Speirs and other soldiers decided to spend their 48 hour pass in Paris at a tavern. The soldiers laughed and drank beer after beer, flirting with the French girls that were in awe of the American soldiers before them.

Speirs was off to the side, smoking a cigarette as he talked softly to a few other soldiers. He noticed that the men were especially fond of one girl who was serving them beers, speaking broken French to her.

“Alright men, leave the girl alone.” He told them.