Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-06-03
FAMOUS SOLDIER IS
COMING TO HELENA
"GiTLING GUN" PARKER WILL AT
TEND AMERICAN LEGION
CONVENTION
Says He Wants to Meet the Powder
River" Gang, and Refuses to do other
Than Be zone of the Boys" While He
is In This State

"Gatling Gun" Parker Is coming to
the state American Legion convention
at Helena June 16-17-18. He will be In
the capital city for the reunion of the
DIST division which starts at midnight,
june 16. Word has been received from
the veteran fighter by ]. Ward Crosby
announcing his plans.
Parker gained the title "Gatling Gun"
during the Spanish american war. After
winning laurels overseas, he was placed
in command of the 363rd infantry Just
before the st. Mihiel drive and fought
side by side with 1.-THE Powder River
gang" until he was wounded three times
in n afternoon by machine gun bull
lets and forced to retire. There are more
members Of the Send infantry in Mon
tana thar of any other 91st Division or
gawnization. The regimental flags are now
in the custody Of the adjutant general.
Colonel Parker writes from Parker
Place, L~aytonville, Calif.," his southern
home which is a gathering place for
members of his old military organiza-
lions. His letter is interesting. 1t reads
as follows:
Wife Is In Command
Since 1920 each year you have in
vited me to come to the reunion Of the
Powder River gang and each year 1t has
been impossible for me to come. This
time l showed your letter to the Com
handing Officer on our return from
Santa Barbara, where we had gone to
inspect the latest member of the clan
Barbara Ann Parker. age 10 days, daugh-
ter OF my son, Captain H.. B. Parker, 10th
Field Artillery, Camp Lewis. From there
we went to Los Angeles.
THE commanding officer has felt for
many years that I ought to see you all
once more n see once more the old bat
tie flags that are in keeping Of the great
state Of Montana. This year 1t SO hap
pens that my son-in-law and his wife,
Major and Mrs. Calvert, will arrive here
on a vacation about the first Of June
They will nc doubt want to motor to
Camp Lewis to see Barbara Ann and her
parents and although our place here is
at It's best in June, the commanding Of
hcer has decreed a family reunion must
TAX place at that time at Camp Lewis
"She has therefore issued her general
orders No. l that / am to go from Camp
Lewis to Helena at the time of the state
convention and no doubt h will issue
operation orders to carry out this plan.
Prefers to Be in Ranks
II can't imagine myself in a grand
stand watching the old gang pass in re-
view, but / ear imagine myself march
ing with them, as of old, while we salute
the governor of Montana in the grand
stand. And I can easily imagine myself
telling the governor of Montana and
others how and why the Powder River
Gang struck the decisive blow at the
very key Of the German line and thereby
caused the World war to come to an end
at least one year sooner than anybody
had dared to hope. / car tell them that
and can give chapter and verse to prove
it. If opportunity offers, nothing this
side Of hell can prevent me from telling
Montana a few things about her soldiers
and how ~they-and not the M. P.,s mol
the Y. M. c.. A. nor the Rec Cross-wor
the war. So tell the gang / will be there
this time. ready for FUN, fight or frolic
SO long as / can just be a member of the
gang in good standing"
Governor Erickson has sent q message
Of invitation to the famous colonel, who
is now in retirement. officially bidding
him Walrnma