;t--immikfii CInss Vsio Hook .34 1 o\st 'W3 Major CjEnerai. Ci.arkn(.-k K. Kdwards HISTORY of The loist Machine Gun Battalion Editor-in-Chief 1st Lieutenant Philip S. Wainwright Assistant Editors Sergeant George E. Bannister Private, 1st Class, David vS. Green Company B Company C Photographic Editor Corporal Ruel C. Stratton sissistant Photographic Editors Private, 1st Class, Philip H. Hammerslough Company B Wagoner William W. Scoville^.. Company C Historian 1st Lieutenant Harold Amory / Statistician Sergeant John R. Stoddard Business Manager 2nd Lieutenant Morton W. Scoville Assistant Business Managers Si'.Kc.EANT Howard J. Bruemmer Corporal Everett N. Sturman Company B , Company C Published by The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Association Hartford, Conn. 1922 ^ ^no \\^ To the Memory of Our Dead Wallace Holmes Brown Garland Van Cole Louis Francis Hart Ralph Lee Henry Headquarters Company Haskell Mayo, Jr. B Company Paul Kimberly Lambert John Joseph McCann Hezekiah Scovil Porter Harold Ansley Smith Lawrence Crothers Verges C Company John Franklin Alexander Franklin Allen Albert Joseph Audette William Alfred Bruton Ignatius Brzostowicz David Alfred Blowers Paul Watson Butler Robert Elroy Collins Lome Lee Cupples Harrv Gilbert Faulk Kenneth Sinclair Murray Finlayson Moseley Hastings Gray Waldo Clayton Hayes Fred Wilson Hyland James Francis Kane Walter Clifford Lamkins Raymond Eugene Martin Giuseppe Molinari Carroll Vernon Smith Andrew Smith Welling^ton Died After Leaving Service B Company C Company Gordon Robert Barratt George Weston Ward The Supreme Sacrifice /^ VALIANT Hearts, who to your glory came ^"^^ Through dust of conflict and through battle-flame; Tranquil you lie. your knightly virtue proved. Your memory hallowed in the Land you loved. Proudly you gathered, rank on rank to war. As who had heard God's message from afar; All you had hoped for, all you had you gave To save Mankind yourselves you scorned to save. Splendid you passed, the great surrender made, Into the light that nevermore shall fade; Deep your contentment in that blest abode, Who wait the last clear trumpet-call of God. Long years ago. as earth lay dark and still. Rose a loud cry upon a lonely hill. While in the frailty of our human clay Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self-same way. Still stands His Cross from that dread hour to this. Like some bright star above the dark abyss; Still, through the veil, the Victor's pitying eyes Look down to bless our lesser Calvaries. These were His servants, in His steps they trod Following through death the martyr'd Son of God: Victor He rose; victorious too shall rise They who have drunk His cup of Sacrifice. Risen Lord. Shepherd of our Dead. Whose Cross has bought them and whose Staff has led — In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing Land Commits her Children to Thy gracious hand. FOREWORD IN January, 1919, when the Battalion was billeted in Louvieres, someone coneeived the idea that the story of our experiences in France ought to be ])ut into permanent form. Accordingly, a general committee from each Com])any, Headquarters, and the Sanitary Detachment met in the orderly- room and elected a Board of Editors and Business Managers. No very clear idea was ])ut forward as to the rnake-up of the book; but it was de- cided that a history of the Battalion must be written, with a complete record of the individual personnel. This information was collected from Company and Battalion records, and from the men themselves. On arrival at Camp Dcvens, photographs of each platoon were taken in such a way that cuts could be easily made of the indi\-iduals. This, however, did not account for the men who had previously left the outfit, so every effort was made to get in touch with all of them. It ])roved to be a slow and difficult undertaking, but by long persistence we have been able to report, "All 1) resent or accounted for!" It is hoped that this book will be treasured by our men as a memento of those stirring days spent together in the service of our Country, and that in years to come it may continue to call to mind the incidents that went to make up our daily life "over there." We hope it wall bring the picture of our great adventure to the imagination of those who could not share it with us. We are glad to acknowledge our great indebtedness to Mr. William H. Scoville for his cooperation, and for the use of space in his ofifice for editorial work. Our thanks are also due to Miss Lillian York, for her valua- ble assistance in clerical work, to the Adjutants General of Connecticut and W'rmont for the use of their records, to Roy D. Bassette for the cover design, to William M. Buekman, Major J. H. Kelso Davis, Edwin V. Mitchell, to Lieutenant Colonel Emerson (j. Ta\-lor and Houghton Mifflin Company (for permission to reprint maps from the history of the Twenty- Sixth Di\'ision, "New England in France"), and to the many others who hax'c aided us in various wa\'s. THE BOARD OF EDITORS. m a o U ^i'^'"^^^^ u o U CONTENTS To the ]\Iemon^ of Our Dead 3 The Supreme Sacrifice, poem 4 Foreword 5 List of Illustrations 9 Organization of the 26th Division 11 "National Ouard," poem, Captain Roland F. Andreivs 12 Roster, 1917 13 History of the 101st Machine Oun Battalion, Lieulcnanl Harold Amory ". 17 Origin of Organization Chateau-Thierry France Refitting and Training Billets and Training The Saint-Mihiel Salient The Chemin des Dames The Meuse-Argonne Offensive The Toul Sector The Armistice Home Mont-les-Neufchateau, Ernest dcF. Mid, D.D 57 The Tripod 66 The 101st M. G. Bn. as seen from the Y. M. C. A., Rev. Charles E. Hesselgrave, Ph.D 69 A Machine-Gunner's Diary, compiled by the Editor 83 "\'crdun," jjoem, Lieutenant Harold Amory 147 An Old Billet Town Revisited, Sergcaiit " Boz" Hawley 149 Roster, 1919 159 Jndi\-idual Records, compiled by the Editors 163 The Dead Sanitary Detachment Officers Comj^an}^ B Headquarters Com])any Comi^any C Attached Statistics, Sergeant John R. Stoddard . . 318 The Welfare Association, The Editor 322 Appendix 326 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Major General Clarence R. Edwards Company B at Niantic Company C at Niantic "Jump-off" of the Attack on Epieds, July 22 . Connecticut State Mobilization Camp, Xiantic Neuf chateau Area (Map) H. M. Transport Megantic Chemin Des Dames Sector (Mapj .... Sketch showing Barrage of B Company's Guns at Pinon La Reine (Boucq) Sector (Map) Sketch showing Barrage of B Company Guns at Aprcmont Advance of 26th Division, Aisne-Marne Offensive (Map) St. Mihiel Offensive (Map) Meuse-Argonne Offensive (IVIap) Mont-les-Neufchateau Guests at Christmas Party Battalion Headquarters The Christmas Tree The Chateau The Church and "Red Barracks" School-master and Kids The Battalion Glee Company B's Mess Shack Mont-les-Neufchateau Mont-les-Neufchateau Entering Town The Lower Fountain C Company Sergeants Two Husky Bar-maids The Pistol Range B Company Squad at Gim Drill C Company with French M. G. Section B Company at M. G. Range Church at Vregny Flivvers at Vregny German "Hate" — Chemin des Dames "Y" at Vregny Pinon Hill Ailleval Old Mill Billet at Fontaine The Toul Sector Officers' Barracks at Harcourt Kitchen Gang Jouy Battalion Barracks B Company Section M. G. Nest PAGE Facing 1 6 16 18 20 21 24 30 32 36 39 45 49 56 65 82 91 98 10 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Page Field of Fire from the M. G. Nest Entrance to "The Swamp" Church at Flirey Billet of Company C Entrance to "The Swamp," Toul Sector 107 Camp at Coulommes In Pursuit of the Boche Camouflaged Flivvers Sacerie Wood The Sanitary Detachment Ciraves of Bruton, Butler, and Wellington, Fere Woods 113 Air-plane Bomb Hole Company B's Rolling Kitchen Graves of Ralph Henry atid Harold Smith at Sacerie Farm "Doctor of Wines and Liquors" C Company Mess A Swim in the Seine Dugouts at Seuzey Woods — St. Mihiel 126 Captured German Truck "Y" at Seuzey Woods Wreck of Famous Zouave Train 101st M. G. Battalion in Trenches C Company Men at Bois de Brabant Battalion P. C. at Bois de Brabant 102d Infantry P. C. on Armistice Noon 134 First Leave Gang Louvieres Chateau, Officers' Quarters Billet of C Company Wagoners B Company Baseball B Company Sergeants at Louvieres 140 Winter Typical Billet Kitcjicn C Company Billet Entrance "The Beer Garden" B Company Kitchen "Hommes 40, Chevaux 8" Welcome-Boat of Welfare Association 104th Artillery Band Serenading Battalion 144 101st Machine Gun Battalion Entertains Elsie Janis and Mother 144 U. S. Transport Agamemnon 148 Review of 26th Division at Camp Devens 148 Camp Devens, April, 1919 158 Headcjuarters Company and Sanitary Detachment Company B Company C Welcome Home Parade, Hartford, April 30, 1919 162 Company B Company C Presentation of Colors to the State, April 30, 1919 325 Organization of the 26th Division 1917 Commanding General Major General CLARENCE R. EDWARDS Chief of Staff Brigadier General George H. Shelton, G. S. Divisional Troops Headquarters Troop 101st Field Signal Battalion 101st Engineers 101st Machine Gun Battalion 51st Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Peter E. Traub 101st Infantry 102d Infantry 102d Machine Gun Battalion 52d Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Charles H. Cole 103d Infantry 104th Infantry 103d Machine Gun Battalion 51st Field Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General William L. Lassiter 101st Field Artillery — 75 mm. 102d Field Artillery— 75 mm. 103d Field Artillery— 155 mm. 101st Trench Mortar Batterv 101st Train Headquarters and Militar}- Police, Colonel Warren E. Sweetser 101st Ammunition Train 101st Supply Train 101st Sanitary Train 101st Engineer Train National Guard (By pci mission af "Life") r^IDN'T know much, but knew something, Learned while the other men played, Didn't delay for commissions; Went while the other men stayed. Took no degrees up at Plattsburg, Needed too soon for the game, Ready at hand to be asked for, Orders said: "Come!" — And they came. Didn't get bars on their shoulders. Or three months to see if they could; Didn't get classed with the reg'lars, Or told they were equally good. Just got a job and got busy, Awkward they were, but intent, Filing no claim for exemption, Orders said: "Go!" — And they went. Didn't get farewell processions. Didn't get newspaper praise. Didn't escape the injunction To mend, in extenso, their ways. Work-bench and counter and roll-top. Dug in and minding their chance. Orders said: "First line of trenches!' They're holding them somewhere in France. ROLAND F. ANDREWS, Formerly Captain, 1st Injantry, Connecticut National Guard. Roster 191 7 Major James L. Howard. L'onDuaiiding HEADQUARTERS C:OMPANY 1st Lt Hiham W. Mills, Adjutant and Siipijli/ Officer S<;t Maj Dwight A. Peask Supply Sot Wilkuei) H, TiiiKNAN Staulk Sgt Geokgb A. Williams C|j1 Herbert C. Noyes Wag. Arthur A. Barlow- Mario A. Bianchi Homer F. Brown Frank J. Clark Homer P. Darling James E. Dick Fred Ferris Frank L. Folsom Eugene Gapit Percy L. Griswold Clarence E. Halvorson Ralph L. Henry Wag WilHain Hull Daniel A. James Terry Kinney Norman LaFayetfe Henry LaFlowci Oney E. Lanciaiilt Malcolm MacAskill John MacDonald, Jr. Haskell Mayo Donald McDonald William W. Menard Collies B. Millard Daniel O. Nash Wag Peter Pickel Harry E. Smith Pvt Id Samuel C. Neiburg Albert Newman William J. Thornton Pvt James M. Brooks Arthur F. Clark James R. Phillips John Roberts Unson W. Smith Ancel L. Turcotte Cook John J. Boedicker ORDNANCE DETACHMEN'I Sgt Richard E. Moore Pvt Icl Dudley M. North Pvt Andre S. Janet Jcjhn W. Sullivan 'vt Icl Edward J. Kenefick Pvt Edwin R. Curran Jewell W. Godard SANITARY DETACHMENT 1st Lt Hknhv A. Bunker, M.C. Pvt Herbert Ratenburg Anthony W. Telesca Ernest .J. Itzig Cook Wm. G. B. .Vngermann Cook Eugene F. Kelly Capt Morgan G. Bulkeley, Jr. 1st I.t .Stillman F. Westbrook COMPANY B 2nd Lt Charles A. Pellett 2nd Lt Chester F. Comey 1st Sgt Philip S. Wainwright 2nd Lt Harold Amory 2iid Lt Charles A. Bennett Sgt Houghton Bulkeley Cpl Rodney G. Dennis Cpl Edward V. Harrington Bglr Robert E. Austin Bglr Francis T. Aninger Pvt Icl Godfrey M. Day Stanley H. Leeke Headquarters Pvt Id Walter R. Hall Ellsworth A. Hawkc Richmond Rucker Pvt Harold A. Beach *Ralph S. Butler *Porter B. Chase Elias B. Denison Pvt John A. Ortgies llczekiah S. Porter Howard L. Sargent Harry F. Sceery William L. Smith Bulkeley Van Schaack Sgt Charles G. Shepard Pvt Icl Henry R. Goodwin 1ST PLATOON Cpl Greiiville D. Whitney I^vt Id Louis R, Daniels William H. Hart, Jr. Clifford R. Haskins Pvt John J. Corcoran .\rthur Johnson Pvt William Kievit Isl Section Sgt Andrew S. Gra.v Pvt John M. Lawson Clarence A. Usher Frank C. Wadswortli Cpl Benjamin A. Bourn Pvt Icl E. Whittlesey Abb(,' Henry A. Bennett Pvt Paul H. Ailing Adrian S. Buekman Pvt Id l':dKar W. Champion Pvt Wallace 11. Brown Harold J. .Malone Woolscy .McA. Pollock Giusi'OiJC Ris^d J,,,s,-iih Slater ' Harold G. Williams ' Transferred from Battalion at Niantic. 14 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion Cpl llcmv A. Hniwn Pvt 1(1 \Viii!,i,.w H. Arnold Car.liiu'i' II. Hull Kusscll N. Nelson Pvt .lolui Laiuliiskv H('nj;iiiiiii ('. IVrkins Pvt Joseph IJ. .Staph Sgt Harolrl J. Kennedy Pvt Ic'l John S. Gunning Cpl Luther J. Parker Pvt hi llaroKi N. Chandler Cordon M. Uohiiison Cardner C. W.^ld Pvt William I, Parber Prainard W. Brown Pvt Earle 11. Ciowdy Cpl Roberts K. Skinner Pvt Icl Truenian \V, Brewer John J. Kolev Clifford K. llo.lder Pvt Carrol II. Anair Harrv S Camphell William J. Crane 2d Scrlion Sgt Raymond J. .Maiin Pvt Reuel C. Stratton Harry G. N'alentine Lawrenee C. Verses Cpl liiehar.l M. Parker I'vt lei Garold Brings Richard Cnshman 2ND PLATOON Headquarters Srd Scrlidii .Sgt Elmer G. Braekett Pvt Pvt Raymond L. .tones Allen P. Parker Louis C. Reeknagcl Cpl Perev II. Williams Pvt lei Lindley B. Bicknell Einer Sallier 4th Section Sgt Frederick L. Way Pvt Philip U. Ilammerslough David W. Olschefskie Cpl Clark B. Hill Pvt Icl Arthur \V. Bandv Charles J. Miel Anthonv L. Poto Pvt Westell" R. Averv Pvt Icl Wallai'c II. Gladwin I'vt William S Bourn Wilson S. Falls EuKene M. Kelcy \'incent Del'. Lamb Herman F. Leist Edward J. Alanning, Jr. Edward F. McGovern Alford T. Schade Pvt 1<1 Harold A. Smith Pvt William A. Allen Douglas T. Ball Lyie E. Dean John F. Manion Stefan Sancy/.k Alfred G. Stoughton Pvt Clarence R. Bradv Harold J. Brickley Leslie C. Eggleston Arthur E. McCanii James G. Swift Giuseppe \'ene/.ia Sgt Uobart W. Thomas, Jr. Pvt Id I'.llord P. Rogers ;5RD PLATOON Headquarters Pvt Cpl Howard R. Manning Pvt Icl Fr.'d J. Cirossklaus Edmund R. Hami)Son John 11 Jackson. Jr. Pvt .\ll.ert A. Baril Hurd.'tle W, Fothergill llarrv .1. Corse, Jr. Cpl Everett II Hart Pvt Icl Allen N. Jones William C. Skinner, Jr. Arthur V. R Tilton Pvt Cleon A Bell Malcolm I Buck Gerald D. Burnham Mess Sgt George E. Bannister llorseshr Louis Canzenella Mech Gordon R. Barratt Martin H Di-xheimer Capt Rawdon W'. Myers 1st Lt George W. Cheney Cpl Harrison C. Bracken Cpl Theodore E Whitnev Bglr Leon C Bra.llev Bglr John B Hiddell Pvt Icl Franklin Allen llemv H llvde Stli Section Sgt Clinton L. Allen Pvt William H. Gray Frank A. Gn^er Robert R Riepsame (^pl Howard J Brueinmer Pvt Icl William Burden James A. Parsons .Sydney D. Pinuey (1th Section .Sgt ^'ine R. Parmelee Pvt John Heron George B. Cov Norman L. NIorrill Clinton C. O'Callahan Cpl Leslie A. Tracy Pvt Icl Chester O. Matthews Oliver W. Merrow TRAIN Supply Sgt Erie Rogers Mech Lval S. TetTt Cook John P. Kipp Cook Patrick F. McVeigh COMPANY C 1st Lt Chester C. Thomas 2nd Lt William S. Eaton 1st Sgt Francis A. Cliristensen Headquarters Sgt Morton W. Seoville Pvt Icl William W. Seoville Samuel Thornton Freas Ci. Keen I'vt Wesley F. Brewer Stanley T. tireen Walter C. Lanikins Curl A. Kjclleran Lirnest E. Norris Pvt Dt>nald M. Doekrell Roy D. Heymann Paul K. Lambert Carl W. Lawson (ieorge E. Mercer William 11. H.lvea, Jr Pvt 1(1 Arthur P. R. Wadluud Pvt Herbert Johnson Nelson L. Kingsburv John J. McCann Richard W. Parsons I'.arle A. Penfield Joe Zurik Stable Sgt Drummond W. LittI Cook Paul Schuman Pvt Icl Josei>h .\ Hyan Pvt .Vntonio Vcneo 2n(l Lt John A. .\gnew 2nd Lt Gerald Courtney I'vt Louis S. Tracy Raliih A. Jones (•eorge Patterson Kenneth S. M. Finla.\sc I'lmer S Fox •Darrell M. .Scaftergood History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 15 Sgt .lolin W. O'Neil Pvt Icl John L. Seaver Pvt Ic! Ernest S. Kitson Cpl William B. Mcintosh Pvt Icl Alfred E. Woodard James A. Coleman Pvt Harry G. Faulk David I. Hitchcock Arthur E. Cota 1ST PLATOON Pvt Moseley H. Gray Clayton Evans Pvt 1(1 John W. Kearney Cpl George W. Glenney Pvt Icl Lester K. McEIwain Carroll V, Smith Pvt Raymond E. Martin John H. Gardner George A. Cormier Sgt Ian D. Mackenzie Pvt Icl John R. Stoddard 1st Section Sgt Calvin J. Ward Pvt Ernest L. Hutchinson Ernest C. Clark William H. Brooks Cpl Lawrence B. Neeld Pvt Icl Charles P. Swan Aaron W. Morrill 2d Section Sgt George C. Ackley Pvt Albert J, Audetle George H. Hoev, Jr. Cpl George A. Elliott Pvt Icl Earl O. Cressey Pvt Robert D. Baker 2ND PLATOON Pvt Icl Robert J. Lindsay Pvt John W. Cota George A. Cota Anthony J. Schultz John C. Wiley Hadley E. Burnham Richard Menegat Pvt Icl Matthew H. Connors Pvt Harold F. Burnham William B. Chambers Miles A. Berry William C. Murray Edwin M. Annis Pvt Hudson R. Hawley Louis W. Sechtman Pvt Icl Joseph F. Clark Cpl Joseph F. Comerford Pvt Id Elmer S. Tiger Edward J. Johnston Pvt George W. Ward John D. Weir Henry E. McCann James H. Brennan Pvt Icl Ernest E. Alton Cpl Lawrence H. Hansel Pvt Icl Maxwell S. Gardner Pvt Icl Leon A. Woodmancy Pvt John F. Alexander Harold N. Connolly Hugh W. Halvosa Otis M. Miller 3rd Section Sgt Maurice L, Furnivall Pvt Edgar W. Mohr Francis E. Murphy Carlos E. Waldo Cpl Chandler T. Green Pvt Icl George H. Barnes George R. Gowan 4th Section Sgt Richard C. Hastings Pvt John F. Molloy Giuseppe Molinari Ralph Pascale Cpl Charles C. Pearson Pvt Icl Peter K. Rask Douglas A. Blease Seward H. Strickland Pvt Icl Ray H. Gustetter Pvt Harold F. Kropp Conrad W. Bohman Francis L. Winslow Harry N. Smith Fred W. Reichard Alexander Zymiski Pvt Icl Paul W. Butler Pvt George J. McGinn • William A. Bruton Andrew S. Wellington Henry C. Barrows John C. Hussey Carmelo DiFranco 3RD PLATOON Sgt Edward S. Cushman Pvt Icl Everett N. Sturman Pvt Harold C. Willard Herbert A. Brann Pvt Icl John J. Keevers Cpl William P. Allen Pvt Icl John J. Nolan Thomas F. Burke Pvt Leonartl C. Bradbury Raymond A. Dalton Ralph A. Weill Pvt Icl David S. Green Cpl William J. Sweenev Pvt Icl Charles E, McCarthy Flovd A. Couch Pvt William J. Couch Gordon N. Christopher Marshall H. Kashman Walter S. Smith Mess Sgt Sidney W. Rodda Horseshr John J. Costello Mech Waldo C. Hayes Saddler Albert Rossing Cook Louis F. LeBlond 5th Section Sgt James A. Durston Pvt Alden H. Whitmorc Aleack L^rechena Cpl Felix E. Baridon Pvt Icl Willard F. Terrell Frederick A. Miles Pvt Lloyd W. Beach 6th Section Sgt George H. Berlin Pvt George H. Pfeffer Charles F. Sweet Cpl Royton T. BristoU Pvt Icl Arthur A. Neilson William A. Forant Pvt Albert C. Snyder William J. O'Neil TRAIN Supply Sgt William W. Buck Cook Byron P. Graff Percy L. Gould Pvt Icl Elton M. Allen Pvt Icl Louis R. Lyman Irwin H. Rogers John H. Nolan Theodore J. Fabryk George Reise Lee P. Bibeau Pvt Icl Robert E. Collins Pvt Edward W. O'Mara Edmund F. Costello Adolph E. Feneslau Buel J. Ferguson Edmund L. LaRock Edward B. Barnes Stable Sgt Harold E. Trumble Pvt Archie C. Lenzi Arnold R. Lask William D. F. Dunn Constantino Cimminello 5«^ History of the loist Machine Gun BattaHon Bv Lieutenant Harold Amory ORIGIN OF ORGANIZATION BEFORE beginning the actual histoiy of the 101st Machine Gun Battahon, it is necessary to devote some time to an explanation of how it was fonned, organized, and made a part of the 26th Division. The Third Separate Squadron, Connecticut Cavalry, was called out on July 25 under command of Major James L. Howard. The Squadron was made up of Troops A, B, L and M. Troops A and M were New Haven organizations, formed wnth the original Troop A as a nucleus; while Troops B and L were composed chiefly of men frqm Hartford and vicinity. The latter troops were formed by splitting the old Troop B into two new ones and Ijringing them up to recjuired strength by ineans of enlistment. Both of the original Troops had seen four months in Federal service on the Mexi- can Border during the previous year, and held enviable records for efficiency among the National Guard organizations of the cotmtry. It is Troops B and L, however, in which we shall be particularly interested, as they were to form what is known today as the 101st Machine Gtm Battalion. Shortly after the call to the colors the Third Separate Squadron was ordered to the mobilization camp at Niantic, Conn. On August 5, it was federahzed. On August 20, it was assigned to the 26th Division; and the next day came an order from Division Headquarters transferring the "Third Separate Squadron wholly to the 101st Machine Gun Battalion." The following day the four companies appeared on the morning report as "A, B, Cand D." There was much to be done at Niantic. A troop of cavalry has a peace strength of 65 men, while a machine gun company at war strength carries an enlisted jjersonnel of 172 men. Much was done by recruiting. Non- commissioned officers were given passes to Hartford, New Britain and New Haven, and through their energy helped materially to bring the Battalion up to war strength. Perhaps the largest contribution, however, was the assignment of 196 men and four officers from the 1st Vermont Infantry. The commissioned personnel was brought up to strength i^y assignment of 18 History of Tiii'. 101 sr Machixe Gun Battaliox Connecticut State Alobilizatiun Camp, iNiantic eight reserve officers from Plattsburg. The early days of September found the BattaHon with a full complement of officers and men. FRANCE By the first of September, it was pretty well understood that the 101st would embark for France in the \'ery near future. Many were the rumors and great the discussion as to the exact date of departure. All troop move- ments had to be kept very secret, and outside of the Commanding Officer, and a few who were necessarily concerned, no one had any basis for his o]^inion except circinnstantial evidence or pure speculation. Almost every day some man would \'isit the freight yards to see if any of the cars contain- ing baggage had disappeared. As a matter of fact, the sailing date was can- celled two or three times, so that the month of September was a j^eriod of suspense. The delay even caused some pessimists to })redict a winter in South Carolina. There are many today who will remember the "practice move " that was made late in September. Orders came to "strike tents and pack all equipment." This was taken as conclusive evidence that the time for departure had finally come; and New London was nmiored as the probable port of embarkation. When the Battalion actually found itself on the road to that city there seemed to be no further doubt. Enthusiasts were doomed to disappointment, however, as a few hours later found e\-eryone back in camp at Niantic, with a few vociferous cooks, lined up as a recep- tion committee, waiting beside a huge placard on which they had printed in large letters, "Welcome Home." History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 19 On the 9th of October suspense was ended. The Battalion entrained early in the morning bound for Montreal. There were few civilians at the station, and the entrainment and departure were accomplished quietly. The following morning the Battalion arrived at Montreal and marched on board H. M. S. Megantic. The ship was underway by ten o'clock the same morning. After a short wait at Halifax for the convoy to arrive, there fol- lowed an uneventful voyage, the monotony of which was somewhat broken by boat-drill and physical exercise. No submarines were encountered, and Liverpool was reached on the 23rd. The Battalion debarked, and entrained immediately for Southampton, spending one night on the way in a rest- camp at Borden. Four days at Southampton served to further initiate the men into the delights of a "rest-camp." On the night of the 30th, orders were received to embark for France, and the 31st found the 101st in another rest-camp at le Havre. The following day it was en route for Neufchateau, and arrived there on the 2nd of November. Orders were received to billet in Mont-les-Neufchateau, a small town some four kilometers outside of Neufchateau. Accordingly the Battalion started out on foot, and at eleven A. M., arrived at the place which was to be its home for the next three months. BILLETS AND TRAINING Mont-les-Neufchateau is a small, typical, French town. As you ap- proach it, you gain the impression of a cluster of grayish- white, red-roofed houses huddled together at the foot of a hill. Open fields stretch away to right and left, with the Bois de Bourlemont in the background. On enter- ing town, the first thing that attracts attention is a substantial stone lavoire, or wash house, which is usually occupied by three or four ancient women industriously scrubbing clothes. In France, weather does not inter- fere with the washing, and you will find these same old women at their work on the coldest days in winter, as well as the warmest in summer. The main street is flanked with solid rows of houses, each with its bam built onto the house after the French style. Some 150 meters beyond the lavoire, the other one street of the town turns sharply to the left. This comer is marked by a fountain. On one side of the fountain is the house of M. le Maire, with its impressive dunghill flanking the gutter, and on the other side is one of the three cafes of which the town boasts. From this point the main street con- tinues to climb the hill, with more and more pronounced slope. On the left you pass the Ecole des Filles; a little further on, you are opposite the church, a small, gray, stone affair with an imposing little spire. In front of the church is a square, across which two neat little houses front each other. ■^"7 V^ucooi-e-i'ii-A KlUr CHATEAU Al^EA Scale. 1= 240,000(Approximately) jV^U-OUIMft-CCOO Kron. ■X.'w Kn«lan,l in Kian.," hy E.noisou ti. Taylor. C\Hiitosy ol Moushtoi. .M.lUin Co. History of The 101st ^Machine Gun Battalion 21 H. M. Transport Megantic One of these houses became Battalion Headquarters. A few more steps will take you out of the to^Am and on toward Bois de Bourlemont. The business of billeting the Battalion was something of a task. In peace times the to\Am had two or three hundred inhabitants, but in war times it was supposed to hold five hundred soldiers in addition to the civi- lian population. Anyone who has had experience in France, knows that a to\^m billeted for fi^•e hundred French soldiers will hardly e^-er accomodate five hundred Americans. Luckih- there were some barracks at our disposal; but e\'en so, it was found necessar}- to billet A Company in the town of Cirtilleux, some twelve kilometers away. Finally a place was found for everyone. Most of D Company was packed into Adrian barracks and two or three houses at the entrance of to^^^l. C Company was given the rest of the main street, while B Company was installed along the side street, and in an old chateau which had long since fallen into disrepair. Headquarters Company and the Sanitary Detachment were wedged in wherever there was room. Many of the men were forced to sleep in lofts where there was little light, no heat, and where the roofs sometimes leaked; but there were no complaints. The writer has gone into this matte in detail to show the difficulties which confronted the first billeting expedition. Later, many improvements were made. Stoves were procured, additional barracks built, and friends made, so that toda}' it is hard to find a man in the Battalion who will not honestly say that he enjoyed his winter in Mont. It is really an art to make oneself comfortable in a billet, and the men were not slow to learn. Five 22 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion months after the time of which \vc are speakinj^, you wovild have found this same Battalion comfortably settled half an hour after entering a town. Moreover, you might have seen men swinging down the street, carrying a helmet full of eggs, and if you had asked them, you would probably have learned that they had arranged with some French woman for a good dinner and a Avarm fire — a result of the advantage of experience, and a knowledge of the French language. vShortly after arrival at Mont, gas-masks, helmets and machine-guns were issued. A and D Companies were further equipped with machine-gun carts and mules — it being understood that B and C Companies were to be motorized. Then began the work of intensive training. Certain of^cers and non-commissioned officers were sent away to school, while the Battalion started on a course of instruction which comprised nomenclature, func- tioning, drill, range-practice, and barrage problems. The machine-guns were of the Hotchkiss model, and their simplicity and dependability were at once apparent. Later, Battalion schools were established, where non- commissioned officers were taught map-reading and the elements of figuring fire-data. During this period much of the training was done under instruction of of the French. The Battalion was fortunate in having a machine gun com- pany of the 162d Regiment of French infantry assigned to it as instructors. This Regiment had an enviable reputation, and was decorated with the fourragere. The French soldiers took a lively interest in the work of instruc- tion, and the Americans were eager to learn. The difficulties of the French language were quickly overcome, and there is no doubt that the Battalion benefited greatly by the work. After a week or two of drill there were various competitions between the French and Americans. The writer can remember one race between an American gun-team, and one composed of bewhiskered poilus. The idea was to see which team could run one hundred yards, and put its gun into position in the shortest time. The Americans easily outstripped the Frenchmen as far as the running was concerned, but nearly lost the race in getting their guns into position. Afterward an old poilu smiled, and said to one of our men, "Ah, but your legs will also be stiff after three years in the trenches." The months of November, December, and January passed quickly. The weather was abominable, and the mud something always to be remem- bered; but in spite of these drawbacks the health of the Battalion continued to be excellent, and the work progressed rapidly. The men learned to operate the guns smoothly and to fire wdth precision. Much time was spent in teaching them how to avoid jams that often occurred in the mechanism. These were brought about In- artificial means, and then the gun-crews were History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 23 told to find out what the trouble was and to repair it as quickly as possible. Practice on the range at Midrevaux w^as particularly encouraging, and the French officers expressed themselves as greatly iinpressed by the shooting ability of the Americans. By the end of December practically every man was thoroughly familiar with the handling of the Hotchkiss gun. Before the month of January was over, it might be said that the Battalion was well trained. They were far from veteran troops, but at least each man under- stood his gun, which is the essential for a machine-gunner. Every effort was made to find a place where indirect fire could be car- ried on, but it was impossible to locate a range near Mont where there was not danger of ricochets landing in some nearby village. At last, towards the end of January, all the machine-guns of the Division were assembled at an old French artillery range on the outskirts of the Divisional area, and a chance was given to fire an overhead barrage. The machine-guns of the Division, 168 in number, were put into action with an interval of five yards between each gun. Each Company Commander was given a map showing his gun position and the target assigned to his company, and told to calcu- late the necessary data. At a given signal all guns opened fire at once. Observers gave reports for the proper adjustment of the fire. It was a re- markable sight. During the barrage Colonel John Henry Parker, who was chiefly responsible for the assembly, drove his automobile back and forth under the hail of bullets, thereby conclusively demonstrating to every man on the field, that troops could advance with safety, under cover of a barrage laid down by machine-guns. As it turned out, this affair was the conclusion of training in the Neuf chateau Area. At this time a change was made in the organization of the Battalion. On January 21, 1918, Companies A and D were assigned to duty with the 102nd and 103rd Machine Gun Battalions respectively. This left Compan- nies B and C to form the 101st Machine Gun Battalion, which was hence- forth to be what is known as a divisional battalion. Such a unit is motor- ized, and hence a highly mobile reserve at the disposal of division head- quarters. It can, however, be attached for duty to any regiment or brigade where it is needed, and in such case is subject to the commands of the regi- mental or brigade commander. THE CHEMIN DES DAMES On February 3 orders were issued to the effect that the 26th Division would be placed under tactical command of the 11th French Corps for " training in trench warfare." Elements of the Division were to go into line with elements of the French, and everv battalion and regiment would have 24 History of Tiik 10 1st Machine Gun Battalion CHLMIK ]^L5 DaKL5 5LCT0TSl ScALC I: 153,000 (^Approki m atcuy ) Ttioht or Z£>X!. Division b^b^m^b J ruin ■■\i'u l-^imland in Fiance" l)\- Kmorsoii (i. Ta\liir. Couiti'sy d lli,u<;lit(in Mifflin Ci History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 25 opportunity to experience actual lighting conditions face to face with the Boche. Orders for the 101st Machine Gun Battahon designated the 8th as the date of entraining. On the 7th the long-hoped-for motor equipment was received. It consisted of about fifty second-hand Ford ambulances. Great was the excitement on the day that these Fords were driven over from Neuf chateau. Most of them had been used by various organizations in the Division, and many were sadly out of repair. Fortunately there were a number of men in the unit who had had considerable experience with auto- mobiles in civil life, and this now stood them in good stead. During the twenty-four hours which followed, wonders were accomplished with new spark-plugs, tubes, and bearings, so that every machine would at least run. The Battalion moved, by it motor transportation, to Liffol-le-Grand on the 8th, where it entrained early the next morning. Braisne was reached on the following day. Here the cars and baggage were unloaded, and the 101st went to the town of Vregny which was to be its reserve station. The sector in which the 26th Division now found itself was on the famous Chemin des Dames. It comprised a stretch of heights fronting the Ailette River and the Oise-Aisne Canal. The French had taken these heights by a brilliant stroke in October of the previous year. On the further side of the Canal was a corresponding strip of high land where the tracery of the German lines could be seen. The sector was admirably suited for coups de main, or raids, but because of the strong natural defenses on both sides ard the low land between, it did not seem, at that date, a likely place for an attack. At the time of the Division's entry on its course of instruction, the place was known as a "qtiiet sector." It was well organized, with plenty of good dugouts, and a carefully planned system of defense. The Division had come there to study trench warfare, and a better place could not have been fotmd. The country gave evidence of having been the scene of much hard fighting. Vregny was nothing but the shattered remnant of a town on top of a hill that had been raked by shell-fire. The road that wound its tortuous \va\- up the steep slope of the hill was lined with dugouts and flanked with shell-holes. There was not a house that had not been badly smashed. C Company was billeted in a large cave and B Company had a barracks with some good dugouts comfortably near at hand. Battalion Headquarters was located in a house whose four walls were still standing, but the roof had been replaced by tar paper. As Vregny was a reserve position, some twelve kilometers behind the front lines, there was little danger of its being shelled. Nevertheless, all unnecessary movement had to be avoided, and a sharp lookout kept for hostile planes. Gas guard was established, and strict orders were issued 26 History of Tiik IOIst Machine Gun Battalion that masks be carried at all times. On arrix'al, all (ifly Fords were ])arked in an ojjen field; and the writer can well remember the horror of the Battal- ion Interpreter, a inan who had seen long service in the French Army, who exclaimed, " But they will be seen and we will be shelled!" The fault was cjuiekly remedied, and the machines put in a place where they were properly camouflaged. It was at Vregny that the Battalion learned its first lesson at the Front — "Kec]) out of sight at all times — the enemy are probably watching you." Soon after the Battalion's arrival, the activity of Boehe aeroplanes was made \'ividly apparent. There was a French ol:)servation balloon that used to float i^lacidly a short distance from Vregny. In fact it was so close that, on a clear day, it was possible to see the observer in the basket. One after- noon two Boehe ]3lanes suddenly appeared from nowhere and swooped down on the defenseless balloon. No artillery happened to be firing at the time, and the rat-tat-tat of the Boche's machine-guns broke the silence. At one end of the balloon a puff of smoke appeared and curled lazily against the blue sky. The observer was seen to climb out of his basket, balance himself for a moment on the step, and then ium|). At almost the same in- stant that his parachute broke out, the balloon Inn^st into flames. Observer and parachute drifted slowly to the ground, while the great bag crtimpled and fell, a mass of fire and black smoke. The hostile planes turned and rapidly disappeared in the direction of Gennany. The whole affair lasted only a few moments, and was a common incident on the Western Front, but it demonstrated how short a time is required for a plane to carry out its mission of destruction, and escape. On February 16 the first unit from the Battalion took its place in line. As a matter of history, and also to show the arrangement of the troops, the writer quotes the first field order issued by the 101st Machine Gun Bat- talion. ''Headquarters, 101st M. G. BX. France, Feb. 14, 191S. Field Orders No. 1. 1. Company B of this Battalion will take its position in line Saturda\- evening, Feb. Kith, 1918. Each gun-squad will consist of six privates and one corporal. A section will consist of two gun-scjuads, a section sergeant, a mechanic and liaison messenger. The company and ])lat()on sergeants and liaison men will also be taken and such special grades as may be needed. 2. Company C will remain at Vregny and will relieve Company B at the end of ten days. 3. Com])any in the lines will participate in the execution of indirect History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 27 fire in the defense of the sector, and in the work of organization of the posi- tion under the direction of Captain Courtois, Machine Gun Officer of the 61st French Division. 4. The post of the Battahon Commander will be at Creute D'AUe- mant, P. C. Raffeneau, with Captain Courtois. The post of the Command- ing Officer, Company B will be at Hill No. 154, (near D'Ailleval, P. C. Isere). The post of two machine-gun sections, Company B — ^Group B. — (south- east of the Tour de Pinon). One machine-gun section, Company B — Group A — (southwest of the Tour de Pinon). Three machine-gun sections. Com- pany B — Group D. (near D'Ailleval). These machine-gun sections will be joined to the French machine-gun sections. (See the sketch enclosed.) 5. Reconnaisance will take place on the 16th of February by two officers and a section sergeant who will be at Moulin-de-Laffaux on the road to Maubeuge at 6.30 A. M. where they will be met by the French guides. 6. On the evening of the entrance into the sector, the machine-gun squads will arrive, at the following time, one kilometer southwest of the Moulin-de-Laffaux (on the road to Maubeuge). 1st Section, Post near D'Ailleval at 18:00 o'clock* 2nd Section, Post near D'Ailleval at 18 h. 15 3rd Section, Post near D'Ailleval at 19 h. 30 1st Section of Group B . at 18 h. 45 2nd Section of Group B. at 19:00 o'clock 1st Section of Group A. at 19:15 French guides will be one kilometer southwest of Moulin-de-Laffaux at 17 h. 45. The route of the machine-gun sections with post near D'Ailleval will be: Moulin-de-Laffaux — the road of the cemetery of Pinon — Hill 146.2. The route of the machine-gun sections with post near Tour de Pinon will be: Road to Maubeuge — Raperie de L'Ange Gardian — La Haute Pie — P. C. Barcelonnette. 7. Full field equipment will be carried by each man, (2,000 rounds of machine-gun ammunition per gun, twenty-one rounds of pistol ammunition per man, with twenty-one rounds in reserve, and one day's field rations with the necessary kitchen equipment. All supplies and ammunition should be equally distributed between the two battery positions, and should be taken up on the night of the entrance into the sector. 