Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1922-08-03
QREGON'S CHOICE FOR "LlV
ING HALL OF FAME"
CLEANED UP GUNS
NEST.


The following story Of bravery in
the world war was published by the
Pacific Legion for July. Legion men
with whom the Daily News has COM
municat:d say that Corporal Dakin's
story has not been printed in news.
papers, although the account proves
him to have been one of the heroes
of the world war.
The war is over and much OF the
ferocity of t he struggle would be
forgotten il something like the call
for each state to name its hero we're
not made The appended accounl
will explain Itself entirely. 1t is a
story of man who was fighting for
glory of his comrades and country
and so took every chance a soldier
might be expected to. There are
some on Coos Bay who know OF this
action in the Bos JIre; theri is one
who saw him decorated. "
OREGON'S GREATEST HERO
(By L. B. HOWELL Adjutant
Portland Chapter, D. A. v. w. W.
Oregon's candidate for the "iv-
ing Hall of Fame"-a feature OF
the second annua. convention OF the.
Disabled Veterans of the World war,
held in San Francisco last month
was Corporal Hursey A. Dakin OF
Company "F," First Gas Regiment.
Every state and territorial possea-
sion was expected to choose its great
est hero of the late war for this hall
of fame.
Corporal Dakin is Freewater Ore
gon boy. He enlisted March IA, 1918,
aftr waving disability he had in
Cured in a previous enlistment. over
seas he covered LAT miles advance
work while serving with IL dinerent
divisions as a member OF the first
Gass regiment. Corporal DalNin sur
fered two wounds and never went back
until he was unconscious from the
effects. At the time Dakin won his
distinguished Service Cross. he was
attached to the 10th Inf. His squad
of gas and flame men were attached
to this outfit for the purpose OF reacn-
ing a stated objective. There work
consisted of she:ling enemy machine
gun nests with liquid fire shot from a
Stokes Tresch Mortar.
On Sept. 26, 1918, in the Bois Jure,
near Gercourt, France, the 279th Inf,
had advanced to a depth of about Z
dense forest in Argonne when they
suddenly encountered intense machine
gun fire. AS they had experienced
no opposition until now this fire re-
suited in heavy loses to their forces
Falling back to the woods they re
organized their forces, and Dakin was
told to fire upon the machine gun
nests. Not having enough ammuni
ton to lay down barrage, he insisted
that the nest be located. One Of the
nests was located and his crew cleaned
lit out with liquid fire. Starting ou'
again they encountered the same re
sistanre. Falling bahk again they
tried to locate the nest but were un
successful. The major in charge o
the battalion called for volunteers II
scout out the positions Of the nest
Corporal Dakin. being only attached
to this outfit until 1t had reached IT
objective, did not at first volunteer.
When it was seen that no one woult
volunteer from the outfit, Corpora
Dakin and his first gunman Privat'
Guy Nelson, (who likewise won m
ID. S. c. offered there services. Al
Dakin was not wearing his chevrsns
the major would not accept thel
service unless N c. o. was in charg
A sergeant was detailed from the Out
fit to go with the volume ee:s. The,
started armed with their AS auto
matics. At the edge of the woods
and about 4 feet from them, the sci
geant was killed by the intense mr.
from the nests. Dakin and Nelson
now leaderless. continued to advanc
into the woods. scouting around ful
ther. Not finding anything, they worl
ed their way to a clearing at the edg
of the woods where they got behm
a log. There they watched the woods
After an hour they located the machin
gun nest, four in number, all cleverl
camoafaged, the nearest nest bein
just over the ,og.
As the German ammunition man wa
returning to the nest from particu.a
clump OF the woods, and was abou
to enter the nest nearest to the Yanks
Dakin shot him dead. The two Yank
then rushed the nests. Meeting In nan
to hand combat, they killed FIVE OF tn
enemy crew, the other Jerry maxim
his escape. The other nests by nov
had realized that they were discovere
and opened FIRE on the Yanks, KILN
their own man who was running t
cover. The fire from the enmey caui
ed Dakin and Nelson to fall bac
again to the woods, where they az
cided to work their way to the rea
where they sighted the amunitio
dump and other nests. Opening u
with their ass they cleared the n
mainder of the nests, killing and rou'
ing crews, and taking a German ma
jor prisoner. They now decided :
return to their own lines, and as the
emerged from the woods a burst Q
fire was opened upon them. killing tn
German major and severaaly wounc
ing Dakin. The two boys finall
reached their line, when Dakin lapse
into Inconsistencies and woke up a
first aid station. Both men ha
their packs completely shot from thei
backs Corporal Dakin was wOunde
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