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| | CORP. WILFORD B. McKENZIE
Serial No. 2026,585
Chesaning, Mich.
Inducted September 21, 1917, at Custer, and was one of the first men in the Battery.
Promoted to Corporal May 3, 1918.
He was of Scotch descent, tall and of that coolheaded, calculating disposition which marks that hardy race. At Camp Coetquidan Corp. McKenzie, with Corp. Waters, was made Gas Corporal. These two were detailed to the duty of teaching alertness in the adjustment of the gas mask, and daily practice of wearing same. For this purpose a half-hour each day was devoted to putting on the gas mask and qualifying the men from three to six seconds. They supervised the wearing of the mask and performed their duties at the same time. This was an order from the command and both men and officers must comply.
At the front he was in charge of the Battery’s gas defense. It was his duty to place guards at points to see that all men had their gas masks in the alert position ready for the alarm.
His was the job of inspecting all dugouts and making them impervious to the lingering fumes of gas. During the eleven days of hostilities he worked day and night, and had about thirty-two men on gas detail, who became known as McKenzie’s Gas Hounds.
His was a conscientious and dangerous duty, which he discharged in a thorough manner.
He never imposed his orders on his men with hardship, and was liked by them, as all such men of sterling qualities generally are. |