Jackson County, Ohio

Croix de Guerre for Wellston Hero

Charles Owery Decorated with Medal Saturday Night

In the presence of hundreds of his fellow townsmen, who rejoiced with him at the great honor that was conferred on him.

Corporal Charles H. Owery, one of Wellston's native sons, was decorated with the Croix De Guerre Saturday evening on Monument Square by the order of General Petain, commander-in-chief of the French army.

The coveted medal was bestowed in recognition of Corporal Owery's heroism at the battle of Belleau Woods. On the morning of June 6th, 1918, when the Marines had been on the firing line for six days without relief and subsisting only on emergency rations, they were finally ordered to the rear and relieved.

Corporal Owery was operating an automatic rifle and refused to leave his post. At daylight, his ammunition was exhausted and he ran three hundred yards under a heavy artillery barrage to get a fresh supply.

He made the trip in safety both ways and continued operating his rifle four hours, until the Germans became discouraged and gave up their attack. The presentation was made by Lieut. Jacob Livenhard of the Marine Corps, who was accompanied here from Cincinnatti by Sergeants Edward Schlotman and Oliver Coffin, also of the Marines. Wellston Mayor Fred Ely presided at the meeting, and Lieut. Livenhard delivered an address.

At it's conclusion he called the young hero to the front of the stage, where amid the cheers of the crowd, he pinned the cross on his breast and handed to him the offical order for his decoration written in both French and English.

Although Corporal Owery has been here since in January, he had not even told his brother, George Owery with whom he makes his home, of his act of daring, and the first knowledge anyone here had of his bravery, came through a letter from the Marine Headquarters at Washington, asking Mayor Ely to arrange the meeting.

Corporal Owery is the second Marine in Ohio to receive the Croix De Guerre, the first being Captain Garvey of Cincinnati. Five weeks after his act of heroism, he was shot in the leg at the battle of Soissons. After his recovery he had an attack of influenza and was just ready to rejoin his company when the armistice was signed.

Wellston Telegram, Wellston OH; June 11, 1919