Chapter 20

November 21, 1918

We leave La Houssoye at 12:45 noon and hike to Corble, where we load on a box-car train and start for the American area. There is 33 men in our car. Before leaving Corbie we succeed in getting some straw to go into our car, so that makes traveling more comfortable. Mid-night finds us still going. Though the engine looked like a joke it makes fast time.

November 22, 1918

We reach Beaumont, a small town, at 2 p. m., and here we unload and wait for American trucks to come after us. It is 9 p. m. before the last of the company leaves this town as the trucks have several kilometers to go. We are carried to Marolies-les-Braults, a town of 2,000 people, where we are billeted in barns and other old buildings not occupied by the French inhabitants themselves. A few minutes before leaving Beaumont three of us fellows from the fourth platoon are detailed as guards to guard company prisoners. I am on guard over these prisoners from 7:30 to 9:30 p. m. We unroll our packs as soon as we are assigned to a building and make as comfortable a bed as possible under the circumstances. But we were all tired and had no trouble going to sleep.

November 23, 1918

The colonel confines the entire regiment (all of the regiment is billeted in or near the town) to the billets. Am excused from all formations during the day on account of being on guard during the night. We are the first American soldiers to enter this town and the people are naturally glad to see us.

November 24, 1918

The company drills two hours in the morning on one of the roads running out of the town. At 10:30 a. m. our billets are inspected by the regimental surgeon. We are excused from duties all the afternoon. The regimental confinement is taken off by the colonel.

November 25, 1918

We drill from 8:30 to 10:30 in the morning and from 1 to 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Retreat is held at 4 p. m.

November 26, 1918

The company drills from 8 to 10:30 in the morning and from 1 to 3 in the afternoon.

November 27, 1918

The company drills from 8 to 10:30 in the morning and in the afternoon we hike from 1 to 3 o'clock. We hike four kilometers, rest 10 minutes, and then return to our billets.

November 28, 1918

It is Thanksgiving day. The regiment is marched to the side of the town church at 
10 a. m., where a short prayer is delivered and a few songs sung, the regimental band furnishing the music. We are given a full holiday. 

November 29, 1918

The company hikes from 9 to 11:30 in the morning and from 1:30 to 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Retreat is held at 4 p. m.

November 30, 1918

We are told to prepare for a general inspection of our billets, which we do, but the inspector fails to show up. We have only two formations during the day-reveille and retreat.

December 1, 1918

We are excused from all formations during the day, except reveille and retreat. Several of the fellows spend the day in nearby towns and villages.

December 2, 1918

The company hikes two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon hiking on a different road each time.

December 3, 1918

Four companies, B, C, D, and F, spend the morning and afternoon drill periods practicing a battalion review. The major of the second battalion, who has charge of these companies, says that some men are to be decorated soon and that these companies will pass in review before the commanding general of the division.

December 4, 1918

The same companies practice the battalion drill in the morning and afternoon. The major says we are making fine progress.

December 5, 1918

Three o'clock in the afternoon, Major General Lewis, our division commander, decorates three men with the distinguished service cross. One of the men decorated is from F company. A large number of civilians are on the field during the decoration and review.

December 6, 1918

In the afternoon we return to E company guns borrowed for the review. Before returning them we have to give them a good cleaning. We have not yet been issued any rifles.

December 7, 1918

At 10:30 a. m. our billets are inspected by one of the company lieutenants and by an officer from the medical department. We are issued new American rifles and bayonets after dinner, and we have only one hour to clean them in. At 2 p. m. the regiment passes in review before the colonel

December 8, 1918

As it is Sunday we are excused from all formations, except reveille and retreat. I write several letters to friends and relatives in the States.

December 9, 1918

I answer sick call at 8 a. m. to have my eyes examined. After sick call the first sergeant details me to help the supply sergeant in the morning and the mess sergeant in the afternoon. I go with the mess sergeant to draw rations for the company.

December 10, 1918

Am sent to the 118th field hospital for an eye examination. Get assigned to room with three other patients in it.

December 11, 1918

Remain at the hospital all day. The other three patients and I chip in and send one of the fellows down to the bakery shop to get a loaf of bread and to the "Y" canteen to get a couple cans of jam. The doctor calls in the afternoon and gives me a dose of salts.

