The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-02-25
This Man Refused Soft War Job
Scorned a Swivel Chair Lieutenancy
to Give Real Blood to the Cause
He's Home Now With D. S. c.
and Croix de Cuerre-How
Shall Seattle Honor Him?

THIS story dates back to the beginning Of
the war. You will remember that thou
sands of bright young college men, soon after
the war began, went to the Preside and other
Officers training camps-and became Off
cers Some of them became officers in combat
companies that went to France and fought
Others never left the United States and NOV
ed from one swivel chair to another-from
second lieutenant to first lieutenant, to cap
tains, even to majors and to colonels
When the war broke out, Philip Tindall was well
known lawyer in Seattle He past the draft
age He had practiced in this city for dozen or
more years, and at one time came within short
distance of being corporation counsel of Seattle.
But he donncd the uniform at once as member OF the
National Guard and sergeant commanded various guard
details during the first few weeks.
In June 1917, he detailed to attend the officers
training camp at the Preside San Francisco and he passed
the examinations successfully.
He was offered commission lieutenant in the quar-
ermaster corps Had he taken he would have been
sonaby safe from getting into that terrible holocaust in
France But easy job, he preferred
and Philip Tindall remained with the infantry'
MAN like that, however cannot be downed His merit
"A will itself and after the Second Washington in
fantry which he member, had been training for
some time his promotion from the ranks This
before the regiment part OF the dist DIVISION
sailed for France.
In France he was detailed attend the officers train
ing school at Gonrecourt and was with the otn french IN
the German offensive in March, 1918 He reoned his
company June. 1915 and put in command of an or
ganizaton of 800 at ST. Afghan His duties were to
take their arrival in France and give them in
tensve military training In this position he definitely
in line promotion to capaincy, and ultimately to
majority but after three months Philip Tnda wanted real
war action wanted soft berths. And he asked to
be transferred to combatant division
PHILIP TINDALL WENT TO FRANCE TO FIGHT
AND NO CAPTAINCY OR MAJORITY WAS TO PRE-
VENT HIM FROM GIVING HIS BLOOD TO THE CAUSE,
IF HE COULD HELP 1T.
IEUT TINDALL transferred to the 32d division in
LSeptember 1918 assigned to the 26th infantry and Civ
en- command of company. On October his battalion
was ordered the village Of Gesnes, in the
Argonne drive While leading his company this advance
Tindal wounded by bursting she'll which carried away
part of his shoulder muscle but he continued thru the attack
for the rest day. Owing to the shortage of officers
he considered it necessary to stay with his company
Seveny-five out of his company of 200 were killed n
action but Tndall wounded and almost faint, stayed
giving his and example of rare pluck
The brave Yanks made their objective that daybutI
Tindas fight yet The Germans shelng
the position taken by the Americans and counter attack
was expected till the next forenoon that his
don discovered by his commanding officer and he was
ordered 10 the rear His condition serious that he
reported deadand Seattle counted him as dead for
days But his gameness won PACK e Tor him Just as 1t
combat service for him in place of job
He spent four months in the hospital in France.
General Pershing awarded Tindal the American Dis
ngushed Service Cross and Marshall Petan gave him the
French for extraordinary herosm and de-
votion to duty
HILIP TINDALL remained in the service until December
urged him to file for the council. He filed They are
backing him to a They him "go the top" in
the Argonne. They want him to go over the top here
And they Seattle to go the top with him. IT is
|THINGi
TO He is better than now.