Page 98 - History of War - Issue 25-16

ARTE ACT
of

AMER Donovan

photographed
during WWI
WWI

The ‘Father of A

Donovan won th
Great War, while

n October 1918, William J
Donovan was a lieutenant
I colonel in the US 165th
Regiment of Infantry (known as
‘Fighting 69th’). While serving in
France, his regiment had to con
with seemingly futile orders to
capture the high ground of Côte
Chatillon from the Germans. Th
position was strongly defended
heavy artillery and the enemy w
liberally using mustard gas. To g
to the position, the Americans h
to attack straight over open gro
The reality meant having to cros
more than two kilometres of ba
wire, rain, fog and mud.
Donovan’s telephone lines we
cut, so he personally crossed th
terrain between each unit to kee
communications. He was delibe
dressed in his full oficer’s unifo
so that he could be easily identi
to his men. Observers marvelled
this gesture of “gaudy recklessn
and he was recorded as shoutin
his troops: “Men, if they can’t hi