Title: | Re:Something To Be Proud Of |
Posted by: | Kennedy Maxwell |
Date: | 26 June 2004 |
Here is a short story of a later-day Maxwell hero. He was my father, Kennedy F. Maxwell, of Pittsburg, PA. He is more eligant in his "shinning armor" than King Arthur could ever have hoped to be. In 1915, after having played semi-pro baseball, Kennedy F. Maxwell, at 25 years old, was recruited as a catcher by the Pittsburgh Pirates. World War I was raging in Europe. The United States joined the war. The all-volunteer Pittsburgh 15th Engineers Army Corp was formed. Kennedy and many of his friends joined the 15th Engineers. The following story was repeatedly told to family member by several of Kennedy's comrades at subsequent 15th Engineer reunions: During training Kennedy F. Maxwell was popular and was a star of the newly formed Company baseball team. His paranoid commanding officer was aware of Kennedy's popularity and told him that since everyone liked him he would hear a lot of talk among the troops. If Kennedy would keep the commander informed of what was being said he would be promoted and could go a long way in the Army. Kennedy refused, saying that he would not subvert his comrades. The commander told him that if he did not cooperate he would never receive a promotion and would remain a private for as long as the war lasted. After the war the 15th Engineers returned from two years of fighting in the French Argon Forest along with front line units. (They were the first U.S. unit to go to Europe and the last to return.) Their ship was met by small boats at sea before entering New York harbor. A delegation of people from Pittsburgh, including Kennedy's mother, boarded the ship and escorted it to its birth. There was a ticker tape parade on Fifth Avenue. It was July in New York City. Notably, Kennedy was the only soldier marching in his company wearing an overcoat. He was covering the fact that his uniform was torn and the seat of his pants was worn away. His commanding officer had been true to his word. Kennedy never received a promotion and further, he was never issued clothing beyond that which was issued to him in training. He had been forced by his commander to wear the same uniform throughout the war. Kennedy never played baseball with the Pirates. Time had passed him by. But like his ancestors of the "Round Table", Kennedy F. Maxwell was an honorable man and he stood by his principal, and he never betrayed a friend. |
Title: | Date: | Posted By: |
Something To Be Proud Of | 23 June 2004 | Robert C. Maxwell |
Maxwell Pride...! | 23 June 2004 | Anthony Maxwell |
Re:Maxwell Pride...! | 26 July 2004 | Dianna Dickerson |
Re:Maxwell Pride...! | 13 February 2006 | Patricia M. Paulk |
Re:Something To Be Proud Of | 26 June 2004 | Kennedy Maxwell |
Re:Something To Be Proud Of | 27 June 2004 | Alta (Maxwell) |
Re:Something To Be Proud Of | 12 February 2006 | joseph ;THE PROUD: maxwell |
Re:Something To Be Proud Of | 13 February 2006 | Richard Maxwell |
Re:Re:Something To Be Proud Of | 13 February 2006 | Anthony Maxwell |
Re:Re:Re:Something To Be Proud Of | 14 February 2006 | Richard Maxwell |
Re:Something To Be Proud Of | 15 May 2006 | Jerry Pickens |
Re:Something To Be Proud Of | 10 July 2006 | Donna Maxwell |