December 12, 1918

Am still in the hospital, the doctors so far having failed to do anything for me except to give salts and pills.

December 13, 1918

The doctor calls in the morning and makes an examination of my eyes. After asking several questions he tells the fellow in charge of the ward to give me a dose of salts. In the afternoon two of us fellows go to the "Y" canteen, a few blocks away, and buy some cigarettes and jam, and on our way back to the hospital we buy a loaf of bread.

December 14, 1918

Major General Lewis visits the hospital in the afternoon and he asks us how we are getting along. He stays about 10 minutes in our ward. The doctor calls in the afternoon. Two fellows are taken from the ward I am in and sent to the base hospital at Le Mans, and three other patients are sent in.

December 15, 1918

After the doctor has called in the afternoon three of us fellows go down into the town and stay until after dark. When we return we carry two loaves of French bread, and two cans of jam we bought at the "Y" canteen. The food at the hospital is poor.

December 16, 1918

Am yet in the hospital, being unable to get the officer in charge of the hospital to let me go back to my company. I go to the "Y" canteen and get some cigarettes and cigars.

December 17, 1918

I miss the ambulance going to the regiment at Marolies-les-Braults in the morning and am forced to spend another night at the hospital. I do a little work in the yard of the hospital in the afternoon. 

December 18, 1918
 
Am sent back to my company, my eyes in as bad a fix as they ever were. I report to one of the lieutenants and then go to my billet. The fourth platoon is billeted in an old barn on the edge of the town and in an old building. The lieutenant of the first platoon pays me my monthly due in the afternoon.

December 19, 1918

The first sergeant details me to work with the supply sergeant all day in the supply room. We issue and exchange clothes with the fellows.

December 20, 1918

Again work with the supply sergeant, helping him issue clothes and carrying worn out clothing and other unserviceable equipment to the regimental supply dump to be turned over to the regimental supply sergeant. We are issued new clothing and other equipment in the place of what we have just turned in.

December 22, 1918

It is Sunday and we do not have any formations to stand except reveille and retreat. After dinner I ride with some fellows to the 27th division headquarters, 35 kilometers away, in a British lorry. The lorry is sent after a load of lumber.

December 23, 1918

Help supply sergeant all day, issuing the exchanging clothes with the fellows that need new clothes worse. At night I go to see a French lieutenant, whose acquaintance I have recently made. I take supper with him and his family.

December 24, 1918

The supply sergeant and I go to the "Y" canteen that is near the church and get an issue of cigarettes and raisins to be given the fellows as a Christmas present.

December 25, 1918

In the morning I help the supply sergeant issue the cigarettes and raisins to the different platoons, giving each man a pack of cigarettes and a box of raisins. It rains and snows in the morning, but the weather is some better in the afternoon. At 2:30 p. m., a Christmas tree is uncovered in the school building used as a moving picture room and each French child is given a bag with candies, fruits, and toys in it. When the tree was uncovered scores of the kids began crying, frightened at the two santa clauses that stepped upon the platform when the tree was uncovered. 

December 26, 1918

The first sergeant tells me at dinner that I am to be the supply sergeant's permanent helper and move my equipment to the supply room and sleep there.

December 27, 1918

We draw and issue caps and leggins in the morning and in the afternoon we turn over to the regimental supply sergeant some unserviceable equipment and clothing.

December 28, 1918

Work in the supply room all day issuing and exchanging clothes with the fellows. At night I help the supply sergeant check up the equipment charged to each man.

December 29, 1918

It drizzles rain all day. We finish checking equipment charged to each man at 11 p. m. We issue some clothes in the afternoon.

December 30, 1918

It drizzles rain again all day. We get an issue of new shoes from the regimental supply sergeant in the morning and it keeps us busy all the afternoon issuing them to the fellows that need them worse. 

December 31, 1918

We do not have anything especially to do during the day. I go to the "Y" tent and write several letters to the States.

January 1, 1919

One of the company sergeants makes a box for us to carry our records and other things that must go when we move, back to the States in. I go over to the regimental supply dump to see if there is any equipment for us to draw.

