1918: American Heroes Honored in France

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/19/world/europe/france-harvard-yale.html

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AMERICAN FRONT, FRANCE, April 18 — Presentation of the Croix de Guerre to Lieutenants Alan F. Winslow and Douglas Campbell was made to-day by the French. The formality took place in the presence of several French and American officers and caused embarrassment to the Americans who, on Sunday last, brought down two German aeroplanes in the nick of time.

The French officers complimented the youthful aviators and said that it was noted by the French that the distinguishing medal went to a man from each of the two American universities known to everyone in Europe — Yale and Harvard. Winslow is from Yale and Campbell from Harvard.

When the correspondent asked the aviators if they had a message which they would like to send to the home folk through the HERALD, they said: “Nothing in particular. We suppose our own folk will hear of it, won’t they? That’s all that’s necessary.”

The correspondent assured them that without doubt all the American folk had heard of it already.

Lieutenant Winslow, when asked if he had been excited by the experience, said: “No. But I am a little afraid to wake up in the morning, for fear that it’s all a dream.”

— The New York Herald, European Edition, April 19, 1918 —