The Dolores star., 1924-10-31

is largely to be credited And here's climax 10
his career which shows in what regard Uncle Joe
is held. He was elected by acclamation COM
mander of the San Diego post of the American
Legion Can you imagine Il brgadier general OF
anything being elected commander of an American
Legion post, let alone by acclamation
1here Is an astonishing amount of hero wOr-
ship in the United States for the Marines May
he it is in part due to the romance of adventure
that surrounds the Corps. Why Marine of any
experience can spin yarns that shame fiction Let
take for example the career of Scrgt John L. pra-
ter of Nutley, n. j., retired at fortytwo. with n
bungalow, wife, little daughter and job as
II bank guard in Newark In his twenty years OF
service he's seen enough and done enough to fill
20 volumes.
Sergeant Prater was rejected too young when
he tried to get into the Rough Riders at sixteen.
In 1908 he enlisted at Kansas City, the first Ma
rne from Indian territory. And he certainly has
lived up to the legend Join the Marines and see
the world He passed Christmas twenty years
ago in the Holy Land. The Turks were killing the
Syrinns and the Brooklyn was sent to prevent
bloodshed. For many weeks Sergeant Prater stood
guard over the Presbyterian School for Syrian
Girls In Beirut Then came orders to proceed to
Abyssinia to make a treaty with King Menelik
That same year. on the return trip. Sergeant
Frater saw the then German emperor at KeI
Next came the Perdicars-alive-o Ruisuli dead ex-
petition to Africa by order of President Roosevelt
IN 1919 iratef hld Il look at Edward VII in Lon
don. That was the year the United States decided
to bring back the body of John Paul Jones from
France Prater was one of detail of six Marines
mat escorted the body. Then Roosevelt picked
him out for his personal orderly.
When the Marine Corps was called upon to fur.
nish guard for President Wilson, Prater was
selected. He remained with the party when Pres
ident Wilson visited King George and Queen Nurv
IN Buckingham palace when they visited King
Albert BRUSSELS Eicto
1t should not be necessary here to dwell on the
services of the Marines in the World war where
they lived up to their reputation and won new
fame. Every good American knows that on nj,
French maps what was once Belleau Wood Mt Cha
teau-Ihierry Is now wood of the Marine Rrip
ade when 1t was formally named and was con-
secrated last year ms the final resting place of its
Marine dead Marshal Foch proclaimed its bo,tIe
the turning point of the World war the iumnInp
OH place OF the final allied offensive and march
across the Rhine"
That's fair sample of the fighting ouo,,t,es -,
the Marines. And 1t gives an American nm ,ddod
thrill to know that the Marines are so do,,s
largely because of their skill with the riaa E
we invented the rifle and with it we won our in
uepehuehce ana achieved our march across tho
continent. IL Is our national weapon And w.
p nave the most accurate and hardest RIA
there Is. We Americans lead the word ~ Ia
shots ana the Marine Corps leads our yarous NH,
tary services. Every Marine is exnoc,o, . ''''
ieast qualifed marksman, able 10 stnn q - ~
iour tines out of five. shooting offband a, 900
snu iheh comes the sharpshoOter The exno,
i"eh'hh Ups thein all-and the rifle in hs bard
Is sure DEATH AS to the way the MorInos s'a1.
49, ...ne Vi peace' look up the records of the rao
tournaments Consult German officers In ,ba W. .,s :,
war as to battle murder and suddon aa. H. '"e world
the Devil Dogs" 20 into oction ,r,,,s "'n w, "hen
bayonet. win rifle and