But there were numerous single-handed exploits in that thrilling
Champagne campaign, and among them are the following instances of the
courage and initiative that characterized the American boys on the
front.
Private John J. Kelley, of Chicago, Illinois, during the same attack as
that in which Hubbell took part, crossed through the barrage of his own
artillery, killed the operator of a machine gun which was firing into
his line, wounded another with his pistol and took eight prisoners.
Private Samuel S. Simmons, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with Private
Lambert Bos, of Granite, Idaho, and Private Joe N. Viera, of New
Bedford, Massachusetts, volunteered and attacked a machine-gun nest in
advance of their front line. They killed the crew, then descended into
an enemy dugout and captured forty prisoners.
Another instance is that of Corporal Horace P. Frye, of San Francisco,
California. The position of his company on the hill east of St. Etienne
was being continually swept by enemy machine-gun fire at apparently
close range. Acting entirely upon his own initiative he determined to
locate the source of the enemy fire and accordingly crawled forward
unnoticed through 150 yards of open field, located the enemy guns and
after throwing several hand grenades into their position he charged
them and captured two machine guns and eleven men, with which he
returned to his own lines through machine-gun fire.