8. Supplies and mail will be brought nightly to the gun positions, and outgoing mail should be ready to leave by 18:00 o'clock each evening. *In the Allied armies the hours were numbered from 1 A. M. to 24 midnight. 28 History of Tiri'. 101st AIaciiink Gun Battalion 9. Evacuation of \hv sick and wounded will be attended to by the Battalion Surj^eon. 10. Liaison posts between the Battalion Coinmander and the v^arious >^un positions will be maintained by telephone and runners, and for this i)ur- pose Headquarters Com])an\- will detail liaison inen of that Company to report to the Battalion Commander. Messenger service will be tnaintaincMl between Vregny and the post of the Battalion Commander. By order of C^aptain Bulkeley*, H. W. Mills, /,s7 U. Cat'., Adjidani:' The posts the Battalion was to occupy were in the support line; both those at D'Ailleval and at Tour de Pinon were well organized. There were good dugouts, trenches were dry and clean, and the system of defense had been carefully planned. There were positions for barrage fire, harrassing fire, and direct fire. At the time of which we are speaking, however, the work of organization was not entirely complete. Additional dugouts were to be constructed and new emplacements inadc. This work was done under the supervision of the French, and proved valuable instruction for the men. As has been said, the sector was a quiet one. The Boche would always shell at certain times every day, but as they nearly always shelled the same places, and as everyone became familiar with the hours of their activity, there was re^illy little danger of casualties. For instance, at Pinon, they would always shell the Tour de Pinon, a poor shattered remnant of a tower on top of a hill under which the gun positions were located. It is true that the Boche later transferred their attention to CCompany's kitchen, but as a rule, their fire was comparati\"ely harmless, as it often is in such sectors. During the whole tour of (lut\- tlicre was only one casualty in the Battalion — a slight cut from a shell fragment. The French proved to be excellent instructors. They impressed u])on the men the nece.ssity of keeping out of sight whenever there was the slight- est chance of observation. They described the different kinds of gas, and ]jcrhaps more imjjortant than anything else, showed by example, how to accustom oneself to life at the Front. They taught the men to distinguish between the whine of a shell that meant danger, and one that would ]jass at a safe distance. They did everything in their power to helj) and assist ; rela- tions could not have l)een pleasantcr. During the dax'time the guns were kci)t in the dugouts, but at night •.•\t this tinic Major Howard was allcnditif; (he Hriti.sh M. (i. Scluinl a( Cainicrs History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 29 they were set up in the barrage emplacements. Each gun was laid on its assigned target in direction and elevation — the object being to hold back any enemy attack by a fire of "interdiction." A guard of two men was posted at each gun, and it was their duty to watch for barrage signals from the infantry in the first line of trenches. As soon as they saw a signal, they were to open fire. Each American section was placed beside a French sec- tion, so that instructors were always at hand to offer advice when needed. During the tour of duty, barrages were called for on several occasions, and the way the men operated the guns brought forth a compliment from the French lieutenant in charge. In addition to the work at barrage em.place- ments, there was plenty of opportunity to put over harrassing fire, that is, fire on "sensitive points," such as a cross-roads, and assembly centers, where there is likely to be congestion of traffic. Its purpose is to worry and bother the enemy; to prevent him from using the shortest routes; and to delay the movement of rations and supplies. Almost every night a pair of guns was detailed to do this work. The firing was done each time from a different location in order not to concentrate Boche attentions on any one particular patch of ground. Targets were chosen in accordance with reports from the Intelligence Department. It was excellent practice — in the first place, it gave the officers opportunity to work out indirect fire-data, while it gave the men a chance to operate the guns and to adjust jams under the excitement of occasional enemy fire; in the second place, there was the prac- tice in choosing positions, together with valuable lessons in camouflage from our French friends. The only front-line work was done at Vauxaillon by a section of B Com- pany, which in turn was relieved by a section from C Company. These sections were attached to the Machine Gun Coinpany of the 104th Infantry, and had positions along the railroad track in front of the Mont des Singes. Except for a considerable amount of gas, and occasional bombardment of the emplacements, it was an uneventful experience, though the C Company gunner will probably always remember the "dud" that struck his tripod. It fell to the lot of six guns of B Company to be the first machine-gun unit of the Division — and probably the entire A. E. F. — to lay down an indirect fire barrage in support of a raid. It is worth while to go into this affair in detail, as it will serve to explain what is expected of machine-guns in a raid of this kind, and will also throw light on the indirect fire work that was later to be done by the Battalion. The purpose of the raid was to take prisoners, and thus gain information concerning the enemy. Just across the Canal, at the Point E (see map pg. 30) was an advance-post of the Boche. Along the railroad cut, at Points C-D was a row of dugouts just behind the enemy's front line. The plan called for our artillery to lay down a barrage 30 HisniRv OF TiiK lOlsT Machink Gun Battalion History or The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 31 behind the advance-post ; the machine-guns were to fire on the dugouts, as- sisting the work of the raiders by keeping the Boche in their holes. A few minutes before the barrage opened, the raiding party was to cross the canal, seize the advance-post, take as many prisoners as possible, and return. The enemy would be completely surprised, as they would not have had the warning of a preliminary bombardment; they would be prevented from withdrawing because of the barrage in their rear; and it would be impossible for them to receive reinforcements. Such a maneuver requires close coopera- tion on the part of all arms. Every move must be carried out in strict ac- cordance with schedule, or the plan is almost certain to be a complete failure with ]jrobable disastrous results. The American battery of six guns, reinforced by four French guns, was set up along the edge of woods at Point A-B. All watches were carefully synchronized. The infantry raiders arrived at their objective just as the artillery opened up, while the machine-guns began their barrage five min- utes later. The fire was sustained for twelve minutes. The Boches were taken completely off guard; we suffered no ca.sualities ; and the results were very satisfying — twenty-four prisoners, including one officer and a war dog. It was a valuable experience as a first lesson in the coordination of various branches of the service. The tour of duty at the Chemin des Dames was concluded on the 18th of March. As has been said, it was a sector admirably adapted for instruc- tion ; and there was not an officer or man in the organization who was not greatly benefited by the work. THE TOUL vSECTOR After its relief from the Chemin des Dames the 26th Division was ordered to the Fourth Training Area. It was understood that the Division was to have a month's rest, draw new equipment, and then prepare to go in- to the line again. The Secretary of War, the Honorable Newton D. Baker, was in France at that time, and it was planned to have the Twenty-Sixth give an extensive maneuver for his benefit, while it was en route to the train- ing area. Owing to news of the German break-through, however, plans were changed. This was a time when all available troops were needed in line. Ac- cordingly, the Division was placed at the disposal of the 32d French Corps, and was ordered to take over the sectors then occupied by the 1st American Division and the 10th French Colonials. The 101st Machine Gun Battalion entrained at Mercin-Pommiers on March 18th, detraining at Brienne-le-Chateau. It proceeded to the Toul Sector by motor, taking the following route: Fontaine, Colombey- les-deux-Eglises, Vignory, St. Blin, La Grande Harcourt. The latter place, 32 History of The 101st Machine Gun Baj TTALION - e < a a: i- < 4 "0 o K V — ) >U 1- History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 33 which was to be the Battalion headquarters, was reached on the 1st of Aprih The Toul Sector extended froin Bois Brule to the east of Remieres Wood. Much of the front line was composed of marshes and tangled under- growth. The line of resistance had been established along Beaumont Ridge, while the reserve system of defense was drawn up along the general line, Mandres-aux-quatre-Tours — Bois Chanot — Raulecourt. The enemy held high ground on their side. In fact, the famous Mont Sec dominated the sector, and practically every town was under constant observation from this strong-point. La Grande Harcourt, better known to the men as "The Swamp," was a patch of woods in low-lying ground on the eastern edge of the Foret de La Reine. Near the road between Menil-la-Tour and Mandres, and offering excellent concealment for the trans]jortation, it served the ])ur- pose of a reserve position admirably. On the day of arrival, the First and Second Platoons of C Company were ordered into forward reserve positions — the First Platoon going to Raulecourt and the Second to Mandres. Guns were not to be put into the emplacements there except in case of attack. B Company and the Third Platoon of C Company were held at La Grande Harcourt in readiness to take up emergency posts in the Bois Chanot. Although Mandres, Chanot and Raulecourt were reserve positions, their importance must not be under- estimated. In case of a heavy general attack, it would be impossible to hold Beaumont Ridge, and these places would necessarily constitute the last line of resistance, to be held at all costs. There was much work to be done in completing the organization of the sector. The system of defense, particularly in the reserve line, had been outlined — but that was all. There were dugouts and emplacements to be constructed at all three positions. The work went on well. Good fields of fire were to be found at most places, and the defense was organized accord- ingly. Mandres had its share of shelling every night, but at Raulecourt it was persistently quiet. The men had good quarters, plenty to eat, and enough work to keep themselves in condition. The weather had begun to grow milder and there was less rain, although heavy mud was still a great annoyance in some places, especially in "The Swamp" where duck- boards had to be used on paths through the woods. All agreed, however, that it was a "good war." The first ten days in the sector passed uneventfully. Then came the attack on the Bois Brule. On this occasion an opportunity was offered to demonstrate the value of a mobile machine-gun unit. At three o'clock on the afternoon of the 12th, an order was received from Division Headquar- ters to send eight guns to reinforce the 104th Infantry at Hill 322 at Bois 34 History of Tiik 101st ArvciiiNK Gun Battalion Brule. B Company pnn'ided the ci^ht j^un-squads, and by six o'clock they had reported at the cross-roads near Etang de Ronval, after traveling a distance of some twenty-five kilometers. Hard fighting had been going on for a day and a night. The Bois Brule marked the extreme left of the Divi- sion sector. While it has been said that the greater part of the Toul Sector, particularl>' the front line, was composed of low, marshy ground, never- theless, at this point the Bois Brule occupied a spur of the Meuse heights which jutted in from the westward. This was a sensitive point, as it marked the dividing line between the Twenty-Sixth and the 10th French Colonials. The Boche held slightly higher ground. By the time that B Company's guns arrived, the French had been forced to fall back, leaving exposed the left flank of the 104th Infantry. It was a bad situation, but the 104th had held its two strong-points — Bois Brule and Hill 322 — with a determination that has won it fame. The original mission of B Company's guns was to la\' down a fire of interdiction on the Boche trenches; but as conditions in the front line were unknown and as one platoon of the 103rd Machine Gun Battalion had not been heard from since the start of the fight, they were ordered into the front trenches to reinforce the infantry with direct fire. One platoon went to Bois Brule, the other to Hill 322. They went up, that night, under a heavy bombardment which continued throughout the morning. But the Boche had finished. Outside of one or two half-hearted attempts, there were no more attacks The two platoons remained in position four days, during which time they endured much heavy shelling from trench mortars. They were then relieved by the 103rd Machine Gun Battalion, and returned to La Grande Harcourt. On April 20 came the Battle of Seicheprey. The Battalion's part in this historic event was of but minor importance. During the intense bombard- ment of high explosive and gas which preceded the attack, the Second Platoon of C Company at Mandres suffered the first real casualties that occured in the Battalion. Their guns were put into the emergency positions; and the Company Commander made a reconnaissance for a barrage loca- tion for his remaining guns. The rest of the Battalion was held on the alert at Harcourt. For a while it looked as if the Battalion might be needed, but the counter-attack of the 102nd Infantry drove the cncm\' ovit of Seicheprey and recovered all the ground that had been lost. On April 26, eight gun-squads from B Company were sent to take u]) barrage positions in the woods southwest of St. Agnant. Information had been acquired from prisoners that the enemy intended to make a raid that night, between Bois Brule and Hill 322. It was the mission of these squads to lav down a barrage of interdiction on the enem\' trenches. Their orders History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 35 were to open fire on signal from the infantry, and to cease fire at the same time as the artillery. As it turned out, the raid did not take place until the following night. Captain Bulkeley, company commander, was in the front line at the time the barrage opened, and the men had the satisfaction of knowing, through his observation, that the fire was extremely effective, and together with the artillery, caught the Boche just as he was coming over, and broke up the raid. The map on page 36 will show the lines of the barrage. The men remained there near St. Agnant four days, during which time they were called upon for a barrage on several occasions. On the 30th one section was relieved ; and the remaining six squads relieved part of the 103rd Machine Gun Battalion in positions east of Fort Liouville. They spent two quiet days there and were then ordered back into reserve. The Battalion, minus Company C was ordered, on April 30, from La Grande Harcourt to Jouy-sous-les-Cotes. The Third Platoon of B Com- pany relieved the First Platoon of C Company at Raulecourt on the same day. The Second platoon of C Company at Mandres had been relieved by the Third on the 27th. The month of May passed uneventfully. On the 21st, the divisional sector was moved to the eastward. This brought the right of the sector a kilometer west of Limey and the left just west of Bouconville. The Brichau- sard and vSt. Agnant Sectors were turned over to the 32nd French Division, while the 69th French held the terrain on the right. Battalion Headquarters was moved from Jouy back to Harcourt on the same day, and two platoons of B Company took over positions in the Bois de la Hazelle on the day following. Although the guns were a thousand meters or more from the trenches of the enemy, they were in front of our Hne. The plan of defense called for advance-posts of infantry in front of the Bois de la Hazelle during the night only. In the daytime these posts were withdrawn. In case of a night attack, their orders were to fall back to a line of resistance abreast the machine-gun nests. Although the fields of fire in front of the guns left something to be desired from a machine-gun- ner's point of view, the positions were cleverly organized. Woods offered excellent concealment for the men, saving them from the dangers of regu- lated shell-fire; and dugouts and trenches were well made. In addition to their fields of direct fire, three of the guns were laid on indirect barrage lines, which, in conjunction with other machine-guns of the Division, would assure a heavy fire of interdiction in case of enemy attack. During the tour of duty, barrages were several times signaled for. On one occasion in parti- cular, the enemy raid on Humbert Plantation near Flirey, it is certain, from reports, that this fire was extremely effective. The platoons of B Company were relieved by two from C Company on the 12th of June. Except for 36 History of Thk 101st Machine Gun Battalion History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 37 occasional gas attacks, the time spent at Hazelle Wood was comparatively pleasant. On the 31st of May a raid in force was ordered on the line of trenches lying west of Richecourt, known as the Camp de Moulin. This raid is of particular interest, as it was the first of any size to be planned and carried out by the Division. The object was to capture prisoners, material and doc- uments; to destroy the enemy's dugouts and machine-gun emplacements; and to lower his morale. Three hundred men of the 101st Infantry vokm- teered for the attack. They were to be supported by artillery, machine- guns and engineers. The mission of the artillery was to lay down a rolling barrage in front of the advancing infantry ; to lay a box-barrage around the sector of operations; and to perform the necessary counter-battery work and destructive fire. The engineers were to accompany the infantry, for the purpose of blowing up wire and destroying as much of the enemy's works as possible. Machine-guns were ordered to protect the right flank of the sector of operations by a heavy fire of interdiction on the trenches north- east of the left bank of the Rupt de Mad, on the salient called Le Sac, and on the trenches between Le Sac and Lahayville. The work of the machine- guns was directed by the Commander of the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion. The Third Platoon of C Company of the 101st was placed at his disposal. The target assigned to the C Company guns was a section of trenches be- tween Lahayville and Richecourt. The barrage began at two o'clock in the morning and continued for the greater part of an hovir. The results of the raid were rather disappointing, as far as taking prisoners was concerned. Few Boche could be found in the raided area — they had evidentlv with- drawn to some point in rear of their third line before the barrage opened. The raid was very satisfactory, however, as an instance of effective co- ordination between different branches of the service, and of the precision with which each branch could carry out its particular mission. The month of June passed, taken up with the regular routine work incidental to the duties at Bois Hazelle, Mandres, Raulecourt and Harcourt. On the 23rd came the order that the Di\dsion would be relieved bv the 154th French and 82nd American Divisions; and it became known that the Twenty-Sixth was to go into another sector. The next day C Company's guns at Mandres were relieved. The platoon of B Company at Raulecourt had already been relieved by a platoon of the 103rd Machine Gun Bat- talion. The 101st, minus two C Company platoons at Bois Hazelle, moved from La Grande Harcourt to Foug on June 25. The C Company men were taken out two days later and rejoined the unit at that place. At Toul the Battalion had a chance to work out for itself what it had learned from the French on the Chemin des Dames. There had been enough 38 TTisroKV ok Tiik lOlsi' Ar\(-iriNE Gun Ba it ai.ion activity to sliow what R-al (li^luin^ is. TIu- nu'ti wcrr in llic line a larjjje part of tlu" time, and so liad an o])])ortunit_\' to further aeeustom themselves to trench life. Although the Division held a wide front, and had taken ])art in tlnw battles, the time spent at Toul must he rej.;arded as an ad\'anecd course of instnu-tion. it >;a\'e excellent prei)aration for the aetixitit's that were to follow. (^llA'ri'LM'-TlllKRkV June 2U saw the 2()lh Dix'ision entraininj; for a new area. TIh- lOlst Machine (lun Battalion went by motor to Coulombs, following the route: \'()id Vitry-le-Francois. Soon after arrival at Coulombs it became known that the Division would relieve the 2nd American Division in the sector wt'st of Chateau-Thierrw ( )n JuIn' (1 the Battalion left Coulombs and re- lie\ed the Dix'isional Battalion of the 2nd Division in the Bois Oosjean, a woods about a kilometer east of Montreuil-aux-Lions. The new sei-tor was i-alled by the French J\is Fiiii (unlinished), and was well named. It marked the ])oint where the Germans had been stopped on their last mad rush for Paris. The 2nd Division holds the credit for hav- in,^ t'heekt'd this advance. It had dug itself in as best it could mider pressure of continual (in-; but the line of resistance was little more than a series of rille-pits. There beinj.^ no duji,outs, the only protection the troojjs had from the constant harassinj^ fire of the enemy consisted of individvial holes hastily scooped in the ground, and the concealment ofTered by ni.uTierous patches licf of the 2nd Division everything was planned for defense. In case of an alert the 101st Machine Gun Battalion was to hurry to one of three points — La Voie du Chatel, Vertelet Farm, and Les Aul- nois Bontemps Fann. These places were on high plateau-land and olTered excellent fields of fire. They were part of the second line of defense. The Bois Grosiean, where the Battalion was stationed, being on the main road 40 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion to Chatcau-Thifrry, made a good central ]3oint for this scheme of defense. With motors it would be easy to quickly reach any of these posts. Contrary- to all expectation, the Battalion was not shelled at Grosjean. Screened 1)\' the woods — a certain amount of movement was possible in daylight, and the time passed rather peacefully. Although shelters were dug shortly after arrival, many of the men slept in pup-tents. After re- maining at this station for about ten days, the Battalion was ordered to another reserve position in the Bois Bczu M'cst of Bezu-le-Guery, where similar conditions were found. At about this time Captain Bulkeley was placed in full cominand of the Battalion. Since the Chemin des Dames, Major Howard had been working in G-3 at Division Headquarters, as Division Machine Gun Officer, necessarily leaving much of the direction of the Battalion to Cap- tain Bulkeley, the senior company commander. However, it was not until July that command was officially turned over. Captain Bulkelc}' 's majority came in the following month. As has been said, during the first days of July our attitude was one of defense. A swath was cut through the woods as far back as the line Bezu — Montrcuil. This was reinforced by a solid palisade built of logs, saplings and barbed wire. The line of defense was provided with machine-gun nests, and the sector assigned to the 101st Machine Gun Battalion extended to a point four kilometers southeast of Montreuil. The idea of using the line Voie du Chatel — Vertelet Farm — Aulnois Bontemps was given up in the second week of July. The great Boche attack was constantly expected. German propaganda had made it known that the drive would be of a mag- nitude never before seen on the Western Front. As the days passed, the suspense increased. Finally, on the evening of July 14, the whole Allied line was warned that the attack would take place on the following morning. The Battalion received the "alert" from Divisional Headquarters late that afternoon. The cars were lined uj), guns packed, and every man was ready to move at a moment's notice. The "alert " continued until morning, when it was learned that the assault had broken further to the eastward. Two da\'s later word came that the Division would attack on the following morning. At the time, no one suspected that this was part of an operation that would extend along the whole Front. It was known that the objectives for the next day were Torcy, Belleau, and the railroad track beyond — that was all. As everyone knows today, the Twenty-Sixth was to act as the pivcjt in Foch's great closing mox-ement on the Manic Salient. The direction of attack was to be northeasterly, which meant that the Division's left flank would have to advance ahead of its right, thus necessi- tating/ close liaison with the P""n'nch (lix'isions on both flanks. The History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 41 The Battalion was to support the 103rd Infantr>' in the woods north- east of Lucy-le-Bocage. The night of the 17-18th of July was one to be remembered. It was one of those pitch-black, stormy nights which occa- sionally come in summer, when it is impossible to see a foot in front of one's face. The sky was continually lighted up by artillery or flashes of lightning, giving brief glimpses of the road packed with troops, caissons, and supply- wagons. Our car drivers worked their way along as best they could. At the cross-roads on the Bezu — Marigny road, west of Voie du Chatel, they were definitely blocked. The guns were taken from the Fords, and the men went forward on foot into the woods northwest of Lucy, arriving there about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 18th. During the attack which followed, the Battalion remained in support. All the objectives were carried. On the next night the entire Battalion was employed in carrying rations and ammu- nition to the troops holding Torcy, and the cars also took supplies to Bel- Icau. This work was done under heavy shell-fire. During the day of July 19 the Battalion remained in support, and in the evening was returned to the Bois Bezu. Orders received on the morning of July 21 sent the Battalion in pur- suit of the retreating enemy, with Trugny designated as the objective. The Battalion advanced at 11 :30 by way of Bouresches, Grande Picardie Fann, and vSacerie Woods. Its purpose was to close with the enemy and hinder his withdrawal. The roads were badly torn by shell-fire, and in places, it was necessary to lift the Fords over craters. On reaching the western edge of the Sacerie Woods, the Battalion left the cars and continued on foot. At the railroad cut, beyond the Chateau-Thierry — Bethune road, it was learned from infantrymen that the enemy were somewhere in the woods to the east. Accordingly, B Company took the left and C Company the right of the Bretcuil Farm road running east from La Sacerie, and pushed on ahead of the infantry. The advance was made without meeting any resistance, except for desultory shelling, until the woods and crest southwest of Trugny were reached. xA.t this point fire was drawn from machine-guns apparently concealed in the woods behind Trugny. There was good observation from the northeastern point of the Bois de Bretcuil. Wheat fields rolled down to the road which passed through the town. Behind the town a field ran back with rather a steep slope, to the Bois de Barbillon. In the middle of this field was a small, square patch of trees in which a inachine-gun nest was evidently located — in fact, it was possible to see one of the emplacements. A search through field glasses revealed two or three others. No movement was visible in the town itself. The situation plainly showed that the enemy had withdrawn his infantry and had left well-placed machine-guns to cover 42 HisTOKV OF Thk 101st Machine Gun Battalion his retreat. Company C remained in the woods south of the town, \\-hile B Company worked its way to a strip of underbrush some 200 meters from the Bois de Breteuil. From this position it would have been possible to lay down, in support of the infantry, an effective direct overhead fire on the hostile guns. By this time the infantry had come up ; but instead of attack- ing that afternoon, the Regimental Commander postponed the assault until morning. It was clear that, for the moment, the Boche held a strong position, and it would have been costly to spend that night in Trugny. The Battalion was withdrawn to the infantry line in Bois de Breteuil where it went into bivouac. Early the next morning the two companies supported a battalion of the 102nd Regiment in an attack on Trugny. The machine-gunners were to protect the infantry's left flank. The two companies advanced to a point which controlled the road leading into Trugny, and the guns were put into "battery". The attack failed, however, so the Battalion was returned to its former post, and shortly after, C Company was sent through the woods to reinforce Major Rau's battalion before Trugny. Later in the morning B Company took part in an attack on Epieds. Here was encountered much the same sort of problem as at Trugny. The ground sloped down to the town; and the Boche held control of the slope with carefully concealed machine-guns and artillery. B Company was ordered to form the last wave behind the infantry. The first part of the advance was made through standing wheat, and went well ; but as soon as the infantry started down the slope toward Epieds, they met with extremely heavy casualties, and were forced to withdraw. A section of B Company went into fire-action and effectively engaged one of the enemy machine- gun nests; but the attack, like that on Trugny, was a failure, and all troops were withdrawn to the old line. The reason for the failure of these attempts was chiefly owing to lack of proper artillery sup]3ort — the advance had been so rapid that it was im- possible for the artillery to kee]3 up with the more mobile units. Machine- guns are of little use in the actual business of attacking. They are heavy to maneuver and are incapable of neutralizing other machine-guns, except by inflicting casualties on the crews. But in defense they are everything, as was so well shown by the German opposition at Trugny and Epieds. Nevertheless, it is of the utmost importance that machine-guns should follow in .support of advancing infantry in order that, after objectives are taken, they may consolidate the positions against counter-attack — a task for which they are admirably fitted. By afternoon of the 22nd the artillery reached a line from which it could deliver an effective barrage. The Boche machine-guns were neutralized and the objectives were soon captured. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 43 During the day of July 22 the BattaHon's Fords, acting as ambulances, did very valuable work in evacuating many wounded of the Division. On the evening of the same day, the Battalion was relieved, and returned to Sacerie Wood. While accomplishing the relief it was heavily shelled in the road near Champluisant Farm — B Company suffering severe casualties. The Battalion was encamped in Sacerie Wood until the 24th, when orders were received to act as "independent cavalry," and to push on to the Jaulgonne road. The roads were found to be much congested. Four lines of traffic were moving forward at the same time, making it almost im- possible for the motor train to proceed. French artillery, American artillery, rolling kitchens, trucks, staff cars, and supply-wagons of all sorts were pressed together hub to hub. The Battalion's route lay through Bezuet, Epieds, and Courpoil. At the cross-roads in Epieds there was a long delay, but finally the train managed to work its way through the jam and reached Courpoil. To the east lay the Foret de Fere, and just beyond it the objec- tive — the Fere-Jaulgonne road. A sharp break to the eastward brought the two companies to a point in the Foret de Fere, just north of Grange Marie ■Farm. The congestion on the roads had caused much delay, and by the time this place was reached it was seven o'clock. Word came from the 51st Brigade that the advance was to halt for that night, so men and officers bivouacked in the edge of the woods. At dawn the Battalion was heavily shelled, resulting in inany casualties in C Company. The next morning the Battalion was withdrawn to the Bois de la Comune, and later in the day was relieved and returned to Sacerie Wood, ending its jiarticipation in the Chateau-Thierry drive. At Chateau-Thierry the Battalion had its first taste of open warfare. For the first time, the men knew what it was to go for a long period without food, to pursue an enemy whose exact location was unknown, and to biv- ouac every night without the friendly protection of trenches. This kind of fighting was an entirely new experience. More was learned in the short time between the 18th and 26th than could possibly have been taught by years of maneuvers. Below is the comment on the action, made by the Battal- ion Commander in an official report. "The pursuit of the enemy was appreciably delayed by his skillful use of machine-guns and minenwerfer, there being little enemy infantry left for the rear-guard action. If the retreating infantry is to be pressed closely, an immediate and effective method of destroying these machine-guns and minemverfer must be employed, or the infantry will be able to withdraw practically unmolested, except for such artillery and aeroplane fire as can be brought to bear on it. This undoubtedly proved true in the action July 18-26. 44 History ok Thk 101 st M.\f'HiNE Gun Battalion Machine-guns, unsu])])orled, cannot l)c effectively employed against machine-gun nests, and at best, acting in conjunction with the infantry, can only neutralize the enemy fire and possibly put an occasional gun out of action by inflicting casualties on the crew. These machine-gun nests must be located quickly and accurately by patrols, and a destructive fire from the artillery be l)rought to bear on them. Thirty-seven mm. or even a 75, accomjjanying the infantry could rapidly and effectively deal with these nests. Small tanks would also soon put them out of action. The importance of liaison and cooperation between the various arms and adjacent divisions was clearly deinonstrated in this action, and too much attention cannot be paid to this point in training and action. The ]3resent motorized machine-gun battalion with its present motor cqui])ment can he moved long distances behind the lines and almost up to the forward infantry line, but once arrived at the point where it is necessary to go on foot, the mobility ceases and it is obviously impossible to push out ahead of the infantry in cars, unless a different type of car is ])rovided, ]:)referably an armored truck." The Division carried its last objective on the 2Gth of July. The Bat- talion remained in Sacerie Wood until the 29th, when the Di\'ision, minus its artillery, was moved to the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Area. REFITTING AND TRAINING The lOlst was l)illete(l at Courtaron, a small town near Buzancy, having arrived there on the 2nd of August. There followed ten days of greatly appreciated rest. Officers and non-commissioned officers were given 48-hour leaves to visit Paris. It is probable that the entire Battalion would have had the same ])rivilege, if it had not started on the 13th to a new training area near Chatillon-sur-Seine. Reaching its destination on the loth, the Battalion was comfortably billeted in the town of Etrochey. Here necessary new equipinent was drawn, and a scheduleof vigorous training carried out. Each day was taken U]) with close-order drill, machine-gun exercises, and mancu\-ers. E\'ery effort was made to gain the precision so essential to a well-regulated, disciplined organization. After a long period in the lines, such a course of training be- comes imperative. Besides the drilling, time was found for baseball. The Battalion develo])cd a good team, and several games were pla},'ed with rival outfits, 'i'he month of August passed quickly and i)lcasantly. Till': SAIXT-MIIIIEL SALIENT The Dix'ision was ordered, August 28, to the area north of Chaumont- sur-Aire. Headquarters were established at Bcnoit-X'aux. 'I'hc 10 1st 46 TTisTOKY OF Tm: lOlsr Machine Gun Battalion Machine Gun Battalion was to camp in the woods two kilometers south of that place. It left Etrochey on August 31, and arrived at its destination on September 2. Four days later came the order sending the Division to relieve the 2nd French Division, Cavalerie a Pied, in the Rupt sector. All moves were made by night. On the 6th the Battalion bivouacked in a wood near the town of Woimbey, and on the following night moved into some old French shacks in the Rax'iii (rAml)l()n\'illc. Beyond a doubt, the sector was in preparation for an offensive. Every night the roads were choked with traffic. New pieces of artillery were put into position, among them many heavy guns, ranging from 155's to huge railway pieces. Activity was evident on all sides. The fact that the country was thickly wooded favored these preparations. Some of the roads were so heavily overhung b\- trees, or hidden by hills, that a certain amount of circulation was possible, which would otherwise ha\-e been out of the ques- tion dviring the daytime. The sector was l)oun(le(l l)y Les Eparges on the left and the Bois Loclont on the right. In the early days of the war, the Germans had swept across the Wa?r\^e Plain, seizing the heights of the Meuse, and driving a Avedgc down to Saint Mihiel. As at that time the French were forced to concentrate all their available troops on the Marne, at Verdun, and at Toul, the enemy met with little resistence and easily gained the strategic ground about Les Eparges. The French had lost man\' lives in trying to regain this territory. This is ]jarticularly true of the sector now opposite the 26th Division. The Boche had a strong scheme of defence nmning back "in depth" through tlie l^\)rest of Montague, and there was every reason to believe that the}' were ])repared to put up a \'ery determined resistance. The date of attack was set for the 12th of vSeptember. The following quotation from an order gi\-cs tlie objectives for the first day: "4. Rale of Advance. The infantry will ach'ance at the rate of 100 meters in four minutes, from the parallel of departure to the \'aux — St. Remy road, where it will halt for one-half hour to reform organizations; when it will continue to advance at the same rate to the general line Cote 381 — high ground south of Ravin de CoUignon — Dommartin. It will halt on this line one-half hour to re-form organizations, and continue at the rate of 100 meters in three minutes to the first day's objectives (Dompierre -Longeau Farm road)". The 103rd Infantry was assigned to the left, the 104th to the center and the 101st to the right. The lOlst Machine Gun Battalion and the 102nd Infantry fonned tlu" Divisional Rcser\'e. A short, but extremeh- intense artillerv i)rei)aration, i)reeeded the attack. By 11 A. M. all the first day's History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 47 objectives had been carried. That afternoon the 102nd Infantry passed through the 101st Infantry, and the 101st Machine Gun Battalion was ordered up in support. The BattaHon went forward in its cars as far as the Ravin de France. Beyond this point it was impossible for motor transporta- tion to go. The cross-roads had been heavily mined; and a great crater lay where once the road had been. The guns were unloaded from the cars, and the advance continued on foot. Liaison was established with the 102nd In- fantry on the Grande Tranchee de Calonne, a few hundred meters beyond the first day's objectives. By this time it was 8 P. M. After a rest of perhaps an hour, verbal orders were received from the Commanding General to "push on to Vigneulles." That march through the woods was never to be forgotten. The road led straight through enemy country. On either side were the depths of a forest of which nothing was known. Foot-steps were heard in the woods, showing the presence of the enemy on either side. As a matter of fact, sev- eral prisoners were taken during the march ; and the next day the infantry rounded up several hundred of them in the Foret de la Montague. Fortu- nately they were thoroughly disorganized, and offered no resistance to the march. By 3 :30 the next morning the Battalion had come out of the Forest into sight of the Plain. The Woevre Valley lay before us like a great sea. As far as the eye could reach, it was dotted with burning villages, showing that the enemy had tried to destroy as much as possible in his hasty retreat. Occasionally an ammunition dump would flare up, lighting the whole sky. The march through the Forest was a terrible ordeal for the men, heavily laden as they were, but they accomplished it splendidly. After leaving the Forest, and taking shelter in some woods east of Vigneulles, until liaison was established with the 102nd Infantry, the Battalion entered the town at 5 :30. The march had lasted for twelve hours, and eighteen kilometers had been covered. Only one man of the whole Battalion failed to come through. At ten o'clock that morning the 1st Division, which had attacked from the right of the Salient, joined the Twenty-Sixth in Vigneulles. The great pocket which had extended into France for four years was definitely cut off. A line of outposts was established, and the day spent in rounding up pris- oners. The Battalion remained on duty at Vigneulles mitil the next day, when it was relieved and ordered into reserve at Seuzey. The attack on the Saint-Mihiel Salient was a tremendous success. The Boche had been taken by surprise and forced to retire, leaving behind him great quantities of material. In the course of the attack the 26th Division alone took 2,400 prisoners. As a result of the Battalion's march, the following letter of commenda- tion was received from General Edwards : 48 History of 'rm: lOlsr Maciiixe Gun Ba itai.ion Headquarters Jdl/i Division American l-lxpeditioiiary Forces Fra)ice 30 Sepl., l.'HS. "From: Di\'ision Commander, To: Commandint:; Officer, 1 01 si M. G. Bn. Subjecl: Comnu'iulalion of your C\)mnian(l. 1, In llie rechu'lion of ilu- Si. Mihicl Salient on Se])t. r2th, 13th, and l-llli, ihis Dix'ision ])la\'e(l an inii)ortani ])art. ( )nr elTorls were crowned with snci'css, and we ha\'e reeei\'ed onr reward in the knowledi;e that onr superior c~oninianders are a])])reeiati\"e of om" elTorls. 