So unusual was the service rendered by DeRoy R. Fonville of
Burlington in his Y.M.C.A. work overseas that Major General L.S. Upton has written
him a personal letter in appreciation of his efforts.
Mr. Fonville has returned to his home after 10 months
service with the Y.M.C.A. He was with the Fifth and Sixth Marines and Ninth and
Twenty-third infantry at Chateau Thierry, Soissons and St. Mihiel. It was while
he was in a trench waiting to serve the Marines when they “pushed off,” that a
high explosive shell blew particles of rock into his eye, blinding it. The same
shellfire killed James A. Birchby, a Y.M.C.A. secretary from Pasadena, Cal.,
and wounded another Red Triangle worker, Thomas W. Wilbut Jr. of New Britain,
Conn.
The letter of appreciation that was sent to Mr. Fonville by
General Upton read as follows:
“I have observed your work as Y.M.C.A. representative of the
Ninth infantry for some time and wish to convey to you my appreciation of the
uncomplaining and soldier-like manner in which you have undergone all without
the glory that is attached to the profession of arms. The work which you have
done had added greatly to the contentment of the men and thus to the efficiency
of the command.”
“My experience gave me an appreciation of the American men
and what they can go through,” said Mr. Fonville. “Our division was a shock
unit. It never went any way but forward. Our division alone captured 12,000
prisoners. Those men appreciated the Y.M.C.A. and understood the difficulties
it had to contend with in getting supplies up to the front. I have no complaint
to make about losing the sight of one eye, that is war, but it bewilders me to
have known what I do of the work of the “Y” in France and then come home to
learn of the criticisms being circulated here. I believe that in due time the
full appreciation of the Y.M.C.A.’s work for victory will be general.”
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