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Show CAPT. J. RAY WARD OF; OGDEN CHEERS THE PRISONERS I Cabling to the Salt Lake Tribune, Floyd A. Tlmmerman gives this In-, In-, tercstlng budget of news covering th activities' of the soldiers boys from Ogden and all Utah. He frequently refers to Captain J. Ray Ward of Ogden: Og-den: NEW YORK. Dec. 24- When the members of the Utah artillery regiment regi-ment cast aside their olive drab uniforms, uni-forms, don the garb of civilians and settle again In their places In civilian life, there will exist a bond between them such as could never have been welded by anything elso in the r.orld except war. Month of living, eating and working together have built up this firm link of friendship, which will la3t for years. In the long period of training, both In the United States and abroad, members mem-bers of tho command have been taken away permanently for duties with other oth-er organization; for the air service, casualty replacements and other j branches In the meantime, many new men have been added. After all these men emerge from khaki Into civilian clothing, how aro they to be known to each other? This problem will bo solved through an idea originated by Captain J. Ray Ward, regimental ad-; ad-; Mutant, whose duties are to give an swer to many perplexing questions, and who in the recent months has cracked many hard nuts which appeared appear-ed unbreakable. The solution will 'come forth in the shape of small bronze insignia pins containing two cross cannons and topped by the numerals "115." These pins will be distributed among the members and will be worn upon. their civilian clothing. I have been delegated dele-gated to place the orders and the insignia in-signia will be ready and awaiting the soldiers when they arrive for immed late distribution. In case men may be dropped along the route for various var-ious reasons after New York Is reached, reach-ed, it Is the plan of Captain Ward to have them ready when the boat lands, so that each man may- have his at i once. To have been able to give the first three American war prisoners released releas-ed from German prison camps their first glimpse of an American flag since their capture months ago was the pleasant experience of Captain J. Ray Ward, regimental adjutant of tho Utah field artillery. It occurred a few days after the fighting ended and while Captain Ward was visiting the front and going over some of the ground that had marked the-most furious fur-ious fighting before the last shot was fired. Captain Ward was going through a field which had formerly been a sec-lion sec-lion of No Man's Land, when he heard shouts and, turning around, saw inree travel -siameu anu weary ngures approaching him. He halted and they a'pproached. It was difficult to determine de-termine by their appearance whether they were Germans, French, English or Americans. They were dirty and ragged. They surrounded him and opened a volley of questions regarding regard-ing everything from the end of the war to the price of ham and eggs in the United States, and Captain Ward had a ready and pleasing reply to every ev-ery question. Captain Ward managed at last to break In for a question of his own. "What can I do for you men? You surely must need immediate immed-iate aid?" "We are hungry, tired and dusty, and have walked for miles over rough country," said one, "but I would push aside food, sleep and drink for one good look at the Slars and Stripes. I haven't seen an American flag for more than seven months." Captain Ward smiled and. turning his back, unfolded his wallet and pulled forth a tiny silk American flag that had been given him before his departure depar-ture overseas and which he had carried car-ried with him during practically every minute of his duty abroad. He turned around and held it out to them. They stood and gazed at the tiny bit of silk for almost a full minute. Suddenly ono of them snatched it from the officer's hand and, bowing his head, kissed it. He raised his head and tears streamed uown nis cnceKS. une omcrs ioiiow-ed ioiiow-ed his example, and the tiny flag went from hand to hand, and lip to lip. No one spoke. Something swelled inside them and gripped their throats anyway, any-way, it was not time for words. Captain Ward will never forget those few moments with the three American boys. He will treasure that tiny silk flag, probably more highly than any of his possessions. During Its training period at Camp de Souge, the Utah football team, which last year held the championship of Camp Kearny, made another record and brought home the championship of southern Franco. Three games were played and the team was victorious In calh. The last game was plnjed Thanks-1 Thanks-1 giving day ut the Poullac naval base, i near Bordeaux, and It was here that the Utah team carried away the championship. cham-pionship. Thousands of sbldiors and sailors witnessed the play. During the evening the Utah team was banqueted, by the defeated eleven and therf attend-jed attend-jed a -program which had been arranged in their honor. . Tho feature of the play was the brilliant work of Louis Falck of Ogden. who made many ground gains in his position at quarter. Many former col-lego col-lego stars faced the Utah men on the sailors' eleven. |