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Show Our SoldiersWhen American bugles clarioned "to arms" for war on the German empire, April 6, 1917, many University of Utah students after short deliberations laid aside the pen and took up the sword. In this case the sword was symbolical of many activities. For, while a considerable number of students enlisted in one or another of the armed branches of the United States war forces, large numbers betook themselves to this or that productive occupation or elementary profession. Mining and farming claimed many. Some few joined the Red Cross, or American Ambulance Corps or other life-saving organizations. A student battalion was formed for the benefit of the lame members who remained in school and drills, under command of a regular army captain, were inaugurated. For the girls a Red Cross league was formed. Everybody was active. All wanted to do something-some bit toward winning a safe haven for democracy.In the latter part of April a machine gun troop, under the National Guard of Utah, was formed and attracted a number of students to its ranks. Later on when the Utah state forces were reconstructed into' a regiment of field artillery this troop formed the nucleus of Battery E. When recruited to full war strength it contained on its muster rolls the names of fully twenty-five alumni or recently active Utah college men. Other batteries and companies of the regiment numbered from two to ten U. of U. students each in their ranks. On August 5, when the organization was mustered into federal service as the 145th Field Artillery there were in it probably sixty University men."Without exception none had seen army service before and very few had even an elementary knowledge of military drill, life or tactics. The Colonel of the 145th regiment resigned his position as a member of the University of Utah Board of Regents to assume his command.Nothing definite is known as to just how many of the students have reached the battle fields of Europe but up to the present time the total number of University alumni and undergraduates in the ranks is more than 450ALBERT H. PAUL '17.40^10Page Two Hundred Sixteen |