The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1921-08-12
HE GAVE HIS ALL.
Continued from Page ~.
single handed, attacked a German air.

drore located near this station. Seven
OF the herman fighting planes were
N the AIR at the time. Despite this fact
LIeute1ont Petree carried or his at
tack, diving straight into the center
OF the enemy formation. This officer
tnree mes withdrew from the COM
pat ara had chance to escape but
despite thus fact he continued to re-
turn 70 the attack until he shot down
one Of his enemies, and until he him
ser, overcome by a vastly superior
toree, crashed to the earth IN flames
ana was Killed. Lieutenant Petree, in
making such an attack, must have
realized that he was CHANGING almost
certain death, but after he had once
commenced the attack he showed the
utmost heroism and contempt Of
danger by refusing to flee before an
enemy force OF seven aeroplanes. This
ottieer must have also realized that If
so Killed. alone and TAR within the
enemy ines' me chance would be that
.ne manner OF ms neatn would remain
1otany unknown. respite tnis fact ne
.nose certaln deatn ana OBLIVION rather
tnan nee oeiore 'he vastly superior
e"e,'y iVrce.
q At.acneu mn a true COPY OF. the
,.s.trnent OF tnree french witnesses
ol 'ne tlVht' VINO now i've at DEBUT
''l "nose sta'eneh's can NJ any time
oe COL II, ,rme,'' -
Iue ABOVE RECOMMENDATION mas
.'eh niue ~ me from the simple
,e'i teypI" w almost the same man.
~ 49, t"e H''nS rIt'Ss WITNESSES az
CIV vi az, v, r I,Ser nC''oh'
""n -, ~ - .Oorth'
RI. ILL.,. NuPs'' alr service
elne 'es''f rom the commanding OIL
H.. NJ y =, lollow ,so, .e,
L"'N' E,ei1 -qul''9 ~
rlist AT Depo', american f. r."
m! 'vee, January ~ wv
occ.I. rlans leSree'
C!rrEDI' Ml''yI',;
LeaI -, - "''"inR uP our lettef
ol c,i.ille" statements IN ftehcn'
ans'aslrt appearing tnetelhaer' 10
ge.nel WIZ statement rom invest
eating ottlccr as 20 your sons eN,
ttaordlnaiy her9!sm " the aerial
oatt,e when resulted m MS death.
since these documents were pre-
pared we nave learned that Harry
brought down two o. the enemy air
cratt before he va, finally shot down.
ana l think when the developments OF
.ub'eGuent Investigations are made
known his last battle VIII go down as
one OF the aerial achievements OF the
war.
Apparently the French people re-
siding In the vicinity tthen occupied
by the enemy were so impressed with
this remarkable performance that your
son Will always be remembered by
them as one OF the heroes OF the great
war, and on the strength Of their
statements, we propose to submit a
recommendation for the Distinguished
Service Cross. to be awarded postum
ously, and surely amidst your intense
grief, It will be some sort Of solace
to know that you gave to the great
cause one Of its heroes, who gave his
al against great odds in the interest
OF the freedom Of mankind.
IL. c. ANGSTROM.
Major. Air Service, U. 5. Army, Com
handing l3?th Aero Squadron"
The translation Of the sworn state
ment Of the French witnesses, at
tached, is as follows:
Debut. December 81, near Marville.
II affirm and swear to have seen
the combat which lasted one hour
against seven adversaries. He weak
ened the adversary by 1875 shots. This
combat took place Sept. 26, 1918, at 7
o'clock in the morning. The American
attacked the enemy several times with
the most unprecedented courage and
made no effort to escape. This combat
took place almost directly over a
German aviation camp. The American
was all alone. -
(Signed): ANGELO NAUD0IS,
MADELINE vIvlER,
JULES vIVlER."
Besides his parents, Harry left sur
viving him three brothers, Leo W. Pc
tree, Jay Ralph Petree and Charles B.
Petree, and one sister, Lou Estelle Pc
tree. or these Leo W. Petree was
second liputpnant in the army air safy-