Sidney D. Light's WWI Diary, Postcards & Letters, 329th Battery Book Accounts

"Well, Captain, as a man who had a lion’s share in bringing the Good Ship 329 safe into port, what have you got to say for yourself?"

"Nothing."

"You could have answered that in more words."

"Right. But words are not my business."

"Very well; we’ll leave that to the ‘Barrage’ staff. How do you plead to the charges of being the best known and most popular officer in the regiment?"

"Not guilty."

       "The court of General Opinion will decide that—a court made up of de-chevroned noncoms, brig regulars, scared sergeants of the guard, possible and impossible orderlies and all the rest who like you in spite of hell. That’s all—except you might leave an account of your military activities before you light the pipe again."

Name—Captain O. Brady—O. For Oscar

Born—Yes.

Occupation—Soldier. (Insert by the editor to the effect that they don’t make ‘em any better, any snappier, or of any more soldierly bearing. At guard-mount it makes you straighten your shoulders to watch him.)....

       ...He’s an old military man, all right; he’s been through the mill—several of them—in the course of that twenty years’ continuous service. He served in Cuba, with the Army Cuban Pacification; he was in the Philippines during the Insurrection Period—part of the time in the fire-eating Moro country, where he helped Colonel Scott gain immortality.

       Captain Brady was in the engagement of Laksawana Usop and also took part in the Cotta of Pang-Pang; another get-‘em-fore-they-get-you encounter of the Insurrection. His outfit used the light Vickers-Maxim Mountain Gun. A man named Hassan was the Villa among the Filipinos and he caused a lot of trouble before Uncle Same disposed of him.

       Later, under General Pershing, he went into Mexico after Villa himself.

       Now for a word about the man as we size him up. We have always had profoundest admiration for the man who could handle dignity as though it didn’t bother him, and lay it aside on the right occasion. Such a man must either be a genius or a royal good fellow. Captain O. Brady is "considable of both," as our cullud neighbor would put in.

       Witness the time the cows came to guard-mount—back in the old round square at Pont-a-Mousson. Dignity fell that day but came up standing at parade rest. Picture the solemn occasion. The Captain, in his immemorial manner, had gone through the ceremony he always loved best in super-military fashion. Things were going smoothly. No false moves had marred the scene. Everything was ready for "Sound OFF!" as only the Captain can give it. He gave it. And straightway with the music of the band there ‘rose a fearsome medley! A Frenchman had driven his herd of cows upon the scene of action. Squarely between the guard and the adjutant they straggled, mooing inelegantly the while. Curiously they nosed the O.D.’s Sam Browne as he stood at fancy parade rest. Lumberingly they passed in review.

       Did the Captain falter? Did he explode? He did not. He held his post with a look as though to say, "Brother in blue, it’s luck a ceremony like this has no meaning in your life. You’d owe Uncle Sam—from now on."

       Even when the band countermarched directly into some bovine countenances and halted, he stuck it out. And when the cows moved on, so did the guard-mount, just as though nothing had happened. Quite a feat to carry martial dignity through so trying a test! No? Try it.

       Of the humor and human-ness of this man a volume could be written. A record of the "hot ones" he pulled in court would convulse a continent. Here let’s recall the wit of him, the infinite patience and understanding of him under a mask of military severity. His utter impartiality; his wealth of army experience. Up through the ranks he came to a point where the making or breaking of a good many young Americans was in his hands. He never fell down for Uncle Sam or for The Boys. He could "loosen up" and read a New Year’s joke about himself with as much relish as any; he could—and would—answer any question in the spirit it was asked. He could even sing a tuneless solo at a party and get away with it—could Captain O. Brady. Which moves us to warble:

               "You’ll never miss the Army,

                     But remember when you’re old:

               This hard-boiled SEEMING soldier

                     With the heart inside of gold."