2. \'our Battalion received orders to proceed to Vi^nciilles in support of tlu' l()2nd Infantrw You accomplished your mission. Your pcrfoiTnance would hax'c been credilaMe had \-ou been able to i)roeeed the entire distance by motor transi)ortation. Owinjj; to the condition of the roads in the enemy country, making them imi)assable for whei'l transportation, you foimd it imi)ossible to proceed. Yon did not ask for orders. You did not hesitate. Ytmr men cheerfull\- marched the entire tlistance, carrying; their heavy machine-guns and amnumition through a strange country, in the blackness of the night, for a])i>roximatel\- cighletMi kilometers, arri\ang shortly after the infanlrw \'our achievement is worth}- of commendation. ;>. 1 congratulate you, and through you, the othcers and men of your command for \-our energy and persc\-erance. vSuch deeds prove you worthy of y(un' New luigland torcbears. You ha\"e shctwn the sjiirit which makes me i)roud to command the \'ank(.\' Dix'ision. C. R. l^^DWARDS. M ajor CicneraL CoDiDunidini^." During the three weeks which followed, the Battalion remained in reser\'c in a raxinc west of vScuzey. The Division took o\-er the Trox'on Sector, and carried on \arions extensi\-e raids against the enemy, notably that on Marcheville; but the 101 st was not called upon to participate. At the end of the first week in October the Division was relie\'ed and sent to Yerdun. The I^attalion mo\-ed, i)n the Sth of Octtiber, to the Caserne Beveavi, a barracks on the ontskirts of X'crdnn. Till-: Ml-:rSl-:-ARGONNE OFFENSIYE. A week later came the order for the Twenty-Sixth to relie\'c the 18th French Division in the sector northeast of Saniogneux. This sector had alwavs been extremeh' acli\\\ At this time the Allies wcm^c inishini:- the History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 49 MEU3L - A-^-QONNL OTrilHSlVE. ScALC I : I 5 3,0 OO CApproximatei-y') SZ-CtOTL. K>OUKDftTl.lt-6 A — T^ Like. Ottopii.* Zb'a l»viS)OH Oct 16"^ •■■■«■■ Lmt OCCUTlt-B 2fcT» XHTlilOH KOV. II'' MMIM^^ From "New England in France" by Emerson G. Taylor. Courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Co. 50 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion Bochc throuj^hout the whole Western Front. It was imperative for the enem\' to hold the ground east of the Meuse in order to permit his retreat from the territory between the Argonne Forest and the coast. He was pre- pared to hold his positions north of Verdun at all costs, and had massed a great amount of artillery, together with many of his best troops along this part of the Front. The pivot had again been assigned to the 26th Division. The Division's task was to be one of "active defense." This entailed the wearing out of the enemy and the capture of positions which would assure control of the Heights of the Meuse, and hence the Woevre Plain. The terrain was particularly difficult. The sector was hilly, and was filled with ravines and valleys registered to a nicety by the Boche artillery. The only road to the front line was under continuous shell-fire, and led through a long vallc}' which was invariably filled with gas. There was no adequate shelter for the reserve positions, so the troops occupying them were forced to live under canvas in the open fields. The back areas were shelled consistently, and altogether, it was a very "active sector." The 101st Machine Gun Battalion went into reserve in a line of abandoned trenches near the cross-roads northeast of Vacherauville. The kitchens and train were established at Bras. The position at the cross- roads was under shell-fire from the long-range guns of the eneiny. On the right lay the pitted slope of the historic Cote du Poivre, and away to the northwest could be seen the Mort Homme. The town of \'acherauville was a heap of ruined masonry which occasionally gave forth a cloud of dust in response to a bursting shell. The trenches occupied by the Battalion had once been part of the French front line. On the 23rd of October the Twenty-Sixth, in ctmjunction with the 29th American Division on its left, was ordered to make an attack on Belleu Wood. The object was to gain possession of the ridge running from the Bois d'Etrayes to Belleu Wood. This ridge was an important point on the Heights of the Meuse, as it completely controlled the low ground be- yond. Before this attack, the line ran from Molleville Farm along the northern edge of the Bois d'Etrayes and Bois de la Reine. The plan called for one battalion of infantry to attack from Molleville FanTi with the 29th Division acting on its left. This battalion was to advance easterly until it reached a certain point in Hovijjpy Wood, where it was to establish liaison with a second battalion attacking from the south, and both were then to force their way through to the assigned objective. The 101st Machine Gun Battalion was gi\-cn the task of supporting this attack with indirect fire, and on the night of the 22nd, took up a bar- rage position on a hill in the Bois dc Brabant-sur-Mcuse. B Company was to fire along the ra\-ine in the lIoui)i)\- Bois and the eastern edge of the History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 51 woods, while C Company's target was the Tranchee de Melnik, the southern edge of Belleu Bois, and a point in the Ravin de Molleville. These targets were chosen because they were known to be concentration-points of the enemy, and because the machine-gun barrage would best help the attack of the battalion on the left by descending on the opposing infantry and pre- venting it from maneuvering for counter-attack. The barrage opened at 6:15 in the morning and was sustained for three-quarters of an hour. The infantry took its preliminary objectives in Houppy Wood shortly after seven o'clock, and proceeded with the attack on Belleu Wood which was also captured. During the barrage the Battalion suffered extremely heavy shell -fire. The same day the enemy counter-attacked four times against Belleu Wood. The Battalion was called upon to lay a barrage of interdiction around the northern and eastern sides of these woods. Four guns of each company had been put out of action during the barrage of the morning, but the remaining guns were trained on the targets. The first three counter- attacks were repulsed with losses to the enemy, but the fourth finally re- sulted in his regaining part of Belleu Wood. The Bois des Chenes, however, remained in our hands. The Battalion spent the night in open trenches, under heavy bom- bardment of gas and high explosive. At five o'clock on the 24th another attack was ordered on the enemy in Belleu Bois, the ridge between the Ravin de la Reine and the Ravin de la Hazelle, Hill 360, the Bois d'Ormont, and the western triangle of Moirey Wood. The Battalion was to support the attack with indirect fire. The barrage used on the preceding day was fired. With the exception of a small part of Belleu Bois and Hill 360, the objectives were taken. It was learned from the infantry that most of the enemy resistance came from the ravines on the other side of the ridge. Apparently these ravines, as well as being strongholds for artillery and machine-guns, were used to mass troops for counter-attacks. Accordingly, for the next two days, the Battalion laid systematic harassing fire on the Ravin] du Chuchu, the Ravin de la Vaux-Hochee, the Ravin de la Hazelle, and the ravine between the Bois Wavrille and the Bois de Crepion. On the night of October 25-26 a platoon from B Company was sent forward to report to the Commanding Officer of the 101st Infantry, and was assigned to direct fire positions in the Houppy Bois. This platoon remained there in support until the 31st, when it was relieved. Another attack was planned for October 27 on Belleu Bois and Hill 360. The Battalion, minus the platoon with the 101st Infantry, again sup- 52 History ok Thk IOIst Machine Gun Battalion ported this operation with indireet fire on the same ra\-ines. Belleu Bois was finally taken. The Battalion was relieved on October 31 and returned to Marre. The tour of duty in the Bois de Brabant-sur-Meuse had been the hardest in its history. For a period of ten days the men had been under continuous shell-fire. The guns had been repeatedly in action. The only shelter was a shallow trench which, although it afforded some protection against high explosive, offered none against gas. There were gas attacks every night, and the men were forced to wear their masks the greater part of the time, making it almost impossible to sleep. During this period our echelon did excellent work, bringing up supplies regularly each night under heavy shell-fire, so that the men did not have to go hungry. Reports from the in- fantry showed that our fire had been effective, and the Battalion was com- mended in orders by the 51st Brigade and Division Commanders. The reserve position at Marre proved far more comfortable than the one at the cross-roads north of Vacherauville. The town was provided with sufficient dugouts to accomodate all of the men, and there was room to park the train and install the kitchens. On the night of the 31st, the 51st Brigade was relieved, and in turn, relieved the 2Gth French Division on the right of the 52nd Brigade. This change brought the Divisional front further to the eastward. During the following week the enemy showed signs of retiring, and on the 8th, the Division was ordered to advance to the eastward on Azannes and Ornes. The 101st Machine Gun Battalion was sent in its motors to Bras, ready to start forward. The rainy weather and shell-fire had made the roads impassable for motor transportation, so that the Battalion was or- dered to remain at Bras to await developments. It was held there until the 11th, when the armistice put an end to the fighting. The day of the armistice is one to be remembered. The Division was to attack at 9 :30 in the morning ; and the day, which was to mark the ces- sation of all hostilities, was begun wnth a violent bombardment by our artiller}\ The Battalion was on the alert, ready to mo\"e at a moment's notice. The big guns thundered persistently. To the casual observer, things certainly looked more like war than peace. Of course, there were rumors. There always are rumors. Early in the morning an excited poilu appeared shouting '^ Finie la guerre!" Later, another appeared with the same news, and still later, another. They were closely questioned. The most definite basis for the information seemed lo be that the orderly of some French lieutenant had heard his officer say that all firing was to cease at eleven o'clock. This was hardly official. As the time ])assed and the activity of the artillerx' increased, the doubt as to the capitulation of the History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 53 Germans became strengthened. The same rumor had been current at Verdun, weeks earlier, only to be followed by the most terrific experience in the lines that the Battalion had known. The wise ones were determined not to be fooled a second time. As a matter of fact, it was not until after eleven o'clock that official notice was received from Division Headquarters that hostilities were over. At eleven o'clock the last shot was fired. The 101st returned to Marre. THE ARMISTICE It was originally intended that the 26th Division should fonn a part of the Army of Occupation, but, owing to the fact that the armistice found the Division with only 5,000 effectives, its name was taken from the list at the last moment, and it was ordered to withdraw to the Montigny-le-Roi Area, between Chaumont and Langres. Major Bulkeley had been gassed during the operations of the Battalion in Brabant Wood and was sent to hospital on November 2. Captain Myers assumed command of the unit and Lieutenant Agnew took his place in C Company. During the hard fighting on the hill in the Bois de Brabant the Battalion had been subjected to several severe gas attacks; but it was not imtil after the relief that it came to light that the Major had been seriously affected. It is difficult to estimate the loss to an organization of such a personality as Major Bvilkeley's. His influence had been felt by all the men of the Battalion — they believed in him and knew that he believed in them. His interest in his men and his personal magnetism gave a sterling quality to his leadership — it was true leadership of a rare type. After the Major left, the men still felt the influence of his character and fine example. The 101st left Marre on the 15th of November and went by motor to the town of Nubecourt where it remained until the 17th. Then followed a long march on foot to Villotte-devant-St. Mihiel. The rest of the journey to our final destination, made partly in trucks and partly on foot, came to an end four days later at Louvieres. Upon arrival the Battalion proceeded to make itself as comfortable as possible in what were to be its winter quarters. Louvieres proved to be a small hamlet with even fewer than the customary 200 inhabitants, which had usually been the size of the population in towns the 101st had fre- quented during the past. It was difficult to find a sufficient number of bil- lets — some of the men having to sleep on the stone pavement of a barn. Fortunately there were two wooden barracks which made excellent mess- shacks. Had there been floors, these might have served as sleeping-quarters • However, the men had been long enough in France to know how to make 54 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion the best of whatex'er offered, and in a week's time were cheerfully faeing the prospect of another winter of rain and mud. For the great majority of the men the months following the armistice proved to be the most severe ordeal they were forced to undergo while in Fran(x\ In the first ])lacc, there was naturally a tremendous mental and physical reaction after nine months of almost continuous service in the line. Most of the men felt that the work they had coine to do, being accomplished, there remained nothing worth while except a speedy return to the United States. To thoroughly understand this point of view it must be remem- bered that our men were civilians by habit and inclination. They made the best soldiers in Europe, not because they liked the Army and its soldier- life, but rather because their very love of the things of peace drew forth their best efforts to end, in as short a time as possible, a war which was inore hateful to them than anything they could conceive. The war once ended, soldiering became drudgery, and thoughts of home occupied the mind. During the preceding winter there had been the great incentive of preparation, but that of 1918-19 offered no such stimulus. November, December and January dragged by slowly. The time was taken up with an endless round of drill and inspection. Members of the Battalion, fortunate enough to have their turn come around, were granted leaves, and found the various recreation areas most enjoyable. Life at Louvieres was, at best, monotonous, and it was with a sense of great relief that, on February first, orders were received to entrain for the Le Mans Area. Major Lawrence H. Watres, fonnerly of the 28th Division, had been assigned to cominand the 101st on December 27, and was transferred back to his own unit on January 17, when Captain Myers again became Bat- talion Commander. Le Mans was supposed to serve as a clearing station for troops going home. The Battalion detrained at Ma}'et and went into billets at Man- signe, confident that before long it would be on its way to Brest. All arms and nearU' all the transportation had been turned in before leaving Louvie- res, so that the time at Mansigne was taken up with day after day of close- order drill. "Squads right" and "left" is not an exciting pastime. Rifles were issued, and were welcome, as they gave the machine-gunners some- thing new to think about in learning the manual of arms. Inspections be- came more and more frequent. But the monotony of this existence was somewhat broken Y)y a vaudeville show given by a platoon of C Company at Louvieres, and another by B Company at Mansigne. An event of im- portance to the 101st was the return of Lieutenant Westbrook — now a major — to assume command. Adjutant H. W. Mills had been promoted to History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 55 a captaincy and placed in command of B Company on November 26 and Lieutenant C. F. Comey, who had led B Company since Major Bulkeley had taken command of the Battalion, was appointed adjutant. There was no immediate prospect of a move to Brest. Finally, towards the end of March, the long-expected orders were received, and the first of April found the Battalion on the water, aboard the good ship Agamemnon. That passage on the Agamemnon was extraordinary. While in peace- time the ship carried about 1800 passengers, on this occasion she was crammed to capacity with over 6,000 — soldiers and crew. All movement about the decks had to be carefully regulated; for example, at mess hours there was a designated route for each organization. As soon as a man was given his rations he was required to move, without delay, to the deck as- signed his company. Lines of men were passing about the big vessel all day. The problem of feeding over 6,000, from a single kitchen, was not simple, and only close cooperation on the part of all concerned made it possible. The chief occupations aboard ship seemed to be those of eating and sleep- ing. Time passed quickly, and the voyage was completed without incident. We were going home, and that all-important fact made any temporary inconvenience seem of little consequence. The Agamemnon steamed into Boston harbor on the 7th of April. A tremendous reception awaited her. The harbor was filled with all sorts of boats loaded with relatives, food and brass bands. As the transport took her dignified course to the pier the small craft hung about her like a swarm of mosquitos. Shouting of names, waving of flags, and heroic, if vain, attempts to throw oranges, chocolate and cigarettes up to the soldiers crowding over the deck rails far above, added considerably to the general excitement. The troops remained on board over night. On the following day they were sent to Camp Devens where was begun the work incidental to demobi- lization. The men were given short leaves-of -absence to visit their homes. Records were completed and equipment turned in. On April 22 the Bat- talion took part in the great review of the Yankee Division, held on the parade-ground at Camp Devens before Generals Edwards and Hale and the Governors of the New England States. Before this imposing ceremony our Battalion colors, with those of the other units of the Division, were decor- ated with streamers bearing the names of the principal battles fought by the Twenty-Sixth. Three days later came the parade in Boston — the last time the people of New England were to see their fighting Division together as a complete organization. By the 1st of May every man had received his discharge from the Army, and the 101st Machine Gun Battalion had be- come only a name and a memory. t. ^ AIont-les-Neufchiitcau 1. Our Kucst.s at the Cliristiiias party. 2. Battalion headquarters. 'A. The Christmas tree. 4. The rhfiteau. .">. Tlic cliurch and "Red Barraeks." (i. Sehool-niaster and kids doing their part — Christmas. 7. The battalion glee — "Tell a story of the nlory". N and 0. Company B' mess shack before and after burning. Mont-les-Neufchateau By Ernest deF. Miel, D. D., American Red Cross, A. E. F, WHEN other memories grow dim, we shall never forget two things in regard to our sojourn in France; namely, the diminutive box-cars in which we crossed that country, invariably marked "40 Hommes S Cheveaux," and the mud which greeted us and stayed with us, sticking closer than the proverbial brother. " The more I see of the sunny skies of France," said one machine-gunner, "the less I care to look upon the sunny skies of Italy." Rain and mist three hundred days out of three hundred and sixty-five is no extravagant estimate. After a three days' journey across country, we reached Neufchateau in the Vosges and were assigned our first quarters in a little village lying two miles and a half south of that town. Only the hospitality of the people of the village could take away from the chill of that November day. A few wooden barracks had been erected for the accommodation of American troops, but most of us found quar- ters in bams and stables, using hay to take the place of a shortage of blankets. About the first thing we looked for, after we had settled down in our billets, was a bath. It was evident that nothing corresponding to the idea of a bath-tub existed in the village assigned to us, so as soon as leave of absence could be granted we made a quick get-away for the town of Neuf- chateau. Here we discovered, at the very start, that a certain primitive communism still exists in France, perhaps coming down from the old Ro- man days when the public baths had not only to do with personal hygiene, but also were a social institution. Those of us who had a faint familiarity with the French language knew that the sign "Bains" had nothing to do with Boston and its favorite diet, but stood for the institution of which we were so eagerly in search. To our chagrin we found that owing to scarcity of fuel, no baths could be had except on Thursdays and Saturdays. An old lady who presided over the "plant " was most voluble in her apologies, but even that did not stop us from saying things under our breath hardly complimentary to French social ]3ractices. Our first real job was a clean-up one, compared with which clean-up week in Hartford was a polite and pleasurable recreation. We were unac- customed to a country in which the front of the house was always at the rear and the manure heaps were piled along the streets and regarded as an evidence of wealth on the part of the property-holder. To make the town sanitarv and fairlv decent took the combined strength of our entire out- 58 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion fit, and ()ccii])ie'(l nian\- days. Wc compromised willi the ])easants and over- came their prejudice by offerinj^ to cart all this fertilizing material to the fields in advance of the s])ring season. Such a large company of men com- ing from a fairly warm and comfortable climate needed more warmth than the natives were accustomed to, and our second job of real importance was to go up in squads to the forest lying some two miles west of us on a high ridge, and carry down logs of wood on our shoulders. Until this daily chore was performed and the kitchen fires abundantly provided with fuel, drill- ing was out of the cjuestion. Wash-day in a French \'illage is something of a social ceremon\'. In- stead of the individual wash-tubs in each cottage, the town provides a great trough at the end of the street, sheltered by a shed and equipped with smooth slabs of stone, over which the water nms freely. Here, among the village women chattering in an unknown tongue, we wedged ourselves and did a laundry business of which even a Chinaman might have been proud. One of the huts which had been built for our use was appropriated by the Y. M. C. A. and used as a canteen ; and here the letters we were able to send home were UvSually written. Here also, we held our meetings and sang our songs, and when Sunday came around, met for service. Fortunately, we had an abundance of good "chow" and found that a visit to Neufchateau would supply us with the little luxuries needed to relieve the monotony of the bill of fare. Some of us discovered on the shelves of one of the village stores, cans of condensed milk bearing the familiar inscription "Charter Oak Brand," with a picture of that famous tree. This suggestion of home comforts, while it accentuated our separation from familiar scenes, also added an element of cheer in making us feel that wherever we go in this world, we are sure to iind some evidence of little old Connecticut. We had to wait many weeks for our machine-guns, but the disappoint- ment was somewhat relieved Ijy the information that our outfit was to be- come a kind of mobile battery, and was to travel in Ford cars. Doubtless this decision was due to the fact that General Edwards, when he came to inspect us, sized us up for a rather fast crowd, and felt that we were too rapid a bunch to travel with mules. It is a far cry from cavalry service to the mechanics and mysteries of machine-gun practice. We found it meant far more than learning the intricacies of the gun itself, for the range on which we had to practice was located some six kilometers from our billets. No milkman in the city ever got up earlier than we did to reach that distant territory. It was like a tour through France, only that darkness prevented us from enjoying the view. The same thing happened after the day's work — we came home in the dark. Perhaps this was part of the great scheme of camoullagc, of which we had heard so much at home! Anyhow, we might History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 59 easily have been mistaken for the "Black Watch," as we tramped across country. But it was a good thing to get to work on the guns, for up to that time we had a sneaking notion that the soldier's job was to be discharged chiefly by pitchfork and shovel, and that it fell into line with the agricultural pur- suits of the French peasants. Hard as it was to master the gun, that task couldn't compare in complexity and intricacy with the mastery of the French language. Our battalion interpreter, "Colonel" Woronick, who proved to be the best kind of a "scout," took us in hand for instruction in the subtleties of French speech. Most of us made astonishing progress. "Toot sweet" came easy, for it had a melifluous sound; "beaucoup, " while it meant much and we got little — of anything except hard work — was not difficult to get; "pas bon" struck our fancy, for it described various and sundry things, like the weather and our billets and French tobacco. As the only available grub, outside the regular rations, consisted of eggs, we all tried to get the genuine pronunciation of that mysterious word. The singular was easy enough (un oeuf), but the plural was too elusive for the American tongue in sliding scale of values. Captain Myers' orderly solved the problem with true Yankee ingenuity. When his commander sent him to a neighboring peasant's house for two eggs for breakfast, he hailed a French woman in charge of the grange with a double-barreled ejaculation, "Madam, wuffi wuff!" Over against our feeble attempts at French, were the strenuous and serious efforts made by our hosts to get a grip upon our own language. One had to get his ear in focus to catch any meaning at all. The kids had no difficulty, however, in getting hold of the phrase "good night," which seemed to strike their fancy, and which they used at all hours of the day. After a while "penny" became a familiar term to them, and also "cigar- ette" — it was a great discovery when they found that the word for "smok- er's delight" was the same in their own tongue as in ours — but the phrase which was worked overtime in all the cafes, restaurants, stores and shops was the word "feeneesh," which applied to all manner of stock in trade; but no one has yet discovered whether it is French or English in its origin. Our little village of Mont was located about thirty-five miles south of that part of the Verdun line known as the St. Mihiel Sector. Here the Front made a decided wedge into French territory, and on a quiet night it was easy to hear the rumble of the big guns. We had a notion that not many weeks would elapse before we should see that section, and later it did be- come our chief area of operation. Meanwhile, in order to make us realize that the war was not limited to the front line, an occasional air raid over the Neuf chateau region kept us on the alert, and gave us a foretaste of what 60 TTiSTORY OF The 101st Machine Gun Battalion was to come. 'I'lic only real excitement in our life in this back area occurred when the mess-shack of Company "B" took fire. The village fountain furnished the water supply, and a bucket squad consisting of most of the men in camp was the best substitute we could offer for up-to-date ap]jaratus. That such hastily imi)rovised methods failed to meet the emergency goes without saying. On the rare occasions when we could gel half a day off, our hearts and healthy appetites turned hungrily to Neufchateau, the "metropolis" of this section, a town of some eight thousand people, which with its small shops and narrow streets, seemed to our eyes to have stood still since the Middle Ages. Notwithstanding its somewhat squalid and grotescjue aspect, we found it a desirable ])lace in which to spend our leisure hours. We shall never forget the Hotel de la Providence. To the imagination, stimulated by an empty stomach, it almost attained the grandeur and luxury of the Waldorf Astoria. Happy the inan who could sneak through some side door ahead of the commissioned officers, and get a seat at one of its crowded tables. What was lacking in food was made up in good fellowship and tlie sense of luxury that comes from eating with real plates and napkins. Those of us who were interested in history, and felt the grip of the heroic tale of Joan of Arc, made our devotions by a pilgrimage to her birth- place and historic shrine at Domremy, about sixteen kilometres from our cantonment. The little house in which she was born, hidden behind a wall of stone, covered with vines, contained many symbols of her presence. The village church near by, where she made her first Communion, still retains its ])rimiti\-e simplicity, but the basilica which the French nation has erected u]xjn the spot where she is supposed to have seen her visions while tending her father's sheep, is a sanctuary of great magnificence, and a beautiful triljute to her memory. Abundantly adorned with the finest expressions of French art, and beautiful in the completeness of its design, it testifies to the admiration and affection in which this remarkable girl is held by the jjcople whose land she delivered from the hand of the enemy. She was the Saint who epitoinized the courage and confidence of the Nation in the face of this stupendous war; and in every church, tai)ers were con- stantly' burning before her image, ])laeed there by the mothers, wives and vsisters who had followed the ])ath of her own devotion in sending their dear ones to the Front. Thanksgiving Day and Cln-istmas had a most wliolesome and briglu- cning elTeet vijjon our si)irits. The Commissary Department of the A. E. F. had promised the troops in France abundance of turkey, which — as Ben- jamin Franklin insisted and everyone knows — is our national l)ird, and to the credit of the Su])])l\- Dei)artment of the Arm\' let it be said that it History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 61 "made good." We certainly had a feast of "fat things upon the lees" — "some stuffing" as remarked one of the lads who had stuffed himself to the brim. Our celebration of Christmas Day was characterized by an even keener spirit of festivity. Some weeks in advance the word went around that the American troops in our neighborhood intended to show the French vil- lagers what an American Christmas was like, and the boys entered into all the preparations with a hearty good will. In these towns behind the lines the population usually consisted of old men and women at the one extreme and little children at the other. The mature manhood and womanhood, as well as the youth of the land, were fully occupied with the war, — the young men in active service and the young women in munition work. We were determined that the kiddies should have a Christmas celebration that they would remember as long as they lived, and the plans eventually took the shape of our municipal Christ- mas at home. A very tall and stately fir was cut and put up the night before in the little square in front of the village church and a detachment of volunteers set to work decorating it with flags, silver and gold stars, and other bright things. Meanwhile mysterious tickets had been prepared, each bearing a number, and the boys and girls of the village were called together to draw one in view of the events that were forth-coming on the following day. At ten o'clock in the inorning the soldiers assembled, with the children and parents of the village in their most festive attire. The exercises were opened by our own Major, and to the great joy of the natives and his own men, he delivered his address of welcome and congratulation in French. It was such a good speech and made such a favorable impression upon the people that it ought to be preserved for posterity. We all felt mighty proud to have one of our own nvimbcr stand up, and without manuscript or note, talk to these people in their own tongue, even though a lot of us did not understand what he was saying. It relieved the occasion of any feeling of strangeness as far as the French participants were concerned. Here it is: "M. le Maire, Mesdames, Messieurs, Mes Enfants: Grace a votre accueil cordial et sympathetique, le jour Noel sera pour nous un jour de fete, bien que passe loin de notre terre natalc. II est agreable de nous savoir au milieu d'amis et d'etre vraiment con- sideres comme les freres d'armes de vos fils, d'etre unis a eux pour porter au coeur des pays Alsaciens-Lorraine, le drapeau de la liberte des peuples. Veuillez done voir dans cette simple fete un affecteuex et respectueux hommage a une population qui dispense genereusement une amitie recon- fortante aux officiers et aux soldats des Etats-Unis. 62 TTisioKV OK Tin; lOlsr Maciunk (Iin Baitalion li^l voiis, mes cnfants, ciiie vos ])c'lites iiK'moiivs rnrej^Mslrcnt le sou- venir (Ic cwix (nii, pour \'ous assuror uur \'ir heurcusc, n'hesitoronl pas a pom'MrcM" plus a\'ant dans la voie si 54;loric'Usc'iiUMit trascV par vos ])imvs." 'I'hen the "Mairc" of the villaj^e delivered a dij^niilied response, the tenor of which was that his people were most ha])i)y to have the American soldiers as their j^aiests and fell ihat the entrance of oiu* eomitry into this war would not only decide it favorably, but would also result in a lastinj; friendshi]) between the two nations. Tt was a j^M'aceful siH>ech, and though our men could not follow it all, ])rol)a1)ly most of llicni c-aui;hl tlu' drift. After that, a triple ([uartctte of our own boys came l\)r\vard and san^^ in line style a niedl(.\\' of American sonj^.s — those old melodies we have known and sunj; from i-liildliood. ThiMi the village schoolmaster led into the t"ore_ ground a group of some thirty lads of from ten to fourteen years, and the\' re- cited in concert a ])atriotic ])oem by Victor Hugo. One was astonished at their abilit\- toki>ep step with each otluM', so to speak, and at thcgcnuiiu' dra- matic expression which colored the recitation. No doubt the youngsters felt the spirit of the theme, and stirred by a feeling of devotion to the cause of their country, sa\-cd ilu- affair from being mechanical. AftcM- that, our own (^handler took his ])lace on the step in front of Hcackiuarters and sang with line feeling the familiar (\arol " It Came ujion the Midnight Clear." It made every one of us choke up a bit, for it carrietl us back to the \'er\' lu-art of the home circle. A chorus of tiny I'^riMn-h girls api)ropriatel\' replied to this Christmas song with onc> of llu-ir own i-arols, ha\ing the refrain " Restcz chez Nous,'' a very beautiful and touching invitation to the Infant Saviour, if He should come again, to make his abode with them. The [)rogram then took on a more jovial and informal tone. Ilawle\-, of newspaper fame, was called out and gave us a stump speech in his inimitable style. Hci'IoschI with sonic \'crses which excited a great ileal of merriment among our nuMi. as tlu\\- art' a take- off on Kipling's familiar poem "(lunga Din." When one realizes that the Ford car had perhaps been the chief instrument of transportation in this war and, notwithstanding Mr. Henry Ford's peace inclinations, had made it possible lo"i-arr\- on," both bet-ausc of its reliability as a means of trans- port and its small consinnption of gasoline, ewryone will be willing to grant that the \-erses of this amati-ur poet, whoi'wr he is, reallx' hax'e a iilaee ii\ the antholo''\- oi this War. