Petaluma High School - Trojans Yearbook (Petaluma, CA)

Page 27 text:

THE ENTERPRISE ’18 ness of his escaping now; nevertheless, determined to do his father’s bidding, he headed straight for the remaining German ,trying to force a collision and take the chances of reaching the ground alive. But the gunner’s aim was true, and a bullet hit him, causing his machine to swerve, lose its balance and crash to the ground. When he was picked up his first thought was for his Bible and he motioned to his rescuers to remove it from the pocket in his coat. As they did so, his lips moved, and stooping nearer, these were the words that they heard faintly, “Boys, send this home—and—keep me facing,” his hand pointed to the front line of trenches, “there — and tell the folks that I died — game.” Here his lips relaxed and a faint smile crept over his face as his eyes closed forever. At home, in front of the fire, sat the old folks again; his father reading the paper and his mother still knitting the sweater. “Alec, do you suppose that our boy is still facing the enemy?” said his mother, looking up from her work. “Sure, he is,” Alec answered, “He’ll NEVER turn his back to -Here he stopped short and his face turned white as his eyes gazed wildly at the paper before him. Then slowly, with a trembling finger, he pointed out the following lines in the Casualty List as he handed the paper to his wife: DIED IN ACTION: Capt. Alec Sinclair. Killed in air combat with four German planes. Three planes destroyed before he was killed. His last words were, “Tell the folks I died game.” Tears filled both the parents’ eyes as they read, and they sat look¬ ing long into the fire. Then slowly, with faltering steps old Alec Sin¬ clair came over to his wife’s chair and put his arm about her shoulders, and together they gazed at the picture of their boy. At last he said, “Capt. Alec, my boy, we’re proud of you; you kept your face to the enemy. God bless you, my son.” A few days later a small package came to the old couple. Wlien they opened it, they found a small Bible, with a bullet hole in one corner, and this note: “Capt. Sinclair received only one wound — in front.” Over there, Somewhere in France is a grave on the side of a hill which slopes toward the enemy, and on the grave at its head is the fol¬ lowing inscription:: Captain Alec Sinclair, He Still Faces The Enemy. CHARLES WILSON, ’19. — 23 —

Page 26 text:

THE ENTERPRISE ’18 As the train neared the large cities, he was amazed at the crowds of people and at the size of the buildings. When he sped across the Central States he wondered at the broad, flat fields of grain and corn, for his horizon had always been the sharp snow-clad peaks. On reach¬ ing Aew York he was sent to a large aviation school, having joined that branch of the service in Sacramento. After five months of training he was sent to France. No mishaps occurring on the way across the water, he soon landed on French soil, and was immediately sent to the front. It was not long before he had downed his first German plane, and he felt justly proud of his deed. He was mentioned as one of the first American aviators to succeed in bringing an enemy plane to earth, and his parents read of his exploit as they sat by the fire one winter even¬ ing. Sitting by themselves they often thought of Alec, and tonight as they sat by the fireside, the mother’s eyes were lovingly resting on his portrait, and blinking to rstrain the tears of love which tried to force their way. After a few moments she picked up an old sewing box which she had found during the day, took out two knitting needles and a ball of wool, and began to knit. In a little while x41ec Sinclaire looked up from his paper and saw her busy with her work It had been many years since she had knitted and the work did not progress very rapidly. What.are you doing with them sticks!” he asked, wonderingly. “Knitting,’’ she answered, slowly. ‘‘Knitting,” he said, still puzzled, “What are you knitting for?” “Why, for Alec. Don’t you think he’d like a sweater?” she asked, and her eyes again sought the portrait. “Over there” Alec was sitting in one of the Y. M. C. A. lmts, talking to his comrades and telling the new-comers of his battle in the air. He had brought down ten German planes already, and had been awarded the medal of the Legion of Honor and two other medals for personal bravery. During the heavy fighting around Verdun he had done splendid work., and had received the rank of Captain Sinclair. One morning, a short time later, he was flying in a machine that carried eight bombs, and came upon a German observation balloon, guarded bv two planes He immediately attacked them, and after very skillful fighting and dodging,, he managed to destroy the planes. Then he attempted to capture the balloon without injuring it, but in doing so he failed to see two more German fliers coming behind him. When about 500 yards distant, they began to fire. He glanced quickly at his gasoline supply and his bombs, and noticed that the supply of both was low. However, he circled around toward the oncoming planes and by good fortune was able to put one of them out of commission.’ Lut b this time his bombs were all gone, and he realized the liopeless- .— 22 —

Page 28 text:

(Senior Prize Story) T HE snow was swirling down so thick that one could hardly see six feet ahead. It was miserably cold. The wind blew the icy flakes blindingly into the face of Paul Baxter, who, on bis snow shoes, was floundering through the loose, unpacked drifts. Paul was afraid, not of the snow and the forest, but of death. Less than a year ago he had been working on his father’s farm in Michigan, the diaft came, he was selected, and would have had to go to war, hut lie was afraid, so he slipped into Canada, bought some traps, supplies, and a gun, and penetrated the Northern wilds. Winter had not set in yet, so Paul hunted and fished, meanwhile going deeper into the wilder¬ ness. During his northern journey he met Pierre Fontac. Pierre was also a trapper. One person gets very lonely during the long, cold winters of the north, so Pierre and Paul agreed to work and live together. They built their cabin and settled down for the winter, which was soon to come. They got their traps ready and then passed the time hunting and fishing. ()ne cold night Pierre said, “Tomorrow there will be snow. Soon we can get work. ’’ Sure enough, the next morning the ground was covered with a white mantle. Winter had set in. In a week, there was a foot of well packed snow on the ground and Pierre and Paul started out in opposite directions to set their traps. They planned their courses so that they would form semi-circles joining opposite the camp. Thus they would always return together from the tending of the traps. Late that night they came in tired, but happy. They had seen man tracks that day and things looked hopeful for the coming winter. ' - Tlie next day as they were lounging about camp waiting for time to In ing results, a stranger appeared at the door. He explained that he had a camp further north, but that he had decided to go to war, and was on his way to enlist. I aul thought that he had escaped all chance of hearing of the war but apparently lie had not. As it had turned colder, the stranger decided to spend the night with them, much to Paul’s displeasure. He had no liking for this person who reminded him of that which he was endeavoring to escape, so he crept into his bunk early. The next morning when Paul awoke, he found Pierre and the sti anger up. 1 hey were cooking breakfast and appeared to be in a hurry. — 24 —