Evening star., 1929-12-14
RETIRED CHAPLAIN
HAS FAMOUS FLAG
Banner Was Displayed at
Front During World War in
Violation of Orders.

A bullet-torn American flag, carried
by an American army chaplain on the
battlefelds of Cantigny, scissors, St.
Mihiel and the Argonne, is the proud
possession of its original owner, Lieut..
Col. Thomas j. Dickson, U. S. A, Chap
lain Corps, retired.
Col. Dickson, past departmental
chaplain of the District of Columbia
Department of the American Legion,
declares that his battle-scarred banner
was the only combat flag displayed at
the front in the World War. He admits
violating Army regulations in order to
unfurl it at strategic times to bolster
the morale of war-worn doughboys.
Flag Ordered Withdrawn.
While War Department officials point
out that combat flags were taboo in the
front line trenches during the war, due
to fear that the colorS would attract
attention of the enemy, Col. Dickson
says he has several letters from high
ranking officers corroborating his claim
that his flag not only was under fire,
but was ordered withdrawn from view
for military reasons.
Eleven years ago today, he recalled,
the flag crossed the Rhine, Tapping in
cold, drizzling rain as the Sixth Field
Artillery marched into Germany.
Col. Dickson says he first unfurled
the flag near the front at Sanzey
France, where he had gone to aid in
establishing post office. He used it
often at burial services conducted near
the front lines.
Col. Dickson says of the flag:
1T was at Cantigny when Gen. Bull
lard answered the question: Will the
Americans fight?' Then at Vonvilliers
during the forced German drive It was
on the field at scissors at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon and in the very front line
when the tide of battle turned in the
World War. 1t was with the Sixth
Field Artillery over the battlefield of
ST. Mlhiel. 1t was under enemy fire
for Al days and nights in the Meuse-
Argonne offensive. It was near Sedan
and in the wood of Beaumont at the
time of the signing of the Armistice
This flag was then returned with
the Sixth Field Artillery to Verdun,
where it was saluted by that historic
garrison, where the Tricolor of France
dipped to the American Flag. When
this flag crossed the German frontier,
it found women and children trem-
bling, fearing that they would be killed
by the Americans. The Interpretation
that the American Flag protected
women and children changed their no.
Germany. The acclaim of this Amer
ican combat flag as it marched down
the Moselle River across the Rhine will
ever be in saga and in song a tradi-
ton of the German people"
Flag Used on Border.
Recounting earlier history of this
flag, Col. Dickson declares:
This American combat flag left the
border in Arizona, Travelled across the
States, the ocean and about 1000 miles
in Europe, 1000 miles of which was
after it had been under enemy fire.
The flag has been used by Col Dick
son on special occasions at the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier, at the laying
of the corner stone of the First Division
monument, in an elaborate ceremony
at Valley Forge in honor Of Pennsyi-
Vania troops who participated in the
World War, and at the State House in
Boston in a ceremony in honor of
Massachusetts troops participating in
the World War.