The Republican journal., 1921-11-03
Distinguished Service Medal
For Colonel FranA M. Hume is Distinct
Honor for 103d Regiment.

For Colonel FRANK M. Hume Is Distinct
Honor for 1O3d Regiment.
Colonel Frank NJ Hume of Houlton,
the commander of the gallant 1O3d In
fantry I'D Maine), which wrote in letters
bold full page of the history of the
World War, has been honored by the
United States government with the Dis
tinguished Service Medal and through
that bestowal the whole regiment is like
wise honored. The letter from Wash
ington tells the brief but impressive
story:
Washington, D. c.
Oct. 19, 1921.
Colonel Frank M. Hume,
Houlton, Maine.
Dear Colonel:
Upder the provisions of the Act of
Congress approved July 9, 1918, Dis
tinguished Service Medal was awarded
you on August 26, 1921, by the War De-
partment with the following citation:
''For exceptionally meritorious and dis
tinguished service in command of the
103d Infantry, Goth Division. during the
ST. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne opera
tions."
The Quartermaster Supply Officer has
this day been directed to forward the
Distinguished Service Medal in Boston,
headquarters of the First Corps Area,
United Bost on (9) Mass, for presenta-
ton with due ceremony.
Very Respectfully,
P. C. HARRIS,
The Aujutant General.
Colonel Hume has already been deco
rated with the Croix de Guerre with palm
by the French government for his and
his regiments services in the battle of
Xivray, Marshal Passaga pinning the
medal upon his Uniform in jane, 1918,
at Eccomoy.
Colonel Hume modestly said, when ap-
preached oy an Aroostook Daily News
reporter:
Indeed, l feel proud to receive the
Distinguished Service Medal, but would
rather nothing be said about it,
Colonel Hume began military work at
Riverview Military Academy, Poueh-
keepsie, N. Y, West Point preparatory
school. Graduating, he passed short
time in the regular army and in 1898 went
home to organize Co. L, I'd Maine In
fantry. He was later promoted to m Nor.
He went into the Spanish war as captain
of a Heavy Artillery battery, serving
both in the United States and Cuba, be-
ing with the army of occupation at
Marianoa, Quemados and Havana, Cuba.
He was, after the Spanish war, made
lieutenant colonel of the I'd Maine and in
July, 1910, was made colonel.
He took the regiment to the Mexican
border in 1916, where Generals Bliss and
Funston gave it high praise. From June
to November tne regiment had a patrol
of 10 miles of the Rio Grande, with
headquarters at Laredo, Texas, and the
patrol extending from Roma to Paiafor.
Colonel Hume was out of the service
but few weeks when the World War
broke out. He was commissioned
colonel and the I'd Maine was again in
the service, being mustered into Uncle
Sans service as the 103d Infantry, and
put into the Goth Division, the first vol
unteer division to go across, sailing in
September, 1917 They passed a few
days in England, were sent to Havre and
went into training at the foot of the
Vosges mountains.
The regimen was led by Col. Hume
in February, 1918, into the battle line IN
the defensive sector of Chemin des
Danes, with headquarters at Soissions,
staying there for AZ days. They were in
action from April 1, 1918, to June 27 in
the Ioul sector, taking part in Xivray,
Bosuile and Apremont.
Colonel Hume then took the l03d into
the battle of the Marne and a little later,
while on march to Paris for rest fur
Tough was turned back and headed for
Chateau Thierry, where they headed the
attack On the Germans that was the
starting point of the enemy's defeat
Belleau woods followed, with it's so per
cent. casualties and record that makes
the Maine men remembered by French,
EngHsh-snd the Germans They also
made history at Torcy.
Going into the st. Mihiel salient, they
led the attack at Les Esparges in the
"Plncers" operations and fought continu-
ously from Oct. II, 1918, to Nov. s, tax
ing village after village. Then the Meuse
Argonne, north of Verdun, occupied their
attention and it was there that Col
Hume was relieved of his command. He
was reinstated on Feb. a, 1919, and re-
sumed command in the LIE Mans area
The 1O3d arrived home in April, 1919,
and was mustered out at Camp Devens,
after the memorable review of the Goth
Division in April, that year in Boston,
during which the regiment was given a
perfect ovation throughout the entire
line of march.
The flags of the 1O3d, presented with
Impressive ceremonies to the State by
Colonel Hume and received by Governor
Milliken, are now at the State House,
Augusta.