Wired for Death

Private William H. Edwards of the 4th Infantry Division was back in the U.S. last week minus one foot, and the hero of one of the grimmest incidents of the war.

Bill Edwards, who left Hayti, Mo. (pop. 2,628) to fight in Europe, was on a night patrol in Huertgen Forest when a mine blew his foot off. He lay where he had fallen, keeping his mouth shut so as not to betray his comrades to German infantrymen near by. Artillery shells whistled overhead in a constant barrage. A shell fragment struck his good leg.

Next night the Germans came. There were three. He asked for water, which they refused. Instead, they took his field jacket, rifled his pockets of cigarets. Then they methodically went to work rigging Private Edwards as a boobytrap. When they went away, they left him lying on an explosive charge and too weak to move.

All through that night, all next day, Infantryman Edwards fought to stay conscious. He knew that unless he did, he and anyone who attempted to move him before he could warn them would be blown to pieces. He smoked some cigarets which the Germans had overlooked, and waited. Hours past midnight, corpsmen came. Soldier Edwards had just enough strength left to warn them. They gingerly cut the wires and, after 70 excruciating hours, got him to safety.

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