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Francis Flaherty
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Becky Dirks Haugsted provided the images and Janet A. Brandt transcribed the text.
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Among the boys from Anamosa in the Rainbow Division was Francis Flaherty, son of Frank T. Flaherty. He was one of the first nine to volunteer for service in the Machine Gun Company of the First Iowa, enlisting on April 9, 1917, and going to camp one week later. He went overseas with the Rainbow boys landing in England in December 1917, and soon went to the fighting front in France. He was wounded in action in the great American offensive which began in July, 1918. Particulars of the injury gathered from letters from himself and companions show that during a heavy bombardment with high explosives and gas shells he and a companion were buried by an upheaval of earth. His gas mask was torn off and he was seriously affected by the poison but extricated himself sufficiently to replace the mask and then dig his companion out. Private Flaherty was confined in a hospital in France for some weeks but has apparently fully recovered. He came home with the Rainbow boys in May to Camp Dodge and soon after returned home, modestly pursuing his former work as a civilian. | ||||
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