Typed as
spelled and written
- Lena Stone Criswell
THE DAILY
DEMOCRAT
Thirty-First Year - Number 16
Marlin, Texas, Wednesday, May 20, 1931
TO HONOR MARLIN MAN
FOR DEEDS OF HEROISM
Dan Edwards' Photograph
to Be Placed in Pershing
Memorial Hall
in Paris.
Dan Edwards of Marlin and Falls county is one of the outstanding heroes of the
World War, and all wars. He received not only the Congressional Medal of
Honor for heroism in the World War, but the Distinguished Service Cross as well.
In addition, he was decorated by each of the allied governments with their
highest award, and Ripley, in his recent "Believe It or Not" cartoon, carried a
picture of Dan, declaring that he had 83 decorations, more than had ever been
received by any living human being.
*****
Dan formerly lived here, and while his is now New York, he still claims Marlin
as his home. When the City of New York presented Pershing Hall, the
official American war memorial under construction in Paris, with a tablet
costing thousands of dollars, with the names of all Congressional Medal of Honor
men from New York engraved thereon, Dan asked to have his name left off,
declaring he was from Marlin, Texas, and wanted that always to be considered his
home.
*****
It was in 1907-09, that Dan lived in Marlin, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D.
Edwards, his father being a barber by trade. In about 1910 the family
moved to Mooreville to engage in farming, and from there Dan volunteered his
service on April 6, 1917, at the age of sixteen. He was sent to join the
19th Infantry at that time on the Mexican border, Brigadier General John J.
Pershing in command.
*****
Later he was transferred to the 26th Infantry and still later to a machine gun
battalion of the First Division. He sailed for France October 8, 1917, saw
service for the first time in the trenches, his outfit experiencing a few
attacks and raids with the French.
*****
A few days later he was relieved and after a short time was sent into the Toul
sector near Metz. It was here the boys in khaki showed the enemy that the
United States was in the fight and there were some American soldiers over there.
Attacks, counter-attacks and raids followed one right after another. Dan
was burned with gas and recuperated in a field hospital.
*****
When he reported again to his company, they were sent to a point where the
British were being pushed back toward the Somme river. His company helped
check several attacks and in so doing turned the tide against the Germans,
stopping their advance. Dan distinguished himself during these movements.
*****
After three weeks rest he was informed that his company was to take part in an
American drive at Cantigney where General B. B. Buck took command of the Second
Brigade of the First Division. The Germans made nine counter attacks but
did not gain any ground. Dan was wounded in this fighting and went to the
base hospital.
*****
He reported for duty again July 2, 1918, and three days later his outfit was
relieved to be sent to Paris for a rest. But instead, because of the need
of men, Dan's company was sent to Chateau Thierry for more fighting.
*****
Following this fighting, the men were sent to Paris for a short rest, during
which time they paraded there. The rest was (missing) however, for on the night
of July 17, they were sent to the front again in the vicinity of Soissons.
On the morning of the 18th, the drive in this sector began.
*****
During the advance, which had been in progress for about three hours, a pound
shell struck Dan's gun. It exploded and tore his arm almost to pieces.
About the same time out of the noise of din of shells and machine gun fire he
saw some Germans coming toward him. He took four of them as prisoners and
started back to the rear with them. They had not gone far before a shell
exploded and mangled his left leg, killing one of the prisoners. The other
three prisoners assisted in dressing his wounds and carrying him to the first
aid station for treatment.
*****
Later he was sent to the base hospital in France, and as soon as he was able to
travel was informed that his war days were over. He was sent back to the
United States, where he stayed four months in a convalescing hospital in New
York.
*****
Dan Edwards was decorated for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and
beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy, not only in one dramatic
moment such as the one in which, though already severely wounded, he took four
prisoners, but on other occasions. He displayed conspicuous courage and
gallantry on many occasions.
*****
Pershing Hall, the official War Memorial under construction in Paris, is now
practically complete. Within this memorial will be placed a portrait of
the niney-four (sic) men of the American army who received the Congressional
Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross.
*****
Because of the sentiment attached to this memorial a movement was started which
has met with unanimous approval and success, whereby the portraits of the
distinguished veterans will be furnished by their respective home-towns.
The portraits will be mounted on ebony plaques, together with the citations
concerning feats performed by the veteran whose portrait appears and the name of
the veteran's home-town.
*****
These portraits will cost $100 each. In writing concerning Dan Edwards'
portrait, the chairman of the committee to obtain these portrait says, "Dan
would like to have his home-town of Marlin provide this portrait and for that
reason I am, on behalf of my board of directors, writing to ask Marlin to send
$100 to pay for Colonel Edwards' portrait.
*****
"I feel that Marlin will take a particular pleasure and honor in doing this, as
Dan not only received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism in the
World War, but also the Distinguished Service Cross. He and Colonel "Wild"
Bill Donovan are the only two in the history of the United States who received
both the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross.
*****
"I would not have to stir out of my office here in New York, but could call any
number of people on the telephone and in fifteen minutes get a dozen volunteers
to put up the $100 necessary for this portrait. However, a sentimental
principle is involved, and as the other towns and cities are providing the
portrait of their Congressional Medal of Honor men, with permanent name-plates
affixed denoting that fact, we would also like to have, and I know Dan would,
his picture presented in a similar manner."
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Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing by
The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.