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 63 HUNKA TIN You may talk about your voltures When you're sitting round the quarters, But when it comes to getting blesses in, Take a Httle tip from me, Let those heavy motors be. Pin your faith to Henry F's old Hunka Tin. Give her essence and de Veau, Crank her up and let her go, You back firin', spark-plug foulin' Hunka Tin. The paint is not so good, And no doubt you'll find the hood Will rattle like a boiler shop en route; The cooler's sure to boil. And perhaps she's leakin' oil. Then oftentimes the horn declines to toot. But when the night is black And there's blesses to take back. And they hardly give you time to take a smoke. It's mighty good to feel. When you're sitting at the wheel. She'll be running when the bigger cars are broke. After all the wars are past. And we're taken home at last. To our reward of which the preacher sings, When these ukelele sharps Will be strumming golden harps. And the aviators all have reg'lar wings. When the Kaiser is in hell. With the furnace drawing well. Paying for his million different kinds of sin, If they're running short of coal. Show me how to reach the hole And I'll cast a few loads down with Hunka Tin. Yes, Tin, Tin, Tin, You exasperatin' puzzle, Hunka Tin, I've abused you and I've flayed you. But, by Henry Ford, who made you. You are better than a Packard, Hunka Tin. (From the American Field Service Bulletin, Paris) 64 History ok Tin. lOlsr AIaciiinf. Oun Battalion After that wc> had sonic more singinj^ from the trijjlc quartette and some Ijanjo and mandohn ])laying by artists in our own Battalion. The French were dehghted with this novelty. This was followed by a vaude- ville stunt between two of the lads, one Irish and the other Italian, which really proved to be the piece de resistance for the Americans, though it com- pletely mystified the French audience. The exercises closed with the distril)ution of gifts to the village children. A great table loaded down with 1 beautiful toys which the men themselves had bought, was standing ready, and each child, the day ]:)efore, had drawn a number. No. 1 , of course, had first choice and so it went all along the line, and as almost all the i)rescMits were equally desirable, no hearts were broken, but, on the contrary, the children were jubilant o\Tr this kind of Christmas celebration. After the exercises the Major announced a religious service to be held in the Y. M. C. A. tent. . Wc had put a few candles on the improvised altar and made it look as festive as possible. We sang our hymns: — "O, Little Town of Bethlehem," "Oh, Come All Yc Faithful," "Hark! the Herald Angels vSing," "While Sheperds Watched Their Flocks by Night." It would have done the hearts of our people good, not only to have heard the singing of those familiar carols, but also to have seen the lads come forward at the close of the service to receive the Holy Communion. But the crowning event of the day's festivities which put just the right finishing touch upon our ])rogram and fulfilled our highest hopes was the arrival of the American mail from home! When news came to us that some fifteen or twenty car-loads had reached our Di\'ision, every possible conveyance was brought into recjuisition to bring those precious packages to their i)roper destination; ambulances, motor-trucks, mule-teams, — -all sorts of vehicles were loaded down to the gunwales and made a memorable procession along the highways to the x'arious villages where our troops were quartered. To our own Battalion no less than five loads of this mail were delivered, and during the following week it kei)t coming in, .so that the festivities were prolonged over several da\'s. The i)CM)i)le at home little knew how much these gifts and remembrances counted in the commemora- tion of this great anniversary which means so much in the home life of our people. Besides personal gifts, wc found a lot of children's toys, and in the late afternoon these wc-re distributed, the boys going from house to house and remembering the kids they specially kncnv. After the Holidays the work took on a more serious turn. Drilling became a stiff and stern i:)ractice. The rumor began to grow that we were shortly to be i)ut into line with the French for our baptism of fire. All secret notions that the war was to come to an end before we got into active History of The 101 st Machine Gun Battalion 65 service began to dissolve. From the attitude of our officers, we knew that the Yankee Division was destined to do its full share in winning the war. When the order came to get rid of surplus equipment and to have each man's hair cropped close, we felt that the day was soon to arrive. Sure enough, on February 8 the Battalion was ordered to move. We had only time to take hurried leave of the villagers to whom we had become greatly attached, and from the saddened faces that watched us depart we knew our feelings of regard were mutual. Eager anticipation of a big experience was in every heart. We knew nothing of the plan, but knew we were on the way. The song that sung itself in our hearts during those hours of thrill and in- tense excitement was, "We Don't Know Where We're Going, but We Know^ We're On the Way." Mont-les-Neufehateau Price : 50 centimes per copy ^. Vol. I, \. THE TRIPOD A SEMI-NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY AND FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE lOlbt MACHINE GUN BATTALION AND TROOPS ADJACENT AT NEVERMINDWIIEBE. FRANCE Entered at the Post-Officc id Jenesaispas, France, as buck (second class) mail matter. CiBCULATiON : — (deleted by censor) shots a minute. IIAIlTFOnn OFflCK. — Entrances on Main street, Central Row and Prospect street. i\EW II A I'i.V OFFICE. — E. J.. Noriarty, correspondent, \\ BroadwBy, BERLiy OFFICE. — NeunzelinlivmderUchtzeliu, \\ iili«lin- strussc. LOCAL OFFICE. — Y. M. C. A. Tent, No. i Vvhitncy avenue, Nevermindwherc, France. Contributions in prose, verse, trench, English and Bridgepor/ese should be handed in at the local OJ'fice not Utter than I p\m.. Battalion time, on the afternoon preceding publication. They should be typewritten ivherever possible. i\o notice will be taken of anonymous publications, and the editors reserve the right to reject W. O. L. all communications the spelling, sentiments and legihiHty of which might give aid and comfort to the enemy. BUSINESS OF SALUTING. With tills number The Tripod steadies itself on its two front legs and one rear leg, brings its right hand smartly opposite its right eyebrow, fingers extended, and thumb tucked carefully in and salutes the officers and men of the One Hundred and First Machine "Gun Battalion, now serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in one of the muddiest parts of France. It hopes to serve them well, as long as the weather, the censor, the transportation, the paymaster and the enemy permit. Its aim is to collect for them the news not only of the companies comprising the battalion, but the-news of the cities and towns in God's Country {i..e., North America) from which the members of those companies were recruited; to provide them with a clearing house for ideas and a safety valve for the expression of literary aspiration, whether in prose, verse, or plain United States. The Tripod has no politics. It has no ulterior motive other than that of brightening the corner of France where Its readers are billeted, — and, through the sending of the paper home by those readers, the brightening of large portions of Hartford and New Haven, Connccliciit, and the whole State of Vermont. In fact, one of the greatest services which The Tripod hopes to render will be that of keeping that large and patient portion of the population known as "t\w folks back home", informed of the thoughts and doings of the battalions members, at a minim\im of cost and effort to the hardworking members of the battalion themselves. The Tripod is m no sense a kick-box. If you have a genuine grouch, air it "through channels" and not to the editors of The Tripod ; it wouldn't be likely to get you anything in either case, for you know yourself that you're mighty lucky and proud to be where you are. But if you've got anything interesting in your mail, for example — news from home, sidelights on the way the folks on t'other side Atlantic are taking the war — copy it off and bring it to the paper's office, or bring us the letter and we'll copy it off for you. (Never fear, Reginald, we wouldn't thing of printing her name unless she asked us to !) And, if in the course of your work and wanderings about " notre village", you come across anything worthy of being written up, which you think might be of interest to the people in God's Country, write it up and bring it in. Only stick close to the censorship riiiings when you write it; we don't want the Kaiser to get any comfort out of The Tripod. We have another kind of tripod along with us that will give him and his gang all the comfort they can stand ! In short, gentlemen, come across. f*j First cppy will not bo isbiiid until afur pay day, gentle reader- Facsimile rcprcniuctiun of lirsl page History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 67 We're here to serve you, and will do so as long as you'll let us. But we can't swing the job unless you'll all help out — in keeping an eye open for things we may print, in seeing that the Family and the Dutch Uncle and the Girl all get copies of our sheet, regularly. We've made the cost as rockbottomly low as possible considering the cost of paper and ink in this war-distressed country; it's little enough compared to what the home-folks are e.xpending on us, in gifts, in taxes, in what- not. Send it to 'em; they'll appreciate it — and, at the same time, don't forget that you want a copy of your own to put in that scrap- book for little Willy to read when he's old enough. So, gentlemen, here's luck — but the luck is strictly up to you ! THANKSGIVING IN THE lOlST M.G.B. As exclusively predicted in The Tripod, Thanksgiving Day finally arrived; and as further exclusively predicted in The Tripod, it fell on November 29, 191 7. The turkeys arrived on time, as did several other things, mainly unforseen. In fact, the only thing that was late was first call in the morning; and that, being a whole hour later than usual, was more than excused for its tardiness. It was not a "white Thanksgiving", with snow on the ground, such as the memory of some hardy New England pioneer loves to dwell on. The weather was mild and balmy, permitting of outdoor shaving and bathing for the first time in a week. In consequence whereof (aided by a most rigid inspection "in preparation for the National Holiday" the afternoon before) the Battalion and the Engineers, as they sat down to observe the National Rite at 2.30 in the afternoon, pre- sented a most pleasing appearance of scrump- tiousness; and since cleanliness is next to godliness, the boys more than made up for not being able to attend a church service in the morning. Wonderingly the inhabitants of "noire villaj^e" clustered about the kitchens and sniffed the odors arising therefrom in prepara- tion for the meal of all meals, to a Yankee's mind. "Pourquoi cette preparation?" (or words to that effect) inquired one of the Dear Old Ladies who do the washing and box the little boy's ears hereabouts. "Is this the birthday- of M. le General Vazhangtone? " "Non, Madame," responded a very per- spiry cook, lifting his goggles politely as hs arose, like Venus out of the sea-foam, from amidst a mess of steaming onions. " It is not Washington's Birthday yet-a-while." "Non?" queried Madame again. ".\h! Then perhaps it is the birthday of M. le President Veelson that M'sieur desires to celebrate?" "Wrong again," grinned the still polite, but busy culinary artist. "We haven't got to that yet, but we probably will in time." Madame thought for a while. Then an idea hit her like a shell from a " 75 ". "Ah!" she exclaimed, delightedly. "I have it! Eet ees ze birthday of ze great American hero, Morgan Gee Boucley!" That was the crowning touch. With a roar the cook dived into his shanty again, howling with glee to the equally perspiry K.P.'s within, "Listen, boys, here's a new one!" Dumbfounded, Madame stood gazing after him for a moment, then turnecl sadly and clumped down the street in her clacking sahols, muttering something about the crazy Americans. Well, the -Americans certainly went crazy; with delight, that is, when at last that feed was put before them. Although the menus of the various companies here assembled varied a bit, in the main they were much the same. At all the messes there was turkey — and turkey; sweet potatoes from the southland and white potatoes from the northland, united like the Blue and the Gray; dressing — and dressing; cranberry sauce — and cran- berry sauce; and plenty of the field bakeries' production of good whole wheat U. S. bread, baked so freshly and cut so thickly that, in comparison to hardtack, it seemed almost like angel-cake. At one mess there were real doughnuts, with real holes in the middle just like the newly minted French money; at another there was real honest-to-goodness pie, with apples and raisins between the folds; onions, as related before, blossomed out as an extra vegetable in a third, and — oh, anj'- way you've a mind to take it, it was a real Thanksgiving meal! But it is hard to con- \ince the members of C Company that they didn't have a little bit of an edge on the rest of the crowd; for they had a gift from their captain that made all the difference in the world. It might have been good old New England cider, but it wasn't. Yet nobody kicked; and such a cheer! Next year, when the Thanksgiving dinner of the Yanks (as exclusively predicted in The Tripod) will be eaten in Berlin, the Company is going to set 'em up to the Captain, in the choicest liquid products (fire excluded) of the Fatherland." 68 History of The IUIst Machine Gun Battalion (^OMPANY JOTTINGS C Company \\'clc()inc back from the rij;hl-liule, tighl- littlc Island, Sorgt. Joe Gish and the rest! We bet you had a bully time at that rest camp, and a fine ride over here across the Channel. Sergl. Richard Dicky Moore was a pleasant visitor in these parts not long ago. Come again, Dicky, early and often, is our senti- ments. The finest and quickest \va_\' to annex the Angora of Sui)i)ly Sergt. Old Bill Buck is to drop in to the Orderly Room and ask him for enough candles to trim the Company's Christmas tree. The members of the third platoon are just about getting used to the church chimes that begin to ring outside their windows e\'ery morning before reveille. The old-time query, "Who put those overalls in Mrs. Murphy's chowder?" is giv- ing place, in C company's kitchen, to the pertinent question, "Who threw that Karo syrup into the baked beans?" It is important if true to note that the ne.xt entertainment at the Y. M. may be featured by a debate between Corpl. Bristoll and Tom Burke on: "Resolved, that the war will end when it gets through." Troubles of a Top Sergeant: "Sergeant, who censors my mail?" T. S. "Why, the Lieutenant commanding your platoon, you poor boob!" Well, if you and the Lieutenant was " writ- in' to the same girl, Top, I suppose you'd just sorter be out of luck?" .\ very pleasant caller recently was Jimmy Bristoll, better known as Corpl. Roy Bris- toll's kid brother. According to the way some of the boys feel, about all they can apply from the Bible to our Sundays in the village is the passage about being hewers of wood and drawers of water. Corpl. Larry Xceld excited all the members of the first platoon to a high pitch of envy by going down-town Thanksgiving and pur- chasing a real, honest- to-goodness warm water and soap bath. Larry felt — and smelt ^oh, so nice and righteous after he came back! Joe Clark has alreadv enough to start combing it again. Teddy Fabr\k and Hill Scoville were pleasant callers at the dentist's not so very long ago. That's a great new song that Sergt. Sandy {\ishman and his merry lads uncorked at the Thanksgi\'ing dinner aliout "Mister Booze". We'd |)rint it, only we count on getting some circulation in the United States which, ac- cording to the latest L-ogram, has all gone dry. That makes twice, now doesn't it, that the little McCiinn boy has copped orderly? Some soldier, George! Sergt. Hard Luck George Berlin is back from hospital. He says he had a good time being fed and everything, only they took his clothes and wouldn't let him walk around. B COMPAXY I'te. Paul Ailing isn't Pte. Paul Ailing an}- longer, ha\'ing received a commission as a Lieut, of Ca\'alry. This, according to some, is equivalent to being a Lieut, of the best thing on horses. Gardner Hall has the distinction, and we should hope pleasure, of being serenaded every morning just before reveille. Whatever the peace rumors B Company may hear it is certain that those emanating from Pte. Avery will receive but scant con- sideration, to judge from the way he has do[)ed the arrival of the mail of late. Dick Cushman is reported to have allowed that, when this \acation-war is ended, he is going on a coast-to-coast motor trip in God's Country for a rest. Why not try France for a change, Dick? Pte. I St. CI. Hodder has become an en- thusiastic sandwich man down at the Y. M., and is doing yeoman service in that noble capacity. More power to his elbow! Old Rough Allen mounted a guard one day not long ago, he being sergeant of the same. Ah, there, Clint! Stud Grey of here and Hartford is doing very nicel_\' up at Headfjuarters, where he is sergeant-majoring it with a right good will. We always knew he would make good. B Company's famous quartette expects to be in fine form soon, and is already prac- ticing its Christmas carols on the q. t. The Re\'. Dr. ICrnest del'' Miel, who is in l'"rance engaged in executive work for the American Red Cross, but who is best known to the Hartford men of the Battalion as I he rector of Trinity Church, Hartford, and "chai)lain" of old Troop B, spoke at the services in the Y. M. C. A. tent on Sunda\- morning, December 2. He congratulated the members of the iialtalion on being among ihe first to volunteer and to be transported to I'"rance. A communion ser\dce followed Dr. Miel's sermon. The loist Machine Gun BattaHon AS SEEN From the Y. M. C. A. By The Rev. Charles E. Hesselgrave, Ph.D. MEETING THE BATTALION TO recall the months of work and association with the 101st Machine Gun Battalion in France, is a pleasant and inspiring occupation. The memory of those days is a priceless possession. No scenes or events are stamped more indelibly on the mind and imagination. It is easy to visualize again those bleak, raw days, in February, when I first visited the Battalion boys at Mont-les-Neufchateau, and found that the thrilling news of movement made weather conditions a negligible quantity. The longed-for day of entry into the battle-line was about to dawn, and all were alert with preparation and anticipation. I shall never forget the joy it gave me to meet the eager group of boys from my own town, many of whose faces had long been familiar to me. Although I had been away from America for a month, the bits of information I carried were received as welcome ' ' news ' ' from home. MOVING TO THE FRONT: SOISSONS There was onh- time for greeting and a renewal of old acquaintance- ship before the journey across France was begun and the Battalion took its place in the Soissons Sector. I shall ever count it a piece of good-fortune that, through special arrangements for my mission in France, it was possible for me to visit at once the men whom I had previously known in America, and through them and their good officers, to find almost immediate entrance into the confidence and companionship of a large group of Connecticut boys. Nor was it less fortunate that I should be able to go along with the men with whom I was to labor, in their first experience at the front. The special mission on which I was sent, together with the thousands of cigar- ettes which I carried for Manchester boys, proved to be an open sesame to the very work that I would have chosen above all others, had I understood 70 History ok Tiik 101 st Machine Gun Battalion the conditions and anticipated results. Althouji;h I had done no work in the V. M. C. A. up to this time, as soon as the Chief vSecrctary of the Di\-ision understood the circumstances, he forthwith issued a "march" order for me to <^o with the Dixision into its l)a])tism of fire. ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH THE BATTALION A mere chance finally jjlaccd me at work with the lOlst Machine Ciun Battalion. The V. M. C A. Director had ^n\-cn me no assijj;nmcnt, but asked me to await de\-elopments. The city of Soissons was the scene of feverish cominjj; and ji^oing on the part of the American soldiers. In my anxious x'isitinj:; froni one ^rouj) to another, I noticed a number of covered Ford cars marked with the larj.(e letter "C". Upon inquiry, I found they belonjj;ed to the Machine Gun Battalion, which I had visited at Mont. One of the boys jokingly remarked, "Why don't you come along with us?" The suj.^gestion seemed a jijood one. I applied to the officer in charge, who readih' gave me a place on one of the cars which had just been unloaded from the train, and in a short time I was on the way to the Battalion ren- dezvous at Vregny. Returning to Soissons on the same night, I asked the Director if he had given me an assignment. " No." " May I then have my freedom for tomorrow?'" "Certainly." On the morrow, in one of the little narnnv streets of the cit\', I saw again one of those little Ford ambulance cars marked with a "C". I found it was in charge of Lieut. Powell, the Battalion Surgeon. Through his kindly aid I was soon able to load the car with canteen su|)plies from the Y. M. C. A. storehouse, and that afternoon, from the tail of the Ford, I o])encd canteen work with the Battalion, a work that was to continue until the Annisticc was signed and the boys had started for their homeward voyage. LIFE AT VREGNY How can 1 tell the story of those wonderful days? Such memories of mud and snow, cold and damp, — and other memories of clear skies and scattered wayside flowers, ruined buildings surrounded I))- trenches and shell-torn fields, hai)])\' comi)anionships, joll>' stories, and a cordial sjnrit of friendliness and cooperation. There were stolid French soldiers working at war as though it were a life-long occupation, and occasional night raids and air fights by day enlivened our introduction to the war-game, while the great sausage balloon only a few hundred yards awa\' was continually drawing the German fire in our direction. In the midst of these scenes ovu- first " Y " (.-antecn was a small jxirt of xm old building which had been shot to ])ieces by hea\"\' gun-fire. There was History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 71 a doorway but no door. To overcome this obvious difficulty and to keep our "goods" safe, we secured a large sheet of corrugated iron and made it fast before the doorway, with a dislocated building stone. Further security (against hoboes, I suppose) was obtained by collusion with the guard. After much solicitation and earnest discussion the French Town Major placed a more suitable and commodious building at our disposal. By arranging some patches on the roof, repairing the doors and adding a cor- rugated iron finish to the crumbling fireplace, the boys soon made the " Y" a veritable center of social and business life. Here our canteen work was done and many letters home were written. Discussions on every conceivable subject, from French currency and the reasonable price of cigarettes, to the proper conduct of the War, were held at any hour of the day or evening. At Vregny we enjoyed the valuable services of a very helpful "Y" assistant, Mr. Edward Garrett, who had known many of the boys in Hartford. It was a cause of great regret to us all that later circumstances separated us. During the next few weeks we had many never-to-be-forgotten experiences. There were entertainments and lectures in the old cave, frenzied efforts to get canteen supplies, the trips to the lines with chocolate, cigarettes and other "necessaries," and strenuous hunts for souvenirs which later had to be thrown away. Most impressive to me, were the religious services held in the candle-lighted cave, in which the. boys participated with enthusiasm, interest and devotion such as onh- the circumstances under which we lived and served could have brought about. Who that passed through those experiences and witnessed those scenes, can ever forget the impressions of those first days at the Front — the dilapidated villages, long since emptied of every vestige of civil life, the shell-torn buildings, fields and factories, the long lines of barbed wire entanglements, the maze of trenches, the camouflaged roads, the old kitchens. "Rats Inn," the parked cars, the iron-roofed dugouts, the caves in the hillsides, the boom of the big guns, the whistle of the shells, the patter of the falling shrapnel, the burning observation balloon, the falling air- planes, the hum of the bombing planes at night, — first and more lasting impressions of modem warfare. EASTER IN THE VOSGES The weeks soon slipped by, and the order for us to move back into a rest area had come. For myself, at least, there was just a tinge of regret in leaving this place, which in spite of its discomforts, hard work and dan- gers, had become a center of friendships and associations that years could never dim nor destroy. At Soissons, I bade goodby to the Battalion and set 72 History of Tiik 101 st jMachine Gun Battalion out for Paris, where I was given the eurious task of managing a hotel. After ten days, howe\'er. I again joined the Battalion on the night before Easter, in the muddy htlle village of St. Blin. In spite of the mud and rain and preparations for a new move, we had a memorable Easter service in the Y. M. C. A. barracks. Next morning the Battalion started, midst the usual rain, for the Toul front. Provision was made for the transportation of the Y. M. C. A. man, and so, with the officers and men, to whom I had become greatly attached, I went into the new sector, and by the kind invitation of the officers, slept that night in their barracks, surrounded by a conglom- erate mass of mud, water and trees, called by the French, La Grande Harcourt. LIFE IN THE TOUL SECTOR As it seemed inadvisable to put in a Y. M. C. A. at the camp itself, I was given charge of an Officers' Club at the village of Menil-laTour, and ])cnuitted also to look after such work with the Battalion as was possible. This arrangement was continued for the next three months. It was always a pleasure and satisfaction to be with the Battalion boys on Sunday for religious services and to \^isit them at various times during the week with canteen or other supplies, and to welcome them at the tent in Menil. At Jouv, Raulecourt and Mandres, as well as at the camp in the woods, it was ])ossil)le for me to visit the boys and. hold occasional services. It was not as uncommon as it was unorthodox, to open up a field or barracks canteen after the religious services on Sunday morning, and then attend a baseball game in the afternoon. No wonder that one of the boys from m\- own town remarked after such a day's experience: "Well, 'Doc', I guess you've gone the limit today." Here again, association and comradeship so close to the raw^ realities of life, in the tangled mazes of war, revealed the deeper currents of human life and made fast friendships where surface indications gave little promise. Time would fail me to tell of the journe\-s ])y night and by day, the difficul- ties in securing the needed sui)])lies, the kindness of officers and men in helping to lift e\-er>' load and make fruitful e\'ery effort, the cheerful o]3ti- mism and detenninatioti of all to make the best of whatever circumstances proffered. There were, indeed, special occasions which left indelible im- pressions u])on one whose task w^as in part religious. Such were the \'isits of Dr. Mid and Dr. \\)orhees; the former holding an imi)ressi\-i" communion .service and the latter preaching his last sennon, only three days before the fatal shell struck him. Hardly less notable were the Mother's Day services and the barracks service, when tliree boys were ba])tise(l and received into the membershi]) of the Christian church. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 73 As Spring slowly unfolded into Summer and buds expanded into the heavy foliage of the woods, English daises and lilies-of-the-valley giving place to crimson poppies and the blue corn-flower, activities within and behind the lines changed accordingly. Through the agency of the "Y", entertainments of various kinds were staged out-of-doors, and athletics became the rage. I am sure that some of the Battalion will remember well the dances that were given, the backdoor canteen trade in magazines, ice- cream and chocolate, and the way the tn^ith had to be stretched in order to secure coveted baseballs, bats and mitts. It was during this period also, that our camp was visited and our boys ministered to by that quiet, womanly young "Y" worker. Miss Harriet Ellis, who soon gave up her life in this great service. Miss Edith Prescott and Miss x^nna deLacy Gary, also as- sisted us in canteen and camp activities at various times during these months. Moreover, through the kindness of various officers of the Bat- talion, I began to receive the first help from that long list of faithful "de- tails" who served in every conceivable way in the " Y" work. Most nota- ble of those at Menil, who continued afterwards to be my helpers, were Walter Smith, Godfrey Day and D. A. James. Without the enthusiastic and efficient help of these "details" it would never have been possible for us to carry on one-half of the "Y" activities which we did. When behind the lines June roses began to bloom and fields of wheat were spotted with crimson and blue, the order came for us to break away from the green fields and tree-lined roads and half demolished villages, which had become so familiar, and rush back towards the old Sector of Soissons to defend the city of art and fashion against a new Hun advance. Through fields of grain whitening for the harvest, and in clouds of dust which often enveloped our cars and turned wayside trees and shrubs from green to gray, we journeyed from village to village as part of the Division train, until we landed in the little hamlet of Coulommes, just south of Meaux. "THE FOURTH" AT COULOMMES Here we succeeded in getting a few canteen supjjlies and spent several happy days before the rush into the battle of Chateau-Thierry began. With bright skies and cheerful surroundings, the pleasant Fourth of Jul\- celebration, including special exercises, contests, and games, it seems, as one looks back, like the quiet hush before the breaking of the storm. During those few days it was my privilege to take many pictures of the boys of the Battalion and their surroundings, and everyone shows the spirit of cheer- fulness, jollity and happy assurance. Whatever the anticipations of the future, all carried their present burdens with light hearts and unreserved 74 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion gaiety. The traininj; and experiences of two sectors of the fi<,'hting-Hne had accompHshed their pur]jose and the boys had become men seasoned to the tasks of war. HANGING TO THE WING OF THE CHATEAU-THIERRY DRIVE In a few days the movement into the lines began, and then the game of hide-and-seek in village, farm and grove, made the task of the Welfare Worker an especially dififieult one. Fortunately, I had secured a bicycle for my own service, and as we passed through the town of La Ferte, where the "Y" Headquarters was located for some weeks, I arranged with a French family for a room, in which I could leave a majority of my belong- ings, and thus follow with greater ease the movements of the Army. As usual, supplies were difficult to secure, but through the warehouses at La Ferte, Montreuil and later at Chateau-Thierry, together with French stores in several towns behind the lines, we managed to secure a passable quantity, not only for our own boys, but for a considerable number of other units. Sometimes I was entirely lost from our Battalion, and found them again only by scouring the country on the "bike." Sometimes the rush of work was so pressing and ]3oints of service so scattered that opportunity for "mess" had to be neglected. The eternal secrecy of the Army made the locating of units very difficult, and the swift movement in following the retreating Germans after the battle started, made havoc of all previous plans. But the kindness of our officers and men in assisting with the use of our ears when not needed for the work of the Battalion, and the unfailing courtesy of the M. P.'s of our Division made much work possible that would otherwise have seemed out of the question. I was always passed without question, wherever I wished to go, by the M. P.'s, whose acquaintance I had cultivated in the preceding months. And such experiences as those days of turmoil afforded! One night it would be a cot in the wood with the headquarters group, the next a bunk in an old deserted house at Montreuil with the kitchen contingent, next a bed in a French room at La Ferte with the bombs falling on every side, then a place in a ha\--loft at Bezu while the German shells whistled over our heads and burst in the fields beyond. It is impossible to forget that hot Monday noon in July when our ration truck, with the "Y" suppHes on board, crashed through the culvert in the central part of Bouresches, much to the annoyance of our Train Commander, Colonel Sweet zer, who was seeking to rush traffic forward with the greatest i)ossible speed. It was the experience of a lifetime to ])ass in the ration cart safeh' around that hot comer by the Chami)luisant Fenne; over the bombarded road towards History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 75 Trugny, and slip into the wood where our boys lay, "digging themselves in"; to pass along that line with such nerve-calmers as cigarettes and chewing-gum; and to give a few words of greeting and cheer to our tired men. I can still see the shell-demolished roadside, and the bleeding, wounded Frenchmen we carried to the hospital station on our return. It was a kind of intuition that led us that evening to make no preparation for sleeping while big guns of our own field artillery were crashing away within a few rods of our kitchen quarters and German shells were bursting uncomfortably near. For when darkness had partially settled around us, the order came for us to move from our dangerous location, and in a short time we were seeking to thread our passage through teeming traffic, which on that summer's night, filled every available road and by-way with march- ing soldiers, ammunition trains and ration wagons. The next day we learned that on one of these jammed roads some of our own boys were killed and several wounded. Those days and nights were extremely exhausting ; and to one of sym- pathetic temperament distinctly trying. Up to this time it had been my privilege to write home about those who were injured, but now came an order from the Censorship Bureau that no casualties could be mentioned. I had regarded myself as a kind of link, semi-civilian and semi-military, between the boys at the Front and the friends at home. I had written scores and hundreds of letters concerning their affairs, their interests, difficulties and successes to the anxious ones across the sea. It was one of the deepest satisfactions of my work. Imagine, now, my feelings of defeat and helplessness, when, at the most trying time and under the greatest need, I could not write even a word of sympathy to a bereaved mother, or say to an anxious father that his son had received only a slight wovmd. The best that we could do was to hold a memorial service for the dead, secure pictures of the places where they fell and the graves where they lay buried, and minister as far as possible to those who were still living. It gives one confidence in the soundness of the morale of American youth to recall the splendid spirit our boys showed under these hardships, the loss of their companions, the continuous nervous strain of the danger zone, and the rack of perpetual bombardment. Naturally the strain did get on our nerves, and many became "jumpy." In spite of my supposed professional attitude, I cannot but remember with a bit of merriment the night on which a German plane, after having dropped a number of bombs in our vicinity, came down close to our "neck of the woods" and opened up machine-gun fire. There was a quick scurrying to deeper cover and an utter disregard of the presence of the Y. M. C. A. Secretary in the lightning flashes of profanity that consigned the German 76 History of The IOIst Machine Gun Battalion aviator to a deeper pit than any of his bombs were able to make. When, the day after, we took a picture of one of the bomb-holes made a few hun- dred yards away from our camp quarters, one could not help wondering at th(> marx'cl of our cscajjc, absolutely unharmed, in sjjite of, or shall we say Ijccaiisc of, the shower of ])rofanity. DAYS AT COURTARON It was not long before we left the wood near Etrepilly and moved back to the little village of Courtaron for a period of rest. For weeks we had had no sure abiding place, and our " Y" canteen had been in cars, in dugouts, in the woods, or wherever chance brought a number of our boys together. In Courtaron it was possible for us to secure more adequate quarters. Much to the amusement of our boys and the advantage of an old French couple, we rented the village wine-shop and cleared out the bottles and cluttered debris of a generation. Tolerable quarters for writing and a good canteen were at our command, and with the aid of otu" good interpreter, M. Woro- nick, we were able to refit a considerable number of our men after the losses they had sustained in the big drive. From the store houses of the " Y ", the French shops in the near by town, with the addition of one good- sized load of toilet articles from Paris, we succeeded in supplying a large part of the demand for writing materials, smokes and sweets, and neces- saries for shaves and baths. Over the door of our canteen instead of the usual "Y" emblem, we kept the original sign, ''Md. de Vins et Liqueurs," which the boys insisted on interpreting as " Doctor of Wines and Liquors." Thereafter it was not considered at all out of place to inquire of the " Y " Secretary the present price of ''vin rouge'' \ Jvist as the drive in this sector began, the Paris office appointed me Religious Director for the Division, but the rush of events and difficulties with the Di\'isional Secretary made it impossible for me to accomi)lish more in this field than to secure a better understanding and cooperation with the hospitals and the Red Cross. BREATHING TIME AT ETROCHEY These Courtaron days of rest and recuperation with their baths in the Marne were soon to be ended by another order for movement, which be- cause of its direction, was hailed with delight. Just Ijeforc the movement began I went to Paris and secured permission from the " Y " to take a vacation of five days on the sea coast. On my way back to the new area, I learned that I had been a])]jointed Educational Director for our Division. This responsibility I accepted only on condition that the work involved History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 77 should not detach mc from the regular " Y" work with the Battahon. In order better to accomplish this double work, Miss Anna deLacy Gary was assigned to our Battalion as my assistant, and her release from the Paris office for that service was promised in the near future. As soon as I reached the Battalion at Etrochey I found that my faithful and efficient "detail," Albert James, was already conducting a very successful canteen in my name, and we prepared to enlarge its facilities and also to establish a substantial educational work in this rest area. What with the privileges of bathing in the river Seine, field athletics under sunny skies, bountiful quantities of fresh milk and vegetables, large supplies of canteen requisites, and the promised "leaves", our camp life presented a bouyancy and opti- mism and a careless gaiet}' which, so far as I am aware, was not elsewhere equalled in France. We soon booked some fine " Y" entertainments, and the temper of our boys was well shown in the crowded audience seated on a bare floor, that listened most attentively to an hour and a quarter lecture by Dr. Gollier on the life of Napoleon. Our quarters were not comfortable, but passable. I had rented the school building and the Mayor's office, and secured the promised help of several good teachers preparatory to our educational classes, and had partially organized the work throughout the Division, when word came that "leaves" had been cancelled and we were again to move toward the Front. MISS GARY JOINS THE BATTALION The day before we left for the vSt. Mihiel Sector, Miss Gary arrived froin Paris, and thereafter remained, either with the Battalion or in close relation to its "Y" work, until our boys left Louvieres and started for Le Mans. Much of the later work in the Battalion was entrusted to her care and supervision. Living conditions for her were frequently difficult and trying. Dangers were often present and the work exacting. Yet always during those weeks and months, with quiet courage and uncomplaining faithfulness, she performed the duties assigned to her with credit and distinction, and brought into our camp associations a spirit of cheerfulness and devotion that made life easier for all with whom she came in contact. The unfailing courtesy and consideration of both officers and men, in the midst of conditions that otherwise would have been intolerable, made her presence possible and allowed the kindly influence of her noble woman- hood to be felt. She never hesitated to go into danger, to accept responsi- bility, or to serve the soldiers to whom her life seemed dedicated. Miss Gary was a Hartford woman and already well acquainted with a goodly number of the Battalion bovs. She had done errands for a still larger number be- 78 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion fore comin<2: to ilie field. It was through her effieient aid in Paris that, in the preceding months, we had been able to secure the repair of watches, the pro]3er care of deposited funds and valuables, and the accomplishment of innumeral)le errands that ministered to the needs and desires of our army lads. From this time on. Miss Gary took charge of our " Y " accounts in the Battalion, assisted largely in securing extra supplies, supervised general canteen affairs, and looked after a thousand and one odds and ends that contributed to the success of our work. MOVING TO THE SAINT-MIHIEL SEGTOR During our week's trip, through Bar-lc-Duc and across the Meuse river to the Saint-Mihiel Sector, we had some very pleasant experiences. When near the danger zone the weariness of an all-night trip was partially compensated by delightful days of rest and refreshment in the beautiful beech woods. The Battalion officers generously made preparation for carrying our "Y" outfit with a considerable supply of canteen materials, and the " Y " people were invariably welcome at the mess of either company. It always filled me with pride and astonishment to watch the skillful way in which our boys handled the food supply. Think, for examjjle, of being favored with delicious soda biscuits at a roadside kitchen while waiting in a wood for the dusk of evening to conceal the further movement of the ami\' I Or imagine the successive sensations of piling out of the trucks after an all-night trip in a cold, drizzling rain to find, in an hour's time, a steaming hot breakfast ready to relieve your distress and make good cheer for the day ! All hail to the army cooks and mess sergeants, who not only made life endurable but were able to plant optimism in the most despondent and "crabbing" spirit! The varying scenes of the trip followed one another in quick succession. I see again the Sunday evening service by the roadside just before we entered the tmcks to pass by night through Bar-le-Duc, the soldier boys intent and joining with vigor in the songs, and now the boys are eagerly building, in the beech wood beyond Neuville, the leafy " Y" made from woven twigs and branches and covered with the kitchen fly. Soon it will be well stocked with goods from the warehouses at Souilly and Ancemont, and for a short time it will be the envy of the other " Y " men who pass our camp. But alas, for all our ])lans and pains! Two days later, at an hour and a half's notice, we were obliged to leave our hut bare as Mother Hubbard's cupboard, as the Battalion moved on to another wood. Our next "Y" establishment was a French officers' abandoned barracks in the Foret d'Amblon\'ille. There we succeeded in securing a good amount of supplies History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 79 in spite of difficulties of transport. The patience and consideration of our officers and men was finely shown at this time by an untoward incident. While entering the camp the first night, several trucks slid off the slippery and crowded road. All were easily recovered except the one which carried the supplies and belongings of the " Y " Secretaries. It was not possible to get this truck into camp until half past ten the next day; yet not a single officer or man ever complained of the annoyance, trouble or labor, when speaking later of this accident. It was such treatment of welfare workers that raised one's estimation and appreciation of the real spirit and soul of the American officers and men. Strange associations were found in this forest. As dusk came on one evening