The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-10


 was the savior who had rescued their beloved nation; but far more, they were convinced that the ideal- ist American president had struck upon a plan that would end Eu- ropean conflicts for all time. And many q Frenchman confided to the Waterbury sergeant Wilson's plan offered the last hope that would stop the aggression of Germany, who had attacked France twice within 40 years.
 A death.dealing blow was struck to the American president when he came to realize his proposed four teen points were not being received as warmly as expected by the European leaders, who were not quite as visionary as Wilson. And though Wilson fought tooth and nail month in and mouth out, early in the fight, Kelly believes, ne be- gan to realize he was fighting a one-man battle.
 Kelly saw at first hand the dire disappointment and disilluSionmert of the American leader who took off for his native land in the late spring of 1919.
 The completed Versailles Treaty, Wilson knew, was unsatisfactory and would never establish the world peace he had so strenuously worked and fought for. From home he had also heard the bad news that the Senate would reject the covenant to the League of Nations.
 The young Sgt. Kelly was in charge of transferring the Wilson's effects to the steamer on the sunny June day when the President and his wife sailed for home. Will son, he said, appeared very weary and very i'll as he waved dejectedly to the throngs at the pier.
 Mrs. wilson, Kelly recalled, was beautiful and stately and remained calm and composed throughout the entire conference. The French were most enthusiastic about her fashion, able wardrobe, he said. In fact, the Naugatuck veteran can vouch for her chic. He had to make a special trip to convey her l3 hat boxes to the steamer.
 It was a beautiful Spring day, Kelly recalls, and gay Parisiens were crowding sidewalk cafes. Everything was just wonderful, i'll fact, but the youthful Sgt. Kelly was getting all Jagged out carting Mrs. wilson's luggage to the boat. So he stopped at sidewalk cafe to rest his aching feet and queilch his thirst with that wonderfu French wine. A French lass evi- dently observing Sergeant Kelly was engrossed in affairs foreign to duty, scampered away with one of Mrs. Wilson's hats.
 Asked if he attempted to ap- prehend the culprit, Sgt. Kelly, whose youthful appearance today bellies service in the first World War, said: "No. didn't even bother. I figured Mrs. Wilson had so many hats-or I guess they should be called creations, judging by the size of the box-she'd never miss one. !"
 Kelly was with the 78th Division which played a major role in the battles of St. Mihiel, Belleau Wood and the Argonne offensive. It was in this last battle in northern France that Kelly was wounded on October IS, just 27 days before the Armistice. Upon being discharged from the hospital at St. Denis sev- eral months later, he was assigned to American headquarters in Paris. His unit disbanded in July, 1919. Kelly said he left Paris almost as brokenhearted as President Wilson but for 8 different reason. "1t's the most wonderful place in the world" he said, apparently wishing he was back in the Army.
 Sgt. Kelly, and his brothers, Ed ward and John, came marching home with a Purple Heart, but Kelly attaches no special signifi- canoe to the achievements of the Kelly brothers, 27 years ago. "The TAellys always make crack fighters. Look what the Commando from Pittsburgh did" he said. Tt comes from long years of practice"