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With a war in France, Texas was no place for an old Marine
THIS is the story of the man who was so eager to get into action that he deserted from the Marines. Under ordinary circumstances the quickest way into battle would be service in the military organization with the "First to Fight" reputation.
But this is not an ordinary story.
In 1918, Sergeant Miles T. Barrett actually deserted from the Eighth Marines in Texas, joined the Army to get to France, then turned himself over to the 97th Company, Sixth Marines, and later won promotion to gunnery sergeant and decoration as a hero under fire.
This is one of the strangest cases on record in the history of the Marine Corps. It all began in a recruiting office in Seattle, Wash., in August, 1917. Former Marine Miles Barrett presented himself for re-enlistment for service in World War I, requesting a guarantee that he would be sent to France.
He had served from 1900 to 1905 when the Spanish American War and Boxer Rebellion were still the topics of the day. His longest tour of duty had been on Guam, which was then the Devil's Island of the Pacific with legends that rivalled those of the French Foreign Legion.
Commandant George Barnett gave his approval for re-enlistment, stating that men like Barrett were needed in France. Barrett was transferred immediately to Philadelphia instead of Mare Island on the West Coast. At the Quaker City the last units of the Sixth Marines were just about ready to board ship, but Barrett was assigned instead to the Eighth Marines then being formed at Quantico.
The Eighth Marines moved out by transport for Galveston, Tex., in November 1917-and they stayed there. For seven months Barrett tried to get overseas service. He was promoted to sergeant, fired expert with the rifle, and supervised the mess of the 105th Company. Every time he requested combat service, his commanding officers looked at his gray hair, smiled patiently and refused. The crisis came in an altercation with the battalion commander, a fiery major, and Barrett planned his great adventure.
In his own words Barrett tells of his decision: "I knew that death was the penalty for desertion in time...