some 1200 French Senagalese came in around our " Y" quarters and set up their tents. It was a sight long to be remem- bered when the next day these Senagals gathered in front of our hut to listen to the talking-machine set going for their benefit. IN THE BOIS DES CHEVALIERS When the drive began, my assistant and I were in Paris making ar- rangements to bring up books and magazines, and to fill a large number of special orders for the boys of the Battalion. On our return we were lost from our unit, but after an arduous search and through a series of fortunate circumstances, we were able to meet the Battalion just as its motor train wound into the valley near Seuzey at the close of the short, but exhausting St. Mihiel offensive. Our canteen was soon open and arrangements made for giving such assistance as we could, to the tired men. When we went from this exposed valley around to the trenches and dugouts in the Bois- des-Chevaliers, we found very cramped quarters for our "Y" work. But we soon arranged to secure a " Y " tent which the boys cheerfully assisted in erecting, furnishing and equipping. Here in this half-destroyed wood with the remnants of war all about us, we were reduced to the most primitive methods of living and operating. It seems, as one looks back, like a story of the primitive cave man. How we searched old trenches for bits of lum- ber, discarded benches and tables, old stoves and w^ater tankards! How diligently the boys labored to make our tent a real center of camp life! And I am persuaded that the success was porportionate to the effort put forth. It took us days to scrub out the old French soup kettle which we used for brewing chocolate. Our supplies we drew from every quarter, — the "Y" storehouses, the Commissary Sales at Ambly, and French stores in Bar-le-Duc from which we brought several loads. In this tent, screened from German view by great beech trees, we had our library and magazines, our chocolate outfit, our place for Sunday services, lectures- and entertain- 80 History ok Tiik IOIst IMaciiine Gun Battaliox ments. And such chocolate as our chej\ " Bill " (ira\- turned out in ever in- creasing quantities! It was a "tent of meeting" and activity. In only one thing did we fail — when we attempted to secure a captured German piano from Dcuxnouds. Our bo\'s had almost loaded the ]jiano on the truck before they were discovered by French soldiers who claimed the trophy, and threatened to shoot if the instrument was not returned. Overpowering numbers and the French language defeated our well intentioned efforts. DEPARTURE FOR "Y" HEADQUARTERS IN VERDUN So the days sped by until one misty, muddy morning in October we were ordered to pack up and be oft' the following night, on the road toward Verdun. As we passed through Tro>'on, we left Miss Gary with her friend Mrs. Fleming at Divisional Headquarters. When we reached Caserne Beveaux, I found it impossible to secure an\' adequate canteen supplies for several days and little work for the Battalion could be done. At this time a more insistant call for my help came from " Y" Head- quarters at Verdun. Since an army chaplain had now been assigned to our Battalion, it was not likely that I could be of much serivcc outside of the canteen work so ably carried on by Miss Gary and the "details" from the Battalion. I felt that it would be better for me to assist more in the Divi- sional work. I took charge of the transport for the " Y" work of the Divi- sion, the central canteen in Verdim, and general liaison work with the army, until finallv I was appointed Di\'isional Secretary and given the care of the entire work for the Division. During these weeks in the Verdun Sector, when our bovs were suffering hardships that were almost tmendurablc, it was mv privilege still, with the assistance of Miss Gary and several of the boys, to put Y. M. G. A. supplies into the camps at Marre and Bras and to send what we could to the front lines where the Battalion was operating. Living amid the ruins of Verdun, Miss Gary continued to su]3erintend, even at a distance, the " Y" hel]) for our boys, and kcjjt our accounts untangled. Not only in this sector, but later at Louvieres, with the si)lendid assistance of William Gray, the work was continued. After the constant strain of weeks, the signing of ihe Armistice was a signal for such relief and joy as I have never seen or experienced. But not the proclamation of Peace nor the exaltation of ringing the bells in the Gathedral of Verdun, which i^rivilcge was first accorded 1)\- the iM-ench to the two Battalion " Y" workers, could exceed the glad feeling that greeted the group of Battalion boys who visited us in W^rdun next day on their first "leaves" granted them since their arrix'al in I^'^rancc. All their labors, hardshi])s, sufferings and successes were forgotten in the pro.spect History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 81 of glorious freedom. The reward was nobly won and thoroughly a])pre- ciated. WINTER WORK IN THE NOGENT AREA Although the work at Divisional Headquarters was difficult, and our days full of anxiety because of the tremendous needs and the inadequate supplies at our command, nevertheless, there was always time to consider the special requirements of the Battalion and to attend to " Y " work among our boys. Perhaps it would not be a betrayal of confidence, as it is not aside from the truth, if I said that a woman representative of the Battalion at Head- quarters made possible many things for their comfort and satisfaction which could not be furnished to other parts of the Division. It was not by chance that one of the six pianos in the entire Division was located in the " Y " barracks at Louvieres and that one of the few shows procurable made our boys merry for a while. The one box of Christmas tree trimmings with the accompanying carols, that came into our Division, in some way went to Louvieres. Perhaps it was on this account that the Divisional Secretary and his assistant were enticed to be present at the Christmas tree and carol singing of the Battalion; but more than all else, I am inclined to believe, it was because of the experiences of the past, the work and association to- gether in the interests of a great cause, and the ties of friendship which had become stronger than a three-fold cord. During this winter at Louvieres, the kindness of the officers and men of oviv Battalion to the " Y" workers was shown again and again. Our drivers were sent to us from Headquarters by Captain Myers, then in command of the Battalion, and under his orders everything possible was done to make the "Y" barracks comfortable and attractive. When the Battalion left Louvieres it was not my privilege to see it again until we arrived at Brest — ready for the homeward voyage. I am sure that no happier lot could have befallen either Miss Gary or my- self than to be scheduled for the same boat which brought our boys home. It was a matter of great pride for us to be able to march in the Boston parade of the Yankee Division with those officers and men whom we had come to respect and admire and whose friendship we had come to treasure as a priceless possession. A I ont- Les- N euf chateau 1. Entfiiiiu town — the niaiii stioet. 2. The Iowcm' fountain — used by C Coinjiany. ■'? C C\)ni- pany soiKoants. 4. Two husky bar-maids. ."). Tlic pistol range — H Coniijany. (i. B Company squad at pun drill. 7. C Company with M. (J. Section, l(i2d French Infantry as instructors. .S. B Company with French instructors on M. G. Range, Midreveaux. War Diary of a Machine Gunner Compiled by the Editor from diaries kept in the field by G. E. Bannister, H. R. Goodwin, B. P. Graff, E. H. Hart, R. D. Heymann and A. P. R. Wadlund. 1917 JULY 25. Called into Federal service and reported at Troop B Annory, Hartford, Conn. Work hard getting ready to leave. JULY 27. Started in A. M. for Niantic, Conn. A detachment started over land with the horses, the rest came by train. JULY 28. Detachment with horses arri\-ed after spending night at Colchester. Major Howard is in command of the Squadron, Captain F. E. Wolf of Troop A, Captain M. G. Bulkeley, Jr., Troop B, Captain R. W. Myers, Troop L and W. H. Welch, Troop M. AUG. 5. The Squadron was inducted into Federal Ser\'ice toda}-. We have been having snappy cavalr\- drills every day and stiff setting-up drill before breakfast each morning. AUG. 21. Orders published that we are changed to the 101st Machine Gun Battalion and the "Troops " will be "Companies." Ted Hampson got on a horse at the picket -line the other day and it ran away with him. AUG. 30. Some of the non-coms have been sent to Hartford, New Haven and New Britain after recruits. Results good. Nearly up to our increased strength of 172 men per company. Our horses were taken from us soon after we became machine-gunners. It was a sad day for many when they saw their old four-legged pals led away. SEPT. 10. There have been frequent Battalion parades at retreat, and there is great rivalry between the four companies to see which can make the best appearance. If any "bulls" are made the 1st sergeants are sure to deliver a long and forceful lecture before their charges are dismissed for the day. Every Saturday morning the pyramidal tents are furled and equip- ment laid out on the cots for inspection. There are occasional long hikes usually made by companies acting alone, and they are sometimes planned so that a half -hour rest can be indulged in on one of the isolated beaches. At "fall out" uniforms begin to peal oft" and the water is full of a }'elling, rough-housing gang of Indians. Great sport ! 84 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion SEPT. 15. Someone decided that B Company street presents a barren and tmhomelikc appearance. At reveille all was changed. Magnificent sunflowers smiled a "good morning" at the early risers from prominent places in the street. Great care was taken, however, by the horticultural decorators that their identity should not become known to the 1st Sergeant. One of the recent recruits of B Company was caught in the act of rendering a snappy salute to one of the brakemen on the train going to New London. OCT. 9. Tuesday. The Battalion, fully recniited, left Niantic at 11.05 A.M. and passed through Hartford where a few relatives who had got wind of the move were waiting for a farewell gliinpsc of their soldier. OCT. 10. Last night tried to sleep three men in two car seats. Pretty crowded with all the equipment. A and B Companies in first section arrived at Montreal at 6 A. M. — C and D half an hour later. Detrained and went aboard H. M. S. Megantic. Assigned to quarters and life-preservers. Left dock 10 A. M. and stoi)ped off Quebec to take on 250 Serbian reservists. OCT. 12. Heavy sea in Gulf of St. Lawrence. Most everyone sick — - even the officers. B Company is on guard. Only five men left in guard detail not down and out. Any man in Company who looks able to stand u]j is grabbed and sent on post. Sea calmer tonight. OCT. 13. x\rri\'c Halifax. Our convoy assembling here. A hundred Canadian artillerymen from Toronto come aboard. They are a fine bunch. Saw ])iece of board floating by with word " Doomed" on it. OCT. 14. Left port 3 P. M. with one cruiser, three freighters and five transports — one of then the big Justicia with 5,000 Chinamen for labor in France. Cheering crowds lined the shore as we pulled out and ships dipped their colors, while the bands of British men-of-war played "The Star Spangled Banner." It was a wonderful send-oft". OCT. 15. Sea Calm. We are following a zig-zag course and steaming slowh'. Calls are about the same as in camp except drill. OCT. 17. A thick fog that shut in yesterday has lifted and all ships present. We have boat-drill and setting-u]) exercises every day. Line fonns for mug of beer in late afternoon. OCT. 18. Hail and squalls. Heavy sea. OCT. 19-20. Cold and clear. OCT. 21 . Hard gale. British destroyers met us at 3 P. M. giving com- fortable feeling of securiU". Oh, man, how they rolled and pitched! We are History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 85 now in submarine danger-zone. Thank God for the British Navy! Sea- sickness epidemic. This is no picnic — war is hell! OCT. 23. Calmer now. Pass along coast of Emerald Isle into Irish Sea. Great excitement among the "Murphys" aboard. Dock at Liverpool 4 P. M. City looks smoky and dreary. Entrain in English day-coaches 7 P. M. Leave Battalion baggage with detail mider Lt. Westbrook, Sgts. Dicky Moore and Whit Tiernan. OCT. 24. Arrived this morning at camp in Borden near Aldershot. Mud, rain, cold ! Packed like sardines into those awful Gallipoli tents, all of which leak perfectly. Some of them blew down in the night on top of the men. If we had boats we could go rowing in the company street. Wouldn't mind it so much if we were Marines. Major Howard says, "So this is Merry England!" Captain Bulkeley says, "Merry hell!" Can't even find a dry place to roll the "ivories." Big riot trying to buy beer in the station at Birmingham — first glimpse of bar-maids for 101st. OCT. 25. Off again. Southampton at noon. March through city out to camp. More "blinkin' " Gallipoli tents! These have wooden floors — ■ hard, but not quite so wet as the ground. OCT. 26-28. Still cold as blazes. We go to town every night to argue with "blarsted" Tommies in the "ptibs." R. L. Jones got very well ac- quainted with one "blighter" in particular. Eats rather scarce but there is still some of the "bloomin' musty" on tap. Pipe-buying mania strikes Battalion. OCT. 29. We left camp at 1 P. M. A/[arch to dock and B Co. boarded S. S. Londonderry, C Co. following on another channel steamer. After hanging around in the lower harbor the Londonderry put out at 10 P. M. Fearful gale and sea. Boat crowded with our men, American aviators and British Tommies returning from leave. These conditions made the process of being sea-sick interesting without hindering it any. We were blown out of our course and came within a couple of feet of being wrecked on the Isle of Wight. Suddenly the sea turned milky-white and we saw, even in the darkness, a great over-hanging cliff. The ship suddenly veered and sailors ran for life-boats — no doubt they would have been a real comfort in the terrific surf if we had smashed up against that cliff. Every- body was too sick to mind having a wreck anyhow — probably some hoped we would. The aviators were as sick as anybody and we doubted if they would ever be able to fly again. " Squab " Manning got chummy with one of them and they swapped hats — it was sickening sentiment. What a 86 ITisioKv OF Till'. 101st M.\rnTNF. Gun BAxrAi.io.M lu'lliu'a iii.i;lu . ( )li, 1)()>' ! 'I'lic slii])'s officers said it was the worst stonn they had seen on llie Channel in two years. OCT. oO. We docked at Lc Havre at 8 A. m. far behind schedule. Went ashore and marched to one of those "rest" camps on the hill. Picture of Bamiister, nniniinx- Little and others tr\-in^f to lu^^ 1, ()()() lbs. of equip- ment up that hill, and the outfit with which to j;et a meal for 1 ,000 men. We are enjoyinj:;; the deli5.,dits of mass messing — one shovel, one knife, coal, stoves and "corned willw" Louis LcBlond sho\'elinij; coal willi the shovel, rinsing it, and then stirring the hash in the kettle. It is snowing. A rotten camp. OCT. M. After a (ierce night we left for the R. R. station to be intro- duced to "40 Ilommcs. S C/icvcanx." How do the French get that way — "40 Hommes'' ^ wIkmi the last man had squeezed into one of these "match- boxes" there was only room left for conversation and that was mostly about French railway facilities. NOV. \. Ell route. The French oflicials hand out hot "cafe, oh rum" when the train sto])s at a station. This is a pleasant bex'crage under the circumstances. NOV. 2. Arri\-ed Neufchateau S A. M. Hiked in rain to Mont-les- Neufchateau. Assigned to billets as soon as ])ossible. A Co. went to Cer- tilleux. B and D Companies crowded into wooden Adrian barracks, while C Co. drew barns and lofts along the main street. After e\'ening mess we inspected the town, giving s]K>cial attention to the leading cstamincts, of which there were three of note. NOV. 3. It is hard to get in or out of the Adrian barracks at night with men sleeping so closely huddled on the floor without stepj^ing on someone. This feat always brings loud protests from the would-be slee])ers. Signed payroll. Reminds us of that anny song — but we'll tell the world there are some other duties connected with the army in spite of the claim of that verse. N0\\ 10. Rain and nuid e\'er\- (la\'. " tin derbies" issued. Wood has to be hauled from the mountain for kitchen fires. Much street cleaning. NOV. 12. B company mo\ed from l)arracks to the chdlcan, the "Red Barracks" behind the church, and sundry other billets. NOV. 13. Measles in " Red Barracks" — ciuaraniine! The " ])risoners" can't associate with the rest of us. B Company's 1st Sergeant is among them and Rhe])ard is acting "Toj)." Details carry mess to them from the kitchen. The\- go u\) on the nK)untain and lug back wood every da>- and have setting-u]) exercise. History of The 101 sr Maciiink Gun Battalion 87 NOV. 21. French Hotchkiss machine-guns have been issued at last and we have them set u]) in the billets where we can study them and see how their insides work. Expect to fire them on the range soon. Rain and mud as usual. Drill and wood hauling, varied by lectures on hygiene, sanitation and other military subjects. General Edwards ins]:)ected us a few days ago. Gardiner Hall got a "citation" for having a blouse button tmdone. Heard big guns gnunbling "up front" last night. Some humorous "agent" in the "Red Barracks" yelled, "All out with helmets, pistols, and gas masks!" NOV. 25. Rumor says American destroyers capture nine subs. NOV. 28. Quarantine on "Red Barracks" lifted today and the "pris- oners" let loose on the cafes. Lt. Westbrook and Sgts. Tiernan and Moore back from Liverpool. They got a lively welcome. They all have "bally English drawls don't ch' know, ol' deah!" NOV. 29. ']'hanksgi\'ing Day! Uj) the mountain for wood in a. m. Had wonderful dinner — all we could get outside of. NOV. 30. Hiked to machine-gun range at Midreveaux. Fired guns for first time. Poilus trying to teach us how to do it. They got excited because we couldn't "savvy " their lingo and resorted to shouting and a free use of gesture. This didn't help the accuracy of our shooting, but many of the little square targets on the hillside across the way got "knocked for a goal." It was an all-day job — going and coming. The rolling kitchens went along to serve a hot meal. All hands pretty tired tonight. Sgt. Maj. Dwight Pease, Sgts. Moore, Shepard and Thomas leave for Candidate School at Langres. DEC. 2. Sunday. Will I*2rwin s]jokc in " Y" tent. DEC. (3. Air raid expected on Neufchateau. Nancy bombed. Lt. Westbrook left for British school taking Biff Skinner as orderly, — j^retty soft for Biff. DEC. 0. The C Comjjany gang that was quarantined at Southainjjton came back. They brought word that Wallace Brown of B Company died in an English hospital. B Company men pretty well broken up over it. Perhaps we will get used to that sort of thing before we are through with the war, but doubt it. DEC. 23. Past three weeks have been taken up with drill, range practice, gas mask drill, pistol practice, 1,000 inch firing with the guns, street cleaning and lectures on various subjects. Sometimes we hike to Neufchateau, — if not too tired — to buy eats and get a taste of the "metrop- olis." We have been taking out Government insurance. The first issue of 88 History of Thk 101 st Machine Gun Battalion the 'J'ripod, tlie crcalion of "Boz" R. 1 lawlcy of C Company, lias made its appearance on the news-stands of Monl. It is a welcome addition to our breakfast tabic. We don't know whether it is Republican or Democratic, but. to date, the Editor has not been called to fight any duels. We think " Boz " writes his editorials in the back room of the Cafe du Centre. Harry Smith made mess sergeant of C Co., Rodda goes to line sergeant. DEC. 24. Co. B had a Christmas eve party in the mess-shack. Joke presents made much fun, with Al Poto as "presenter" and chief clown. Al was "there forty ways" in spite of hax'ing been \-cry sick all day. Everyone was on hand froin the Major down. DEC. 25. The most extraordinary Christmas w^e ever had. The en- tertainment we gave the kids of Mont, with ])resents for every one of them, meant as much to us as it did to them, and that's going some. The idea of a ' 'municii)al" tree was new to them. The afifair helped to ease that homesick feeling. Dr. Miel held church service at the " Y". Packages from the States poured in by the ton and billets were a litter, and nobody cared, for army discipline was allowed to slacken up a little for the time-being. In the even- ing C Co. sergeants ga\'e a ])arty in their billet and invited some of their colleagues of B Co. Christensen, Mackenzie, Cushman and Hastings re- ceived — and later ])()urc(l. DEC. 20. Cjould and "Hutch" upset a boiler of coffee in C's kitchen and burned their legs. DEC. 31. l^'ollowed usual routine since Christmas. This evening the sergeants of B Company returned the hospitality of their erstwhile hosts of C. "Dute" Parker and Ev Hart furnished much of the entertainment. 1!)18 JAN. 1. Drill called off. The [nteri)reler savs war will end in A])ril or May ! JAN. 4. Major Howard left for I^ritish M. C. schcxil— took Roy Iley- mann as orderl\'. Close-order drill in A. M. in dee]) snow. A bimeh of the agents are going to "Colonel" Woronick's French class in the evenings. Next day we spring our knowledge on our "landladies" and the kids — Henri, Marcel, Marie-Louise, and the rest. No reaction usuall\-, but the bar-maids seem to "comi)ree" when we say, " Donnv moor oon glass vin blink, toot sweet!" Jan. 5. Saturday inspection of eciuipment and billets, followed 1)\' tips from the " Medico" on what not to do to your feet. Comi)any B staged an History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 89 official snow-ball battle on the field after drill. Company was divided into two "armies " and the " Top " acted as referee. The "barrage " was terrible, and the referee got so mixed up in the melee that no decision covild be given. Bannister had a bath and a stinger cocktail — both at the same time. JAN. 12. Rumor that we are to be a motorized outfit. Ben Perkins and Bannister settled the war to the satisfaction of all concerned. JAN. 17. A and D Companies transferred to the brigade machine-gun battalions. Tiernan says supposed civilians on the Megantic were U. S. and British secret service agents. Somebody inspected the kitchens and said they were nice. JAN. 20. News came we are to leave for Front within ten days! Great excitement and checking up of equipment. Some of the boys have visited Doinremy, birthplace of Joan of Arc. B Co. has finished some im- provements on kitchen — now a kitchen de luxe. JAN. 27. Trucks came and took us out to an artillery range for com- bined barrage practice with all the other M. G. units of the Division. Some noise ! It was a novel sight. Two "dog tags " were issued to each man today. FEB. 1. Several of our Sanitary Detachment have been transferred. FEB. 3. About one o'clock this morning we were awakened by a sentry running by the billet, bawling, "Fire ! " at the top of his lungs. Threw on some clothes and beat it out to see B Company's kitchen and mess-shack (Bannister's pride) a mass of flames. Although the kitchen section was a roaring furnace, those of us who arrived first were able to drag out a side of beef and such stores and utensils as we could lay hands on without getting burned. In a short time the entire Battalion had turned out and a bucket- brigade was formed from the nearest fountain. We managed to save about a quarter of the shed and prevented the fire from spreading to the storage- shed next door. FEB. 4. B Company was fed by C Company's kitchen today. 1st Sgt. Wainwright gets commission and is to stay in B Company. Sgt. Parmelee made "Top." FEB. 5. Fifty-two Ford ambulances came today as our motor trans- portation. They are in punk shape and we are rej^airing them as fast as possible. 141 men in C Co. put in applications to be drivers! Rumor that we go to Front this Friday ! FEB. 8. Said our last farewells to the good townspeojjlc and left in the flivvers at 3.15 P. M. Arrived Liffol-le-Grand 4 P. M. Had mess and then men found any old place to sleep. Some slept in the flivvers. 90 History of The IOIst Machine Gun Battalion FEB. 9. The cooks worked most all nij^dit. We were routed out at 3 A. M. — mess at 4. Fords loaded on flat-cars, men in "40 Ilomrjics," and train i)ulled out at 6. The kitchens will have to prepare the meals oi route on the flat-cars. Traveled all day through i)leasant scenery. Went through Chfdons and Bar-le-Duc. FEB. 10. Arrived at Braisne, 25 kilometers from the Front, at 3 a. m. Unloaded flivvers and kitchens. Started out in cars at 10 a. m. Get first real sight of the havoc of war — many ruins. Long lines of French camions and artillery going and coming. The novelty of all this keeps us pretty well keyed up. After interesting ride came to a little heap of ruins, once the town of Vregny. Here we unloaded and prepared for a stay. Vregny is on a plateau in the Chemin des Dames region and was in German hands last October. The Battalion was housed in an immense chalk cave, with the exception of a part of B Co., Headquarters Co., the Sanitary Detachment and the officers. A wooden barracks was used by B Co. There was a French balloon close at hand; and we could see many airplanes up toward the Front. They looked like mere specks and tiny pufl^s of white or black smoke popped around thein when the "archies*" tried to bring them down. FEB. 11. The trucks with kitchen equipment and cooks arrived today, not having been able to keep up with us. They got a hot meal as soon as possible and it was welcome. Not much work today, after the fatigue of our journey, so most of the gang amused themselves by wandering about in search of adventure. Someone picked up an old French rifle, didn't know it was loaded, so Yenco got shot through the arm. Always something new and interesting turning up. One of Uncle Sam's patented soup-wagons acted as if it had been hitched to the tail of a kite. Nash drove the truck that towed it. FEB. 12. Lincoln's Birthday was celebrated by the Boche staging an aerial show at which we had box seats. All was quiet when we were sud- denly startled by the rattle of a machine-gun close overhead and we looked up to see a Fokker plane dart from a cloud straight at our balloon. A little pufi^ of smoke, a burst of flame and the big "sausage" collapsed like a drunken sailor and sank to the ground. Not, however, until the observers had jumped and drifted clear in their parachute. The avion took a crack at the men in the parachute, but he had to beat it because two French fliers were coming in pursuit. The balloon observers always get the Croix de Guerre or the palm-leaf clas]) when they have to jump. ♦Anti-aircraft Guns. 1. Chuich at Vregny. 2. Flivvers at Vregny. 3. German "hate" — Cheinin des Dames. 4. "Y' at Vregny, 5. Pinon Hill. 6. Ailleval. 7. Old mill billet at Fontaine. 92 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion FEB. 13. One of our sentries jj^ol excited last nij^ht and j^^ave a false <::;as alarm. He had us all scrambling for our masks. It is a known fact that Brackctt and Schade tried to get into the same mask. Many air battles which never cease to give us a thrill. Some of the officers went up to the trenches for reconnaissance. C Co. cooks put up a sign outside the place they use for a billet which reads "Rats' Inn." Someone went to Soissons for eggs and only got two quarts of Burgundy. B Co. cooks turned out 1.094 doughnuts. FEB. 15. The French and Germans seem to have an unwritten agree- ment to keep hands off one another when washing clothes in the canal which loms between the lines. American doughboy sees Boche scrubbing awav on the bank, and proceeds to fill him full of lead. This makes the "Frogs" wild, as they know it will be hazardous for them to wash there in future. The Yank idea is that Boche are vermin to be exterminated on sight, and they have no right to be clean anyway. This evening a flock of German planes passed overhead, probably on their way to bomb Paris. The sky was filled with French flares, searchlights and bursting shrapnel from the "archies." We were ordered into the dugouts to escape falling fragments. FEB. 16. It is reported that a "soup-wagon" of the 103rd Inf. got a direct hit from a high explosive. Major Howard has returned from British M. G. school. Movie show in the "Cave" tonight. B Co. pulled out for the front lines. Things are quiet. It is some sensation to drive over strange roads in the dead of night not knowing when you may hit something or slump into a shell-crater. If a shell bursts close there is no chance of dodg- ing the splinters while in a flivver. The Company left in sections with in- tervals between. Part went to Pinon and part to Ailleval. A French colonel stop]jed us and would not let us go ahead until some Boche shelling fur- ther up the road had died down. Finally we reached Pinon Hill and un- loaded the cars. While we were carrying the guns up the trail through the woods shell began to fall at regular intervals into the cemetery close on our left. It was our first experience with them coming near, and we were a bit jumpy in consequence. We could not help wondering when one would burst among us. The guns were set up in the emplacements and the squads settled in their dugouts as quickly as possible. The dugouts had been made by the Germans during their occujjation, and were dee]) and well •constructed, with an eye to safety, comfort, and ventilation. The other .section of the Com])any reached Ailleval without incident. FEB. 17. Sample mess fare: bread, coffee and butter at noon ; jjancakes History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 93 and bacon, 5 p. m.; beefsteak and potatoes, 1.30 a. m.; tomato stew and bacon sandwiches, 5 a. m. FEB. 18. "Doc" Hesselgrave opened a "Y" at Vregny. FEB. 24. Turkey dinner in the hnes. vSuppose it is Christmas turkey which has been on its way "through channels." Boche shelled balloon and got it in six shots. FEB. 26. Yesterday Howard Manning got a shell-splinter in the face — not serious. First battle casualty for Battalion. At Pinon and Ailleval there is not much to do by day, except to sleep and sit around chewing the rag or to watch air fights. The arrival of the rations from the kitchen where w^e have to send a detail for them is an event. At night, however, things are different. At "stand to" the guns are put in the firing pits and trained on their invisible targets by means of aiming-marks and the level- bubble. French guns are paired ofl; with ours and we find the "Frog" gun- ners fine chaps and always anxious to help us. Dr. Hesselgrave came up one day with "Y" stuff. He got caught in one of the dugouts at Pinon by some heavy shelling. They were bouncing some big ones right on top and the concussions put out the candles time after time. The lieutenant would not let the doctor leave till shelling had been over for some time. The other day there was a gas alarm. Wore masks for a little w^hile until officers gave word danger was over. Last night two of our guns were taken out with one of the French guns to do harassing fire. After shooting a bit, our posi- tion must have become known to the Boche, for his artillery began to comb the woods directly in front. The shells burst closer and closer until the French officer in charge yelled, "Au boyeau!'' — we thought he said "Oh, boy!" at first. We all tumbled into the "Boyeaii Tigre,'' a communication trench just behind us, named after the "Tiger of France", Georges Clemen- ceau. There was not a moment to lose, for no sooner had we strtick bottoin than fragments came zipping down into the trench, and the rolling barrage passed over and beyond. Later the French told us we were capable of doing this night harassing on our own hook, and our own officers worked out the firing data. One night several of our guns were firing from a clearing in the woods. Our fire was answered almost immediately by a German machine- gun across the canal. Every time we shot a string he would do the same, and his bullets spattered all around and against the tree trunks in back of us, so that it was necessary for everyone to take cover in shell-holes — all except the gunner and loader, and they had to lie flat, reaching up to pull the triggers. This was possible because guns were clamped securely on the target before starting to fire. Six guns of B Co. from the Pinon position were ordered out one night to help put over a raid on the Boche. Four 94 History of Tm: lOlsr MAniiNE Gun Battalion French jj^uns went with us. After ;i lialf-liour's marc-h in the dark we came to our firinj^^ ])oint, set u]), and carefully rej^ailated the ^^uns. In daytime we would have been in plain sight of the enemy, so we had to ]nit burlap on l)oles in front of the s^un muzzles to hide the flashes. 'I'he guns shot through the burla]j which was wet down in order to prevent it from catching fire. We were ordered to work the pieces as fast as ])ossible for ten minutes, and they soon became white hot, so thai we had to hunt for water in the bot- tom of shell-holes to throw over them in order to keep them cool enough to work. In s])ite of i)recautions it is a wonder that we did not bring down arlilk'r\' lire on our heads, but not a shell landed — at least very close — although the Boehe rei)lied hard enough against other points within our lines. As far as we know this is the first time that American machine-guns have been used to lay down a l)ox barrage in su])])()rt of a raid. The whole affair was completely successful. FEB. 27. B Co. returned to Vregny after being relieved by C Co. The relief was pulled ofif without an\- accidents, it being a quiet night and rainy, and was accomplished on schedule time. "Col." Woronick, the Bn. "In- terrupter", came back from the front and said. "The Americans are crazy — they think they are at Coney Island!" B Co. got paid tonight. Bn. Headcjuarters is at Cruet e D'Allenianl. MARCH 1. Cold and snow. Dr. Shanklin, president of Wesleyan, gave a talk in the "Cave" tonight. The Trinity bunch among us gave him their yell which made a hit with him. Balloon downed again by a plane. Lt. Amorx- with two guns of B Co. sent down to front line position at Vauxaillon to reinforce Ca])t. Westbrook's M. G. Company of l()4th Inf. MARCH 8. Sunday, jack Wiley's father, "Y" secretary, visited him. Dr. Hesselgrave held ser\iee in "Cave" in A. M. Dr. Rudyard spoke in )>. M. The raid of last month brought the Division a letter of praise from the I'rench general, de Maud 'lluw MARCH 7. C Co. is having about the same exi)erience u]) front that B did. Toda\- they got a good dousing of gas, i)artieularl\- in the kitchen at Pinon. Two meals had to be chucked away as they had become "in- fected". B Co. is drilling, hiking, and having athletic games every day to keep in condition. MARCH S. Green diamonds, our special Bn. insignia, ])aintcd on helmets. MARCH '.). Big air raid on Soissons toniglit. "Archies" and search- lights going all annmd. Much excitement. The rhxthmic drone of Boehe inotors is unmistakable. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 95 MARCH 10. C Co. came back to Vregny tonight and B Co. went up front. They found their old French friends waiting them. Lt. Lostis of the machine-guns is very po])ular with our officers and men. Another air raid on vSoissons. Big night! MARCH 11. A quiet day — very little firing heard anywhere. It is warm . MARCH 13. Bochc ])lane flew over just al:)ove tree-tops this p. m. He was followed by a fusilade of M. G.'s and rifles. He dropped a note which a doughboy ])icked up. It said that he had once lived in x^merica, that a brother had been shot down by the Americans, and that he had vowed to "get" a hundred of us by way of revenge. How does he get that way — a hundred Yanks for one dirty Hun ! We expected him to come next day and laid for him, but he didn't show up. Perhaps some Yank "got" him. Yesterday Co. C sent a detachment under Lt. Agnew to relieve B Co.'s section at Vauxaillon. MARCH 14. Sending details every day to help 101st Engineers dig new dugouts. Did harassing fire as usual and Fritz "picked on us" again toniglit. They dro]Jijed a lot of shell near our dugout. MARCH 15. Moved into new dugout as our old one was getting too much attention from Fritz. MARCH 16. Getting ready to be reheved tonight. Boche poured gas shell in a steady stream into town of Pinon from 5 to 8 o'clock. French soldiers the only occupants and they beat it. Some Frogs came past our place driving a small herd of pack burros to get them away from the gas. Gas began to sift up to our positions and we had to put on masks for a while. Fords came to take us back, but just as we were ready to pull out, things began to happen. S.O.S. flares went up from the front line trenches calling for a barrage, so we had to postpone our leaving and answer the call. Artiller\- and M. G.'s opened up all about. A German "dud" landed just in front of one of our emplacements and covered the men with dirt. This show continued for some little time, but finally let up, and we went ahead with our relief. The firing broke out again while we were on our way back to Vregny, but no shell came near us. Our batteries of all calibers were ripping up the sky for miles around, and it made a grand sight. Sec- tion of C Co. up in the Vauxaillon position had a merry time of it. A dud struck the tripod of Cpl. Comerford's gun and went right between his legs as he was sitting at it. The French would not permit the relief of this section tonight on account of the heavy shelling. 96 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion MARCH 17. C Co. section came out safely toiiiin|jaii> lis lolhiis kitchen. 4. Graves of Ralph Henry and Harold Smith at Sacerie Farm — Chateau-Thierry. o. "Doctor of Wines and Liquors" — "Y" at Courtaron. 6. C Company mess at Etrochey. 7. A swim in the Seine at Etrochey. 114 History of The 101 st Machine Gun Battalion spoke. The Interpreter caine in with a report from a "rehable sourec" that we are going to Italy. In the evening the hum of a Boche plane was heard, and they had to throw water on a small fire in the kitehen. The plane came so close that we could see it distinctly, but it went on to our rear. At Chateau-Thierry we had eight killed, eight severely wounded, twenty-six slightly wounded, seven gassed, and two shell-shocked. JULY 29. Had drill in the p. m. Our balloons have moved up further, showing that Fritz is still going fast. Terrific bombardment last night, lasting till a. m. Papers report fall of Fere-en-Tardenois. JULY 30. Moved back to town of Courtaron on banks of the Mame 11 A. M. Passed through Chateau-Thierry. The bridges across the Mame have been blown up, and engineers are working to get them passable for troops. The people are coming back to their wrecked homes. JULY 31. Terribly hot. We go swimming in the Mame and it is a great treat, helping to bring us back into shape. The papers from Paris say the Yanks have licked the Kaiser's "best". AUG. 1. Drilling now every day. In B Co. Bruemmer, Bourn, Den- nis, and R. Skinner made sergeants, Pinney Wadlund and Riepsame cor- porals. L. J. Parker is "Top". AUG. 5. Papers say French take Soissons, and Americans capture Fismes. Some of the officers went to Paris on 48-hour passes. Rumor the men will go also. Lt. Bennett left for U. S. as instructor. AUG. 7. Hought Bulkelcy comes to visit from school where he is in- structor. It looks as if we would move before many more men get passes to Paris, but a bunch of non-coms have got in on it already. AUG. 9. Fourteen of our Fords were taken up to the Front and de- livered to the 4th Div. by a detail under Lt. Wainwright. They were blocked in one place by a huge tree that had fallen across the road, and had to pull it one side with the help of a lot of doughboys and "Frogs". They passed through Fere-en-Tardcnois, and turned over the cars at Mareuil- en-Dole where they got into artillery shelling again. They were invited to stay for mess, but declined with thanks. There were many signs of the recent fighting through this country. AUG. 11. Ca])t. Bulkelcy promoted to major. We have a captured German Maxim M. G. and are getting instruction in its use. This knowl- edge may come in handy some day. We fire it in a ])it. AUG. 13. Battalion moved at noon, passing through La Ferte, Mont- mirail, Sezanne, Anglure, and reached Granges at 7.15 after traveling 60 kilometers. Men slept in ])up-tents. