Fales, Hugo Wing

Born March 17, 1892, in Belding, Michigan. Son of Elmer E. and Clara Palmer Fales. Educated Belding High School and Ferris Institute. Six years with Belding Brothers & Company, silk manufacturers. Joined American Field Service, August 7, 1917; attached Transport Section 397 until November 13, 1917. Enlisted U. S. Motor Transport Corps; attached Section 242. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, M. T. C., November 11, 1918. Killed by accidental explosion of shell, Bourges, May 2, 1919. Buried at Bourges, Cher.

MANY of the men who volunteered for the American Field Service were young fellows still in college, free of responsibility, whose departure did not include giving up a hard-won position in the world. Hugo Wing Fales went with the same ready spirit of sacrifice that moved them all, in spite of the fact that for him it meant making the climb in business all over again when he should come back. He was twenty-six years old with a successful record as salesman for a silk manufacturing concern when, in July, 1917, he sailed for France. He went out to the front in the camion branch joining Section 397, and when the American Field Service was taken over by the United States Army, he enlisted in the American Mission, continuing his work as a truck driver with the French army. His ability as a driver and his knowledge of machinery caused him to be included, shortly after his enlistment, among those to attend a course at Chauvigny for instructors. After graduating from this school in January, 1918, he was made an instructor for American truck drivers at Pont St. Maixent and later at Motor Transport School Number One. On November 11, 1918, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of the M. T. C. and assigned to duty as assistant to the Motor Transport Officer at Bourges. Throughout the dreary winter and spring that followed the armistice he worked at his uninspired task with unflagging cheerfulness, never complaining even when troops with half his length of service went past him on their way home, while he stayed apparently anchored to his desk for all time. His commanding officer, Captain Russell H. Bird, says that (tat all times he proved himself an untiring and energetic worker, with a sunny disposition and a kind word for everyone." It was a time when it took all a man's buoyancy of spirit just to keep smiling, yet Hugo always managed to create an atmosphere of cheeriness even when his heart ached most for home. In his letters he betrayed very little of his real feelings. In the last one, written eight days before his death, there is no word of complaint, simply the casual reference, "I don't expect to get to go before July 15th. It seems a long time, doesn't it, but the time flies."

Colonel David L. Stone of the General Staff has given the following account of the accident that caused Hugo's death.

"The Motor Transport Park where your son was on duty is located near the proving grounds or target range for a French artillery depot . . . . . On the morning of May 2nd a shrapnel shell being fired on the French proving grounds burst prematurely in mid-air and by some freak of the explosion part of the shell was projected way to one side, crashing through the roof of the office and striking your son in the hip. Every medical attention was at once administered and Captain Bird, his commanding officer, offered to have his own blood transmitted to your son in order to compensate for excessive bleeding, but the shock of the large piece of metal passing through your son's body was too great for him to recover."

He was game to the very end. When he was given cocaine he said smilingly, " If I had known it was so easy to take dope, I would have tried it long ago."

Colonel Stone concluded his report with the words

"I know that he was universally loved and respected by all officers and men," and this opinion was held by everyone who came in contact with him. The words of his chaplain, Edward J. Smith, might stand for all, "I doubt if there was an officer more popular with his men or more highly esteemed by his fellow officers for the fine soldierly qualities he displayed."

• Tribute from Memorial Volume of the American Field Service, 1921