January 2, 1919

Am busy all day cleaning out the supply room and turning in to the regimental supply sergeant unserviceable equipment. At night I assist the supply sergeant in checking up requisitions made for clothing and other equipment.

January 3, 1919

I carry two broken bicycles to the regimental supply dump and turn them in immediately after breakfast, drawing some gun oil and saddle soap to take back to the company with me. We give our room a good cleaning in the afternoon.

January 4, 1919

We receive orders from the captain to turn in everything except mobile equipment. The supply sergeant and I are busy all day seeing that each man has the right number of articles that he is supposed to have.

January 5, 1919

We issue each fellow another pair of breeches, as a recent order says every man must have two pair. In the afternoon I go to the regimental supply dump and draw some ordnance property.

January 6, 1919

We bundle extra blouses, leather jerkins, raincoats and boots, and turn them over to the regimental supply sergeant. We issue mess-kits, bayonets, scabbards, canteens, and other ordnance property in the afternoon. Am busy until dark.

 
January 8, 1919

We draw our regular issue of matches, candles and soap for the supply room, and tobacco for the company. We draw this from the company mess sergeant. We get orders from the captain to issue no more shoes. The platoons are given tickets to the divisional show, "The Hickory Nuts". The tickets are given free of charge to each man. Any one without a ticket are not allowed to go in the show.

January 9, 1919

We turn in all of our surplus ordnance and quartermaster supplies to the regimental supply sergeant.

January 10, 1919

We start an individual property card for each man, charging him with the things he has on hand. Each man is checked and a list of the equipment he has made.

January 11, 1919

We check the property of each individual all the morning. In the afternoon we are notified by company headquarters to make a requisition for whatever clothing necessary to equip the company.

January 12, 1919

The second battalion has a picture made near the town depot. I am not in this picture as I remain in the supply room and help the supply sergeant give it a good cleaning. We are invited to supper at night to a French friend's house.

January 13, 1919

One of the company sergeants spends the night with me and we sleep until a long while after breakfast. The mess sergeant gives us a sandwich each though when we went down to the kitchen. In the afternoon I pay our new bath house a visit.

January 14, 1919

I go to the divisional show at 3 p. m. This show shows in the building we have been using as a recreation room. The show receives the approval of the entire house. I go to the delouser in the afternoon and get my blankets deloused. 

January 15, 1919

After breakfast I go to the regimental supply dump and see if there is anything for us to draw. There is only a few things which I am able to bring back in my raincoat. In the afternoon I go to the supply dump again and draw a few toilet articles and issue them to the fellows. At night I go to the second battalion headquarters mess and play a few games of checkers with the battalion mail orderly.

January 16, 1919

We get a wagon load of supplies in the morning and issue them out to the fellows who need them worse.

January 17, 1919

We give our supply room a good cleaning and straighten out the clothing we have on hand. We issue clothing to a few fellows who have been away on a detail for several days, thus being unable to get their full equipment.

January 18, 1919

There is an inspection in the morning of the billets that the company is in. In the afternoon the company gets a bath.

January 19, 1919

We do not have anything to do in the morning and only a little work in the afternoon. I visit a French friend after supper. 

January 20, 1919

We do not have anything to do all day in the supply room. Three American girls entertain us in our recreation room at night. I take a French mademoiselle to the entertainment. One of the girls is from Alabama and two from Philadelphia. We enjoy the show and the chance of seeing American girls again. The room is crowded with fellows anxious to hear the girls sing and to see them dance.

January 21, 1919

General Pershing inspects and reviews the division in the afternoon and decorates several of its members. I am not in the formation, but I see the inspection leaving the field as the general was decorating a private with the distinguished service cross. I rode to where the division was inspected and reviewed in a British lorry, but I miss the lorry going back as I took the wrong road.

January 22, 1919

Spend the night at the 118th infantry headquarters with a cousin. I catch a truck in the morning and ride to Ballon, walking from there to Marolise-les-Braults. I reach this town at noon.

January 23, 1919

The supply sergeant and I go to the supply dump and draw five mess-kits and six bayonets. In the afternoon we draw 26 first-aid packets.

