Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-20
HOLDS RECORD
FOR BEING IN
GREAT BATTLES
Minneapolis. Mimi, April 2o.-To /:

minneapolis. MIMI, April 30.-Io
James H.. Wilkinson Of ST. Paul, a
former sergeant in the motor trans
port corps, gocs the honor and dis
tinction Of participating. in more
major engagements in the world war
than any of the other 10000 former
soldiers whose applications for Vic
tory medals have been passed upon
BY the local army Office. =.
Lieut.. Col. r. f. Firth. head of the
army Office here. which is headuuar-
ters for the distribution of the dis
tinguished recognition tokens for the
sta ties OF MINNESOTA, North n south
Dakota. made this nouncemen to-
day. -
There are but fourteen important
battles which the government recog-
nizes. by issuing a small metal bar
with its name across it.. attached to
the ribbon from which the Victory
medal hangs, and former Sergeant
Wilkinson received ten of the bars for
the half score operations in which he
encounters, Wilkinson went unscathed
and was discharged minus any
wounds.
Bars bearing the following names
were attached to W%ilkinson's medal:
Cambria. So1nmc Defensive. Aisne.
Montdidier-Noyou. Champagne-Marne
Aisne-Marne. Somme Offensive. Oisne-
Aisne. Meuse-Argonne. and the De-
%feneive Sector. Only the battles Of
torio-Veneto, in which he took no
part. kept him from obtaining all the
authorized wards.
While only about 10000 medals
have been issued in the three states
handled from here-25.O00 in Mime
sofa and approximately $500 each in
the Dakoias-whereas there are al
most 1870 900 former service men in
this territory. il is doubtful if wilkin-
sons record will be surpassed. in the
opinion of Colonel Firth.
"Wilninson's is a marvellous record
and | don't think any of the remain
ing applications to come before this
Office will. nearly approach it." Colonel
Firth said. "Ex-service men with
four, five and six engagements to
their credit held a high average
among the applicants. but the record
Of ten. l believe. will not be surpassed
anywhere in the country.
II also believe his leaving the army
without even a scratch a.,er so many
engagements deserves mention"
The former sergeant. questioned
about his war service. did not think
his services to the ountr were more
than ordinary.
II dent do more than many other
fellows who were with me-" he said.
Their were many other buddies of
mine who l think went almost every
place l did, although many of them
were lost by being wounded or killed."
Former Sergeant Wilkinson went
with the American field service to
France in July, 1917, when that or
g~anization was an ambulance unit and
served under the French flag. In Oc-
tober. 1917, when the Americans took
over the field service, he enlisted with
the United States forcs and was as
signed to duty in the motor transport
corps. He was discharged in France
July 5, 1919, and returned to this
country after a several months trip
through France and. England.
Carrying ammunition and supplies
In a heavy truck which he drove was
his main work in the army. Wiikin-
son said.
II was shipped to every place where
the big doings were taking place, most
Of the time bringing ammunition" he
said. although at all times l was
many of the other drivers in the
motor transport corps were killed, 1
managed to come out alive without a
scratch"
The nearest rival to Wilkinson for
the top honors is Major Jerome Jack
man Of Minneapolis, who was award
ed sever honors, although he claimed
eight. He was in the chemical war
fare service. Z
Applicants applying for: Victory
medals must forward their honorary
discharges and mention the engage
ments in which they took part. These
claims are verified, and il found cor
rect, the medal with the distinguished
bars are sent. them. r