They will not understand it; we are going to counter attack." They did and it was the beginning of the end, for from that day the Boche were on the run until the Armistice was signed. After a seventy-two day Marathon they were ready to sign anything.
Scotts Bluff county did not wait for the draft. Many of her boys went forth as volunteers and are credited to other counties, particularly Box Butte where Captain Miller organized a company and a number came from the several towns in this county.
The First Eight
Of the first eight drawn in the draft only three returned without the scars of war. Two were badly gassed and three were killed in action. The list is here given : Lewis L. Hood, killed in action; August W. Turnbull, killed in action ; John A. Michie, killed in action ; Paul F. Bryan, gassed ; Irl J. Walker, gassed ; Charles B. Yarnell, Henry F. Kilpatrick, Reuben C. Driscoll.
Two other boys, who were born and reared in this vicinity, were among those who made the supreme sacrifice. They were Archie Irion and Charlie Wright. In honor of this sacrifice and in the memory of these native boys, the local post of the American Legion is named the Wright-Irion post.
Earl Holcomb, well known in Scottsbluff and now a resident of Gering, had one close call on the west front when the officer under whom he was serving in the medical corp was blown to atoms and Holcomb wounded. He