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| | 2ND LIEUT. RICHARD C. COMBES
40 West Canfield Ave., Detroit, Mich.
Graduated from Officers’ Training School, at Fort Sheridan, and was assigned to Headquarters Company, 328th F. A., September 1, 1917.
At Custer, Lieut. DaPrado and 2nd Lieut. Combes attended the Camp Signal School, from which they qualified the two highest of the students. They both applied for the Army Air Corps six times, but each time their applications were pigeon-holed in Colonel Hopkins’ desk. The matter was taken to the General, who raises Cain with the Colonel, claiming there was a breach of military etiquette in not passing on the applications. The Colonel gets annoyed because the matter had been taken over his head, and said in true Hopkins style, “By God, I’ll show them who’s boss.”
Lieut. Combes was transferred to Battery B January 8, 1918. He gave us instructions as to gas and the adjustment of masks. The Lieutenant was also our Mess Officer for a time. At Coetquidan he was Regimental Radio and Telephone Officer and was transferred September 9th to Headquarters Company.
In action he served as First Battalion Telephone Officer. His was the task of coining code words to be used in liaison or communication with the fighting units. An example of his work is found in the Musical and Courier codes, found elsewhere in this book.
His line of duty gave him no opportunity to avail himself of shelter as an officer. It was hazardous and exacting, keeping in working order all the lines of communication of the First Battalion with the Army Corps.
On his own initiative, after relief from his duties of the day at Coetquidan, he taught the boys algebra so they might become eligible for officers. This was unselfish volunteer work for the good of the men. There was but one book in the camp and the Lieutenant procured it from Private Albert Maier, of Battery B, from which to give his instruction.
Everyone will remember his having the men adjust the gas mask by count, and also his command for removing it, “Take off—mask.”
As a man, his bars prevented his revealing himself as an all ‘round good fellow.
[NOTE In our General History, Lieut. Combes’ name, through error, is spelled “Coombs.”]
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