CHAMBERS SOLDIER

                          AWARDED WAR CROSS

 

“Bugler Porter Alone Charged A Machine Gun and Is Cited for Bravery.”

 

          Washington, Nov. 19—The distinguished service cross has been awarded to Bugler Chauncey Porter, Company B. 355th infantry, for extraordinary heroism in action north of Fliery, France, Sept. 12, 1918.  Bugler Porter charged a machine gun alone, with an automatic pistol, killed one man , captured another and drove the remainder of the enemy platoon back along their trench thereby enabling his platoon to advance. Home address: Edwin F. Porter, father, Chambers, NE.

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          Mr. Porter is a son of Edwin T. Porter, county clerk elect, as is a native of this county. Very few Nebraska boys have won this cross and Chauncey Porter has placed his name and that of Holt County high on the honor hall of he heroes of the great world war. To him and to his parents. The Frontier tenders hearty congratulations.

          Source: The Frontier Newspaper

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                                       LETTER FROM CHAUNCEY PORTER

                                               WHO IS IN FRANCE

              Somewhere in France, Sept 20 '18

Dear Folks, Sister and Brother:

        Well, I will try and write a little today, as it has been quite a while since I had a chance.  we were up in the front line trenches for about ten days and just got releaved (sic) when we had to go over the top and I was chasing Germans a couple of days.  It was raining  and I was taken sick with a bad cold so I was sent to a hospital, where I have been a week.  I am getting along find now; although a little weak.

    Talk about going over the top.  We sure took quite a few prisoners on our excursion.  I was with the Captain all the time.  My job was to carry a compass and keep him going straight north.  We got lost from our company early in the morning and never saw anything of them until that night.  the Captain, myself and four other men took one town and captured 250 Germans.  When they saw us coming down the street they began to come out with their hands up in the air yelling "Kamarad"  That is about all most of them can say although occasionally you find one that can talk fairly good English.

    We sure had lots of excitement.  they had machine guns up in trees and every place you could think of, and lots of places you couldn't.  You would be walking along when all a t once would hear bullets whistling by, then you would get in a shell hole, or behind something until you got the gun located and got it, then go on until you ran into another, and they were very thick.  There was also sharpnell (sic) bursting mighty close to you most all of the time and you had to watch for that , and all together you did not get to go to sleep any at all, believe me.

    Well goodbye for this time   time, your loving son and brother.

                                                                        Chauncey W. Porter

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THE CHAMBERS SUN

OCTOBER 31, 1918

 

 Chauncey William Porter was born in Brainard, Nebraska on June 11, 1893.  Census records show that the Porter family lived in Holt County by 1900.  He registered for the draft in 1917. Chauncey Porter served in Company B of the 355th Infantry, 89th Division.  In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross, he was also awarded the French War Cross. He was a bugler when he performed the brave deed that earned him his military awards but was eventually promoted to corporal.  He returned to the United States after the war.  Chauncey Porter died in 1961 and is buried in the Chambers, Nebraska cemetery.

 

Sources : US Archive Records, History of the 89th Division, valor.militarytimes.com