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Pittsburgh & World War I. |
"Gallant Veterans of Two War Units Are Royally Received by Mother, Home and Pittsburg." by May Stranathan. The Pittsburg Dispatch, 9 May 1919.
"Mother, home and Pittsburg," seemed the sweetest words in all the world to hundreds of soldiers who returned to all three yesterday after many weary months of war. Mother came first, of course, and many a worn little mother who had been so brave through all the danger and distress, broke down and sobbed with joy when her son, whom she had offered, a willing sacrifice, was returned to her. Scenes too sacred to be related were many as mothers greeted their sons, oblivious of the crowd or of anything else but that "sonny" was home again.
Gold stars--memorials to those who went away but did not return--were seen here and there in the throng of those who welcomed the homecoming heroes. Mothers, sisters, fathers, sweethearts--all wore the tiny golden star which told of the supreme sacrifice made by some of the heroes who fought across the sea.
The mothers had been schooled by Maj. W. H. Davis as to the discipline necessary for them to observe to make it possible for them to carry out the program for the reception of the heroes of the Argonne and of Chateau-Thierry and they observed it like mothers of soldiers until after the boys had breakfasted and had marched to Forbes Field and stacked their arms and were ready for the arms of their loved ones.
Then there were scenes which brought tears to the eyes.
Mothers Line Route.
No mothers nor other relatives, with one or two exceptions, were allowed in the East Liberty freight yards where the soldiers detrained in the early morning, but all along the line of march to Syria Mosque mothers were seen in the crowd, some waiving their service flags and some waiving handkerchiefs which were called on to wipe away tears for the dead as well as flutter a welcome to the living. Here and there was a mother whose hero will never return, who tried bravely to look at the sons of other mothers, but broke down and sobbed as they passed.But this was only an occasional sight, and in the main the crowd which greeted the soldiers was a happy one, almost deliriously so at times, while at others a solemn hush fell.
The pathway of the marching men was strewn with flowers, roses flung to them by young girls in white. They were greeted as they passed by songs and cheers and the waving of massed flags of the school children of East Liberty, led by their teachers, and by the welcoming cries of relatives and friends.
Fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, as well as sweethearts, hung over the ropes and waved to the boys. Even the family dog was brought to welcome the heroes in some instances, and at one point a fight between two dogs, evidently contending as to the relative bravery of their chosen heroes, enlivened the scene. Other perils of the march were those dared by children balancing themselves on the restraining ropes in their desire to see the soldiers, and more than one mother waved her service flag to her soldier son with one hand, while with the other she clutched the seat of the trousers of his young brother whose enthusiasm made him heedless of the danger of falling over the rope. As daring were the young women who climbed over the iron rods at Syria Mosque to greet their soldier friends.
Because the trains bearing the Engineers came in so promptly behind the trains bearing the boys of the old Eighteenth regiment, the latter did not have time to clean up before the second breakfast at the Mosque, but that did not matter much, for when their trains pulled in they were busy "slicking up" for the first breakfast, coffee and sandwiches served by the Red Cross canteen women at the East Liberty station.
Aided by Canteen.
Two "buddies" cheerfully washed their faces from the same tin cup and the man who had a comb loaned it to those who hadn't. Mrs. Charles Sherriff had charge of the 100 women of the canteen.These women served the several dogs of the regiment as cheerfully as they served the soldiers, thus winning the undying friendship of the latter. That is, the dogs got sandwiches. No dog took coffee and no one offered them cigarettes; but if the dogs had wanted them the soldiers would have given theirs to them rather than see a dog in want.
Besides the mascot of the company, with two service stripes on his blanket, there was little Fritz, the property of Lieut. Paul T. LaPage of the Supply Company. Fritz was found in a deserted dugout in the Argonne forest four weeks before the armistice was signed and has been with the company ever since. He has been inoculated with disease killers and obtained a clean bill of health before he was permitted on board ship.
The first request of one solider when the train stopped at East Liberty was that somebody mail two postcards for him; another said that he hoped the city had arranged for extra telephone service, as the first thing he and many others wanted was to get into communication with the folks at home. "Do you think any of these women would know me?" asked another solider as he saw the women of the canteen. The presence of so many policemen at the station seemed to surprise the soldiers. They kept asking each other: "Did you ever see so many policemen," and one man called out: "Hello, there policemen! We hain't done anything." One of the policemen said he had been on duty all Tuesday night, and would be on duty all day yesterday and all last night.
Glad to Be Back.
Just to express how glad he is to get back, Robert Mecklin of Kittanning, with the One Hundred and Eleventh Infantry, declared that "there isn't enough money in Pittsburg to make me go through it again," when asked about his experience in the Argonne and Chateau-Thierry. But he added, "I would go back for nothing if the United States should get into it again." Jay Dunlap of East Pittsburg, who wears a distinguished service decoration for bringing wounded from the first line trenches in the Argonne, expressed the same sentiments.The first women to greet the soldiers at the East Liberty station were Mrs. William F. Walsh, who, with Colonel Walsh of the Pittsburg Home Guards, came to greet their son; her sisters, Mrs. Margaret Hughey, and Miss Gertrude Schroth, who came to greet her brother. The next was Miss Edith Holt, who greeted her brother, Corp. C. J. Holt, and other soldier friends.
Perfect order prevailed at Syria Mosque when the marching soldiers arrived and filed into the dining-room for the bountiful breakfast of real American cooking which was served by [10] girl students of the University of Pittsburg.
The girls lined up in the dining-room to cheer the soldiers as they took their places, greeting here and there one whom they knew, and then John J. Uetz, who, with Harry J. Dimling had charge of the breakfast, said, "Now, girls, show your speed," and they did, like regular hash-slingers.
Girls Cheer Boys.
Afterward the girls gathered in front of the Mosque and gave their college yells, being answered by the cheers of the soldiers.There was no confusion around the Mosque and the One Hundred and Eleventh boys were served and out of the building before the arrival of the Engineers. Policeman Parker Seybold, who stood at the entrance to the Mosque, was busy not only in handling the crowds, but in greeting policemen-soldiers, among them Lieut. Thomas Cavenaugh, who won the distinguished service decoration for crawling on his hands and knees to the rescue of wounded.
Few persons in the crowd, which was barred by the strict orders of Major Davis, slipped in, one of these being the father of a soldier who went in with his son unnoticed. A woman leading two children, who approached the door and asked, "Where do the mothers go?" was not so fortunate and was obliged to wait till her boy had breakfast before she greeted him.
After the soldiers had breakfasted and dolled up at the armory and had again formed in line for the march to Forbes Field, the crowd had become a little impatient and a large volunteer committee of small boys escorted the soldiers and a few daring women joined the march, taking their places beside husband, brother, son or sweetheart.
The crowd around the entrance to the field was so dense that the police had difficulty in keeping the way clear for the soldiers, and when the last one had entered the people rushed forward expecting to be allowed to enter after them, but they were pushed back and the great iron door was lowered and the disappointed ones were sent around to the front entrance.
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Pittsburgh & World War I. |