Featured on the cover of the April 13, 1917 Forest Leaves are Major and Mrs. Edward Bittel, 804 Elgin. Edward was called for service to guard government property, “somewhere in the state.” He won the national championship in rifle shooting and five medals for rifle and revolver shooting in state and national contests. Mrs. Bittel, shown lighting his cigar, was also an expert shooter, with several gold and silver medals, which she proudly earned defeating male riflemen.
Edward Bittel would go on to serve in World War I in France as a colonel and be honored by General Pershing with a silver star for his distinguished gallantry in action while serving with the 130th Infantry Regiment, American Expeditionary Forces, in action in Bois Plat Chene, France, Oct. 10, 1918, and for his brilliant leadership. In that battle the 33rd Division, primarily composed of Illinois National Guard Units, saw intense fighting, including heavy artillery, machine gun fire, gas attacks and air attacks.
Jill Wagner