Today’s posting is a news article from The State, a Columbia, SC newspaper. Two men from Chesterfield were presented with Distinguished Service Crosses during the event.
CHESTERFIELD MEN WELCOMED HOME
Thousands Present for Exercises in Cheraw
TYSON MAKE SPEECH
General Quotes Pershing to Prove that Thirtieth Division Broke Hindenburg Line.
Special to the State
Cheraw, July 13 – All roads led to Cheraw Thursday and thousands of people came to welcome home Chesterfield’s boys who served in the army or navy in the world war. At 9 o’clock all these registered at Civic league Hall and were given free tickets to all events of the day. At 10 o’clock the moving picture shows began, and showed continuously until 11 o’clock Thursday night. Hall’s band gave a concert on the green and a game of baseball was played at the ball park between Marion and Cheraw, Cheraw winning, 4 to 1.
The principle feature of the day was the speaking which began at 11:30. After prayer by the Rev. A. S. Thomas, ex-senator W. P. Pollock, welcomed the soldiers and the people and introduced Congressman W. F. Stevenson, who decided to forgo the pleasure of hearing the president’s peace treaty message to be here to welcome the boys of Chesterfield County home to their firesides. He outlined the history of Chesterfield County in every war that this country has ever had and showed that in patriotism, valor and efficient service the men of Chesterfield County always went over the top.
General Tyson Speaks.
Senator Pollock then introduced Maj W. L. Gillespie, who, bring in his home town, excused himself from speaking and introduced Brig. Gen. L. D. Tyson of the famous Thirtieth Division. Gen Tyson told of the deeds of this division in breaking the Hindenburg lines; how they massed 5,000 guns and 50 tanks and were told to go forward; how they went forward in the face of hell, and went through it, and miles beyond the line. He gave the testimony of General Pershing and of a British officer that it was the Thirtieth Division that first broke this line, and not the Twenty-seventh (of New York) as New York papers would have us believe. Brigadier General Faison had been delegated by the Washington authorities to present distinguished service crosses to Sergt. Robert M. McDonald of Cheraw and Corp. Lawrence Caulder of Kollock, both members of Company I, One Hundred and Eighteenth Infantry, for extraordinary heroism near Brancourt [France].
Dinner on Green.
At 2 o’clock a basket dinner was served on the Green by the Red Cross chapters of Chesterfield County. Although nearly every basket and lunch box contained some meat, 2,000 pounds of beef and pork had been barbecued for the occasion by R. J. Little. The afternoon was given to dancing, baseball and a band concert on the Green. Ice cream was also served to the soldiers by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
At 9:30 p.m. a complimentary dance was given the ex-service men which was attended by large crowds from North Carolina towns and from Bennettsville.
The Chiquola Club rooms had been reserved as a rest room for ladies and were in charge of the local U. D. C. chapter.
The day passed off smoothly and all were pleased with the success of the program.
Not only were the men welcomed home but I want you to focus on two home town hero’s that were honored during the festivities.
General Faison… delegated…to present distinguished service crosses to Sergt. Robert M. McDonald of Cheraw and Corp. Lawrence Caulder
While these men were honored and given a very fine homecoming; Lest not forget those from Chesterfield County who also “Gave Their All” in service to our nation.
IN MEMORY
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[1] CHESTERFIELD MEN WELCOMED news article, The State, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, 14 July 1919, Page 5, columns 1 & 2.
Sounds like it was a very special occasion.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it was a very special time.
ReplyDelete