Walter, Aged Seven, Downs Hun Aeroplane

Indiana, 1918

If Papa Would Only Let Him Keep Up the Work, He'd Soon Be An Ace

"There's a German aeroplane!"

Little Walter St. John, seven-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George St. John of Indiana avenue, aimed his father's rifle at one of the border designs on the wallpaper in his bedroom.

Bang! The bullet pierced the imaginary aeroplane and left a hole in the wall.

Walter was sprawled out on the door, where the "kick" of the gun had sent him. John Lichtley, his little cousin, ran to him crying, "Walter, are you dying?"

"Naw," said Walter, "I just shot down a German aeroplane. Ain't you got no 'magination?"

It all happened while Mrs. St. John was working in her precinct as a Liberty loan solicitor and the father was at his work.

Of course, they couldn't spank Walter for being so patriotic, although the gun has been placed out of his reach.

--The Lake County Times, Hammond, Indiana, September 30, 1918, page 7.