The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1946-01-17

ItldJ GIeek Oel-
that to make this bridge. That was
in 1914 and the dentist here says it's
wonderful piece of work"
So goes the tale of one of the
strangest dental appointments in
history, as related by Captain Lon
Peyton of the Office of Strategic
Services. Captain Peyton, who was
recently married to Miss Madeline
Herbert, S. Prospect ST., and is
spending his terminal leave with his
bride at the home of her parents,
belonged to that little-publicized
group of stout fellas whose duty it
was to bring anything on earth to the
enemy save aid and comfort.
Working with the underground
in occupied countries, the men of the
OSS---or the CLOAK and dagger
boys" as they wryly call them
selves-made a brilliant, if highly
hazardous career of harassing the
enemy from a dangerous stance
right under his nose. Operating
behind and within the enemy lines
these flesh and blood will O. the
Wisps, blew up bridges, ambushed
and derailed trains, shot up road
conveys, destroyed military install
dations and drove the Germans to
distraction generally
Every OSS man, most of whom
were trained in Washington or at
the late President Roosevelt's sum-
mer place, near Thurmont is both
a linguist and a paratrooper. Cap
tain Peyton, after his training at
the above mentioned bases received
his paratroop instruction at the
British Jump School at Ramit David,
in Palestine, about Is miles from
Haifa, where the course consisted
of five practice jumps-four day
light and one highland a 12-day
course in ground training and para
chute manipulation. The latter
consisted of instruction in cecilia
ton control, landing on the target
and how to roll in landing. That
was in February of 1914.
After some time spent in making
raids on the German held coast of
YUgoslavia, from the little island
of Viz, a short distance off-shore,
accomplished through information
brought them by the Partisans,
Captain Peyton and % men para
chuted into occupied Greece in
April of 1914,
In the whole of Greece with the
Greek underground, there were 1875
Americans of the OSS, operating
against 10000 Germans. Some of
our men were assigned to Elias
units of the underground, others to
Nationalist patriots 1t was a British
theatre of war and no discrimina-
ton was made between the oppos-
ing parties of Greece. Get the Ger
mans was the slogan-Greek in
ternal politics of no Importance.
And now to get back to the dental
story.
1t was in the little town of Desk
hiatt, only four hours march from
the nearest Germans, that the old
American urge to see your dentist
at least once a year-coupled of
course, with some definite trouble
in his upper jaw-hit Captain Pey-
ton. Inquiring among the villagers,
the captain was informed that a
dentist who had fled Athens with
what equipment he could carry was
hiding out in the village. An APP
pointment was made and the den
lists examination revealed that a
bridge was indicated
With little foot-driven drill he
set to work, using silver, since no
gold was available, and between
running, hiding and meeting in odd
spots, the Greek dentist made a
bridge for the American bridge
blower-upper.
He was paid in the gold sovereigns
with which our men were supplied
to pay their way, and everyone was
happy. One hopes the dentist is
back in Athens pursuing his prac-
tice, with something more adequate
than a peddle drill!
In Captain Peyton's unit of %
men, all fluent in Greek, there were
10 wounded and killed, during
their six months in Greece. To
protect themselves from a charge
Of espionage, all Americans operat-
ed in uniform. This, however, made
no difference to the Germans, who
treated them as spies when, on
fortunately rare occasions, they
captured them. The Italians did
the same thing. In fact, Captain
Peyton pointed out that the Italian
officer responsible for the execu-
ton of fifteen OSS men who jumped
into Italy, was himself executed