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| | CORP. JAMES D. WHALEN
Serial No. 2,026,617
1238 Phillips Ave., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Inducted at Custer, November 19, 1917.
He was a man of almost superhuman strength and of an easy-going disposition, yet a good executive, both attributes of character which were utilized by the command in the latter days of hostilities and during our intensive training.
He was promoted to Corporal at Camp Coetquidan.
From there he was sent to Machine Gun School and qualified as machine gunner, and the Captain made him Corporal of Machine Gun Detail. At the front the duty of his detail was to protect the gunner and piece. His men had been selected from our “wild and fighting element,” the kind calculated to give a visiting Boche patrol the proper kind of welcome, and which the boys had named the “Vengeance Nine.”
With two of his men, while all were off duty, he preferred to go in search of some invigorating vintage rather than rest. While on this venture near Jazainville, it nearly turned into an adventure on account of the noise of shell-fire to the rear, which the Boche was making just then. This noise prevented them hearing the command of a guard to halt. After commanding them to halt three times the guard took his rifle and fired at them, which was the first intimation they had that they were challenged. Thanks to the good judgment of the guard, a casualty was avoided.
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When Whalen was dismounting his guns preparing to move to Tautecourt Farm, Rose was on wire detail gathering up wire to take forward, and as lie passed Whalen lie made this remark about the darkness which seemed amusing to Jim—a joke which he good-naturedly tells on the bugler:
Rose: “Can’t sleep when dark. Can’t see and can’t have light. When I get home I’m going to get a whole gas plant and see what real light looks like.”
After hostilities the Battery was billeted at Rue de Parocheville, Pont-a-Mousson, Jim was made a Section Chief and occupied the rear of a partially shell-destroyed home located three houses west of the House of Guerwin. His men, not hearing first call early one January morning, did not rise until after reveille, thinking it was first call, so Jim and his squad came tearing out, some dressed, others undressed, carrying their shoes, coats, caps and other regulations necessary and were dressing on the run. They got there in time to hear roll call and to learn that they were reported absent. The Captain was so exasperated at this sight he said nothing until after the Battery was dismissed, then asked Jim and his men why they could not get up in time. Before they had the chance to explain the Captain thought of a unique punishment extremely amusing to the
men, and ordered that they go to bed for ten minutes, get up with two minutes to dress, then stand reveille, return and go to bed, again stand reveille and repeat it all day.
Corporal Margetson was N. C. officer of the day and this was somewhat trying on him. However, at noon the Captain took compassion on them and terminated the punishment then.
Corporal Whalen’s machine gun crew were provided with the Hotchkiss machine gun. This type of gun had been found to be of vital importance and deadly effect and were formidable weapons in defense against airplanes or in protecting guns from immediate surprise by the enemy.
Corporal Whalen’s crew was trained in all the details and mastery of this army service and were prepared to defend our Battery while in peril.
Whalen participated with us in what will, in all probability, be our greatest experience in life. |