January 24, 1919

The company stays in in the morning on account of rainy weather, but in the afternoon the fellows hike one hour. We do nothing all day in the supply room.

January 25, 1919

Two platoons go to the delouser and get their clothes deloused, while the other platoons roll full packs and take a hike.

January 27, 1919

Snow fell during the night and in the early morning it rains. At noon the sun comes out and melts the snow and we have plenty of mud. At 6 p. m. I take a French soldier friend to the movies.

January 28, 1919

We go to the supply dump but there is nothing for us to draw; then the supply sergeant and I go to the "Y" tent next to the church and spend the morning.

January 29, 1919

We turn in some ordnance and salvage equipment in the afternoon. At night I go to the movies and see "Me Und Gott." The company signs the payroll in the afternoon.

January 30, 1919

We turn in a box of gun tools and some gas-mask canisters to the ordnance fellows.

January 31, 1919

We get our regular issue of tobacco from the company mess sergeant and also an issue of candy. At night I go with the regimental show to the 118th infantry, where it gives a performance.

February 1, 1919

At 9 a. m. the entire company goes out to a drill field and spreads all equipment on the ground for inspection. The second battalion major does the inspecting. It is snowing but the major inspects just the same, looking carefully over each man's equipment.

February 2, 1919

I get up late and miss breakfast, but the mess sergeant gives me a couple of sandwiches. In the evening I visit a French friend.

February 3, 1919

The company has two full pack inspections during the day, one being at 11:30 a. m. and the other at 2:30 p. m. In the morning our colonel inspects us, while in the afternoon one of our lieutenants makes the inspection. I write several letters at night.

February 4, 1919

We turn in several pairs of extra breeches we have on hand to the regimental supply sergeant. At 3 p. m. the company goes to the infirmary and is inspected for cooties.

February 5, 1919

We turn in 25 pairs of shoes, 246 pairs of breeches, and socks and underwear to the supply dump as salvage. At night I go to the movies.

February 6, 1919

I spend all the morning cleaning the yard in front of our barn and supply room. I go to the "Y" tent and listen to a "Y" worker make a talk.

February 7, 1919

There is nothing for us to do in the supply room all day. Company D's supply sergeant returns some borrowed papers in the afternoon.

February 8, 1919

The company has a show down inspection on the drill field at 9:30 a. m. At retreat there is rifle inspection.

February 9, 1919

I go to the supply dump after breakfast, but there is nothing for us to draw. We get the regular issue of chewing and smoking tobacco from the company mess sergeant. I spend a while with a French friend after supper.

February 10, 1919

There is yet nothing for us to draw at the regimental supply dump. I get a division history in the afternoon from a sergeant.

February (no date listed)

We do not have anything to do in the supply room as there is nothing at the supply dump for us to get and issue. I go to the movies at night and see two reels of Charlie Chaplin and three other comical reels.

February 13, 1919

We draw a mess-kit, several pair of shoe laces, towels and gun oil in the afternoon at the supply dump. There is nothing else doing in the supply room.

February 14, 1919

Our company commander receives orders to be ready to move to Beaumont within 24 hours. The orders are cancelled at 8 p. m. Hearing we were to leave Marolies-les-Braults I visit my French friends and tell them goodbye. They insist that I take supper with them. Soup, oat meal, butter, cheese, and cider are served and we have a fine time. It is 10:30 p. m. before I return to my billet.

February 15, 1919

We draw leggins, underwear, socks, shirts, gloves and shoes and issue them to the fellows. At night I go to the movies and see "Ceasar." It was a good picture.

February 16, 1919

We draw blue denim blouses, breeches, and picks and shovels in the morning. We turn in as salvage 163 pair of socks, 222 pair of gloves, 11 shirts, 50 pair of shoes, and a few other articles. I go to "Y" tent at night and listen to a talk.

February 17, 1919

We draw two field kitchens in the afternoon and four large water cans. Visit French friend and take supper with him.

February 18, 1919

There is nothing for the company or battalion to do the entire day. Troops from another division begin moving in the tows and occupying the billets that part of the regiment has already left. At night I go to the recreation room where the American girls entertain us.