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PAGE SIX
THE BRIDGEHEAR SENTINEL
OCTOBER 1944

"HE WAS A MAN!"

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He was Major Harrel and a battalion commander in the 16th when I first met him. The major was leading a party of young officers into the front line on their first tour of duty and he let me tag along with Wilder.

The night was black and brooding, and crawling with sinister shapes: that quiet Toul sector loomed like sure-enough hell to most of us. I was as jumy as a rabbit with the dogs nosing close and I could feel tenseness in everybody around me, except only in Harrell. That man seemed oddly placid, even when he would stop from time to time to study the lay of the land. At last he sat down and pulled out a map and examined it by the glow of a small flashlight carefully cupped in his hands. Now and again Verey lights from the General lines made the terrain as bright as day. Some of us felt sure the major had strayed into No-Man's-Land.

"Jesus!" Stew whispered to me," I believe he's lost."

Perhaps he was, for the moment. If so, the major remained wholly unperturbed by the prospect. We stood there a while. He scrutinized the map, whispered a question of somebody, then got up and led the way again. We reached our dugouts without mishap – and proceeded to sniff gas attacks until daylight. Also, every so often the boys would wham away at the phantoms peopling that mysterious area in front of the trench; there were millions of them those first nights. Next morning here came Major Harrell, with his constant cigarette, to inspect every dugout and foot of trench and to "visit" with his officers and men.

Some months afterwards the Colonel said to me, cigarette in his thick, capable fingers: "You know, George, I had a feeling you hated me when we halted that first night."

"I never hated a man so much in my life."

"Got your wind up, huh?" he laughed, delightedly.

"Scared to death."

I am a timid and cautious person but by that time I would have followed Bill Harrell without question if he had started on a long march to Berlin and told me to come along. The man had the placid strength that comes from sureness of self. It emanated from him in waves, inspiring utmost confidence. No man can achieve personal leadership in action without this quality, which Harrell possessed in high degree. Somehow we all felt he would never send anybody on a mission which he would not face himself.

Just after the outbreak of the present war, Bill wrote me a letter asking me to reply to a famous columnist who had published a strong plea for America to stay out of the European mess. Harrell was for our getting into it at the first jump-off. I answered that I agreed with the columnist, who was a friend of mine and a very able and brave man for whom I had a deep admiration. This provoked a hot reply from Bill, to which I made as hot a rejoinder – and I fear it was also a windy one.

At that, Bill wrote me a fine letter, saying no matter how radically we might disagree on anything, we wold always be friends, and followed this with a photograph of himself I had long wanted, inscribed "Bill" etc.

That was Bill Harrell all over. He was above all pettiness, beyond all fear. He was a MAN.

GEORGE PATTULLO

NOTES FROM THE BRANCHES:

Little response has been given to our request for articles of interest from their organizations hence the small amount given. From our North Central Branch cones the following:

The Officers and members of the N.C. Branch send greetings to the National Officers, Officers and members of all Branches. We had a very successful "Cantigny Day" reunion at one of our leading Boston Hotels and a good time was had by all.

As our guest speaker we had a World War II Vet. of the First Division, who served through the N. African and the Sicilian campaigns and was wounded and decorated and is now recuperating in one of our Government Hospitals in his area. His father served with the Old First, in World War I and he told us that, the Present First Division has that same special pride of Service and High state of Morale, and he assured us that it will uphold the traditions that were born on the battle-fields of France over a quarter of a century ago,

Sincerely Yours,
HENRY J GROGAN.

I have only one report to make from our Auxiliaries; and is as follows, from the First Division Cantigny Auxiliary No 556, Chicago, Ill.

We have to date a membership of 44 of which 6 are juniors. About 50 per cent of the adult membership is active. We were the first unit in our District to be 100 per cent in membership for which we received the District Prize and also a "National Citation."

Every month our Unit and Post donate three cartoons of cigarettes for our re-hab. chairman to distribute at Hines Hospital. To date we have donated 19 cartoons and 28 packages of cigarettes, 22 cartoons of matches, 72 pencils, 1,300 envelopes, 20 writing tablets 11 packages of razor blades numerous shoe laces, 9 books, 4 suits underwear, and 2 overcoats. At Christmas 10 packages consisting of fruit, candy, gum, and smokes for the boys of the First Division at Hines, Elgin, and Woods, Wisc Hospitals. Our unit has an honor roll of 14 in Service (Sons of members of our Post and Unit and one WAC) Each month one Honor Roll member receives a gift of $2.50 which is given jointly by the Post and Unit. Each Christmas each member is remembered by a Christmas Card. Our Craft shop sales are $102.20. We have sold $3,926.05 in stamps, and War Bonds, and donated cakes for the Service Men's Center. Two parties have been sponsored which were money making projects and Christmas and Birthday cards sold netted approximately $2500.00. This Unit has fulfilled all its pledges and obligations to the Department, Cook County Council and 2nd District.

After our regular meeting in March the Unit entertained the Post for their 25th birthday anniversary with the conventional Birthday cake and other refreshments. We are very proud of our Post and the fine spirit of loyalty which exist among the member of the Post and Unit, due undoubtedly to the fact that all members of the Post served together overseas in the First Division.

Sincerely
FERN. A. McCARTHY
President

Thanks a lot for your article and best wishes to the Branch.

WELCOME "SONS!"
We Want You To Be ONE WITH US

At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the SOCIETY OF THE FIRST DIVISION, A.E.F., it was the unanimous opinion of those present that membership in the Society should be opened to the members of the present First Infantry Division who serve overseas. An amendment to the Constitution to effect this will be submitted to the members at the next annual meeting. The veterans of 1918 are getting old. If our Society is to live it must have new blood, younger men with a new point of view. We want these new members to come into the Society and gradually take over. We want them to be one with us. They have taken up where we left off and have carried on every tradition of the old "First." Although only a very few of the men of 1918 are now with the division it is still our division. We love it and we watch with pride its glorious record. To the officers and men of the First Infantry Division, A.E.F., we extend our heartfelt welcome into our Society.

To join simply drop a post card to: Society of the First Div. A.E.F. – S. Flaherty Capt. USA Red. Sect. - 106 Hale St. Fayetteville, N.C.














  

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-14 22:22:59 [[IMAGE]] Photograph of uniformed soldier; no tag line.