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 115 AUG. 14. Mess at 5.30. Pulled out at 7. Through Arcis-sur-Aube, Brienne-le-Chateau, where we saw a lot of Polish-American troops in French unifonns. Stopped for noon mess outside Bar-sur-Aube. In the afternoon we traveled the longest, smoothest and straightest road we have seen in France. There was not a curve for miles. It was horribly dusty, and the men had such a layer on their faces that they looked like circus clowns. This country is called the Cote d'Or and is very beautiful. We passed through the city of Chatillon-sur-Seine and reached the piginy town of Etrochey at 5 p. m. The men put up their pup-tents in the pasture down by the River Seine. AUG. 15. The Battalion was moved into billets which are comfort- able for the most i^art, and the cars moved from the lot where they had been parked, down to the river bank under some shade trees. There are rumors of furloughs. On the strength of this Graff got a pass to Chatillon and cabled home for $50. AUG. 16. Lt. Mills and Sgt. Beriin off to school at Chatillon. Hear 76th National Army Div. from New England is being used as a replace- ment division. Poor luck for them. AUG. 22. Bill O'Niel came back yesterday with all sorts of news from home. At seven p. m. the Battalion was assembled in the drill-field and Billy told us of his experiences at home. We were mighty glad to see him and gave him a big welcome. AUG. 23. Jack Wier gets transfer to engineers. Johnny Riddell comes back from hospital. AUG. 24. Battalion baseball team played aviators at aerodrome near Chatillon. Score 6-6. Looked over planes. AUG. 25. Turned in all Fords but three. Lt. L. L. Cupples joins C Co. There is a family of Belgian refugees here who had to flee to England, later coming to France. The wife can talk a little English which she learned while there, but the husband and grandparents can only speak Flemish. There are two little girls in the school here. Their native town was burned to the ground during the German invasion of Belgium. Lt. Mort vScoville visited us from school where he is instructor. Battalion trimmed a negro labor Bn. baseball team. The game was better than a vaudeville show. The coon catcher got a high foul right over his head and without bothering to take off his mask stood with outstretched paws, and while waiting for the ball to drop, he bawled at the top of his lungs, "Oh, Lawd, hab mercy on mah soul"! He caught the ball! Our boys got laughing so all through that they played a rotten game. 116 History of Tiik 101 st Machine Gun Battalion AUG. 30. Wc have l^ccn havin*^ close-order drills, field maneuvers, firing practice in a pit, and training aplenty these days. We have pulled off several good Battalion parades at retreat. B Co. had an interesting demonstration of "filtering" or the use of pussy-foot methods in approach- ing an enemy. Part of the company was posted on a small rise, and part was sent out to crawl up on them. It was surprising how close the attack- ers got before being seen, although we knew the direction they were coming from. Most of the gang has been enjoying the swimming in the Seine every day. The water is cold and invigorating, but the air is warm. Tonight we had a fine show by a "Y" company in a big room in the chateau. This cha- teau has a fine garden in back, where the officers have mess. The Battalion songsters have been holding forth a good deal. Even the officers have been trying to sing. The dulcet tones of Chandler, Ben Bourn and others can be heard dispensing sweet melody every night. AUG. 31. We moved out at 7 a. m. in 101st Ammunition Train trucks. Passed through Chatillon, Bar-sur-Aube, Monticr-en-Der, and reached St. Dizier at 5 p. m., where we camped in an o])en lot. Most of the outfit went in to look over the town and get some hotel eats. Good town. SEPT. 1. Pulled out at 8 a. m. Halted on a side-road near Bar-le-Duc at 11.30. There is a lot of troop movement, and it looks as if something big is up. A negro regiment passed us. They have negro officers and wear French unifonns of O. D. and ha\'e French equipment. SEPT. 2. Started again last night at 8 p. m. for the Front via Bar-le- Duc. Rode all night, and it was terribly cold. Pulled into Bois de Neuville at dawn and made ourselves as comfortable as possible. Orders to keep camouflaged. Lots of troops and big guns moving toward Front. Some- thing is going to hap]3en, but we don't know what or where. Boys help put u]j "Y" tent for Doc Hesselgrave. SEPT. 5. Whit Tiernan left for school. Drill this a. ji. Unexpected order at 6.45 to move. We hit road at 7.30. Travel slowly on account of congestion on roads. After midnight pulled into side road and got a little sleep. 102d M. G. Bn. passed by. All trooj:! mo\-ements at night — camou- flaged in woods by day. Pulled out again at 7.30. Rain. Roads very slip- pery and some of our trucks went into the ditch, and had to be pulled out by one of the others, the men i)ushing at the wheels. SEPT. 7. Arri\-e(l in Ravin d' Amblonville at 5.30. Found French wooden barracks here, lighted by an electric ])lant which was run by some French engineers. There was a bird-cage, containing some mice, outside one of the Frenchmen's shacks. Thev could lell if there was the faintest History of The 101st Machine Gux Battalion 117 trace of gas about by the way the mice acted. This is quite a flossy place, and the French have decorated some of the shacks to look like Swiss chalets, and laid duck-boards along paths in the woods from one to another. The effect is quite rustic. The men were allowed to sleep today after the strenuous trip. Graff got the $50 he was going to use on leave! SEPT. 9. Received five G. M. C. trucks and some Fords. Eighteen replacements arrived. One from Hartford, Louis Hart, went to B Co. The French are setting up a 210 battery near us. One "Frog" truck driver who was towing the big guns into place furnished much amusement. He went over ditches, small trees or anything that happened to get in his way, wearing a broad grin all the while. He knew he had the star part for the time being. A big bunch of French Colonials have come in across the road. They jabber away like monkies and are very funny. They wear red fezes, and have shaved heads — all except a small topknot. Each one has three or ionr parallel scars on his face, which are tribal marks. They carry big, wicked-looking knives, and one would not care to run up against them in the dark. They say they make wonderful raiding-troops. The guns through this sector are thick as flies — all calibers, both French and American. They must be figuring on blowing Germany off the map. SEPT. 11. Received ballots and cast our votes for the Conn. State election. Warned that our bombardment would start at 1 o'clock tonight and to be ready to beat it to the dugouts if we got an answer froin Fritz. SEPT. 12. Hell broke loose last night. We could sec gun flashes all around, and the ground trembled with the blasts. Artillery in the distance sounded a continuous rumble. The barrage kept up all night, and sleep was out of the question. It was the most intense we have yet heard. In the morning went down where the French 210's were working, and the obliging "Frog" gunners let us fire the "big boys". By getting right behind the guns we could catch a momentary glimpse of the big shell as they soared into the sky. At noon we heard the Boche were beating it with the 26th after them. Our march orders came and we pulled out at 3.30. Part of B Co. had gone ahead on foot, there not being enough transporta- tion for all. We went down through the battered town of Mouilly (5.40) beyond which the motors got stuck in the traffic. The men got out and started forward, carrying full pack and equipment. The kitchens remained behind at Mouilly. We marched up through what had been No Man's Land a few hours before, and the roads were in a fearful state. No wheel vehicles could pass, but the 101st Engrs. were already feverishly at work. Gangs of German and Austrian prisoners filed by, ever}^ now and then, vmder guard of one or two M. P.'s. Many of them were wounded. We 118 History of The IOIst Machine Gun Battalion finally reached a cross-road, after floundenn^^ over shell-holes, where we halted for an hour waiting orders. At 10 p. m. a mounted messenger came up with verbal orders from Gen. Edwards that we should push on at once to Vigneulles after the 102d Inf. which had started a little ahead. We shouldered our guns and trudged forward. It was necessary to make fre- quent stops for rest on account of the great weight of our equipment. We passed down the road known as the Grande Tranchee de Calonne, through thick woods on either side. The Battalion marched in column of squads wath C Co. in the lead. As we progressed further and further into enemy territory we could hear men crashing through the underbnish, though we could not see them owing to the pitch darkness. We knew they were Ger- mans. AVhat if they should make a stand and sweep the road with M. G.'s? After an hour or two how our tired muscles ached! All hands flopped the minute a halt order came, and snatched a few moments of blissful rest. Now and then a man would fall in the road, unable to go another step. After some hours of this agony we caine out into the open, and found our- selves on a high plateau overlooking the valley of the Woevre. Such a sight met our astonished eyes as made us forget for the moment our utter exhaustion. As far as the eye could see, splotches of dull red flame reflected their angry glare up into immense palls of smoke that overhung the sky. Burning hamlets — the work of the Hun, in his wanton thirst for revenge and destruction. There could be no reasonable military necessity for firing these poor little homes of French peasants. Immediately in front of us was the burning village of Hattonchatel were we could see human figures flitting in and out between the burning buildings. We knew not whether they were our own doughboys or Gennans. During a halt made here. Major Bulkeley and Lt. Mills went forward to locate our way. They became separated, and as the Adjutant walked around a bush he was suddenly confronted by a Boche. Mills was armed only with his trench-cane which he promptly brandished o\'er the Boche's head, and roared out the only German word he could think of. "Achtung" ! The Boche "com]jrecd" this order for his hands flew over his head and he emitted a frightened "Kamerad"! It is hard to tell which of the two was the more surprised. The prisoner proved to be an Austrian non-com who said that he had been aslecjj in his quarters. When he awoke he could hear voices talking a strange tongue. The Americans had come! He had crept out to look for his friends, and after wandering about in the dark was glad to surrender. He was docile enough, and Mills appointed him his personal orderly, pro tern, until he could be turned over to the M. P.'s. He carried the Lieutenant's equipment and the two boxes of ammunition of one of our men, and seemed quite proud to Ije exalted to the rank of History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 119 orderly in the great American Army. Soon the way was found, and we "picked up" once more and stumbled on past Hattonchatel, around a big horseshoe bend, and found a patch of woods halfway down the slope of the plateau where we went to escape observation as it was now beginning to dawn. We could see the town of Vigneulles not far below in the plain. It, too, was burning. No sooner had we slipped our packs than most of us were fast asleep — those who were not too exhavisted to sleep. SEPT. 13. After an hour we were routed out once more, and started off for Vigneulles. On the way we passed a little German runabout with the double eagle painted on its doors, in which they said a German colonel had driven right among our doughboys, while under the impression that he was on his way to his own lines. We saw a fully equipped Geniian med- ical car containing all sorts of medicines and surgical instruments. This was a godsend to our doctors. As we entered town at 4.30 there was evi- dence of German occupation on all sides — equipment strewn all about the streets and great quantities in the houses. The few French civilians who had reinained during the German occupation were beside themselves at seeing the Americans. Some of them seemed unable to comprehend what had taken place. They had hung out their proud little flags of France, which had been kept carefully concealed from enemy eyes all these years — waiting for just this glorious day. These little emblems were to us sym- bolic of the unconquerable spirit of France. They said they had been treated decently enough by the Boche. A house containing small-arms ammunition had been fired and was popping away merrily as the car- tridges exploded in the heat. We went on through the town to its further edge on the extreme right, where we bivouacked at once behind the stone wall of a cemetery. Here the few men who had fallen out on the march joined us, with the exception of one who was so exhausted he had to be sent to hospital. A pretty fair record we think. On the way, we had picked up four prisoners who we turned over the the M. P.'s prisoner pen. Behind us we now beheld our friend Mont Sec of the old Toul days. One of our long deferred hopes had been accomplished — this familiar landmark was at last in American hands, and would no longer frown down upon us and give away every move we made. About eight o'clock we were surprised to hear many hoof -beats approaching, and some of us routed out to see what was going on. A queer sight — a large detachment of our own 2d (Regular) Cavalr>' in "tin derbies". This outfit stopped for information, and aroused much interest among those of us who had soldiered with old Troop B on the Mexican Border in 1916. They went on up toward the Boche to recon- noitre. About ten o'clock one of our officers who had been trying to sleep 120 History of Thk 101 st Machine Gun Battalion on soinc i)icces of marl)lc' in the liule monnmcnl-cutter's hnt, slc])])cd ont to look about. He beheld a si«i;ht which at once engaged his earnest atten- tion. There, in the plain to the right rear, was a whole brigade drawn u]) in combat formation. He could not understand this entirely, and thought the situation might develope uni)leasant consequences if there should ha])- pch to be a misunderstanding. Accordingly he set out across the field in their direction. He could sec ground-scouts out in front looking at him with suspicion and fingering their rifles in an unpleasant way. There was nothing now but to keep on going, for he was unwilling to hazard a bullet in the seat of the pants, which would surely have been the result if he had turned and tried to make a dignified withdrawal. This officer was too familiar with the shooting ability of American scouts to take any chances. When he came within speaking distance he hailed a sergeant and two men, noting two service stripes on their sleeves. The Lieutenant asked what outfit it was and the sergeant replied, "Foist Division, sir". When he looked at those clear-eyed, square-jawed, young Americans he was more than ever glad that he had not invited unfavorable attention from them. "Gee, Lieutenant, we didn't know whether you was Boche or American when you come across that field — but what's all the firin' and where's the battle goin' on"? The Lieutenant smiled and said, "Oh, that's not a fight — it's just an ammunition dump the Boche set oft" when the 26th drove 'em out at two o'clock this morning. Our Division has been sitting on the lid of this town and there isn't a Boche in sight." "Gee, Lieutenant, we was all ready to take this burg", said the doughboy. That is how the 2(ith and 1st Divisions met and aminitated the St. Mihiel salient at one swift blow — the thing which had been a thorn in the side of the French for four long years. It seems that our Chief of Stalf had run into a small patrol of the 1st Div. in Vigneulles in the small hours, and asked the jjatrol leader what outfit he was from. The Yank replied, "Twenty-sixth, sir". "Yes, I know", said the Chief, "but what regiment"? "Twenty-sixth, sir", insisted the doughboy. It finally dawned on the Colonel that the man meant the 26th Regiment of the 1st Division. The officer then asked him where his regiment was, and he could not tell, but said they were ordered to scout ahead as far as possible and wait till their outfit came u]). The Colonel then wrote a message to the effect that the 2()th Div. had taken Vigneulles at 2 a. m., and told the sergeant to send it back to his commanding officer by a runner. This message apparently ne\'cr got to its destination, which may account, in i)art, for the somewhat belligerent attitude of the brigade which had come up in our rear. A little later wc were disturbed by the arrival of some shell which burst uncom- fortably near. Wc could plainly- hear the report of the gun, which was not History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 121 far away. Some of its shell landed further into the town, killing two French poilus. Their bodies were carried past us by their comrades and reverently laid to rest in the little cemetery — "Mori pour la Patrie". Doc Powell patched up another poilu who was badly wounded in the road near us. In the afternoon a few of the cavalry came back with some Boche prisoners, and yelled out to us as they passed, "We found a brewery up the line and there's 'boocoo biere'. Better beat it up there quick if you want some." Curse the stem discipline of war that will not let us take advantage of such an opportunity! At 4.30 p. M. someone bawled "Here comes the chow"! Instantly there was a mad scramble for mess-kits, and, sure enough, there coming up the road were two of our Fords with mess for both companies. The line never formed so quickly, even in the Chateau-Thierry days, and army dis- cipline was the only thing that prevented a riot and a mobbing of the "chuck wagons", for we had eaten nothing since leaving d'Amblonville, except some hardtack we carried in our packs. Probably a German attack would not have disturbed that mess line. Major Bulkeley had talked with a German surgeon in the prisoner pen, who informed him that they had expected to have plenty of time to get out of the Salient before the Ameri- cans could cut it. They had left the town of St. Mihiel, and were dumb- founded to be stopped at Vigneulles and taken prisoner. They had thought it out of the question for our troops to get there for many hours — but see- ing is believing. Thus ended what was in some ways the most remarkable feat of arms ever accomplished by any army. The Americans had thrown precedent to the winds, and broken the pet theories of military experts by marching in column through enemy country in the dead of night. The 101st M. G. Bn. came through, each man carrying a load of approximately 50 lbs. in addition to full field-pack, with the loss by exhaustion of only one man. Only an organization in the pink of physical condition could have stood such an ordeal. To the 102d Infantry, the 101st M. G. Bn., and the 102d M. G. Bn., the latter being able to use its mule-drawn carts, belongs the honor of delivering the final thrust of the St. Mihiel Offensive — the most important part of the whole operation, both in its execution and its results. SEPT. 14. Last night a company of American tanks came up and camped in the field near us. We found Joe Ryan, formerly of B Co., and now a sergeant with this outfit. This morning the town was shelled again while we were having breakfast. A little later some planes came over, very high up, and dropped a flock of bombs. There were some bad casualties in the 102d Inf. bivouacked in a field behind the town. Orders came for 122 History of The 101 st Machine Gun Battalion us to ]mll out and j^o l)ack into reserve positions. Part of the Battalion went on foot and the rest in the cars, up the hill past Hattonchatel and into the Grande Tranchee which we had traversed the night of the 12th. It looked far different now, and we followed down the beautiful archway of trees with different feelings than on that former occasion. We passed through the town of Scuzey where not a house remained standing, it having been in No Man's Land, and went into camp at 3 p. m. in a little swale just beyond. We had brought along two of the captured German trucks which some of the drivers had repaired. They have steel tires, and the double eagle is painted on the side. Dr. Hesselgrave and Miss Gary ar- rived, and we turned two trucks over to them for quarters. We were right in the old front lines. Some of the boys found a German skeleton which must have lain in No Man's Land for perhaps a year or two. We buried it. Sgts. Erie Rogers and Zeke Ackley left for officers' school on the morn- ing of the 12th. SEPT. 15. A French aviator came down near us when something went wrong with his machine. He had to send to his aerodrome for help, and we put him up over night. From C Co. Berry is transferred to 102d M. G. Bn. and Martin to 103d Inf. We moved down the road a short distance to another gully where there is better concealment for the cars. SEPT. 16. Boche planes flying low over main road last night dropping bombs and spraying with M. G's. "Father" Williams had to leave a truck he was bringing u]3 full of gasolene tanks and dive into a trench. Gould came back. The boys are building shacks for greater comfort. There are a number of small dugouts barely under ground, and they are not too comfortable. Whenever we get into a new place now, we find it pays to plan as if we were going to remain indefinitely. It pays to make the most of any small comforts that can be had. Bill Skinner leaves to get commission. B. W. Brown transferred to Div. Hqrs. Troop. SEPT. 18. Battalion taken over to LaCroix and given bath to get rid of cooties. Ben Perkins back yesterday after taking some exams. Gordon Robinson transferred to Central Records Office. SEPT. 22. Chaplain Taggart assigned to Battalion. He is a cousin of Lt. Taggart of B Co. It has been decided to keep the 14,000 francs sent us from home for the 4th of July to be distributed when we get leaves. Dr. Hesselgrave put up a big "Y" tent with assistance from Bill Gray and others. It is well camouflaged from overhead observation. The boys have been wandering through the old trenches and dugouts, and are bringing back German stoves and all sorts of thinj^rs for their shacks. The Boche History of The 101st Machine Gun Battailon 123 certainly have made themselves comfortable around here. Some of the dugouts were faced with concrete, and one had glass bottles set into the corners, and in the bottles were the cards of the German officers occupying it. There are beds and chairs they have brought from French houses. In one section we found bodies of Austrians who had been killed by our bom- bardment. They were mostly lying in the bottom of the trenches in gro- tesque attitudes and the stench was awful. One officer had a fine pair of field-glasses which one of the boys took. They must have had a terrible time when our barrage hit them. Another dugotit had been used as a dressing-station and was full of bloody rags. There is a great amount of military stuff lying around, and souvenirs so thick we do not bother to pick them u]) unless we can use them. Some sections are one mass of barbed wire entanglements. We have to be very wary when going into dugouts on account of bomb-traps, though none have been found so far. SEPT. 24. Lt. Mills has been promoted to captain. Agnew to 1st Lt., Jack Heron to sgt. and Campbell to corporal. Dunn transferred to engineers. Cal Ward returns from hospital. SEPT. 26. Big barrage on last night. Bibeau transferred to Div. Hqrs. SEPT. 28. Bracken made personnel N. C. O. with rank of sgt. Papers tell of big American drive north of Verdun in the Argonne Forest. SEPT. 30. Bulgarians have asked for armistice. Allies attack on five fronts. Marshal Foch is doing big things. Had news of Martin's death up near Riaville. OCT. 2. Bill Thornton off to officer's school. Baridon made sergeant and leaves to get commission. Dr. Hesselgrave predicts war will be over by Christmas. OCT. 5. Boche plane dropped bombs very near us last night and fragments dropped outside dugouts. Whit Tiernan has come back to wait for his commission. OCT. 7. Papers report that Central Powers propose peace. Hear a battalion of the 77th Div. has advanced too far and been cut off in the Argonne. OCT. 8. Packed up and hauled out at 6 p. m. Arrived in heavy rain, 9 p. M., at Bevaux Barracks, a cluster of large stone buildings near Verdun, which used to be a cavalry post. The entire Battalion quartered in one of these and other units of the Division in some of the others. OCT. 9. Left Niantic a year ago today. From theupper story of the 124 History of Tiif. 101 st Machine Gun Battalion liuilding we can sec the town of \'erdun about a kilometer awav. Men are not allowed outside durinj^; the day and must not smoke outside at night on account of danger of enemy observation. Wc go out at night for exer- cise. The glass is all gone from the windows. From the noise up front it doesn't sound as if the Boche were quitting. We can see shell bursting in \'erdun. Counted ninety-eight planes going over today, all in a bunch. Lt. Frank Christensen ])ays us a visit. He is now in 79th Div. Rumor Austria and Ttn-key have quit. OCT. 11. There are numberless French graves and they say half a million soldiers are buried in -this region. They are the men who made the French war-cry, "They shall not pass" a reality. A 320 mm. U. S. naval gun came in on the railroad near here and makes night hideous. The craze for making finger rings of one-franc pieces has struck the outfit — "Everybody's doin' it". A good deal of box-fighting in B Co. There is a French Foyer dii Soldat in one of the buildings, where our men read, write and indulge in that famous American pastime known as "African Golf". When Dr. Miel, who is stationed near here, comes to see us he is warned to hang on to his money. Some of us have had a chance to look over Verdun, and find the citadel with its underground passages, the bat- tered cathedral, the picturesque gateways most interesting. Earl Cham- bers, brother of Tom, has come to us after being wounded with the 4th Div. OCT. 12. The "Interrupter" came back from Paris with the rumor that the Kaiser has abdicated in favor of one of his kaiserlings. He says the end is near, because he saw many of the "kings of finance" who have made fortunes out of the war moping about Paris with long faces. Each man got a pajoer which entitles him to have one Christmas box sent from heme. Dr. Hesselgrave celebrates his 50th birthday. OCT. 13. Rumor Germans have accepted Wilson's "fourteen condi- tions"; Germans want Foch and Ludendorf to get together; French take 3"), 000 ])risoners. Meanwhile the war goes on just the same. It's getting so we don't believe a thing now. Sgt. Herb Ratenburg, Sanit. Detachment, gets the D. S. C. for gallantry at Chateau-Thierry. OCT. 14. Sgts. Parker, Ruft' Allen, Whitney and I^rown of B Co. and Sgts. Bill Allen, Berlin, Dvirston and Hansel of C Co., and Sgt. Major Heymann sent to officers' school. "Bub" Hill made 1st sgt. of B Co. and "Pip" Johnson of C Co. Laon has fallen to Allies. OCT. 16. Some of the officers went u]) to the Front to reconnoiter. Piled into the ears and started at 7 p. M. Got shelled on the wav. A frag- History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 125 ment cut Jack O'Neil's ear and another one went through top of the truck's tank. Tank only half full so truck was not disabled. There was a lot of traffic on the road and progress was slow. At 11 p. m. we pulled up behind some roadside camouflage near a cross-road opposite the town of Vacherau- ville, and spent the night. We could hear machine-guns "pup-pupping" up in the front line. The men went up into some abandoned trenches in the side hill. Sgt. Ev. Hart left with "flu". OCT. 17. The famous pock-marked Cote du Poivre lies near us and in a field we can see the remnants of the train which brought the gallant zouaves right into the fighting during the great defense of Verdun by the French. The cross-roads gets a good deal of intermittent shelling, as does Vacherauville and other places around here. Some big ones were bounced on our hill, so the boys had to duck for cover. Who said peace? After mess the Battalion kitchens and base were moved to Bras about a mile away. Bras is smashed to pieces. OCT. 18. This a. m. a dud went through four thicknesses of logs into a dugout and killed a dentist asleep in his bunk. He never knew what hit him — the shell cut him in two. Three French tanks came into Bras at noon, being all that was left of seventeen that had gone over the top. The others had fallen into a concealed trench the Germans had made against tanks, and they could not be gotten out. OCT. 19. Lille, Ostend and Douai taken by British. While at noon mess a shell burst close by and a fragment cut Brewer's puttee. Troops and trains are parked right in the open, as though to tell the Germans we are here and don't care who knows it. All the woods are shot down and there is no concealment anyway. OCT. 20. They shelled Bras last night and at 3 A. m. we got gassed for half an hour. Hyde and Johnston of C Co. sick to hospital. Papers tell of big epidemic of "flu" in the States. It is hard to tell whether we worry most about the home-folks now, or they about us. The world is certainly being punished. OCT. 21. Saw one of our planes swoop down and drop a message into Vacherauville. "Father" Williams, Brennan and Coleinan sick to hospital. We hear this front is a pivot, and the Germans will hold it at all costs, so we are likely to have a lively time driving them out. Special British gas units have come in to work with our Division. We expect to go into line tonight to do barrage work, and are waiting to start. OCT. 22. At midnight orders were countermanded, so we did not move. The Battalion train was moved to Marre this morning. Marre is 1. Dugouts at Seuzcv Woods — St. Mihiel. 2. Captured German truck — St. Miliiel. 3. "Y" at Seuzey Woods. 4. Wreck of famous Zouave.train north of Verdun, o. lOLst M. G. Bn, intrenches at Vachorauville — ^Verdun. (i. C Comiiaiiy men at l^oisdo Hrahant — X'cnlun. 7. Battalion P C. at Bois de Brabant — \'er(hin. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 127 flat like all the other towns. We hear that Gen. Edwards is to be relieved of command and sent home to train a new division. This is about the best way G. H. Q. at Chaumont can take to break down our morale. It seems as though no chance is ever lost to hit our Division. We cannot understand it, but suppose there is jealousy of the National Guard. Ben Bourn came in with reconnaissance party from front lines, and says we are going to a bad place. Orders to move at midnight. Guns and ammuni- tion sent ahead in cars, but Battalion went on foot leaving packs behind. A beautiful moonlight night. There are Boche planes in the air, and we think they may bomb us, as they can probably see us on the road. Marched up past Samogneux, and down through "Death Valley", and while there is shelling, nothing comes very close. Reached our position on a side hill in the Bois de Brabant-sur-Meuse at 4 a. m. OCT. 23. Got the guns and carried them up on the hill, and set the batteries for barrage fire. B Co.'s guns had to be moved further up the hill, as it was found their fire would not clear the crest. They went to the top, while C Co.'s position was about half-way down the rear slope — they firing on different enemy positions. We were to help cover the attack of our infantry. At 6 a. m. our artillery started, and we opened, according to schedule, fifteen minutes later. All the men not needed to work the guns were ordered to wait in the trenches just in rear until they were needed. Enemy fire soon descended on us and things became lively. A dud crashed through the trench and passed between two of our first-aid men, burying itself in the other side. Shell were exploding all about and splintering through the air in every direction, and the concussions made it very diffi- cult for the gunners to keep their pieces at the proper elevation. They had to be constantly checked up. We continued the fire for one hour, and then were ordered to move back into the shelter of the trenches. During this engagement Cpl. Bob Collins, Audette and M. H. Gray were killed and Lt. Cupples, Finlayson, Hyland and Lamkins of C Co. and Lt. Gilbert Taggart, Cpl. Yerges, Paul Lambert and Bill Smith of B Co. seriously wounded. Less badly wounded were Briggs, A. N. Jones, Cetner, Fai- kowski of B Co. and Sgt. Cal Ward, A. Morrill, Neilson, Alton, Herb Chew, Baker, Pickel of C Co. Sgt. Bruemmer of B Co. was knocked down by a piece of shell which hit him in the chest, but refused to be evacuated. Lt. Cassidy slightly wounded but not evacuated. Did some more harassing fire during the afternoon. At night mess came up in a truck with a load of ammunition. We sent a detail down to the "Quarry" to bring it up on the hill. A little hole in the ground was used for Battalion P. C. and dressing-station. There were no decent dugout shelters in this place. 128 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion OCT. 24. We had orders to do some more shootinc^ today. Our d<)U<,di- boys got their objectives yesterday and repulsed counter-attacks. The whole Di\'ision is getting dreadful ]junishment, and it is difficult to hold positions gained. Marion Chew wounded and Kearney, Keene and LaRock sent back. The Boche are throwing big H. E. shell on our i)osition, and in the valley below, most of the time, so we keep under coxier as much as possible. This evening 1st Platoon of B Co. was sent uj) to the front line under Lt. Wainwright to reinforce the 101st Inf. which had been hard hit. Just as they were leaving the Inf. P. C. a fusilade of Boche 88's landed on them and they had to juinp for a trench. No one was hurt. They had to climb a steep hill over a path knee-deep in mud, and while winding ihrcnigh the woods on their way to the front line battalions the infantry runner guiding them got lost in the darkness. After wandering along wood-paths till dawn in an effort to find the way, the men became utterly exhausted from carrying their heavy loads through the mire. The Boche began to lace the woods with artillery fire so the Platoon was withdrawn to the in- fantry P. C. and a new guide was asked for. OCT. 26. At the P. C. we were told by Col. Logan that wc would not be needed at ])resent, as something had gone wrong with the infantry schedule, and that we should wait there for orders. Up on a hill a dugout was found where the whole Platoon was at least protected, although the place was ^•ery wet. We could not depend on the Battalion for iness so we found a kitchen of another outfit a half-mile away, and inade arrange- ments with them to feed us in relay's. During the day the condition of the men was seen to be such that they were unfit to take part in offensive fighting, so the Lieutenant sent a message back to the Battalion asking that a fresh lot of men be sent to take their places. That night another platoon, i)icked from the men in the best condition, rc])ortcd to him under Sgt. Bruemmer. A memoral)le council of war took place in the P. C. dug- out of the 101st Inf. when Col. Logan returned from Division Hqrs. and broke the news to his staff that he had been relieved of command of the Regiment. This news was received in eloquent silence. He turned the Regiment over to his next in command, Lt. Col. Grcenway, an efficient officer, but there was considerable dismay. Brig. Gen. Bamford had taken command of the Division. The attack for the next day was ])lanned out — two battalions of the 101st Inf. were to consolidate as one, and our Platoon was assigned to this battalion. The bodies of Audettc, Collins and Gray were taken to Glorieux Cemetery yesterday and buried there b\- the Chap- lain. News came of the death of Verges and Lambert of B Co., and Lt. Cup])les, Finlayson and H\-!an(l of C Co. Bobbx- Hax'cs was badl\- wounded History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 129 while driving his car in Verdun on the 23rd. He was rushed to a hos- pital. OCT. 27. The Platoon with the 101st Inf. started from the regimental P. C. at 7 A. M. and went vip into the Houppy Bois with the consolidated battalion which is under command of a 1st lieutenant. Apparently the whole Regiment, what is left of it, is here as there is another battalion with some machine-guns about two hundred yards ahead up in the Belleu Bois. We set up our guns in carefully selected positions along the edge of the Woods looking across the open space toward Belleu Wood. Our orders are not to do any firing unless Fritz comes through, and then we are to hold at all costs while our infantry forms behind us under cover of our fire. Two men are to stay with each gun and be systematically relieved by the others, who are within call further down the hill. We are digging individual "fox-holes", and some of the boys are in a little half-dug trench. Each day we have to send a detail back a mile or so along the Molleville Ravine to the infantry kitchens to bring back rations. This is dangerous work on account of frequent shelling, and we have to watch our step. There are a good many bodies of American doughboys here and there, both of our Division and the 29th which is on our left. They cannot be buried yet. Our doughboys are in one edge of Belleu Wood — Boche in the other. They are mostly lying in shell-holes, and it is not safe to stick up your head during the day. They are using trench mortars and grenades a good deal. OCT. 28. Platoon in Houppy Bois got a little gas this a. m. when the sun came out and brought it up from the valleys below. Charlie Miel,- who is a "runner", was sent back to Battalion P. C. with a message last night. The Lieutenant called for a volunteer to go back with him on ac- count of the danger of one man getting hit while alone, and Louis Hart spoke up. Gardiner Hall went with them, being evacuated sick. Not long after they left, the Germans sent down a savage barrage, though all was quiet when they started. Before long Miel came running back and reported Hart badly wounded. They had not been able to move him, and Hall stayed while Miel came back for help. Our two Ist-aid men were sent out with a stretcher, but returned with the news that Hart was dead when they reached him. Miel and Hall then went on with the message. Later in the day we sent out a detail, brought Hart's body down to the infantry battalion P. C. and buried him. OCT. 29. The Battalion has been getting much shelling and gas. Bobby Hayes is reported dead. Snipes and "Rookie" Phillips are wounded. Many men affected by gas. Ray Gustetter drove his car up to the Battalion 130 llisioKv oi- 'I'm. lOlsi Machine (u'N Baiiai.ion last niglit with C C^tv rations. Durins;- iho nii.^ht a slu^ll rii)i)0(l liis tires. He started to (ix tlu-ni this nioniin^, when anotlier shi-U eame and eut an- other tire so (his det'ides to l;() baek on llats. 7!Mh I)i\-. rehcned the 2!Uh on oiu" riL;ht. vSonie more men liad to be sent up from om" base to repkn'e losses. Saw a German plane eonie down in llames. OC'T. 'M). A do/.en men wc-re .scmU haek last ni,i;ht on account of .u;as burns. It was jiititul to see lluMn beinj; led with bandai.;es i)\er their eyes. Mai. Bulkelev and Doc Powell ha\i> been gassed. Two of om- I"(M-ds got smashed to bits. Hear the Di\ision is going to be shifttnl to anotlier sector on the riglit. We ha\e hardl\- enough to man the guns propcrh' now. OCT. 'M. Cius Brzostowiez tried to shoot ilown llun ]4ane with a rillc\ Orders that we will go out tonight. Nobody sorr\- ! B Oo.'s plattnin at llonpi)V came back in broad day, ha\-ing jnckeil a time when lhe\- had observed the Boche did not usually shell. Not a thing fell near them. The Battalion, what is left of it. came out piecemeal, starting at dusk on fool, after sending the guns in by motor. Lucky and got no shelling, though had to ])ass through unite a strong gas concentration near Samogneux. Tired and st)rrv-looking Uit of hobos when we got to Marn- abi)ut nine. Had not shavctl or washed for over a week. The cars met us at our old cross-road. 'Vhc cooks had a good hot nn-al read\-, and it did not take us long to fall into a bunk after that. We had had scarcely any sleep for a week, and had sulTcrcd from the coU\. not to mention shelling and gas. NOW 1. A big Inmch were sent to hospital on account o\ gas this nun-ning. Most oi tluMU cannol sjieak abox-c a whisper; their e\-es are in- llametl and some are badl\- burned. The Battalion nia\- be said to ha\e lost its voice ^st> man\- are aftcctcd. N0\'. 2. Paper sa\s tO.OlH) .\ustrians taken b\- the "Wops". Dr. Hesselgra\"e t\unc> u]) from \'crdmi with candy and cookies. Major Bulkeley and Capt. Powell evacuated on account of gas. Oapt. Myers can only whisper — but not bad eiuuigh to be sent awa\-. lie now takes command of Battalion. t\ipt. Moore is our new surgeon. Toda\- we were startled bv suddenlv hearing the blare of a band playing the "2d Conn. Regiment March". All hands tumbled out of dugouts and came running to the "square" where nian\- o\ us rccogni/cil our old fricMul, Lt. l-'rancis Suther- land, one tune leader of the Fool Cniard Band in llartfonl, waxing his baton at his outfit. It proved to be the band of the lOtth Artillery, 27th Div.. which regiment was doing duty on this front. Bill\- O'Xicl had ukuIc the di.seovery that they were u\i at Ft. de Marre not far olY, and one word from him to Sutherland that the Hartford outlit was down in the town, HiSTi^Kv ov Till lOlsi M ACHixK ("ivx Battat.iox 1;>1 iusl out o\ I lie linos was onoui^li. l^ill\- was mado lo lake I ho snaro ilruiu and pla\- with iho haiul. aiul ii was o\iilont ihal ho had nol t\n-i;oUon how to wiiigio tho siioks. This niusio hit tho spin, and dirl wmidors to choor us up, and thoro was not a man whoso spint^ did not thrill to tho strains o\ that taniiliar inaroh. Wo ontortainod tho hand at moss al'tor tho oonoort was o\or, and thou;;h t'oi^hlo, it was tho onl\- wa\- wo oould oxpross om- appreoialion to thoso Im^vs of what thoir attontion nioani lo us, asido from tho i^lad hand and ohoor wo i^a\o thorn. Xt)\'. ;■>. Moix^ mon o\aouatod with j;as. C^ajit. Mvors is aotin^' Di- visional M. tl. otlioor, ihoui^h sta\in,i; with tho Hn. l-lxpoot \o i^o up as^ain soon. Wo nood replaoomonls. Capl. Mills baok fi\nu sohool. Tho Battalion was oomplimontod by Bris;. Gon. Sholtou. under whoso oommatui wo woro aotin*; at Brabant Woods, for om- aoourato and offootixo work Ihoro. Got now i^un-barrols for thoso used up last wook, Tho Dixision has uo{ boon rolioNod, but moved over to the rij^ht. NtA'. 