Evening star., 1939-12-17
Rainbow Division
Veterans Recall
Daylight Patrol
Former Commander,
Dinner Guest, Tells
Story Behind Order

In the grim days of October, 1918,
when the l65th Regiment of New
York was holding a sector near
Landry-St. George, the order came
down for daylight scouting patrols
to see if the Boche with his light
machine gun was still occupying his
former position.
The men wondered but obeyed.
Daylight accommodating In the face
of machine guns seemed suicidal
Yet they all scurried back to safety
when the Boche seemed about to
find the range. Only when he rang
in his artillery on them did they
lose a man.
Last night at the Capitol Park
Hotel slim veteran of those day.
light patrols got to his feet.
There's man here tonight" he
said slowly, who perhaps can tell
us why Is men were sent out to
reconnoiter in broad daylight He
indicated Col Charles bravo, for
mer commanding officer of the 165th
and now adjutant general of the
District National Guard. Col Dravo
was guest of honor at the Rain
bow Division reunion.
AS he listened to the veteran tell
OF the patrols. recollection flashed
into the colonels eyes.
Fellow" he said earnestly, "Fel-
low. remember that. I remember
that. I fought that order, but it
was an order. 1t came to me from
division headquarters who got it
from corps headquarters who got
It from the commanding generals
headquarters, I suppose"
The Colonel Explained.
There was silence among the more
than 80 other veterans present as
the white-haired colonel continued.
you knew you were sent out on
daylight patrol" he said. What
you did not know was that I had
arranged with the patrol leader to
watch me. was watching from q
ridge the action of the Boche. When
saw the Boche moving his light
machine gun over to meet the patrol
I gave the sign to return. And to
Boche didn't get a one of my men
with his machine gun. 1t was only
when he opened up with artillery
that they all didn't come back. Do
you get me?"
Il got you, colonel" said the
veteran.
Another veteran asked for recog-
milton.
Colonel" he asked, do you re-
member the man from headquar-
ters who met you when you took
over the regiment and asked to be
taken to the officer in command.
/"
Were you that man?" asked Col.
Dravo before he had finished. He
nodded. The two men shook hands
over the banquet table.
Medal Presented.
The veterans of the famous Rain
bow Division met to present the
District National Guard a marks
manship medal to be competed for
among the men of all ranks in the
local militia.
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox, COM
manding officer Of the District
Guard, thanked the veterans for
the medal. He cited the effect of
the morale of the veterans on the
morale of youth now being trained.
Col. John w. Oehmann, command
Ing officer of the 121st Engineers of
the District National Guard. warned
the veterans against dwelling too
much on what has happened and not
enough on what may happen. He
said the National Guard training
today is designed so that youth Of
today will not suffer from the same
lack of preparedness as to food,
clothing and training that they did.
Other speakers we're Brig. Gen.
Charles Rowland Of the seth; Elmer
r. Neagle, national president of the
Rainbow Division veterans; Walker
H. Colston, POSTMASTER; and James
E. Witherite, president Of the Dis
trict chapter.
the group planned dlnner Janu-
ary Is in connection with the show
ing in Washington of the movie
'The Fighting 69th A three
committee was named to arrange a
tri-State reunion of veterans Febru-
ary ~, the anniversary of first
action Of the division In the World
War.
AS the meeting ended, Gen. Cox
was made an honorary member of
the District chapter.
Hioh Kentucky Official