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| | 1ST LIEUT. LESLIE A. MORGAN
1403 Grand Ave., Kalamazoo, Mich.
Lieut. Morgan graduated from Officers’ Training School August 15, 1917, and was assigned to Headquarters Company September 1st.
Having previously graduated from Harvard University, the athletic training he received there stood him in good stead for army life, particularly the possession of a fine pair of lungs, with which to combat gas, when he was appointed as gas expert.
In February, 1918, he became our Regimental Gas Instructor, and his duties were to teach the men how to wear and care for the hated respirator. Through his teaching, the regiment qualified as the best trained organization in the division in gas defense.
He sailed for France with the advance party and on his arrival was sent to Chaumont to the A. E. F. Gas School, returning to the regiment in September to supervise all gas instruction for conditions at the front.
At Camp Coetquidan he instituted a method that would inspire instant alertness on the part of the men in the donning of their masks. In carrying out his system of alarm, klaxons and other means of making noise were sounded after taps. This instruction was unknown to Colonel McKell and when he heard the alarm he ordered his Adjutant, Captain Spofford, to have Lieut. Morgan report to his quarters. The lieutenant responded, entering the Colonel’s room, which was entirely dark. He saluted in the dark, clicking his heels and stood at attention. The Colonel demanded of our gas officer, in his characteristic tone of voice, “What in h— is that I hear about a damned gas alarm after taps?” The lieutenant then explained the necessity of alertness on the part of the men in preparation for their protection when they reached the front. The Colonel said: “Well, the Old Man didn’t give such an order. Now, what do you mean by giving an alarm like that?” The lieutenant again explained the importance of this feature of his instruction. On second thought the Colonel seemed in his own mind to endorse the wisdom of the lieutenant’s system and said in his peculiar high-pitched voice: “Now the Old Man orders you to go ahead with it. It’s the Old Man’s orders, now. Go ahead. Go ahead with it.”
At the front Lieut. Morgan was with the First Battalion at Montauville two days and was later assigned to duties in the observation post on Mousson Hill. This lull had been recognized by the Germans as an American observation post and was shelled incessantly.
In the advance position, at Tautecourt Farm, he was our gas officer. Then, from his point of view, since it took him out of action, he was sent to the hospital for a siege of mumps the day before the armistice was signed.
On his recovery he was assigned to Battery B, where the men of our outfit will recall his putting us through settingup exercises at Pont-a-Mousson, and remained with the Battery until its demobilization.
After a certain relaxation of military discipline, which was felt after hostilities ceased, the men of our Battery will remember Lieut. Morgan for a genial good fellow.
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