Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-05-03
FROM SIBERIA
Sergt. Leon Fletcher
Returns Home
After Nearly Six Years Passed in
Regular Army, Four in Foreign
Service - Wears Seven Gold
Stripes-tn Siberia for 10 Months

A true type of American soldier.
straight, muscular. quick thinking and
acting, Sergt. Leon L. Fletcher after
five years and 10 months in the U. $.
military service, the last Is months OF
which were passed in Siberia, has re-
I ceived his honorable discharge and re-
turned Saturday afternoon to his home
in this city. Sergt. Fletcher. who was
in the 9th Machine Gun Co., regular
army, is the son Of Mr.. and Mrs. George
Fletcher of Gage street, and has seen
much service, being away from THE
States" five years and nine months, and
this is his first trip home in six years.
On his sleeve he wears seven gold chew
rons, and as far as known is the only
Augusta lad who has the honor to wear
that number. Sergt Fletcher lost no
time in DOMINIC civies upon his arrival
home.
In September. 1914, he enlisted in the
regular army and was assigned to the
18th Infantry at Vera Cruz, where he
was stationed for two months, later 60
ing to Texas and was in Galveston at
the time of the terrible food. Troops
time in anticipation of trouble with
Mexico and his outfit was in Texas
City for 10 months. Subsequently he
transferred to Panama, passing through
the Panama Canal. Next young Fetch
er went to the Philippines, where he
was stationed for two years and a half
guarding government property. In the
meantime war was declared with Ger
many and the outfit was awaiting orders
to proceed to France when they were
sent to Vladivostok, going from there to
a. place called Ushmon. about 1890 miles
into the interior Of Siberia. Speaking Of
the hardships Of the frozen country,
Sergt. Fletcher told of a. company being
lost and the rest Of the outfit hunting
for them about a month; living Oh
canned bill' and bareback, and sleep
ing in box cars and pup tents. The cold
| in that country is terrific, the fhermom-
eter registering from IS degrees to 80
degrees below zero. The men coming as
they did from the tropics suffered in
tensely from the cold and many died
of pneumonia.
, He received his discharge in San
. Francisco April 2ith and was one of
. the first regular army men to leave 81
IBERIA On his way back to Manila he
went through China and Japan. In
speaking regarding the fighting ability
Of the Boishevik he said that they were
fairly good scrappers, but no modern
warfare was used, the fighting being of
the guerilla variety. While in Siberia
he was under fire twice, heard a jap
anese. officer order five Bolsheviki to dig
! there own graves, and later their heads
were cut Off and the bodies went into
the holes. Regarding the Inhabitants of
I the north country he stated that the
people lack ambition, and while the soil
could be cultivated, the inhabitants
lacked the necessary ability, and even
| If they did till it the Cossacks and the
| like would take it away from them. On
his way home from Manila to San Fran
cisco he visited Honolulu. stopped of
| at Salt Lake City and Chicago for a
! short time.
On being asked if he had seen any
Maine men while in the service he re-
, Piled that he had not during the last
four years. He has qualified as a sharp
shooter and was member of a COM
petition team while in the Philippines.
Sergt Fletcher has been offered a Do
sition in Argentina by the Armour Co.
as he is able to speak both Spanish and
Russian. but he will take a month or
two vacation here with his parents.