Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 211, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1920 — FORMER LOCAL BOY HERE ON RECRUITING SERVICE [ARTICLE]

FORMER LOCAL BOY HERE ON RECRUITING SERVICE

Oscar Leach, son of Alex Leach, deceased, who spent his boyhood in this city, arrived here today wearing the uniform of his Uncle Sam, having been sent here from Gary for the purpose of enlisting recruits for the army.. Sgt. Leach spent- nineteen months overseas, enlisting at Hammond shortly after America entered the war. He saw much service’ as a member of the First Division and in all spent six , months in the trenches, participating in some of the greatest battles of the war. Although receiving no wounds during his lengthy service, he was the victim of a mustard gas attack and for some tune was in danger of losing bis eyesight. In addition he suffered an attack of the influenza, but haa fully recovered and is in excellent health at the present time. During his stay in this city, which will probably be for a period of several weeks, Sgt. Leach will have his headquarters at the postoffice. He states that at the present time all branches of the service are open and that a bonus of ninety dollars accompanies all three year enlistments. Any recruit is given the privilege of enlisting for _ service in Germany if he so desires it. SgtLeach is especially desirous of obtaining Recruits for the 20th and 49th Infantry and the 59th Artillery, which is a motorized unit bleated a.t Camp Lewis, Wash. The 49th Infantry is stationed at st. Snelling, Minn. . At the present time the army affords an educational feature in the way of a vocational school and at the end of » three .year enlistment the soldier is given a diploma with his discharge. This school is unlimited in the way of trades it teadhes, and for this reason a poor. boy without educational advantages is assured of a thorough schooling during his period in the army which he would not be able to get in civilian life. Civilian teachers are assist any ex-spldier in obtaining one of them.