Abraham Lincoln "Abe" Allen, born on April 19, 1896 to Lacy Marie Nash and John Louis Allen, grew up around Leesville and Walnut Hill and volunteered for Army service on Jan. 16, 1917. Assigned to Company B, 28th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division, he went with the American Expeditionary Forces to Germany. In the spring of 1918, when Germany pushed toward Paris, the American 1st Infantry Division blocked the attempt at Cantigny, France. During a heavy artillery barrage on the American line, Corporal Allen's position was struck, he was severely wounded by shrapnel, and two fellow soldiers were wounded and buried alive when the position collapsed. Despite his own wounds, he dug out both comrades with his bare hands, carried them through another bombardment and heavy machine gun fire to safety, and refused treatment until after they had been cared for. The American line held, the assault toward Paris was halted, and Germany soon surrendered. For his battlefield bravery he was promoted to sergeant and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, and a Silver Star to be affixed to the World War I Victory Medal Citation Star. He was also the only soldier from Louisiana included on General John Pershing's list of One Hundred Heroes. After World War I, Allen returned to Leesville, married Hazel Power in 1920, and served as a law enforcement officer for Leesville, Vernon Parish, and the Louisiana State Police almost continuously until his death in February 1941.