4. Miiro mon to hosjiiial. Thoro is muoh air ai-ti\-it\-. A balloon was shot down near us b\- a low-tl\in;; plane. It was a olo\or piooo oi work. Tho plane ^ot away. NC)\\ .">. Austria is out o\' it for sure. Allies before Ghent. Suthor- kuid's band oamo diiwn and i;a\o us another oonoort. It was fine I NG\'. (). I"" red Grossklaus. Elmer Tii^or and se\-eral others o\-aeuated. Comorl'ord, wlui roplaoed Johnson as "Top" of C^ Co., ^oes {o Imspital with gas burns, G Go. reori;anized into two platoons. lloo\-or v^mith aotiui;- "To]i" and Barno\- GraiT aotinj; moss .s^t. Total stron,>;lh inoludiui; waj;- oners and oooks 107. Wo will ha\e some lime tr\inj; to opt^rato all our twelve ,>;uns. B Go. in about tho same tix. Bn. has loss than !()() mon otTeelixo t'or hard fii^htini^ in tho ,s;un-orows. NO\'. 7. Tho balloon from tho Mori llommo was towwl through- town .U'oini; u]). Tho mon toll us that tho \'anks gained oii^ht kilometers last night. Gur lieutenants go up on rooonnais.sanoo, whioh would indieate that wo go in soon again. Grders to mo\o up tonight, but thev are otninter- mandod. Rumors of peaoe galore, but tho faet is, this war is all oxer but the shooting. Dr. Miol and Dr. Hesselgravo oamo over to see us. Tho latter gave away ehooolate and eigarettes from tho "V". N0\'. S. Another day of wild riunors and t'ow laots. Papers toll of Gonnans sending delegates to reooive tonus. A radio saiil Germans ha\e been told to meet Marshal Foeh at a oertain time and plaoe. The fellows have it all doped out that it may be possible for G. "H. G. to .spare the 132 History of The 101st Machink Gun Battalion 26th long enough for furloughs — provided there is an armistice. Sedan captured by Americans. NOV. 9. Assembly at 5.40 a. m. Breakfast at 6. Orders to roll packs. Pulled out for Bras where Division Hqrs. is. Two officers sent up front to see if roads passable for our cars. They find impossible to get cars through. Battalion waits with fli\-vers lined up in town for word to go forward. Men find shelter in various dugouts. Bras is in S.O.S. now — lines have moved so far up. Our kitchens still in Marre and bring food up in cars. NOV. 10. Barney Graff came up with the chuck-wagon from Marre. He says, "About ten last night, while I was lying in my bunk, reading the "vStars and Stripes", I heard the famihar hum of a Hun motor, and at once put out the candle. Next came the whistle and explosion of a bomb close by. I received company right away. Bracken, Thornton, Dalton, Hutch and several more came falling over each other down the stairs into the dugout. This bird drop]jed a dozen, all told, right into the middle of our peaceful town. The old dugout shook and rattled, and I'm ready to swear it turned completely around ! One landed near the infirmary and blew in all the canvas windows in the Chaplain's shack". Some of B Co. cooks found a covey of partridges next morning, all dead without a mark on them — killed by the concussion. The kitchen gang had a rare treat. Jack Molloy and Pip Johnson back from hospital bringing a paper that says the Germans have until 11 a. m. tomorrow to accept our terms. The war must be nearly o\-er, as furloughs came through and eight men left the outfit for Grenoble ! NOV. 11. We are still waiting orders at Bras. Told firing will cease at 11 this morning. You have got to show us! The "Frogs" say it is over, and grin from ear to car. The artillery is pounding harder than ever. We are waiting for 11 o'clock, and as the time draws near, we look at our watches. Suddenly there is a queer silence — we don't know what to think or do. It is true — but no one wants to shout or laugh. We just cannot realize the significance of it. Here we were, onh- a few moments ago, ready to jump into our cars and go out and shoot up the Boche. or get shot up. What will ha]:)pcn, and where are we going now? Nothing happens, and we just light u]) another cigarette. Pretty soon a Poilu, somewhat the worse for cognac, comes running out of a dugout and shouts ''Fini la guerre"! — another, also the worse for co^)iac, comes along the road driving a camion. He takes both hands from the wheel, waves them wildl>-, and shouts at the top of his lungs, ''luni la guerre"! He grabs the wheel again, just in time to prevent the trvick from nmning into the ditch. The French are taking it more liilariouslv than the Yanks — but they have been fighting History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 133 four years longer. As darkness sets in, the sky for miles around is aglow with fires, rockets, and flares of all colors. Even whole boxes of gun-powder are set off and go up with a roar and blaze of glory. We are ordered back to Marre, and the flivvers line up on the road to receive us with all head- lights streaming out into the night. It is a novel sight, and the first time we have seen such a thing all through the war. Perhaps this is one of the things that most impresses us with the reality of the armistice. We think of home, and the great celebration they must be having, and wonder how long it will be before we get there. We have had the hardest duty experi- enced in any sector. Eleven men killed, 22 wounded, and 75 gassed, beside many others slightly affected. NOV. 12. Got into Marre at 1 last night. Paper tells of flight of Kaiser and Crown Prince to Holland. NOV. 13. Battalion went up to Ville-devant-Chaumont to be part of the line patrol there with the 104th Inf. It is on the line where the ad- vance of our Division stopped. It seems queer to walk around at the Front without any attempt at concealment, and without expecting any moment to have a shell or sniper's bullet knock your head off. French and British prisoners are beginning to filter through our lines. One man stopped when he saw our sentries in a strange uniform, and seemed half inclined to beat it. He was motioned on, and finally screwed up courage to come ahead. He said he did not know that we were Americans, and was afraid we might be Boche troops in a new unifonn and might treat him rough. He was a Belgian who had been a prisoner since 1914. Some Italians came through. We gave these men some of our food and cigarettes. NOV. 14. We were relieved by an outfit of the 6th Div., and went back to Marre. Understand the whole Division is pulling out. NOV. 15. Eighteen men go on leave to Aix-les-Bains. We can now write home and tell exactly where we are and all that, and hasten to im- prove the opportunity before G. H. Q. changes one of its minds. We hear that the Division is to form part of the Arm>' of Occupation in Germany, an honor to which it is surely entitled, but hear later that G. H. Q. has changed another mind, because we are so "reduced in effective fighting strength" and our wheel transportation is so shot to pieces. Let them give us transportation from some of the S.O.S. divisions, send us replacements, and we will start now. We understand on the highest authority, that our present Division Commander is responsible for this latest piece of business. He has not caught the spirit of the Division, but we expect to assimilate him in time and he will have to learn some of our traditions. The Bat- 1. luJ.l liil.uilry P. C. on Ariiiistioo noon — Bill Scoville. 2. First leave ^'uiis; fnini the liattalion at Verdun, '.i. Louvidres. 4. Chiitoau, officers' quarters, Louvieres. .'>. Billet of C Con pany wag- oners, Louvieres. 6. B Company baseball, Louvieres. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 135 talion leaves Marre and proceeds by motor to Nubecourt, where we bil- leted. NOV. 17. Lt. Wainwright, "Hoover" Smith have gone to M. G. school, Ted Whitney to gas school. Left Nubecourt and hiked to Villotte- devant-St. Mihiel. Most of our cars have been sent to a division in the Army of Occupation — huh ! NOV. 21. Arrived in Louvieres today, after having traveled, partly on foot and partly by truck, since leaving Nubecourt on the 17th. Stopped over night at Villotte-devant-St. Mihiel, Demange, Dainvillc and Coussey. Louvieres is another very small hamlet — the kind we always seem to draw — but we set about trying to make ourselves comfortable. The billets are nothing to boast about, and require much cleaning. There are three Adrian barracks, one of which is "Y" headquarters and the other two pro- vide mess-halls. There is the usual little eglise and a fair chateau where some of the officers are billeted. No cafe — only a tiny one-room store car- rying not much of anything. The Bn. is pretty well scattered about the town. Bamford has been relieved and Gen. Hale takes Division. NOV. 27. Lts. Gray, Scoville and Way visit from school. Lt. Clegg, former Bn. dentist, rejoins. Four B Co. men hurt when something ex- ploded in fireplace of their billet. Buck may lose sight of one eye. NOV. 28. Thanksgiving Day. We have much to be thankful for. Dinner menu : roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, turnips, peach pie, chocolate pudding, cocoa, beer, cigars and cigarettes. NOV. 29. About a dozen men to hospital with grippe, and Battalion is quarantined. DEC. 1. Word comes that Franklin Allen died in hospital of pneu- monia. DEC. 4. Graff appointed mess sgt., Costello and Zymiski, cooks of C Co. Our long-lost barrack-bags turned up. DEC. 5. Quarantine lifted. Walter Schutz and Major E. Terry Smith came to see us. They are going home to Hartford, and took a lot of messages to relatives. DEC. 7. Bill Tieman gets commission. "Colonel" Woronick leaves us to be an interpreter in Army of Occupation, as he speaks German. DEC. 9. Gus Brzostowicz died in hospital at Montigny. Twenty-five, replacements came from 76th Div. DEC. 10. Battalion turned out to hear Gen. Hale, the new Division Commander, tell what he expects of us. He says we may go into Army of 136 History of The 101st Machine Gux Battalion Occupation; may go to German}- to fight again; or may go home. No doubt he is right. If there is more scrapping we will go to Germany all right enough. Gen. Hale seems to be 0. K. DEC. 11. Trumbull, Tiger, Smith, Alton, Glenny and Pascale return to C Co. Ackley is back and Sam Thornton goes to line as sgt. Neilsen made sgt., McGinn and Eniie Clark corporals, Hutchinson cook. DEC. 14. Battalion went to shoot on range near Nogent. Coleman and Seaver back from hospital. Mail from U. S. tells of Walter Lamkins' death though we never got an official notice. DEC. 16. Armistice prolonged until Jan. 17. DEC. 18. Battalion went out to "brush up" for review to Pres. Wilson on Christmas. DEC. 20. Bill O'Niel transferred to 102d Inf. band. Whit Tieman's twin brother visited him and they had some fun with the gang. You can't tell them apart. DEC. 21. Lt. "Joe Gish" Scoville came back and is assigned to C Co. Clegg gets some more "inside information" and says we leave for home about Jan. 1. He is a well-informed dentist. One of the replacements got the mumps and twenty-five of them are now in quarantine. Some of us have been to Chaumont, "Grand Headquarters", and seen the chateau where Gen. Pershing is "billeted". DEC. 23. The village gets a thorough scinibbing, inside and out, for possible inspection by the President. Order from G. H. Q. that all surplus non-coms must be transferred or reduced to privates. Sgt. Ev Hart back to B Co. from hospital. We are drilling every day, rain or shine — mostly rain. DEC. 24. Christmas Eve celebration! Bill O'Niel wants to transfer back to us. DEC. 25. Christmas. The President didn't visit us, but went to Montigny where he was entertained at Division Hqrs. This is a decided compliment to the 26th. B Co. bought a lot of young pigs which they had for dinner. DEC. 26. "Father" Williams' "Quad" turned turtle with a load of wood and went into a ditch full of water. "Father" thought the war was on again. Some sgts. and cpls. had to be reduced, being "surplus". DEC. 27. Maj. Lawrence Watres of Scranton, Pa., and formerly with 28th Div., is assigned to command the Battalion. He is O.K. Li. Gray comes back to B Co. DEC. 31. New Years Eve party! History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 137 1919 JAN. 1. New Years! Co. C had some young pigs this time. Big feed! JAN. 4. Another inspection! The Battahon went out into a field at 8.45. Hung arotmd there until 2 p. m., when two colonels and two majors from G. H. Q. showed tip and went over us with a "fine tooth comb". JAN. 6. Speeches of President, Secretary of War and Gen. Pershing read to us at formation. We hold retreat at 4 p. m, dail}^ Range-practice this morning. Good sport. JAN. 9. Gen. Hale says the Di\dsion is going home. Yesterday some of the officers and non-coms went out to take part in "skeleton" Corps maneuvers. JAN. 13. Turned in machine-guns and pistols yesterday. Three in- spections of kitchens today — Col. Foote from Div. Hqrs., the Major, and Lt. Wainwright. JAN. 14. Two kitchen inspections — the Major and Lt. Gray. JAN. 15. One inspection. Going down! JAN. 16. Two more inspections — the Captain and Lt. Gray. Maj. Watres transferred back to 28th Div. Capt. Myers takes command. JAN. 17. Four kitchen and quarters inspections — Major from Hqrs., Capt. Myers, Lt. Agnew, and Lt. Gray! They will get to know something about us one of these days. JAN. 18. Somebody went to Saacy to buy eggs. After long search found two. Gasolene fire at chateau. Papers say U. S. going "dry"! ! What is the matter ? The war is over now ! JAN. 20. Bill O'Niel gets transfer back to outfit. Have been having daily drills, maneuvers, inspections and calisthenics. Sections and platoons play "gentlemen's football" almost every afternoon. It is too wet and muddy for the regular article, but we enjoy the games. JAN. 22. 3rd Platoon trimmed 2d Platoon of B Co. at baseball yes- terda}^ 3rd Platoon of Co. C gave a good minstrel and vaudeville show in the "Y" shack. Joe Clark and Joe Comerford had important parts. JAN. 23. Ruff Allen, Berlin, Hen Brown, Durston, Hansel, Heymann and Dute Parker came back from officer's school. They were not given commissions owing to armistice. 1900 francs were collected in the outfit to help two poor families here. JAN. 25. At 11.30 A. M. the Battalion was inspected in full marching 138 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion order by Gen. Hale. He looked over every man, and then we passed in review by company front in quick-tiinc, and then in double-time. There was no criticism. JAN. 26. 101st Engrs. gave us a show at the "Y". JAN. 27. Last night had first real snow of the year — about two inches. Snowball fight. JAN. 31. Said good-bye to Louvieres at 5.30, and marched over to Foulain where we are to entrain for the Le Mans Area. Train did not back in until 10.30, so we hung around the station and built fires to keep warm. Our train pulled out at 1 a. m. FEB. 1. Passed a big wreck which occurred a day or two ago. Heard several of our Division were killed, — the irony of fate! Saw many German R. R. cars which are part of the rolling-stock turned over according to terms of the armistice. FEB. 2. Traveled all day and night. It was cold. At 6.30 p. m. ar- rived at Aubigny where the tnicks and kitchens were unloaded. The Bat- talion went on to Mayet, and unloaded at 7. Nash drove his "Spad" into a ditch and it turned turtle. "Father" Williams and Gould were with him. A drum of gasolene flew over Gould's head, and the "Spad" was a total wreck, though none of the crew were hurt. A few more such events and "Father" will be a nervous wreck ! The kitchens arrived at Mansigne before the rest of the Battalion, and had hot coffee ready when they got in about 11.30 after a long hike over froin Mayet. FEB. 3. The outfit was billeted as well as possible during the night. The Battalion is spread all over town — a radius of a mile and a half. The platoons are kept pretty well together. Part of C Co. is in an outlying farm, and part of B Co. has taken possession of an erstwhile beer-garden and dance hall, where they have their "ticks"* on the floor and in a little gallery running around the inside. The Battalion has never been so scat- tered before, and the C. O. is not very well satisfied with the billets. He may try to get us moved to another town where there is more room. The 102d M. G. Bn. is in the "business section" of the town. FEB. 7. B Co. had competitive squad drill and a long hike in the rain this A. M. Capt. Mills is in command of B Co. and Lt. Comey is shifted to Bn. Adjutant. Sam Thornton came back from hospital. FEB. 11. Wood is very scarce — even the farmers do not want to sell it. Some of our cars have been sent out, and came back without being able to buy any. Rifles have been issued for drill purposes and to give us some- * Bed-sacks filled with straw. History or The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 139 thing to do beside "squads east and west". Furloughs are "on" again, and we have choice of three days in Paris, or a week in a regular leave area. At the latter your way is paid, but you go "on your own" if you pick Paris. A school for illiterates has been started by the Chaplain and some of the officers. FEB. 15. Because of shortage of transportation two saddle-horses, two mules and a wagon have been issued the Battalion. FEB. 18. Bracken and Johnson back from a three-day trip to Paris after having been away six days! A colonel and major of this Area made an inspection which seemed to satisfy them. C Co.'s kitchen was so full of smoke they couldn't see it anyway, and didn't care to stay in there long. There was a sentry on duty inside, and the colonel asked if he was trying to commit suicide. Cal Ward in from hospital. FEB. 19. The outfit went over to Eccomoy, Div. Hqrs. town, to get in the Divisional review by Gen. Pershing. It was a magnificent sight. The General passed up and down the long lines and looked at every man. He stopped and had a "friendly chat" with Sgt. Chandler. He walked so fast that he had his staft' who were following gasping for breath. It was funny to see them sloshing through the mud, and their boots did not stay shiny long. Someone, probably Chandler, says Pershing is the best looking soldier in the A. E. F. As he passed by, he said to one of our officers, "That is a fine looking outfit. Captain." The gang got back at 6.45 tired, wet, and hungry; but the show was worth it. Officially notified of death of Lt. Cupples and Walter Lamkins. FEB. 20. No calls today in order to give the boys a rest after yester- day. FEB. 21. B Co. put on a show in the school-house last night. Quite a success. Chandler got a Poilu imiform, and sang "Madeloii" in French, to the great delight of the French civilians in the audience. Lt. Clegg, dressed as a "wop", did some fine playing and imitations on his violin. Sgt. Ed Harrington was an attractive school teacher until his wig fell off. The wig, incidentally, was a switch direct from the coiffure of one of the lady storekeepers who lent it for the occasion. Decator clogged, Evan Gott sang, and Blume did a funny "hula-hula" dance in his underclothes and a straw skirt. B Co.'s famous octette did some good singing, the string trio held forth, and "Com Willy" Parker contributed largely to the suc- cess of the occasion. Good-natured hits were made at officers and men regardless. Bob Skinner composed most of the lyrics; and the show was coached by Lt. Wainwright. The war on cooties keeps up, as there are 1. B Company sordoaiits ai I .i.in nr,> _■ \\ im.r at i..u\h'i,.- ., Ispicai imifi Kiicheii. t. A C Company liillct cntianco at Loiiviercs. .5. "The Beer Garden" — billet of 1st Platoon. B Com- pany, (i. H Company kitolien at Mansigne. 7. "Hommes 40, Cheveaux 8" — bound for Brest. 8. Weloome-boat of Welfare .\ssoeiation — Boston. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 141 still a few hardy ones left here and there. There has been much platoon drill competition, getting ready for a Division tournament. The 2d Platoon of B Co. beat out the 3rd, owing to superior skill in the manual of arms, but the 3rd Platoon claim they can march better. This p. m. B Co.'s 2d Platoon defeated one from C Co. in competition. FEB. 22. Washington's Birthday and no drill. Good show by our old A Co. (now D, 102d M. G. Bn.) in evening. FEB. 23. vSailing list of A. E. F. published and 2Gth is to go — probably early in April. FEB. 24. Mess Sgt. Bannister of B Co. goes to school in England. FEB. 25. About eight men left to take courses of study at French universities. 2d Platoon, B Co., lost competition with one from 102d M. G. Bn., but a sc^uad of C Co. beat them in a squad drill. FEB. 28. A ntimber of officers and men have been given forty-eight hour passes to visit Tours, a large city near by. Others are going and com- ing on leaves. MARCH 1. Chaplain Taggart and Lt. Nesbit leave. Clegg promoted to captain. MARCH 3. Major Westbrook arrives and takes command of Bat- talion. Great rejoicing to get him back, and to know we will go home under one of our own officers. MARCH 8. Farmers have started plowing, and our "agents" are starting baseball. Someone discovered a farm where they sell good cider. It is a popular place in the long evenings. MARCH 11. Pip Johnson gives a party in his billet at which Zeke Ackley and Pop Glenny shine. MARCH 12. B and C have an athletic meet and baseball game and C Co. wins both. Eggs are now 90c a dozen. MARCH 15. Leaves are called off. We hear some of our units start for the coast in a few days. Full field-inspection this a. m. MARCH 17. Lt. Sandberg transferred from B to C. Yesterday turned in rifles. Co. C team lost to Co. A, 102d M. G. Bn., at baseball. Lt. Gilbert Shepard rejoins B Co. MARCH 18. Battalion marched six kilometers to a big field where there was a showdown inspection of kits by S.O.S. officers. All the other machine-gun outfits of the Division were there. We were praised by 142 I^isTORV OF Till. 101 sr Maciiim. Gun Battalion the inspcctinj; officers for the comijlclencss of our kits and the orderly way in whieh they were laid out on the j^round. They said we had the best showing on the field. MARCH 20. B Co. played baseball with A Co., 102d M. G. Bn., and score was 12-10 in favor of A Co. when game called account rain. Haskell Mavo, Vermont l)o\- in Hqrs. Co., died in hospital. Five men from each company sent to Le Mans to rei^resent the Battalion at the dedica- tion of a Y. M. C. A. named the "YD Hut". Acklcy got a little souvenir. MARCH 22. Barraek-bags turned in, and i)assenger lists being made out in Bn. orderlx-room. Peter Piekel and Da\-e Childers back to C Co. MARCH 24. The "Duds" or our "3rd lieutenants" received their commissions. Breakfast at 5.45, after which rolled packs and boarded trucks at 9. Off to Eccomoy where we entrain at 12.30 in American box- cars. Train consists of forty-eight cars with kitchen car attached. Div. Hqrs., Hqrs. Troop and M. P. outfits with us. MARCH 25. Arrived Brest at 7.30 a. m. Detrained and marched over to a big kitclien where they gave us breakfast, after which we marched out to the famous camp, Pontcnezen. The baggage was left behind at the harbor docks in charge of a detail. Were put in tents having cots and a small stove, and issued two blankets in addition to the three we carried, so slept wami. Fed at one of the kitchens where the system is wonderful. The sergeant in charge says they can feed 2,000 men in twenty-one minutes. We have to furnish a detail of one cook and six K. P.'s every twel\-e hours. MARCH 26. Cootie inspection and bath. Same efficient system — now vou're in and now you're out — presto! MARCl I 27. Dr. Hesselgrave and Miss Gary here — .say they go home on our shi]). Inspection of kits with usual rai)idily. Hought Bulkeley comes back to outfit. A detail of 200 men goes to docks tonight. MARCH 28. Detail back at 5 a. m. They have been doing everything, from piling wood to digging graves. Fred Wa\- arri\'es. Orders come at 11 A. M. that we embark at 1 p. m. — then countennanded. Changed our French money for American — it seems queer to handle greenbacks again, that is, to those who have enough francs to make one dollar. MARCH 29. Rain to beat the band, later turning to snow. Another detail of 75 men sent out. MARCH 30. Up at 4.30. Left c-amj) at 8, and marched to docks at Brest. American Red Cross women there gave each man a pair of socks full of things such as cookies, chocolate, chewing-gum, cards, and tobacco. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 143 Soon shook the mud of France from our feet — or part of the mud — and boarded a Hghter which took us out into the harbor where we chmbed aboard U. S. S. Agamemnon. Hooray! ! Found 102d Inf. and artillery- troops on board. Soldiers, 5,800, crew, 1,090, making total of 6,890 persons aboard. Were assigned to wire bunks in tiers five deep. No room to stretch. MARCH 31. At 12.45 we steamed out of harbor, passing U. S. S. Mongolia still at anchor. She has part of our Division aboard. At 2.30 we had OUT last sight of France, and were headed for Boston. Sea smooth and a "gob" says we ought to have a good trip provided we don't hit a mine or an iceberg ! Beans for supper. APRIL 1. A bit rotigh and some are actively sick. 102d Band gives concert on deck. Movies below. APRIL 3. Box-fighting between soldiers and sailors in which Army takes five out of six matches. Band concert. Sea calm. APRIL 4. Ran into storm. Ship is heaving and so are some of the boys. Passed a Belgian relief-ship. APRIL 5. Making about 430 miles a day. The Aquitania passed us for New York. We have to wait a long time in mess line, and have a reg- ular route to travel in order to get to the galley. APRIL 6. "Flu" breaks out. APRIL 7. Heavy fog, and speed much reduced. At 11 a. m. six sub- chasers show up and form three on each side, as an escort of honor. They threw oranges and apples at us. At noon fog lifted somewhat, and we saw a light-vessel which shrieked a welcome. Next, the shore of the good old U. S. hove in sight. Hooray! Boats of all sizes began to come out of harbor with whistles blowing and crowded decks. As we entered Boston harbor there was an uproar. Every whistle on land and water was tied down. The welcome-home boats crowded as close as they could get. Ci- vilians cheering, waving, and throwing all kinds of things to eat at us. We soon saw a little steamer with a huge sign "Welcome 101st Machine Gun Battalion", and our hearts jumped into our throats for we knew that the dearest people in all the world were aboard her. We could make out the familiar faces of our loved ones and made frantic efiforts to let them see us, but it must have been hard to find anyone in that mass of olive-drab. From one boat some one shouted through a megaphone, "Is Murphy on board"? — a thousand voices answered "Yes"! A vessel let loose hundreds of red, white and blue balloons. On the upper deck of the official Boston boat we saw the erect figure of a soldier in olive-drab standing at salute. Some- ]()4lh Artillery Band Serenading Battalion at Marre, IMcuse-Argonne, November, 1918 101st Maehine Gun Battalion Entertains Elsie Janis and mother at Bois de la Relianne near "The Swamp" — Toul June, lillS History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 145 body yelled, "There's the 'Old Man'," and a roar went up from our decks that might have been heard in France. Sure enough, it was our own be- loved Commander, Major General Clarence R. Edwards. His Y.D.'s went wild at the mere sight of him, and more than one husky, war-hardened doughboy's eyes were glistening, and not one of them cared who knew it, either. Ever since he had been taken from us at Verdun we had not ceased to miss him, and none had ever taken the place he holds in the hearts of the officers and men of the Yankee Division. It was his spirit which led us on until the final shot was fired. He made the Yankee Division what it was — a first-class fighting machine with an esprit de corps equal to that of any division in the A. E. F. Thousands of cheering people lined the shore and docks, and everywhere were huge welcome signs. Soon we were tied up, and some of the men who had relatives on the pier were allowed to go down the gang-plank for a moment's meeting. Major Bulkeley was there in "civics" and received a welcome from his men who got ashore. APRIL 8. Slept aboard last night. Up at 4 a. m. Disembarked at 8. Formed in the train-shed from which all civilians had been excluded. The Y. M.' C. A., K. of C, and Jewish Welfare gave out more good things to eat. The Salvation Army was sending telegrams to home-folks at its own expense, and the Red Cross passed out coffee and rolls. At 11 we entrained, and then began a triumphal journey to Camp Devens. Everywhere along the tracks were crowds waving their hands as we rushed by. The thing that pleased us most was the groups of school kids cheering their little heads off. They brought back memories of the little French friends we had left behind. At one o'clock we arrived at Camp Devens and went into steain-heated and electric-lighted barracks which seemed to us the height of luxury. APRIL 9. Many relatives and friends came crowding in to see us and many were the happy reunions. But we could not forget those who did not come home with us. APRIL 10. Passes were given out, and those who lived not too far off were allowed to go home for 72 hours. This was worked by relays. APRIL 16. Capt. Moore, Bn. surgeon, and Lt. Cassidy have gone home for discharge. Hear that David Blowers, of C Co., died in hospital- A number of men, having contracted "flu", went to hospital from the boat. APRIL 19. Lts. Tecgarden and Nesbit of C Co., and Fontaine of B Co., have gone, and our Southerners and Westerners have been sent off to be discharged from other camps nearer their homes. 146 History ov Tiik lOIsi M aciiink (Ux Battalion APRIL 22. Divisional rc\-itnv, and inan\- N'isilors in cam]) to see it. A wonderful sight. Gen. Edwards awards a lot of deeorations. Our llags are decorated with hattle-streanu^rs on whieh are priiUed the names of all our fights. APRIL 21. Dr. Miel in eanij^ yesterday. Lc-ft eamp at T.oO .v. M. and arrived for parade in Boston at 10. Billeted in Iltnlieultural Hall and turned loose until midnight . APRH> 25. Clear and eold. Formed u]) for parade. Doe Powell sIiowchI u]). Parade started at one o'clock. Boston was a glorious sight with its mass of decorations and cheering throtigs. It was some ovation. The sailors of the Ai^amcDiiion sa\- Boston outdid New York's celebration when ihev brought in the 27th Diw The parade was over at 3.45 and wc got back to De\-ens at 7.15. ( )ur Welfare Asso. had a section in the stands. APRIL 20. Someone hid the bugles and there was no reveille. APRIL 29. Vp at 4.;>(). I'onned at (i.oO and went over to a building where we were handed our disc-harges. (u)od-bye to the Anny! Home after twenty-one months in aeti\-c> scM-\-iee for most of us I APRIL 80. Great parade in Hartford along with 102d Inf. State Guard and all militarx' out tits in town form escort of honor. Hartford gives us reception we will ne\er forget. At the Capitol building we turned over our colors to be kept by the State. Major Westbrook takes our flag in. The citv gave ah service men a hnu-lu'on in the drill-shed of the Broad Street Annor\-. The final feature for ns was the reception and dance given for us at the High School Auditorium by our own Welfare Association. This was a great sviccess and made a fitting end of a "perfect da>'". We have already begun to wonder how we will manage to settle down to civilian life. Bugler, sound taps! Verdun October, 191 8 Bv Lifiilciiaiit Harold Aiiiorv Narrow streets and empty houses, Windows minus every pane, Yawning cellars flanked by wrecka.c:e Mark the spot where some were slain. Crazy stovepipes through the sidewalks From the dugouts far below Elbowed into bygone parlors, That the smoke might nex'er show. Shattered signs of bygone business, Mas^asins, est a m iiicts. Let you know in shell-torn letters What they were in other days. Narrow streets and em])ty houses. Soldiers grouped in two's and three's, Not a sign of a civilian — War has little need of these. So I wandered through the eit>- And I slowly climbed the hill. Saw the broken old cathedral With its altars standing still, And I wondered, as I saw it, When this world-wide war is done, If the French will have the courage To come back to old Verdun. Then I thought of Vaux and Douamont, Of the famous contrc-attaqucs. When the French rose up in frenzy. Driving all the Prussians back. Of the fighting 'round the city. Of the biood poured out for France, Of the glory of those poilus Who took part in that advance. Then I knew they'd have the courage To restore that shattered place. To rebuild the ruined dwellings, Lift quick hands and cheerful facc^ The spirit which they showed at Douamont Would rebuild them one by one — Then the French would come in triumi)h Once again to old Verdun. 148 History of Tin: 101 st Machine Gun Battalion Li. vS. Transport Agamemnon Entering Boston Harbor with 101st M. G. Bn., 102d Infantry and part of 103rd Infantry and 101st Field Artillery. April 7, 1919. .■*— .r.*:^^^ Review of 2()tli Division at Cam]) Devens, A])ril 22, 1919. An Old Billet Town Revisited By Hudson Hawley I hope Bill Buck, that crabbed old New England supply sergeant, reads this piece. I hope Christy, our equally crabbed top, otherwise known as the Melancholy Dane, reads it too. I hope that wicked little Harry Bracken, our compn'y clerk, reads it — if he can read better by now than when he used to make up payrolls. For the orderly-room which was the receptacle for the language and tobacco juice of that trio during the dreary winter of 1917-1918, has been the scene of a wedding feast. Yes-sir; and a classy one at that! I visited that old orderly-room — orderly only in Army parlance, save before Skipper Myers' Saturday in- spections — not so very long ago. And in front of the cupboard where that little cache of private stock was kept, there was a great long table, just groaning under its weight of bottled beer. Over in the comer, where Brack used to keep that dusty pile of non-up- to-date service records, was another table, loaded down with gigantic hams. Over in the other comer, where Bill used to putter about among his cloth- ing slips and keep his extra shoelaces, was still another table, heaped with loaves of bread and fragrant Vosges cheeses. The mantelpiece, once adorned with nothing more ornamental than the Field Service Regulations, Young's Manual of Military Urology, and the I. D. R., bore bottles of real cham- pagne, for the special invites. Real board benches took the place of the broken boxes and crates that Christy and Brack used to use for chairs when they didn't need 'em for kindling. The bedroom off to the side, shared by Bill and Jack O'Neil (though how that latter mere duty sergeant worked in on the graft has always been a mystery), was transformed into a cloakroom for the expected guests, but also harbored a colossal keg of rouge, in case the beer and champagne should give out in the midst of the revels. Gone were the straw mattresses, the slatted cots, from the middle of the room, and gone the tin hats and gas masks from the wall. No mess gear stood on the broad stone window- sills; in its place were vases full of artificial flowers. As I looked at it, I couldn't help laughing to think of Bill's repeated threat of, "Well, Jack, b'jee, it's damn near time we started to p'lice up this place." For the lair of Bill and Jack has been policed up at last. The reason for all this policing and feasting, I found out on my arrival, was the marriage, to be held on the following day, of Claudia, daughter of M. Mathieu, the mayor, and a recently repatriated poilu, who owned and 150 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion worked the neighborin<^ farm. It was to be a state wedding, a ehureh wed- ding, one of the social cxxMits of the town. The town in question, it may be added here (that really ought to have been up in the lead) , is Mont-les-Neuf- chateau; but it might be any other town in the Vosges or Haute-Marne, for all its looks and its wedding. All France seems to have the marrying mania now; the photographers' show windows are full of pictures of stem looking ex-poUu bridegrooins in white gloves and obviously rented black suits, and very self-conscious looking brides in heirloom \'eils and things. The niairies are doing a land office business, and the cures, poor men, are nearly out of breath trying to bless all the couples that come before them. It seems that Friend Poilu, before he put that crazy pack on his back, slung those two or three canteens across his carcass, superimposed several musettes and grabbed his rusty old fusil, promised that if and when he came back he would suvemcnt marry Paulette or Jacqueline or Rose-Marie. And now, with demobilization going on apace except for the very recent classes, he is making as good on his word as he made good at the front. Claudia was being married then, but that little family triviality didn't prevent my good friend and foiTner landlord, M. Mathieu, from shuffling in from the redolent barn adjoining his house, and greeting me like a long lost brother. Carefully slipping his aged feet out of his sabots at the door step, he led me in, sat me dow^n at the kitchen table in front of that mammoth fireplace, and fairly beamed appreciation of the call. Then, all of a sudden, he got up. and went into the adjoining bedroom, produced a wicked looking whitish bottle from the bottom of the old carven armoire, and, putting two glasses on the table, proceeded to pour out some of the classiest eau de vie de mirabelle that ever a white man inserted into his face. "C'est ton, ncst-cc pasi'" he grinned "Nothing like that do you buy in the shops these days ! It is onh' that which one makes oneself — and keeps — that is worth anything." " There is nothing like that at all in the United States," I told him "not in the shops, nor the cafes, at any rate." "Yes, I have heard that," he admitted, "but then, you have your wine and beer, is it not so'" "Not even that," I assured him. "Everything — tous — is defendu!'' For answer he waved his old meerschaum pipe over his head. " Mon Dieul" he exclaimed, "As bad as that? What will the boys of your Divi- sion do ? What will they do ? " "From the letters I get from them," I infonncd him. "most of them are are planning to come back to France and visit. Probably many of them will be here in the spring." "That is so," he rejoined. "I have had a letter from your Major, say- History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 151 ing he would try to be back and visit in the printemps. But I did not know it was for that ! ' ' "Oh for that and for other reasons too," I hastened to assure him. I didn't want to give the Major too much of a black eye, even if he did confine me to the village for a good six weeks for taking an AWOL up to Nancy. But I want to warn Major Jim that, when he does come back, there will be much less eau de vie dc mirahelle in Maire Mathieu's front bedroom. I made my call a fairly protracted one. It was awfully cold that day .... We talked of French politics, discussing the makeup of the new cham- ber. "The men we have in there, at least that we sent from this section, are not really republicans," he told me, "not perhaps the kind that we cidtivat- eurs would have chosen ordinarily. But it may be that they will govern us even better than the anciens. Anyway, let us hope so. " I was re-elected maire, as a part of it all. It is not grande chose, but still there is plenty of work in it. But it will never be as hard as it was in 1914, when the Boches were within 30 or 40 kilometers of us to the north and east. Then some of our people wanted to go away, fearing the Boche was coming; but I advised them not to. And sure enough, then came de Castelnau's defense of the Grande Couronne, and the Mame, and the Boche never came at all." He paused to light his old pipe. Then, "Tell me," he asked, "what be- came of Vcscoiiade of yours that was in the room up yonder?" I told him how three of the squad, little Billy, the Duke, and Paul had all been stmck and killed by the same shell in that wood above Bclleau, in the July days of 1918; how Jack Stoddard, the most comical one (next to little Billy) had been wounded, but had gone back to the lines again; how the other, Jack Hussey, httle Billy's particular bunk-mate, had been more badly wounded and went back to the States long before the outfit ; how le caporal Charles had become sergent, and would have been sous-lieutenant but for the Armistice; and how the little one, I'italien, had been transferred to another outfit and we had not heard from him. All of which seemed to interest the old gentleman mightily, and his smeared corduroy vest heaved with mirth as he reminisced over that mess-kit chicken and champagne supper that the squad staged on New Year's Eve, 1918. "They were bons gargonsj' he admitted, "and we were ires content to have them chez nous. All the rest of my people will tell you so, too. They speak of them often when I go out among them." At this point Mme. Mathieu clumped in in sabots, wearing that same old handkerchief over her head and the same old shawl that she used to wear when we went down to borrow her saw to wrestle with that refractory green wood that was issued in such meager quantities for billet heating. 152 History of Tin. IOIst Machine Gun Battalion She wa? just as cordial as slic was in the old da\'s, just as solicitous after news from "her outfit" as her husl)and, and didn't seem to have grown a bit older — I doubt if she could. Then Claudia clumped up, hale and hearty and red-cheeked as ain- peasant girl that Rosa Bonheur ever used for a model, and later llu' bridegroom-elect, a tall rangy party with a heavv moustache and a bit of a limp. Soon the rest of the family clustered around, and we were right in the midst of a real old-fashioned reunion. But the older scMi, Jacques, of whom they were all so i)rou(l, with his Croix de Guerre and Medaille Militaire and all the rest, was far away — still up at Chalons, S. O. vS.