Monday, January 6, 2020

After Parade, American Legion Post Holds Banquet, Jan. 6, 1920

From The Monroe Journal, covering Union County, N.C., Tuesday, January 6, 1920. 

Union County Veterans Of the War Have Banquet. . . Several Kinds of Spirits Run High Around Festal Board and Sumptuous Banquet Follows Parade Around City

Two hundred Union county men who saw service in the world war, members of Melvin Deese Post No. 27 of the American Legion, banqueted at the Hotel Joffre here Friday night, and spirits of several kinds ran high.

At 8:05 the bugler sounded the drill call and the former doughboys “fell in”, as they have been wont to do in the days when they wore the uniform. The old familiar order, “Attention” was heard, followed by “Count Off.” Then, headed by the Icemorlee band, the boys marched through the principal streets of the city, singing old army songs, and, no doubt, their minds reverted to the days when “shave tails” and sergeants were deemed to be the most cantankerous creatures in existence.

Back at the hotel after the hike, the ex-Sammies were ushered into the dining room. There, gazing from the table at each man, was a glass of the best punch ever brewed. But, of hoy, the smell. It was real interesting. Quite the most interesting thing a few of the fellows had met since the beginning of dry times. Forthwith cries for pints and quarts of the rare stuff were heard. But the officers in charge said, “No.” However, a few, who evidently had learned quite a few things in the army, made sly trips rearward and returned with refilled glasses. Some went to far as to say afterwards that the punch had just a little “kick” in it.

Capt. Gilliam Craig, Post Commander, introduced Mayor J.C. Sikes, who extended a welcome to the members of the legion. Mayor Sikes declared that he felt somewhat like an intruder as he had not served in the army, which fact would remain a life long regret. After recounting the important part which Union County men had played in the winning of the war, he declared that “Nothing succeeds like success, and the man whom the people of the United States wish to back to-day is the ex-soldier, for he succeeds in his undertaking.”

Hon. R.B. Redwine, who served as chairman of the exemption board for Union County during the war, expressed his appreciation at having been invited to the occasion. “Two years ago,” he said, “I little thought that I should be present at such a meeting as this to-night.” Speaking of his work as chairman of the exemption board, he said that it had often been his thought that he would have much preferred service in the trenches, if he could have known that he would have not been the mark of a German bullet.

Dr. S.A. Stevens, former member of the exemption board, expressed his appreciation of the spirit in which the men had received the work of himself and colleagues. “You went like men should, and you came home victorious.”

Major W.C. Heath, official mascot of the Melvin Deese Post, and formerly major in the old state guard, contrasted the heroism displayed by the American boys in France with the heroism shown by themn of the south in the war between the states, pointing out that the men who served with such distinction in the past war were descendants of the heroes of the 60’s.

Much merriment was afforded by the presentation of an enormous distinguished service medal of tin to G.S. Lee Jr. the cross of metal was gracefully tied with a blue string. The presentation was made by Archie Fairley in words somewhat like the following: “Gentlemen, we have among us a hero tonight of whom you have not heard. Congress, however, has at last recognized the merits of his distinguished services and has thrown the responsibility of presenting him with a medal on me. Our here, ex-parleyvours, did not cross the pond, but it was not his fault. If he had gained his heart’s desire and been sent over, Congress has decided that he would have most assuredly won the battle of cognac, single-handed and without assistance. He would have unflinchingly faced a barrage of popping corks and the most severe of the offenses of the Mademoiselles. Therefore, it gives me pleasure to present him with this honor.”

Mr. Lee replied that he thought congress would sooner or later recognize his merit, and honor him forthwith, so it was not a surprise.

As the punch went down, the hilarity and good fellowship of the occasion went up. Cries of “Ou la, la,” and other army French, formerly employed to good effect in bombarding the Mademoiselles de belle France, were heard from every quarter of the room.

Amidst this scene Major Hough Hinde, whose subject was placed on the program read “duds,” presented Maj. W.C. Heath was a gold watch as a token of esteem from about 4 members of the Post.

He said: “Comrades, it was my privilege to speak for a few moments tonight on a sad subject, one however, close to all our hearts. Now I’m on my feet again and my subject, ‘Duds,’ – not clothes, my friends, but unexploded shells. I propose to burst a ‘dud’ here to-night, the explosion of which will be heard down at the depot, or I am very much mistaken. A ‘dud’ my friends is, as I have stated, an unexploded shell. It may contain high explosive and it may contain gas. I don’t exactly know what is in it, but I’ll bet on the tear gas, weighing, I should say at least 220 at least, so it is some shell. It contains explosives in the shape of a beating mechanism that is so delicate, so true that it’s easy for some one who knows the secret to set it off with a gentle pressure of the hand. A delicate mechanism has however by the help of a number of the comrades been provided, all wound up and chained in place, and carefully covered in gold and velvet. We hate to bust the shell, gentlemen, but thank God this is a shell that despite repeated explosions can be re-loaded and will work again, for years we trust, as well as ever.

‘You sir, are the dud, and here’s the mechanism the lads who love you have prepared to explode you with. Please don’t explode until I get my distance from you.”

In addition to the members of the American Legion, the following guests were present: Mayor John C. Sikes, Major W.C. Heath, Charles Iceman, and members of the exemption board R.B. Redwine, Dr. S.A. Stevens, and B.C. Ashcraft.

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Photos of American Legion Commander Gilliam Craig, Post Adjutant Joe Hudson, and Major Heath Was Honored at Banquet. To see photos of American Legion Commander Gilliam Craig, Joe Hudson or Major W.C. Heath, go to https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91068476/1920-01-06/ed-1/seq-1/

Captain Gilliam Craig, commander of the Melvin Deese Post No. 27 of the American Legion, saw service in the war as an artillery captain. He was a member of the A.E.F. (American Expeditionary Forces) for over a year. Commander Craig was toastmaster at the Legion banquet, which was held at the Joffre Hotel Friday evening. He is a son of Rev. Braxton Craig, former pastor of the First Baptist church of Monroe, and is a member of the law firm of Stack, Parker & Craig.

Mr. Joe Hudson, Adjutant of the Melvin Deese Post of the American Legion, saw service in France with the Third Division, classed as one of the few regular army outfits. He was in the infantry, and went through some of the hardest fighting in which the American forces were engaged. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Hudson of Monroe.

The members of the Melvin Deese post of the American legion count Major Heath as one of their best friends, and as a token of their esteem, presented him with a handsome 17-jewel watch at their banquet Friday night. Major Heath, an ex-service man himself, is strong for the soldier, and makes no bones about showing his partiality.


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