The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-13
HONOR WAR HERO
Funds Being Raised to Send
AtchisOn Man to France.
Commander Lee Wants to APP
point Commissioner McGiffert.

point Commissioner McGiffert.
In calling attention to the fact that
Wichita citizens will raise the neces-
sary funds for sending John L. Allen,
OF Atehison. to France with the Ameri-
can Legion delegation, Thomas A. Lee,
commander of the department of Kan
sas, says it would please him immense
~ to be able to give the ranking SOL
der of Topeka" Robert D. McGiffert,
commissioner of parks and public
property. place on the delegation
The people of Wichita are giving
this trip to Allen because he is one or
the real war heroes of Kansas, and
Commander Lees statement suggests
that the citizens of Topeka give equal
honor to McGiffert by making it pos
sfble for him to make the trip. II
would mean a fund of about $3.50,
which has been estimated as the prob
able cost of the trip.
Invitation From French Government.
The French government recently ex-
tended an invitation to the American
Legion to send a delegation OF 25O
men to France for a six months stay
as guests of the French people Ine
invitation has been accepted. Fifty
places on the delegation have been
reserved by national headquarters tor
past national commanders, present Of
ficers, special agents, newspaper men,
etc. The other 200 places are oelng
allotted to the several states ACCORDING
TO their legion memberships on June
30. This gives six places to kansas
and five of the places have already
been filled.
While attending the legion confer
ference in Chicago this week, when
resulted in the formation OF an or
ganization known as the MISSISSIPPI
Valley Conference of Legion Members
Commander Lee succeeded in obtain
ing from national headquarters num-
Der of extra allotments from the 1iIty
places which national headquarters
has at its disposal.
Four Extra AIIOtments.
-Four of these extra allotments were
handed out Tuesday by Commander
Lee and one of the places went TO Al
len. The national headquarters is
bearing none of the expense OF the
trip and one of the requirements Is
that each man must pay his own ex-
penses unless other arrangements can
be made.
Wichita is thus going to remember
Allen. who was a member of Com
mander Lees regiment, which was
part of Major Theodore RooseVelts
battalion of the 26th u S: infantry.
First division. Allen will be a cripple
for life and is forced to wear steel
collar constantly about his neck Due
to an injury received during the war,
it was necessary to remove one OF Al
lens vertebrae and the steel collar is
required to hold his head in proper
position.
Injured in Battle.
Allen was first injured in the leg on
May 26th. 1918. at the battle of Can
tigny, the first town captured by the
Americans in the war. 1t was at this
same battle, according to Major Roose-
velt's own statements made at a meet
ing before the Rotary club of Topeka,
last year, that Allen saved the majors
life Roosevelt became blinded by gas
and was pulled from 12-foot hole
by Allen, despite his injury. They re-
manned together for three days, as
Roosevelt refused to leave his COM
mand and Allen refused to leave the
major.
Arkansas City is going to follow the
example of Wichita, but is going to
raise funds to send one of their own
men to France. He is John n. Floyd,
state executive committeeman at large
for the American Legion, and he was
given an appointment for the trip
Tuesday by Commander Lee. Others
who have drawn these select appoint
lments. but who will pay their own eN-
penses, are: Paul X. Cubbison, of Kan
sas City, Kan; H. A. Muenzenmayer
of Junction City, and Ross Farrar OF
Arkansas City. Cubbison is an attor-
ney and both Muensenmayer and Far
rar are bankers. Each of the latter
are adjutants of their local legion
posts.
In speaking of the appointment Of
Allen. Commander Lee said:
Wants to Appoint McGiffert.
at gives me great pleasure to be able
to appoint a buddy out of my own
regiment and I would also be mighty
glad to appoint the ranking soldier OF
Topeka, Robert d. McGiffert.''
Lee says he will have no trouble IN
getting McGiffert a place on the dele
cation and says he hopes to get other
appointments If more Kansas towns
will join in the movement and raise
money for sending their favorite war
1,crnee