The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-08


The o. P.'s observation posts just
behind the mobile infantry lines
were yelling information back over
the telephone wires OF elegant tar
gets four, five and even nine miles
ahead. A German ammunition
dump here, battery there, a lone
but vicious cannon il that clump of
woods, and machine gun nests
everywhere. Long lines of soldiers,
every available man who could be
picked up by hard-boiled sergeants
who knew all the answers, were
Communicated to lug these shells
one by one to the batteries.
DACK IN an old German dugout,
ID Sergt. Maj. Ballou and his two
sergeants were busy on their re-
ports. Lieut.. Carmichael saw OPP
portunity knocking at his door. He
didn't like the way the dyspeptic
colonel had scowled at him during
mess. He wanted to show the old
gentleman that he was an officer
who could get things done.
Sergeant Major" he said
brusquely as he entered the per-
Sonnel dugout, you and Sergts.
Gray and Monteith join the ammu-
milton detail"
But, lieutenant, we have to get
out a report on this latest batch
of Shells" protested Ballou.
This is war, young man." said
the lieutenant, who was % years
old. The sergeant major was a.
you three shake a leg and carry
some shells to B Battery. I'll let
you know when you are relieved
Sergt, Maj. Ballou an hour later
was weary nigh on to death. He
had toted IA shells, each one weigh
ing at lest half a ton (of this ne
was positive) over a quarter of a
mile from the ammunition dump to
Battery BIS guns. They were slip
perry things, too. They bore down
on his shoulder, they fell to the
ground, and had to be picked up
again and again.
They got the shavetail few
minutes ago" painted Sergt. Nor
tieth.
What shavetail?"
THAT blankety- blank who took
Cap Casey's place. Got chunk of
shrapnel in the shoulder"
HOT damn!" exclaimed Ballou.
l. Il TOO bad it wasn't in the
neck. Let's get back to the dug
out and catch some bunk fatigue"
This end the Argonne chapter of
Sergt. Maj. Ballous martial career
He stuck to his papers closely
throughout the rest of the regi-
ment's activities in the offensive,
and on the comparative quiet of the
Verdun front, where the division was
to be found on that eventful Nov.
IL. Then, a few weeks later, he
was transferred to the American
Commission to Negotiate Peace at
Paris, thanks to major who had
been division superintendent of the
railroad for which he worked be-
fore signing on the dotted line as
one of Uncle Sans young men.
Even for a sergeant major who
had found the war very much to
his liking, except for that awful hour
in the Argonne when he served as
human pack-horse and one-man
ammunition train, Sergt. Maj. Bal
lou discovered that life as a peace
commission clerk was the life of
Reilly, indeed. He was housed in
very nice hotel, and worked at
the Crillon, and he was fed like a
millionaire and he didn't have to be
in at taps.
THIS is how he became a legiti-
Il mate hero of the World War. 1t
happens, in case you have for
gotten, that most of the republics
below Mexico declared war on the
imperial German government short
ly after the United States had. AL
though they did not send troops to
France, they we're allies nevertheless,
and were represented in the peace
negotiations. Their voice was small,
individually and collectively.
One of these Latin American
countries was short of funds, due
to the absconding OF a president or
revolution or something equally
as costly to its treasury, but the
congress voted Notwithstanding this
to strike off 100 medals to be given
to the outstanding allied leaders of
the war The nations representative
on the peace commission was en-
powered to make up a list of these
notables, with suitable citations. He
had only one typist, and the latter
was sick, so Senior Blank wandered
into the Hotel Grillon for bit of
aid. He was referred to Sergt Mai.
Ballou. The Latin American diplo-
mat laid his cards on the table.
II have authority to grant these
medals" he said, speaking with the
precise English he had learned at
Tulane. II have 8 list of about 80.
with citations for each. If you will
be so kind as to have these citations
typed. I will be very grateful. will
be glad to remunerate you"
y =
CERGT. MAJ. BALLOU said that
~ he would be happy to have the
work done gratis. The diplomat
was insistent.
Sergeant Major. this will be
great favor to me and to my gov
eminent" he said. Add your
name to those on the list"
Ballou did this, and here is the
citation:
"Sergt. Maj. Robert Ballou for
extraordinary heroism in the
Meuse-Argonne offensive on Sept.
%, 1918, when at Varennes he car
ried heavy ammunition to the guns
of his regiment, despite a whitening
fire from the enemy"