Parades Promoting Liberty Bond Sales Were Held All Over The Country

U. S. EXHIBIT A.These wounded and disabled American soldiers were sent home to sell Liberty Bonds: Front Row: SERGEANT HALEY LIEUTENANT RODMAN PRIVATE SIMMS Back row: PRIVATE JACOBSON SERGEANT JOLLY SERGEANT NOLEN

Frank Haley (lower left) was the first battle casualty invalided back to the United States. A member of the 11th Engineers, he was seriously wounded at Cambrai, November 30, 1917, when the Germans, in a surprise attack, came upon the men of the 11th, who were busy at their work, unarmed. They made a stout defense with spades, picks and such other construction tools as could be picked up. While eventually the majority of the men of the 11th succeeded in getting back to their base, the loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, was heavy.

As soon as these first casualties were able to leave the hospitals, the government sent them out to assist in the sale of Liberty Bonds.

The theory was that when Mr. John Public, who had made no sacrifice, met these battle-scarred veterans, he would be shamed into supporting the government by buying Liberty Bonds. Incidentally the buying of these bonds was no sacrific, as they proved to be the safest and most profitable investment. Purchasers got back their principal with interest, but the wounded soldiers, who assisted in their sale, got back neither their missing limbs nor their health.

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