STANSBERRY and GROSS, local military heroes, awarded -- 1930

STANSBERRY, GROSS

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 2/19/2012 at 22:01:13

"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Monday, June 2, 1930
Front Page, Column 4, and Page 6

A Great Throng Sees Local Heroes Get Military Honors
Inspring Ceremony Held at Alumni Field Yesterday As STANSBERRY and GROSS Are Decorated By Maj. Gen. Tinley

With simple and impressive ceremonies that thrilled the thousands of people present on the Parsons college athletic field Lane E. STANSBERRY and John J. GROSS yesterday afternoon were presented distinguished service crosses by the United States government.

It was a short service, every phrase colorful and intense. From the time that the Washington Legion drum and bugle corps, playing sharp and dominant military tunes, marched upon the field at the head of a contingent of Legionnaires, until the last notes of the departing drums died away and the ceremony was over, there was breathless interest.

The bleachers on both sides of the field were filled with spectators and then the crowd in many times greater numbers, overflowed onto the hillsides to the northwest and southwest. The twenty loud speakers, scattered over the grounds, were a great success and those everywhere heard distinctly every word of the presentation.

Kept Crowd Informed

Rev. S. P. Williamson manned the microphone for the preliminaries, and made a number of announcements to the crowd before the military contingents came upon the field, testing out the device, and keeping the crowd informed of the movements of the troops. The rumor got around that Mr. STANSBERRY was ill at his home and could not be present. The microphone carried assurance to all parts of the ground that this was an error and that he would be on hand for the presentation.

Then when the first notes of the band came floating out of the distance, the crowd was informed of the approach of Gov. John Hammill and Gen. Tinley and their staffs. When the officers appeared at the corner of the field and with quick and precise military step approached the stand erected at the south side of the enclosure, the crowd rose to its feet and cheered.

Military Show

After that came the various troops, headed by the 133rd and the 113th regimental bands. They came onto the field in formation and took their stand on the north side and Gov. Hammill, as commander in chief of the state troops, and Gen. Tinley and his staff passed rapidly down the lines in inspection.

Returning to the reviewing stand they were ready for the principal ceremony and Gen. Tinley took his place before the microphone and made the announcement and read the citations. The two men who were to receive the honors were escorted to the front, accompanied by the colors, and the decorations were pinned upon their breasts and they were congratulated.

The whole body of troops then passed in review, dipped their company colors as they passed the stand, and marched off the field and the day was done.

Crowd Fades Quickly Away

In just a few minutes the crowd, estimated at from ten to fifteen thousand people, faded away and in an hour the field had been stripped of its loudspeakers and was empty.

The weather was ideal. After weeks of cold and chill, the sun came out to warm the earth and invite people into the open. From far and wide they came auto close upon auto, by the hundreds, loaded to the guards. They filled the main streets and filtered over into the side streets. They were scattered along the parkways, and found places in front yards and driveways. Almost inaccessible locations saw cars parked there in grotesque positions.

Fairfield people were hospitable. They invited guests onto their front lawns and porches along the line of the parade. And the guests accepted the hospitality and there was a good fellowship that was felt everywhere.

Good Nature

Not an untoward thing happened. The crowd was good-natured. The provisions for handling it had been well made and were adequate. There were no angry discussions, no arguments, no impertinences.

The only thing that happened was a little political bad taste that led some partisans of state candidates to post big signboards at the far end of the field. The crowd was displeased and quietly suggested that the signs be removed. A couple of members of the committee in charge drifted over that way and unobtrusively pulled up the supports and laid the signs on their faces. The crowd hardly noticed the act, and turned its attention elsewhere, subconsciously eased by the absence of the glaring admonitions to vote for somebody or other.

Colorful Crowd

The crowds were colorful and attractive. Women in gay dresses dotted the bleachers and hillsides, mingling with the more somber garb of the men. But gay straw hats were seen here and there, and light suits, as the men's contribution.

The uniforms of the Washington drum and bugle corps brought forth a gasp of admiration. The men wore dark blue suits with tall shakos, held on with chin straps. White pompons rose from the front of these. The uniforms were trimmed with white bindings and silver braid.

Photographers were thick inside the field and along the line of march and shutters clicked and rolls of film were unwound.

The Legionnaires detailed to handle traffic carried billiards cues, sawed off to convenient size, and the wonder was how they were able to collect so many. The Legion members were ably assisted by Boy Scouts.

Bustle of Preliminaries

The down town streets were roped off to allow full room for the line of march. East Broadway from Court to B streets was closed entirely and used for the assembly of the troops. The middle parking spaces around the square were barred by ropes as was Main street for a block north.

The regimental bands, the 113th Cavalry band from Oskaloosa and Fairfield's own 133rd played a concert for an hour, beginning at 1 oclock.

At 1:22 Gen. Tinley arrived and was hurried to the Leggett hotel where there was a military banquet for sixty guests. Gov. Hammill had arrived previously and was present at the banquet. Gen. Tinley was met at the Burlington station by an auto bearing at the front his flag, red ground with two white stars, and with the same insignia on the windshield.

Ray Maxwell kept account of all cars seen in the jam near the college campus yesterday afternoon and has figured that cars from 18 states and 46 Iowa counties were here.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Photo of John GROSS - click here
 

Jefferson Documents maintained by Joey Stark.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen