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| | 1ST CL. PVT. GUY M. ORDIWAY
Serial No. 2,026,592
Fox Row, W., Owosso, Mich.
Ordiway was one of the first men in the Battery, joining it September 21, 1917. As he was accustomed to horses, he was sent to the Remount Station, at Custer, to learn more about the army man’s best friend.
Guy did not easily divorce from the beef- steaks of civilian life. He had a ravenous appetite and would generally head the mess line at Custer and if steak was on the menu watchful waiting was not the proper move for the rest of us if we wanted any of it.
Guard duty was new to Ordiway when first assigned under Corporal McKenzie; also the application of General Order No. 9. Hearing a suspicious noise, he investigated and found that it was caused by a muskrat. Not knowing what to do, he called out in a hysterical voice, “Corporal of the Guard! Muskrat! Muskrat!” The Corporal responded and when he saw what the trouble was, ordered all to get after the animal, so with clubs the boys had an excitable time killing the rodent.
At Coetquidan Ordiway was made Cannoneer No. 2 man. He was quick of mind and had great celerity of movement, as well as being exact and obedient in discharge of orders. It was a keen delight for him to perform the duty of feeding the shells to the gun, becoming so expert that he could place the shell within the breech on the recoil.
He was unquestionably one of the fastest and most efficient cannoneers in the regiment.
At Montauville, where the Battery first saluted Fritz, Ordiway was so zealous and eager to put the first shell into enemy lines that he did not leave the piece (gun) even while he slept. A shell of high explosive was selected as the first to be fired, and with this under his head as a pillow, Ordiway obtained what sleep he got the night of the 4th of November. It would have weakened the morale of the Kaiser’s picked suicide reserves to see the delight this cannoneer showed when the signal came at last to send over our first respects to Bill. He showed supreme strength and sense of duty, working without intermission during the strenuous hours without food or rest, preceding the Eleventh.
He could adapt himself to almost any kind of surroundings if there was a reason for it. His sunshiny disposition carried him through anything. He was well built physically and had a fine endowment of health, which, perhaps, gave him the great sympathy and kindness of heart which he displayed to those who were broken or sick. At times he acted as Orderly to the captain and when the latter was suffering with the ailment which finally sent him to Camp Hospital No. 15, Ordiway acted in the capacity of nurse and was very much affected over the seriousness of our Battery commander’s condition. He intuitively knew what would relieve pain and would rub the captain’s hands and otherwise do the right thing to alleviate his condition.
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