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Vourbin
Dear Mike: The book I am writing and will publish is on the 147th and is based upon some 200 letters from 2nd Lt. Thomas Abernethy.
The battle line moved just southwest of Soissons as of June 26 prompting the move of the 147th who then flew from Saints, Seine-et-Marne, France begining July 9, 1918. Tom received his DSC for action on the 15th of that month.
The citation reads: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Thomas J. Abernethy, Second Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Vourbin, France, July 15, 1918.
All well and good of course except there is no place name -- now or then -- named Vourbin France. A small town just south of Soissons however is named Vauxbin and is pronounced nearly the same as the word vourbin would be.
I believe this is the location of the action on July 15 and is simply a phoenetic mis-spelling of the town Vauxbin.
Best Regards, Douglas Westfall
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