio represented
 ..pesnonsibilitvq Colonel Hough re- neated my question after me More tban I can possibly make you under- stand Not only in the matter or luic- tioning a regiment on the pattle iseiu s, hut in the matter of clothing anu loou and shelter and all the other coInh'ou,- coInh,' ties. Camp Mills was our next aes.lna- ton and there the tWenty-eisne ,, that made up the Rainbow dlvlsioli, rep, reeenting as many states, organized ana mobilized. all of which is now mat fer of history, and then overseas Asked what was the most thrliilns moment of his career during the war Colonel Hough said promptly: ~
 "The fight at -Thierry. our division was in the Champagne hi,o e sn middle of July and then right back lnto chateau-Thierry in twenty-one days' covering both of those terrible 'pattles, The Rainbow division lost loo9 men alla my regiment over 1900 men. The secoilu | battle of the Aisne- Marne was the wors' | fight during the war. Col. William | Screws and myself went rlgnt throusl tha fiebts with the regiment from start 1 tn finish as regimental conmanders The 16sth had two commanding oificers while the l65th had seven
 l Colonel Hough related many interest ing incidents of his military career touching upon grave and then gay themes, and one story that he particu- Ilarly loves to dwell upon ana Wn,en HS tsIis with deep feeling and emotion ii