The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-06-02
Address by Vincent
and Honor Students
Continued from page four

Continued from page four
er-to-be-forgotten incident when
the recruits were lured away from
their post by the siren called
pleasure.
Captain Eichelberger was placed
in direct command of the soldiers,
and for four years he won and held
the respect of every soldier under his
command,
The first lieutenant to be ap-
pointed was Lieutenant Burke. He
was a most exacting officer, but the
soldiers soon learned that beneath
his stern, military bearing, there was
very kind and genial heart.
At the beginning of the second
year, Lieutenant Burke was called to
serve in the army beyond the mount
aims and Lieutenant Graham was ap-
pointed to fill his place. She SO won
the love of the soldiers, that when
Lieutenant Burke was released and
returned the company insisted that
both be retained. The question Of
rank came up in this connection, and
it was decided to retain both as first
lieutenants. And so, for two years,
they served the company together,
but there has never been any second
lieutenant.
In addition to the lieutenants, drill
masters were appointed. Each Of
these was specialist in his chosen
work, and the recruits had expert
training in every line of activity,
mental and physical.
Beside all this, the soldiers had
another wonderful source of inspira-
ton and help, because for every
soldier there was hut, wherein the
love fires were ever lighted, and in
whose window candle was always
burning.
In course of time it was found that
two Of the most powerful enemies
were unrest and inefficiency. And
SO in 1913 a new barracks was
erected, with special equipment for
fighting inefficiency, and with special
equipment for amusement and recre-
alton. This new barracks became
very popular, since it brought the re-
cruits into closer and happier rela-
lions with their officers and with
each other, and it stands as monu-
ment to the foresight of General Vim
cent and the council of six.
In 1919 General Vincent was
called to the command Of another
army and General Melton succeeded
him. He was soon followed by Cen
eral Bloom, who has successfully led
the troops thru the last year of their
service.
1t would seem that, with such per-
feet training and equipment, the en-
tire company would have gone over
the top. But the casualties have
been heavy. Early in the war de-
tachment of troops under Generals
Unrest and Dissatisfaction captured
a large number of the soldiers.
Others have been transferred to
other divisions.
In the fall of 1919, a messenger
appeared in the valley of Mesopo-i
tamia and announced that on fland-
ers field the sound of musketry had
ceased. The enemy had been put to
rout. The whole valley thrilled with
joy at the news. Now" they said,
1--WE can disband our army and
out our recruits"
But again the sage rose up and
said: "Not so. On Flanders field
men fought and slew their brothers,
believing that they were putting to
rout the enemy. Behold, in every
land still lurk the foes of man and
not with weapons of steel will they
ever be overthrown."
And they waited and behold, it was
even as the sage had said. On Fland-
ers field the peoples are blooming
red under the summer sun, but in
every land avarice and hate and
ignorance still live in the hearts of
men, and so the fight must go on.
Behind the palace at Doorne the
kaiser illustrates the lesson he has
learned, that the only safe and sane
occupation for man in this day and
age of the world is that of saving
wood. That beneath every ambition
W VIC AOu1udClOA VI CNCIy dlG duu
every science is the gentle art of
wood-sawing.
And so, in this quiet valley of
Mesop in this peaceful village
Of Yakima, we of Company A, first
regiment volunteers, about to go
over the top, would learn this les
son. Wherever we re-enlist we shall
try to remember that, above all the
Of warfare, the saw has
come to occupy place of high
honor; and in welding it we shall
Try to reflect credit upon the council
Of six, Generals Bloom and Vincent,
Captain Eichelberger, Lieutenants
Burke and Graham, our beloved drill
masters and upon all Of you, who
have kept the love fires burning in
he homes for us, and have made it
possible for us to capture this first
inc trench.
TIA