Thank-you Veterans for your service and sacrifice. Dad’s step-father Leo was there, not sure in what capacity. Among Dad’s things there is a bronze medal and ribbon showing a train-car with horses that reads “40 Hommes 8 Chevaux”, an Oklahoma National Guard medal, a very worn “Great War For Civilization” commemorative medal with no ribbon or hanger, and a signal-corps neck-insignia…
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Such a sad poem.
I’ve probably read it fifty times throughout the years, yet still it never fails to bring a tear.
All those lives. The cream of Western Civilization. For what?
40/8 was an offshoot of the American Legion, a more ‘fun’ group, as it were. The 40/8 was based on the box cars they went to war in, 40 men or 8 horses. That means he was a member at some point.
Might that go along with the Oklahoma National Guard affiliation?
I suggest you look closer at that boxcar medal.
Many years ago, my grandfather explained that in France, the boxcars all had some variation of “40/8” painted on their sides, meaning they were rated to carry either 40 men or 8 horses.
A minor but intriguing glimpse into the logistics of the world’s first full-scale industrial war, in which trains and aeroplanes still interacted with horses and foot soldiers.
Thank you, there are some inscriptions scratched in the backside of the thing. And if clean then it, it might show 8 – it’s gunked up a bit. Thank you very much my friend.
I brushed it off with a toothbrush and it DOES say “8 Cheveaux” – thanks!!
Thank You to all who have served Our Country.
Prayers in remembrance of them.