Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 209, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1918 — DECORATED WITH CROIX DE GUERRE [ARTICLE]

DECORATED WITH CROIX DE GUERRE

VERN DAVISSON IS FIRST RENSSELAER MAN TO BE THUS HONORED BY THE FRENCH. Dear Ma and pa:— At last we are pulled back of the lines a short distance to get some rest. Our division sure did some good fighting; we made fourteen attacks in nineteen days during the big drive and advanced about 30 kilometres. We sure had some time keeping up with the division. Many times our posts were within 500 or 600 steps of the Germans; qtufite interesting. We like lots of excitement. We were informed the other day by the French officers of our division that we were cited again by the army and that it had gone through headquarters O. K.- If so,

we will be the proud possessors of the Green .and Red cord, which is worn around the shoulder and under the arm. Only one section in France to wear it before, S. S. U. 629, and that is S. S. U. 646. It is a great honor to receive such a decoration as that. We only hope to be decorated officially soon, as you know it requires a ceremony, and most of the sanitary group.of our division present at the presentation of the Royal Cord, or “Fouragere,” the French term. If you have seen the “Blue Devils” who were sent to the U. S. to help in the Liberty Loan drive, they wear the “Fouragere.” I am also informed that I am about to get an individual decoration, “The War Cross,” or in* French, “Crofix de Guerre.” I certainly will appreciate it if it goes through O. K. You understand all these decorations must, under a late law passed by congress, be up before Gen. Pershing to be O. K.’ed or turned down, and I don’t think he can turn them down without showing a slight insult to the French. I think it is done to get on record all the decorations. Hope all goes through in fine shape. I am O. K. and feeling fine, and lope this finds you all the same. Will close, therefore good-bye. Your loving son, V. C. DAVISSON. P. S.—l got a letter from O. O. Oshornej.he is O. K. I'forgot to tell you about the Hun Duvall captured. I was there too, and also another amxulance driver.

August 18, 1918. Dear Father and Mother: — I wrote you a letter a few days ago, stating the fact that our section tad been cited again, for distinguished work and total disregard of dangen during the last two big drives we were in. We are credited with >eing the only section who really enby doing extraordinary brave stunts, such as having our post 500 or 600 metres of the Boche or‘driving our j’livers out across fields to batteries and such places as other ambulances lesitate to go. We are also artists at fording rivers, it being necessary because the retreating Boche dynamite all the bridges and crossings to delay the advancing troops. Nevertheless, we must keep up with the advancing troops, tanks, armored autos, cavalry and artillery. It’s wonderful to be on the winning side; everyone feels better. We have been in a great many attacks, big and small, and have not yet experienced a retreat, hope not to.

We also hope to soon be wearing “Royal Cord,” as I described it in my other letter. It is now in Gen. Pershing’s office waiting to be signed. Best of all, came to me yesterday, Aug. 17, 1918, at 10:30 a. m. I was arraigned before the Lieutenant Colonel of our division, and,there were about two hundred others there ranging from captain, chaplains, lieutenants down to privates. I, while standing there at attention during the discussion of the officers, decided that they were trying to agree on the place and at what time it would be best to execute me, and where they would plant me. After the discussion was over the Lieutenant Colonel came up to me, looked me over, and said, “Young hero, you have been cited personally, in the order of the division,” with a pleasant smile on bis face. I gave him a salute and he took from his pocket a “Croix de Guerre,” or Cross of War, with a White star on it and pinned it on me, and shook hands. We both gave a salute to each other and the affair was dismissed. Then they all came around to shake hands and congratulate me. It was like stepping from the scaffold to be made a king, so now I am wearing the “War Cross, proud as a lord. I guess lam we first one from Rensselaer personally decorated.

Received your two letters of July 14 and 21. Glad to hear from you, and that the crops are all good, for that as part of the battle. We are getting along fine and always have plenty to eat We are back for a little rest now, and getting plenty of sleep. lam next to go on permission. Will leave here about Aug. 25 for the U. S. rest camp at Aix la Baines. Will go through Paris on the way there and perhaps stop a few hours to make some purchases and get a ticket to buy bread with. They say Aix le Baines is a beautiful place. I We only get seven days there, then return to our section. __ I Well, I must close. Will write

again soon. Your loving son,