Evening star., 1944-06-07
Death Makes Legend
OF Poorest Soldier S
Exploits in Battle
BY HAL BOYLE,

y.
LONDON, June death had
made legend Of Karl Warner,
known to thousands Of American
troops as "Molotov, Mayor Of Brook
lyn."
This incorrigible 24-year-old pri-
vate, once called the poorest ex-
ample of soldier in uniform" be-
came the outstanding one-man
army Of the Tunisian campaign.
Working almost entirely alone, he
developed into the Arny's best scout,
killed at least score Of enemy ON
GERS and men in close combat and
once bluffed an entire Italian COM
pany into surrendering, disarming
l40 men himself without firing q
shot.
He violated every military rule
in the books, deserted posts, slept
on guard duty, disobeyed orders and
went AWOL, and yet he lives in the
annals Of the fighting 9th Infantry
Division as perhaps its greatest
front-line fighter.
In a recent issue of the Stars and
Stripes, Staff Sergt. Charles Kiley,
Jersey City, IN. j., gave q detailed
account of the exploits of this fabu-
lous figure.
Saw Warner Twice.
Twice during the North African
campaign ran across Pvt. Warner.
The first time he was sitting in front
Of pup tent by the ancient stone
Portuguese fortress at Port Iiyautey
In November, 1942, after a bloody
three-day clash which won French
Morocco for the Allies. Warner and
his infantry buddies had stormed
the fortress In hand-to-hand fight
ing and he had taken q fine pair Of
French field glasses from q slain
officer.
At the entrance Of his pup tent
was the sign, "Molotov. Mayor Of
Brooklyn"
The last time saw Pvt. Warner
was nearly six months later. He lay
dead BY the roadside, crumpled ii
his own blood after being ambushed
by German machine gunner in
the cork forests OF Northern Tunisia
only q few days before capture OF
Bizerte ended the campaign.
Z Before coming overseas Pvt. War
ner was the worst Army
term for q troublesome, undisci-
plined soldier-in the outfit.
He was secretive about his past
life, but friends said he originally
came from Detroit. He also was
something Of a race track hanger
on and because of his striking
blond hair he was known as Curly" I"
Another soldier gave him the moni-
ker 'Molotov" after Pvt. Warner
once said he was half Russian, half
Jewish"
Brawling, boasting and. arrogant,
Molotov was hated and despised by
most Of his outfit before 1t went
into action. He showed up for In
duction in a camel hair coat and
white silk muller. Army M. P.s
several times picked him up for
wearing an officers blouse, tailor
made trousers and tan silk shirt.
In combat Molotov broke even
more red tape than in training. He
usually secuted as q lone wolf, car
rying two pistols and carbine as
well as the field glasses which he
kept as q trophy OF his first battle
Absolutely Fearless.
He was absolutely fearless, re-
fused to wear ., helmet and threw
away at least dozen which werA
issued to him at various times.
when I get 1t" he said, "a helmet
won't make any difference"
At Sened, Molotov took an inter-
prefer and boldly strobe up to the
opposing Italian garrison. He glibly
told them they were surrounded by
an overwhelming American force.
They were so convinced by his CAB
that they gave up after feeble re-
sistance.
He helped overcome an enemy
strong point at Maknassy by an
audacicus feat. Going 300 yards
forward and with his blond hair
shining like q beacon, he leaped
upon a rock and shouted, "Finish lie