The Washington times., 1921-11-25
First Soldier Wounded?
To the Editor Of The Times:

In a recent issue of another paper 1 noticed an
article entitled First Soldier Wounded" Under
this heading you published a notice from Cooke
Vile. Tenn, that the first American soldier to
shed blood in France was Tennesseean. The
soldiers name given George Ashburn. for
merly Company B. 18th U. s. Infantry 1t stated
that a citation in the possession of Ashburn,
signed by General Bordeaux of the French
Army, contained the following statement;
Was the first soldier of the United States
Army who lost blood upon the soil of France for
the cause Of right, justice and liberty"
Undoubtedly. General Bourdeax thought that
he was stating the facts accurately but he had
at that time means of knowing the casualties
that were occurring among the American troops
serving with the British Expeditionary Forces.
Without wishing to detract from the fine serv-
burn, who was wounded on October q, 1917, be-
leve II my duty to inform you that the statement
made in your paper is not correct. In justice to
those soldiers OF the United States Army, who
first shed blood after the United States entered
the World War. and in the interest Of historical
accuracy, let advise of the following facts:
The first officer and the first enlisted men
killed, and the first officers and the first enlisted
men wounded in the United States Army in
France were members Of United States Army
Base Hospital No. s, serving with the British Ex-
peditionary Forces at annes-Camiers. France,
on the night OF September 4, 1917. AS a result
OF the explosion Of five bombs dropped by hostile
airplanes in the hospital area, on the date men,
toned, Lieut.. William T. Fitzsimons Medical Re-
serve Corps United States Army OF Kansas CITY.
Mo-, and Privates Tugo, Wood and Rubino (the
first mentioned a soldier OF the Medical Enlisted
Department, u. g. Al were killed First Lieuten.
ants Smith. Whidden and Mcguire Medical Re
serve Corps, U. s. A. and Privates Brewer, Ma
son, Mcleod and two others of the Medical En-
listed Reserve Corps Of the army were wounded
One member Of the Army Nurse Corps U. s. A.,
shell shocked and twenty-five British pa.
tents, then In the hospital. were wounded: two
Of whom died later a result Of the same
Within two or three days thereafter two enlisted
men Of the 18th Regiment of the United States
Engineers, serving with the British Expeditionary
Forces, were wounded. On September g. First
Lieutenant stimson. Medical Reserve Corps. U.
8. A., was severely wounded while serving with
field ambulance Of the British Army. There
were several other casualties among the United
States Army serving with the British Expedition.
airy Forces during the months Of September and
October, 1917.
It viii thus be seen that Mr.. Ashburn was
wounded some weeks after the casualties already
referred to. The first casualties that occurred
in the American Army in the trenches were those
three soldiers were killed These three soldiers
have often been referred to as being the first
killed in the war
There is no desire on the part Of the writer to
detract from the fine service Of all Of these men
who were wounded or died in their country's
cause. but believe it is time that the matter
should be settled finally and accurately by pub
fishing the true facts.
In this connection. It is Of interest to know
been COMMUNICATED by naming the Fitzsimons
General Hospital, u. g. A., at Denver Colo after
him. On October IS Of this year, there was dedi.
Gated at Boston, Mass, square, to be known
as Tugo Square, concentrating the death of
Private Oscar Tugo Of the Medical Enlisted Re.
serve Corps, U. s. A., who was resident of
Massachusetts, and one of the first three enlisted
men of the United States Army to be killed in
the World War.
What have stated can be substan ted from
the records of the Adjutant Generals office of
the War Department In this city. May ask that
you give this matter at least the same publicity
that you gave to the notice which appeared in
your issue Of the 2Sth instant?
Very truly yours,
ROBT u. PATTERSON
Colonel Medical COrps I q
Commanding officer, u. 8. Army Base Hos.
initial No. &