The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1921-05-13
LIEUT. J. WOQ,TEN
CITED FOR vA.loR
BY TWO NATIONS.
YOUNG HERO WHOSE REMAINS
REST IN ROSE HILL DIED GLo-
RioUsLY FOR coUNTRY.t.a
EVER READY TO VOLUNTEER
No Hazard Was Too Great Sor This>ln-
trepid Maury Countian Who Wrote
One OF the Finest Chapters In An
nails of Bravery.

FTh
(From Wednesdays Daily Herald.)
Cited for conspicuous gallantry by
both the French and American govern.
ments First Lieutenant James c. Woo!
ten, was one of the bravest OF the
brave. The following is a brief out
line of the honors that he received:
A letter of commentator from Com
handing General of Sector for his sue
cess in procuring 60 important pic
lures over the German lines, though
he had no protection, and the tail of
his machine was shot of.
On July 7th, he was awarded the
croix de guerre with palm, and the fol-
lowing citation. .f
Lieut. James c. Wooten, observer in
American escardrille No. /.
July 5, 1918, he was charged with
a Photographic mission which he &C
complished perfectly, although he had
lost his protection. While accomplish
ing his mission, he engaged in combat
with three enemy planes, which were
obliged to Zee, he then engaged in sec
ond COMBAT with seven planes, during
which an enemy plane fell destroyed.
He himself had to land inside our lines
as he was wounded in the head rs
Killed Aug. /, 1913, during an en-
gasement.
General headquarters, Nov, 80, 1918.
The Marshal of France,
Commander in chief of the French
Armies of the East
On July 10 the American govern
ment honored him with the following
distinguished service citation: f.
For distinguished and exceptional
gallantry at Chateau Thiorry ON July
Is, 1918, in the operations of the Amer
lean Expeditionary Forces. In testi.
mony thereof, and as an expression OF
appreciation of his valor, award him
| this citation. Ma gs En- st; s
| r#t' John j. Pershing, a.
rasa Commander in Chief"
On this occasion owing to the scarci,
ty of aviators and planes, he was ask
ed to go as protection to an infantry
observer and pilot. Being an observer,
he also took in the signals position of
infantry, ETC., and when the infantry
observer was killed, by shot from an
Janti-air craft gun below, he rushed to
headquarters and turned in the nee
cgsary information, which prevented
the artillery from firing on their own
men. rn...
On July 20, 1918, he received his pro-
motion to first lieutenantcy and was
deailed by his friend, Captain Titus,
to take charge of new squadron, as
chief observer, and chief pilot, within
few days. The responsibilities OF
this position would have allowed him
but little time for service in the air.
A friend wrote this description of
his last fight: During the Chateau
Thierry offensive, Jimmy had been fly
ing practically every day. In his man
ly way he was ever ready to volunteer
for the most hazardous missions, and
he always came back with excellent
results"
'On Aug. l, Jimmy and Jimmy Void,
a Minneapolis boy, went out on pho
tographic mission, and it was arang-
ed to have a fight of pursuit planes
accompanying them, as the German
air forces were concentrated at this
point. They got out over the German
lines three times taking photographs,
but each time they were driven back
before completing the work. Jimmy
decided to cross over alone and take
the last magazine of pictures, which
he did, several miles over the German
lines, but on his return was attacked
by six Boche, and lively fight ensued.
during which Jimmy gained the admir-.
alton of thousands of American infan-
trymen and artillerymen, as well as
many French soldiers. They fought
for several minutes, but they were out
numbered, and their controls were
shot away, and each badly wounded
the pilot dying before reaching the
ground, and Poor Jimmy unconscious.
He was rushed to a French dressing
station, but died on the operating ia
Bile that evening. Though awarded
the legion of honor the following let.
ter explains why he did not receive it !:
You can feel justly proud of your
son, Mr. Wooten, as he was one of the
bravest men that | have ever met.
, When the first news of the heroic fight
became known the French authorities
Immediately took up the question of
decoration, and the committee award