-ing it, his temi of service not being ov'er. As this was very, very late in 1919 I commend it to the consideration of some of our l)rcthren of the Division, who were sore as hell because they got out of uniform as late as last Ai)ril. I found out that the first residence of the sciuad, a dungeon-like room in an cU of the house, which had to be reached b\- a very rickety stairway going u]) I he outside wall, and on which Rick Gowen darn near broke his neck one dark night, and that Alex Zymiski always had trouble in nego- tiating, had been definitely closed to boarders, military or otherwise. They were using it for a storeroom, it seems, which the>- ought to have used it for, instead of wishing us into it in the first place. Our second billet, the decent one, that is, seemed to be occui)ied by a \'oung married coui)le. I refrained froin trying to visit my old haunts, and locating the exact spot where m>' barracks bag lay, between Jack Stoddard's bunk and mine. I ha\-e a pecu- liar affection for that spot, because the old bottle of the in(lis])ensil)lc was always concealed there during the looey's morning inspection. The mayor further told me he was going to buy C Comi)any's old mess- shack, lying out in one of the fields, and use it as a barn for his croijs. Other fanners in the neighljorhood had bought some of the others for allied uses, and more were cxi^ccted to come in. But nobody yet has bid in for the showerbalhs, i)ul uj) by ourseh'cs just a week before we left so that we didn't get an\- use of them, nor for those awful red barracks which, as I recall. Company A of the 101st Engineers perpetrated on the Vosges land- scape. We of C were certainly in luck that tho.se edifices were wished otl onto B Company, even though we had to take as our .share of the O. 1). man's burden "The Cave of the Winds," located just abo\-e our orderl\- room, and thoroughl\- li\-ing up to that title and its other, which was "The Winter Palace." I bid the mayor and his famil\- goodljye for a time, and wandered out along the road that leads by one of those alluring fountains marked: "This water is the best available, but UNSAFE." I shook my fist and thumbed my nose at that fountain. Many a time History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 153 and oft have I had to dra*^ a G. I. can awa}' from our mess-shack, a good 200, yards away, there and back, for enough water to boil the spuds or dilute the sUuti. Finally, though, we stole a sled from B Company, and dragged the G. I. cans and the No. 56 boilers around on that. My objective was the old mule-shacks over in the meadows to the west of the little town. The fresh young engineer just out of Boston Tech who designed them had never taken the measure of a mule when extended, so the narrow pathway between the two rows of stalls permitted the mules to play hoof ping-pong with whomever was walking No. 4 post, — and No. 4 was expected to patrol that lane between those two rows of flying sharp- shod feet for two hours at a crack, "observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing." I remember how we petitioned Whit Tieman, the Battalion supply sergeant, to issue football pants to the guard, for the exclusive use of No. 4, but that matter-of-fact individual found there was no such article in the Q. M.'s sales catalogue. Consequently, w^e had to stuff our trou with sweaters, mufflers and wristlets whenever we took over the mule-shack patrol. And even then, No. 4, after being relieved, never cared much about sitting around the guardhouse. He'd relieve No. 1 and stand out in front of there, all the rest of the night — just to be able to stand. But the mule-shacks are gone. Though the rains of two years have washed the spot on which they stood, yet is the grass still withered and sere, and the ground torn by the scraping of many hoofs. It is a sad, sad sight, the field about there. Wire, and empty clips, msty nails, parts of boxes, clutter up all the surrounding hillside. The old shacks have evi- dently gone the wa\^ of all kindling, and the old mules have probably gone back to their castles in Spain. I wondered, as I stood there, what had be- come of the pair that were named after our two Plattsburgers. I took a turn north from the mule-shacks, and followed the short-cut that leads to the church and the mairie and what we knew as Headquarters Square. The church of Mont, if not the homeliest and coldest in France, is all of a piece with those square-rigged, uncompromising churches that dot all the northern provinces of France. On entering, I found that St. Nicholas was still on guard, even though the Battalion wasn't, and St. Lawrence was still going through his perpetual martyrdom in oils, though ]jla\-ing to an empty house. And those generous Christmas and New Year's contribu- tions of our faithful — and our muster roll reading like the social register of the F. I. F.'s — have evidently gone to the poor of the parish. Certainly not a sou of them has been blown in on permanent improvements. Behind the church I hunted round for the diggings of M. le Cure, a wizened little man who preached sermons that sounded like patriotic speeches, and who alwa>'s prayed loud and long for his American tran- 154 History of Tjie 101st Machine Gun Battalion sicnt parishioners. But the ])urple-ehccked old lady who keeps house for the holy man infonncd me that he had gone to a neighboring hamlet, Pagny, she thought, to visit the sick or to bury the dead. As Pagny is a good eight kilometers over the Cote de what's-its-name, from which we used to drag down the firewood, I decided not to give chase, so, leaving my salutations tres (listiiii^iiccs for the good ]3riest, I sallied forth into Head- quarters Square. But Battalion H. 0., to your left as you face the church, is boarded up, apparently for keeps. Its worn stone steps no longer echo and re-echo to the clank of the Major's spurs (yes he wore 'em) and the hobnails of or- derlies. The cobblestones adjacent no longer bear the brunt of snorting sidecars and that dinky little ambulance which, for months on end, was all the motor transportation we had. Its main use seemed to be to take a non- French-speaking mess sergeant around by day for a tour of the outlying farms, and to bring the officers back from the Lafayette Club in Neuf- chateau on Saturday nights. Oh, yes, come to think of it, it once was used for an enlisted men's joy-ride; but soon after, a number of our brethren were seen going around with bare patches between their right elbows and shoulders, and also putting in a belated appearance on K. P. Later, though, when the Major got that Ford for his own use — But I digress. I promised Pip Johnston and Brack I wouldn't give 'em away. As, back in Massachusetts, one of 'em is working for the Major now, I'd better be careful. As I recall, he swore he'd lynch the guy that did it. I was startled to hear a window shutter come banging open on the right side of the square, and to see a lady's head protruding into the dank autumn atmosphere. It turned out to be Mme. Llnstitutrice, who smiled down a cheery greeting and said she was sorry she'd got to keep the urchins in school till 4 o'clock, but after that would I come up and take tea with her and her husband. I thanked her, but told her it was getting dark, and I had got to make my way back to the big town on foot, so I had better be on my way by 4. "If you sec or write to any of the officers to whom I taught French," she asked me, in saying good-bye, "please remember me to them." As I am not apt to see them for some time to come, the remembrances are hereby forwarded, for the information and guidance of all concerned. Having had about enough of Church, State, Education and the Mili- tary, I crossed the road to look over the Department of Amusements. It begins with the Cafe du Centre at the top of the hill, then jumps to the Cafe Mage about half-wa\- down, and ends with the Cafe Courtois, run by One-E^^ed Pete, the robber, at the bottom of the rue which breasts the in- cline. Deciding to take them on in chronological order, I started into the History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 155 Centre. It was the nearest, and anyway, the effect of that eau de vie de mirabelle was beginning to wear off. Bare, dark, and dead was the Centre's big front room, damp and musty and forlorn. I have seen two whole platoons holding forth in that room on a payday night, with a sprinkling of poilus, aged farmers and now and then a sauntering guard (that was before the days of organized M. P.'s), thrown in for seasoning. The picture of Papa Joffre and the sollenel engrav- ing of Rouget de ITsle singing the Marseillaise — the "Custer's Last Stand" of French cafes, — smuged and disconsolate, looked hstlcssly down from the walls. Nothing daunted, I pushed on through the encircling gloom to the inner sanctuary, where star customers alone were served, and where some- times, when the picking was good, "oofs frites" could be had, if you brought your own bread. "Tante" was there, and recognized me at once. "Tante" is so-called because she is the aunt of Marie-Louise, the dark-eyed Diana who, aided by her 12-year-old cousin Marcel, played Madelon to the thirsty machine- gunners. " Tiens!" she whistled — Tante has a hair-lip — "one of our Ameri- cans! Good-day, good-day! Comment ga va?'' I told her it went very well, asked after her health in turn, and shook the lean old hand which she offered me. Then, naturally, I inquired: "And what has become of Marie-Louise?" "She has gone back to Paris, to live with her parents," she told me. (Thunder, and I had only left Paris four days before ! Always my luck !) . "You know, she only came down to help me while the war was on, while the Americans were here. Then, as you know, it was ires mouvemente. Now no one seems to drink any more." I passed over in silence that touching tribute to my Battalion's re- doubtable capacity. Tante sighed, and went on: "You may have heard, Marie-Louise married a sergeant who was in the bakery school down at Neufchateau." I hadn't, and was duly shocked. " Tons les jours she expects word from him, but he has sailed, evidemment, for la-bas, and no letter comes. The poor one, she does not know what to do." " It is damage," I assured her, in my most downright French. And it is; any guy who would run off and leave a girl as nice as Marie-Louise is a skunk — so there! Ask any member of Cos. B, C and D, 101st M. G. Bn., A. E. F., and the detachments appertaining thereto. If that sergeant ever shows up around Hartford or New Haven way, he will have to do some tall explaining. But shucks! I forgot to ask Tante for his name. Anyway probably she can't pronounce it, so what's the use? Then, just as I was casting about to change the subject, Tante asked 156 IIisioRV OF 'rill'. lOlsr Maciiixk Gi\ Battalion mc if I wouldn't ha\-c' a drink. I ne\-cr refuse a lady, of course, and scjon was on the outside of the major ])ortion of a rlium chaud. It gets awfully cold in the Vosges along in the afternoon, you know. As I was preparing to take another whack at the delectable, in came Cirandmere, that nice old lady with a wrinkled skin like a frost-bitten apple, one of those rare old Lorraine lace caps over her head, her spectacles perched on her brow, just as of yore. It took her some time to adjust that double periscoi)e so as to take me in and place me — Grandmere's sight is two years older than when she used to rock with mirth over in the chimney comer, while Joe Clark recited "The Shooting of Dan Magrue" — but once she got the range and elevation, she opened-three-divisions-right of ancient yellow teeth, and beamed a wel- come on me. "Where is the lit lie one who used to sing so well'" she inquired. Off- hand, I su])i)()sed she meant Johnny Costello, who was ])romoted from mule- shoer to cook after the annistice, and farried doughnuts, world without end, \\r\\\\ his last day in the service. Anyway, if it wasn't Johnny she was after meanin', I assiuvd her that he carried himself ver\- well. The only other little one who used to sing at all well was myself, if I do say it. I was to l)e identified in another fashion than that, it appears. Just then in walked Marcel, now a strapjjing youth of 14. rounded out in every wav and far too big to roughhouse with impunity, as we used to when he came sidling up to the old b(\ard benches in the outer room. Marcel, who was all in O. D., owrseas hat (earlier model) weirdly wound s])irals and all, didn't recognize me at ilrst, and his " hoii-joiir, m'sicit' " was a bit formal. But Tante supplied thc^ blank l)y remarking, " riciis. mo)i petit: is it that \-ou do not recognize the Dioiisicitr who alwaws used to ask for whisky and hot water?" Then Marcel brightened up percept i])l\-, knew he was facing no stranger, and before I left was even chumm\', though a bit sh}-. My next port of call was the Mage, but as Old Man Mage has ap- parently not bathed since the outfit left, and his ceilings arc low and his doors tight-shiU and his windows ditto and his stox'c red-hot, I stayed just long enouth to let him do the honors, which, in marked contrast to his fomier habits, he most certainly did. His am])le lad_\--fair came beaming and bustling out of the kitchen to greet me, wanted nie to stay the night, and make myself at home; but no. Feeling the need of a little air, I made for the third and last port of call, the Court ois only to find it in the hands of strangers. One-Eyed Pete, whose real name was Pierre Courtois, had gone. The latter-day proprietress infomied me that he was in Paris. If he is. it is billions to l)uckwheats he is a ])ractising Ai)ache. I hoi)e I don't meet him there. It was getting dark and cold and raw wlien 1 got out on the road again, History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 157 and my decision to hike it back over the old road to the Big Town in the gathering drizzle that was just beginning to develop into a good husky rain, shrunk quite a little in its determination. Fortunately, the baker's wagon, having delivered its daily dole of horse-shoe shaped loaves to the Httle village, was on the point of starting back again to Neufchateau, and for a franc I got a seat on the box. Maire Mathieu, who was puttering around to see about the bread for the wedding, which was to come off on the morrow, was on hand to wave me farewell. '' Presentez mes sentiments les plus cord i ales a tons vos amis de rAmerique," he called after me. I assured him I would remember him to everyone, waved again, and with a mighty ''Gee! Allez-oup-la-!''' from the baker's assistant, we were off. But there was one thing I missed, in that delightful day of hob-nob- bing with old neighbors. Not the cattle who used to come up and jostle us while we were trying to shave by the big fountain in the main square. They were there, even though there were no Yanks to jostle. Not the old ladies industriously beating the dirt out of the linge in the public washing-place. They were there there too, even though their clothes-baskets bore no O.D. shirts,' socks, wool, heavy, nor Red Cross bellybands. No; the one thing I missed was that all the time I was there, not one of my former friends killed a pig out in the street, and let the blood run down the gutter. And a billet town in France where there isn't at least one pig-sticking in a day is a sad billet town indeed ! ']-'k "? ►^ :■> 1 A^ (J r,-\^ya^^y^- *>c-a u Roster April, I 9 19 :\Iajor StillMan F. Westbrook, Commanding HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 1st Lt C. F. Comey, Adjutant 1st Lt C. A. Pellett, Supply Officer 1st Lt Earl Taggart, Chaplain Pvt Icl Atherton, R. E. Sgt Bracken, Harrison C. Pvt Clark. A. F. Wag Clark, F. J. Sgt Maj Dennis, R. G. Pvt Folsoni, F. L. Pvt Griswold, P. L. Pvt Henry. H. H. Wag Hull, William Pvt James, D. A. Cook Kipp, J. P. Pvt MacAskill, Malcolm Pvt McDonakl, Donald Wag McCann, H. E. Menard, W. W. Millard, C. B. Nash, D. O. Pvt Icl Neiburg, S. C. Cpl Newman, Albert Pvt Icl Phillips, J. R. Pvt Pickel, Peter Pvt Robeits, John Wag Smith, H. E. Sgt Maj Smith, U. W. Pvt Turcotte, A. L. Sgt Williams, G. A. Pvt Janet, A. S. Pvt Icl Crompton, H. J. Crossland, E. A. Pvt Denison, E. B. ORDNANCE DETACHMENT .Sgt North, D. M. SANITARY DETACHMENT Capt Luman G. Moore, M. C, Surgeon Pvt Icl IngersoU, C. T. Sgt Icl Kenefick, E. J. Pvt Levin, H. B. Pvt Sullivan, J. W. Sgt Ratenburg, Heibert Pvt Icl Tele&ca, A. W. COMPANY B Capt H. W. Mills 1st Lt P. S. W'ainwright 1st Lt Harold Amory 2d Lt H. L. Fontaine 2d Lt C. G. Shepard Pvt Pvt Pvt Bglr Wag Bglr Cook Pvt Wag Pvt Pvt Wag Pvt Pvt Pvt Pvt Icl Pvt Wag Pvt Pvt Pvt Cook Pvt Pvt Sgt Pvt Pvt Icl Cpl Adkins, G. A. Agrifolio, Louis Anair, C. E. Aninger, F. T. Arnold, W. H. Austin, R. E. Ball, D. T. Ballard, C. C. Bandy, A. W. Barbour, C. T. Baril, A. A. Barlow, A. A. Barratt. G. R. Barrella, Anthony Beach. H. A. Bell, C. A. Bianchi. M. A. Bicknell, L. B. Biddle, Geary Bitner, A. A. Blume, Harry Boedicker, J. J. Bostater, S. P. Bostow, Harry Bourn, B. A. Breeze, John Brewer, T. W. Brickley, H. J. 2d Lt A. S. Gray 2d Lt Houghton Bulkeley 2d Lt F. L. Way Cpl Sgt Pvt Wag Wag Cpl Pvt Pvt Cpl Pvt Pvt Pvt Pvt Wag Sgt Pvt Pvt Pvt Wag Pvt Wag Cpl Pvt Icl Pvt Mech Pvt Icl Ptv Pvt Briggs, Garold Bruemmer, H. J. Bryant, S. J. Buckman, A. S. Burden, William Burnham, G. D. Butler, H. G. Calastro, Antonio Camobell, H. S. Casazza, Gerolamo Cassidy, Leo Cassinelli, Eugenio Cetner, S. D. Champion, E. W. Chandler, H. N. Clapp, F. B. Click, S. R. Combs, A. J. Corcoran, J. J. Icl Crane, W. J. Daniels, L. R. Day, G. M. Dean, L. E. Decator, Martin Dexheimer, M. R. Drager, E. O. Eggleston, L. C. Faikowski, Frank Pvt Icl Pvt Pvt Icl Pvt Pvt Icl Pvt Icl Pvt Pvt Pvt Pvt Icl Pvt Wag Pvt Icl Pvt Wag Pvt Pvt Icl Pvt Pvt Pvt Icl Cpl Cpl Pvt Icl Pvt Pvt Sup Sgt Sgt Cpl Falls, W. S. Ferris, Fred Flottman, William Floyd, J. I. Foley, J. J. Fothergill, J. J. Fought, J. P. Gasinski, Stanislau Gates, S. T. Gladwin, W. H. Golden, C. H. Goodwin, H. R. Gorse, H. J. Gott, Evan Gowdy, E. H. Gray, W. H. Grossklaus. F. Hacker, A. A. Hall, A. G. Hall, G. H. Hall. W. R. Halvorsen. C. _ . Hammerslough, P. H. Harmon. J. J. Harriell, T. L. Harrington, E. V. Hart, E. H. Hart, W. H. F. J. E. 160 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Sgt Lst S^t I'vt I'vt Pvt J'vt Id Cpl Pvt Icl Cpl Pvt Irl Cpl I'vt I'vt I'vt 1(1 \Va« I'vt Pvt Icl Pvt Pvt Icl Pvt 1(1 Wat; Sfit Pvt Pvt Icl Cook Heron. John Hill, C. B. Hodgkiiis, W. C. .lacol), A. H. .larvis. C. H. .Idliiison, Arthur .Iolms(jii, H(>rbort J ones, A. N. Jones, R. L. Jovnt, J. D. Ki'lley, J. T. Kii'vit, William Kingsbury, N. L. Kjellereii. C. A. Lamb, V. DeP. Laiidusky, John Lawson, C. W. Lawson, J. M. Manion, J. F. MaiiniiiK. E. J. Matthews, C. O. Maun. H. J. May, G. L. W. McCann, A. E. McVeigh, P. F. Pvt Icl Morrow, O. W. Mess Sgt Schuman. Paul Cpl Mid, C. J. Pvt Shelley, W. H. Pvt Miller. J. H Pvt Smith, R. T. Pvt M(jrrell, R. G. Pvt Id Stephenson, E. C. Pvt Id Morrill, N. L. Pvt Icl Stoughton. A. G. SKt Ndson, R. N. Cpl Stratton, R. C. Pvt Icl Ortgies, J. A. Pvt Swift, J. G. Pvt Parise, Antonio Mech Tefft, L. S. Pvt Parker, A. F. Pvt Tiede, E. C. Sgt Parker. R. M. Cpl Tilton, A. V. R. Cpl Parsons, J. A. Pvt Tirdli, C. F. Wag Parsons. R. W. Pvt Id Usher, C. A. Wag I'cnfidd. E. A. Wag Van Schaack, Bulkeley Wag Perkins, B. C. Pvt Venizia, Giuseppe Pvt Pierce, A. J. Pvt Wade, W. E. Pvt Icl Relvea. W. A. Pvt Icl Wadsworth, F. C. Pvt Id Rhea, D. H. Pvt Walters, E. L. Pvt Icl Risso, Giuseppe Pvt Wellauer. Walter Sgt Rogers. Erie Pvt Wendt. E. G. Pvt Icl Rucker, Richmond Pvt Id White. J. A. Pvt Sancyzk, Stefan Pvt Williams, Edward Pvt Icl Sargent, H. L. .'^gt Williams. H. G. Pvt Icl Sather, Einer Sgt Williams. P. H. Wag Schade, A. T. Pvt Yenco, Antonio COMPANY C Capt R. W. Myers 1st Lt C. J. Sandberg 1st Lt J. H. Agnew 2d Lt J. E, Cassidy Sgt Ackley. G. C. Pvt Adams, H. J. Pvt Albee, A. W, Pvt Alfano, Dominic Cpl Allen, Elton M. Cpl Alton, E. E. Pvt Amann, H. A. Pvt Anderson. O. R. Pvt Icl Annis, E. M. Pvt Arnold, G. B. Pvt Baker. R, D. Wag Barnes, E. B. Pvt Id Barnes, G. H. Pvt Beach, L. W. . Pvt Berry, M. A. Pvt Id Blease, D. A. Pvt Blowers, D. A. Pvt Boccaccino. Louis Cpl Bohman, C. W. Pvt Bowers. W. H. Pvt Id Bradbury. L. C. Bglr Bradley, L. C. Wag Brann, H. A. ^ill Brcnnan. J. H. Pvt Id Brewer. W. F. I'vt Brodskv. Harrv I'vt Id Brooks; W. H." Cpl Burke. T. F I'vt Hiniiham. Hadlev Medi Burnham. H. F. ' I'vt Bvrncs, G. F. I'vt Caldara, W. V. Pvt Caraccio. Antonio Pvt Carlson. J. F. Pvt Cassidy. W. P. I'vt Cervone. Anthony I'vt Id Chanibers. T. H. Cl)l Chambers, W. E. Pvt Chew. M. L. Pvt Childers, D. A. Pvt Cimmincllo, Constantino Cpl Clark, E. C. VVafi Clark. J. F. I'M Id Coleman. J. A. I'vt Coinbe. H. C. St;t C.H.ierford. J. F. Cpl Coiinollv. H. M. 2d r>t K. R. Nisbet 2d Lt W. H. Teegarden 2d Lt M. W. Scoville Mech Pvt Icl Cook Pvt Pvt Cpl Pvt Icl Pvt Pvt Icl Wag Pvt Pvt Pvt Pvt Pvt Pvt Cpl Wag Wag Pvt Pvt Pvt Id Pvt Icl Wag Pvt Pvt Pvt Pvt Sgt Pvt Cook Sgt Mess Sgt Wag I'vt Id I'vt I'vt I'vt Cpl Pvt Cook Wag Pvt 1st Sgt Pvt Id Cpl Pvt Id Cormier. G. A. Costello, E. F. Costello, J. J. Cota. A. E. Cota. J. W. Couch, F. A, Couch. W. J. Coulter, B. M. Crafts. B. W. Cressey, E. O. Crevier, T. D. Cross, J. F. Dempsey, E. L. DiFranco, Carmelo Distifano. Antonio Donovan. N. M. Elliott. G. A. Evans. Clayton Fabrvk, T. J Farrar, DeF. H. Ferguson, B. J. Forant, W. A. Fox, E. S. Gardner. M. S. Gavnor. M. H. Gedan. T. A Oervaise, C. J. Ciiles. M. M. Cilenney, G. W. Goranson. A W. Gould, P. L. Gowen, G. R. Graff. B. P. Gustetter. R. H. Halvosa, H. W. Harrington. J. L. Ileilig. V. U. Ilinslev, E. J. Hoey.G. H. Horowitz, J. P. Hutchinson. E. L. Hyde, H. H. Hyman. Isidor .lolmston, E. J. Kashman, M. H. Kearnev. J. W. Keen. F. G. Pvt Wag Pvt Pvt Pvt Pvt Icl Sgt Pvt Pvt Pvt Pn Pvt Pvt Id Pvt Pvt Cpl Cpl Pvt Pvt Id Pvt Icl Pvt Icl Pvt Cook Pvt Id Cpl Sgt Wag Pvt Sgt Pvt Id Pvt Sgt Pvt Pvt Pvt Sgt Wag Pvt Wag Pvt Pvt Pvt Id Pvt Wag Pvt Icl Cpl Pvt Kilby, Albert Kitson, E. S. Klein. P. F. LafRn. H. G. Lanciault, O. E. LaRock. E. L. Lask, A. R. Lenzi. A. C. Littlefield. W. C. Long. A. J. Lower, W. J. Lowery, G. T. Lvman. L. R. MacDonald, H. J. Manchester, William McEIwain, L. K. McGinn, G. J. Mcintosh, W. B. Menegat, Richard Miles. F. A. Miller, O. M. Miller, W. A. Mohr, E. W. Murphy, F. E. Neekl. L. B. Nielsen. A. A. Nolan, J H. Oliver. William O'Neil, J W. O'Ndl. W. J Pawloski, Benjanuii Pearson, C. C. Pollion, W. A. Rabb, L. L. Reagan, S. W. Reichard, F. W. Ridddl. J. B. Roark, J. C. Ro.ssing. Albert Rowley, C. A. Sawyer, Chester Sduiltz, .\. J .Schultz. M. J. Scoville, VV. W. Seaver, J. L. Sechtman, Iv. VV. Seward, H. D. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 161 Pvt Silvestri, Concezio Pvt Thaver, G. D. Pvt Simpson, J. T. Pvt Thomas, W. E. Sgt Smith, H. N. Pvt Thonin, Hector Wech Smith, W. S. Sgt Thornton, Samuel Pvt Snipes, A. M. Sgt Tiger, E. S. Pvt Stearns, T. E. Sgt Tracy, L. S. Sgt Stoddard, J. R. Sgt Trumble, H. E. 'vt Icl Strickland, S. H. Pvt Tutas, Gust Cpl Swan, C. P. Pvt Urechena, Aleack Sgt Sweeney, W. J. Pvt Icl Waldo, C. E. Sgt Ward, C. J. Pvt Icl Ward, G. W. Wag Weill, R. A. Cpl Whitney, T. E. Wag Willard, H. C. Pvt Icl Woodard, A. E. Wag Woodmancy, L. A. Pvt Zeigler, M. G. Cook Zymiski, Alexander 2d Lt C. L. Allen 2d Lt G. H. Berlin 2d Lt H. A. Brown Casual Officers Attached to Battalion Headquarters 2d Lt J. A. S. Durston 2d Lt L. H. Hansel 2d Lt R. D. Heymann 2d Lt H. C. Noyes 2d Lt L. J. Parker 2d Lt R. K. Skinner 162 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion ^^r^.'-w Ccimi)any B YYy'p*'^! ^ru Company C Welcome Home Parade, Hartford, April ;iO, H)19 Individual Records Compiled by the Editors Explanatory Note That the reader may understand clearly the following records of individual members of the Command a brief explanation is necessary: Dates of birth, occupation at time of enlistment, dates of draft or enlistment, pro- motions, transfers, wounds, hospital treatment, participation in front-line sectors, return to the United States, discharge, former service in other organizations, and other informa- tion show the important changes in each man's military life. Addresses are as nearly up to date as they can be made and we have tried to give those that are likely to be permanent, and to provide a correct forwarding address that may be good for some time to come. In view of the fact that many of our men are fre- quently moving from one place to another, some of the addresses here given are those of their family residences which are not so likely to change. To avoid repetition, no date is given in the case of that part of the personnel which returned to the United States and was discharged with the Battalion. The transfer of men of the 1st Vermont Infantry to the Battalion is not noted, since they were all received on the same day, August 27, 1917, having arrived at Niantic August 25. Sectors in which a man served are shown as, ''Chemin des Dames, Toul," etc., and in those instances where he was present in all except one or two it is written, " All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames." When a soldier has been in sectors with other units his record will show this when it is remembered that the sectors occupied by the Battalion were Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne. The first two were defensive sectors and the others were major operations. Under "Chateau- Thierry " we include the operations known officially as the Champagne- Marne Defensive and the Aisne-Mame Offensive. Casualties shown as occurring "north of Chateau- Thierry" took place in the neighborhood of Trugny and Epieds around July 22 and in the Fere Wood on July 2.5. Those mentioned as at "Verdun" practically all happened while the Battalion was engaged in delivering barrage-fire at Brabant Woods during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. When hospital dates are given, and no mention is made of later change, it indicates that the man returned to the Battalion after recovery. In the cases of men who were received as replacements the camps in which they were trained in the United States are noted. These men were usually held in training camps in the S.O.S., after arrival in France, until they were needed to replace casualties among the troops at the Front. Arm}'' candidate schools, such as those at Langres and La Valbonne, were established to train enlisted men for commissions. Candidates were usually appointed second lieu- tenants on being graduated at the end of a three month's course. Corps schools at Gon- drecourt, Ch^tillon and Clamecy gave officers and non-commissioned officers instruc- tion in the latest methods developed by the Allies, and the courses usually lasted four weeks. Schools of all the various branches of the service were in operation. After the armistice the A. E. F. University at Beaune was opened and a number of men were sent to universities of France and England where they could pursue non-military studies. The Editor. 164 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion List of Abbreviations Acad Academy Actg Acting Adj Adjutant Adv. Sec Advance Section Amb Ambulance A. R. C American Red Cross Arg Argonne Army of Occ. . . . Army of Occupation Arr Arrived Art Artillery Asst Assistant Bglr Bugler Bn Battalion Brig Brigade Cand. sch Candidate School Capt Captain Cav Cavalry Ch Chief Clk Clerk C. N. G Connecticut National Guard Co Company Col Colonel Coll College Comm'd Commissioned C. of S Chief of Stall" Cp Camp Cpl Corporal C. R. O Central Records Oflicc D. C Dental Corps Def Defensive Dent Dental Dep. Div Depot Division Dept Department Det Detachment Det. Ser Detached Service Dft Drafted Dis I )ischarged Div Division D. S. C Distinguished Service Cross Empl Employed Engrs Engineers Enl Enlisted Ex Except Fd Field Fr France Gen General G. H. Q General I leadquarlers Hosp Hospit;.! Htfd Hartford Hqrs Headquarters Hy Heavy Inf Infantry Insp Insyjcctor Inslr Instructor K. P Kitchen Police Lab Laboratory L. Cpl I-ance Corporal Lt Lieutenant Maj Major Mech Mechanic Med Medical Messgr Messenger Mex Mexican M. G Machine Gun. Mgr Manager Milil Military Mob.Ordn.Rep. Mobile Ordnance Repair N. C. O Non-commissioned Officer Off Office Ordn Ordnance Pvt. Icl Private, 1st Class P. \V. E Prisoner of War Escort Q. M Quartermaster Regt Regiment Res Reserve Ret Returned R. O. T. C Reserve Officers Training Corps S. A Small arms Sanit Sanitary Sch School Sec Secretary Sep Sejiarate Ser Service Sgl Sergeant Sgt. Maj Sergeant Major Sig Signal Sk Sick S. O. S Service of Supplies Spec Special Sp. Tr. Bn Special Training Battalion Sqdn Squadron Surg Surgeon Tp Troop Tr Trained, Training Trans Transferred Univ University Wag Wagoner W. D War Department HEADQUARTERS COMPANY Private Haskell Mayo, Jr. Born July 25, 1893. Farmer. Enl. April, 1917, Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans, to Bn. at Niantic Aug. 27, 1917, and assigned Hqrs. Co. All sectors. Detached service with 101st Supply Train, 1st Army Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 24, 1918 to Jan. 10, 1919. Died of pneumonia in hospital, Le Mans, Mar. 20, 1919. Buried U. S. Army cemetery, Le Mans. Body was returned to U. S. and buried at East Franklin, Vt., Aug. 21, 1920. Nearest kin: Haskell Mayo (father) Bakersfield, Vt. COMPANY B Private Wallace Holmes Brown Bom May 25, 1895. Teller, East Hartford Trust Co. Enl., Niantic Aug. 27, 1917. Developed pneumonia at Borden, Eng., Oct. 23. Sent to British Hosp., Frensham Hill, where he died Nov. 21, 1917. Buried in British cemetery, Borden. Body was returned to U. S. and bviried Aug. 16, 1920, Spring Grove Cem., Hartford. Nearest kin: Mrs. Emma H. Brown {mother), 11 Olm- sted St., East Hartford, Conn. Private Garland Van Cole Born Mar. 9, 1895. Quartermaster, merchant marine. Entered service at Ft. Slocum, May 10, 1918. Trained, Cp. Hancock, Ga. and Mayet, France. Arrived, France Aug. 8; joined Bn. in Foret d'Amblonville Sept. 8, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon and Meuse-Argonne. Left Bn., Mansigne, Mar. 4 for hospital at Le Mans, where he died of pneumonia, Mar. 22, 1919. Buried, U. S. Army cemetery, Le Mans. Body was returned to U. S. and buried Aug. 28, 1920, Riverside Cem., Cape Vincent. Nearest kin: George A. Cole (father) Cape Vincent, N. Y. 166 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion ^ Private Louis Francis Hart Born July 8, 1895. Asst. cashier, Hartford Electric Light Co. Entered Service May 1, 1918, and trained at Caiiip Hancock. Ga., .3()Ist M. G. Bn. Promoted to sergeant in this unit and automatically reduced to private in order to be sent to the Front in France. .\rrived,Le Havre, .\ug. (i, lOlSaiid joined lin. at Foretd'Amb- lonville Sept. 9. St. Mihiel, Troyon, .McUM-.Vrgonne Killed by shell- fire near Houppy Bois Oct. 26, 191S. Was buriiMl where he fell and later removed to U. S. Cemetery, Romagne-sou.s-Montfauc on. Body was returned to U. S. and buried, Mt. St. Bencaict ('cm Hartford, Aug. 27, 1021. Cited War Dept. orders Apr. 4, 1!(21 : " I'or f^allantrv in action in the Houppy Bois, north of Verdun, France. O.IoIhi l'C. I'.lis. Fvt. Hart volunteered to acconipanj- a runner on a i. Dec. 5. Died of pneumonia Dec. S. Buried in .\merican cenictcry, Montigny. Recommended for D. S. C. for gallantry, Bra- bant Woods. Cited: "The following named officers and men who dis- phiNcd marked gallantry and performed services of extraordinary value during operations of this Division north of Verdun between Oct. 18th and Nov. 11th, 191S, are congratulated by the Division Commander and are hereby cited in orders. PvT. 1st Cl.\ss, Ign.^tius Brzostowicz C. R. Edw.\rds Major General, Commanding" Nearest kin: ]'inrei!l Brzostowicz {father), l\'iscoiisi)i Rapids, Wis. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 169 Private David Alfred Blowers Born jNIar. 1, 1896. Lumberman. Answered the draft, Ft. Slocum, N. Y. May 10, 1918. Trained at Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arrived France Aug. 5; joined Battalion, Sept. 8. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. Severely wounded and gassed, Brabant Woods, Oct 24; hospital to Dec. 15. Contracted pneumonia on the Agamemnon; sent to Parker Hill Hosp., Boston, on April 8. Died, April 15, 1919. Is buried at Bacon Hill, N. Y. Nearest kin: Leonard H. Blowers (father), Schuy- lerville, N. Y. Private, 1st Class, Paul Watson Butler Born May 6, 1898. Clerk at S. K. F. Ball Bearing Co., Hartford. Enl. Troop B, April 4, 1917. Trans. Tp. B to L, Apr. 14, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Killed by shell-fire on morning of July 25, 1918 in Fere Woods north of Chateau-Thierry. Buried where he fell and later removed to American cemetery at Seringes-et- Nesles. Nearest kin: Mrs. Robert \V. Butler (mother), Cedar Rapids, hnva: Robert IF. Butler (father), Sarasota, Fla. Corporal Robert Elroy Collins Born Feb. 23. 1896. Clerk in Aetna Life Ins. Co., Hartford. Enl. Troop B Apr. 4. 1917. Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; corporal, Oct. 15, 1918. All sectors. Killed by sheU-fire at Bra- bant Woods, Oct. 23, 1918. Buried at Bevaux Bar- racks, Verdun, and later in American cemetery, Ro- magne-sous-Montfaucon. His body was sent home and was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford, Sept. 7, 1921. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. John Collins (parents), 4? Elliot St., Hartford. 2nd. Lieutenant Lorne Lee Cupples Born Ian. 12, 1882. Superintendent, Whitall Mfg. Co., Lowell, Mass. Enl. in R. O. T. C. at Plattsbur^g Aug. 28, 1917. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Nov. 27, 1917, and was assigned to 303d M. G. Bn., 76th Div., Camp Devens. Arrived, England July 22, 1918 and France shortly after. Joined Battalion at Etrochey Aug. 25th. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. Wound- ed Oct. 23, Brabant Wood north of Verdun. Died in hospital at Glorieux Nov. 2, 1918. Buried in American cemetery, Glorieux. Nearest kin: Marian J. Cupples (widow), 116 Grove St., Lowell, Mass.. 170 History of Tin: 101 st Machixk Gu\ Battalion Wagoner Harry (jIlbert Fatlk Born Sept. 16, 1897. Chauffeur. Enl., Niantic Aug. 23, 1917. Wagoner, Mar. 31, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Wounded morning of July 25, 1918 at Fere Woods north of Chateau-Thierry and died in 103d Field Hospital the same day. Was buried in the American cemetery at Belleau. Body sent home and buried in Cypress Cemetery, Saybrook Pt., Conn., Sept. 11, 1921 . Nearest kin: Mi: and Mrs. F. C. Faulk, Say- brook, Conn. Mechanic Kenneth Sinclair Murray Finlayson Born Nov. 23, 1894. Carpenter. Enl. Troop L June 12, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, July 13, 1918; mechanic, August, 1918. All sectors. Wounded by a shell at Bra- bant Woods, Oct. 23 and died in hospital near Verdun Oct. 24, 1918. Buried in American cemetery, Glorieux. Two of Finlayson 's brothers were killed fighting with the British and Canadian Armies. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. Donald Finlayson (parents), Castletown. Scotland. Private, 1st Class, Moseley Hastings C^ray Born May 31, 1S9(). Mechanical and electrical en- gineering. Enl. Co. A, 1st Vt. Inf., at Ft. Ethan Allen, May 4, 1917. Trans, to Battalion Aug. 27, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 3, 1917. All sectors. Killed by shell-fire at Brabant Woods Oct. 23, 1918. Buried at Bevaux Barracks, Verdun, and later in American cemetery, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. Francis L. Gray (parents), Middletown Springs, Vt. i^ . ^ " iw Mechanic Waldo Clayton Hayes Born Nov. 19, 1894. Salesman. Enl. Troop L at Hartford, Apr. 23, 1917. Promoted to horseshoer Aug. 1 ; mechanic Aug. 27, 1917. All sectors. Wounded by shell-fire while driving car in Verdun, Oct. 23. Died in hospital there Oct. 24, 1918. Buried in Ameri- can cemetery at Glorieux. Body sent home and buried in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford, July 21, 1921. Hayes-\'ellage Post, American Legion, West Hartford, is named in his memory. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. William E. Hayes (parents), 1132 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 171 Private Fred Wilson Hyland Born Mar. 1, 1887. Mechanic. Answered the draft May 9, 1918. Trained at Camp Hancock, 9th M. G. Co. Arrived France Aug. 6 and sent to Mayet. Joined Battalion Sept. 8. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. Wounded by shell-fire at Brabant Woods Oct. 23, 1918 and died same day at dressing station, SamogneiLX. Buried there, and later in American cemetery, Romagne- sous-Montfaucon. Body sent home and buried in North Scituate, Sept. 25, 1921. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Hyland (parcnls), North Scituate, Mass. Private James Francis Kane Born Jan. 5, 1888. Chauffeur, American Express Co., N. Y. Answered the draft New York, May 25, 1918. Trained at Camp Hancock, Ga. and Mayet, France. Arrived England Aug. 8, 1918. Assigned to Battalion Sept. 8. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. Gassed at Brabant Woods Oct. 27. Sent to hospital at Orleans. Died, November 30, 1918, of pneumonia resulting from gas poison. Buried in French military cemetery, Or- leans. Body sent home and buried Jan. 6, 1921 , Calvary Cemetery, Long Island City. Nearest kin: Mrs. Gene- vieve A. Kane (widow), 97 Walker St., New York City. Private, 1st Class, Walter Clifford Lamkins Born Oct. 23, 1896. Salesman, Flint-Bruce Co., Hartford. Enl. Troop L May 15, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Apr. 1, 1918. All sectors. Wounded by shell-fire at Brabant Woods Oct. 23 and died in hospital at Glorieux Oct. 24, 1918. Buried in American cemetery, Glorieux. Body was sent home and buried in Center Cemetery, East Hartford, July 23, 1921. Lamkins was formerly a member of 1st Company, Governor's Foot Guard. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. Frederick IF. Lamkins (parents), 297 Westland St., Hartford. Private Raymond Eugene Martin Born Aug. 20, 1898. Student at Goddard Seminary. Enl. Apr. 19, 1917, 1st Vermont Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Assigned to Battalion, Niantic, Aug. 27, 1917. All sectors. Trans. Sept. 22 to Co. B, 103d Inf. Killed by a machine-gun bullet Sept. 26, 1918 during attack on Riaville. Buried where he fell. Location of grave un- known. Nearest kin: Mr. and Mrs. Eugene L. Martin (parents), Hancock, Vt. 172 History of Tuk 101st Machink Gun Battalion Pruate Giuseppe Moi.ixari Answered the draft Sept. 20 at Camp Devens. Joined Battalion Sept. 21 at Niantic. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Wounded at Mandres, April 20, at time of the attack on Seicheprey. Removed to hospital at Menil-la-Tour where he died Apr. 21, 1918. Buried at Menil-la-Tour. Nearest kin: Mrs. Eath Molinari, Piacize, Italy. Private, 1st Class, Carroll Vernon Smith Born Jan. IS, 1S99. Fanner. Enl. 1st Vennont Inf., Waterbury, June 15, 1917. Assigned to Battalion, Xiantic, Aug. 27,. 1917. Shortly after arrival in France was taken with influenza and rheumatism. After treatment in several hospitals there, was sent home on Feb. 1-4, 1918 and placed in U. S. General Hosp., Gun Hill Road, N. Y., where he died May 22, 1918. Buried in West Branch Cemetery, Stowe \'t. Nearest ki)i: Edsoii I). Smith {father), Spriiiiijield, Mass. Private, 1st Class, Andrew Smith Wellington Born May 4, 1893. Salesman. Enl. Troop L, Niantic, Aug. 15, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau- Thierry. Was killed by shell-fire, morning of July 25, 1918, at Fere Wood north of Chateau-Thierry. Buried where he fell and later in American cemetery, Seringes- et-Nesles. On company football team. Nearest kiit: Mr. and Mrs. Marshall S. Wellington (parents), 17 Springside Ave., Pittsjield, Mass. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 173 DIED AFTER LEAVING SERVICE Private Gordon Robert Barratt Bom Mav 27, 1896. Farmer. Married Oct. 12, 1920. Enl. May 30, 1917, 1st Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans, to Bn. Aug. 27, Niantic. All sectors. Discharged with Battalion Apr. 29, 1919. Died June 23. 1921 as result of accident. Member of Green Klountain Post, Ameri- can Legion, St. Albans. Buried in Highgate Center Cemetery, Highgate Center, \'t. Next of kin: Jessie M. Barratt {widcm'), Highgate, Vt. Mtt. Priv.ate, 1st CL.A.SS, George Weston "Ward Born Tan. 10, 1S91. Auditor, Scottish Union Ins. Co., Hartford. Enl. June 12, 1917, Troop L. Pvt., 1st class. Apr. 1, 1918. All sectors. Severely gassed, Brab- ant Woods, Oct. 26, 1918. In several hospitals in France until sent to United States. Hospital at Camp Dix until Apr. 12, 1919, when he was discharged from the service. Died from effects of gas on May 21, 1921. Buried in Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, N. J. Next of kin: Mrs. Mary M. Ward {mother), (>o9 Stokes Ave., Colliiissu'ood. N. J. 174 History of Thk 101st Machine Gun Battalion Commanding Officers Lieutenant Colonel James L. Howard Born Mar. 21, 1878. Married. Sec, Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Batty. A, 1st Conn. Vol. Art. May 14, 1898, Siiaiiish-Am. War; mustered out Oct. 25, 1898. Dis. from N. G. Nov. 30, Is'.'S Comm'd. 1st Lt. and Commissary, 1st Conn. Inf. Apr. 6; Capt. :iik1 ,\dj. Oct. 29, 1903. Retired Mar. 1, 1907. Assigned command Tp. B Apr. 17, 1911. Comm'd. Major Oct, 29, 191.5. Trans. Res. C. N. G. Nov. 2, 1915. Federal ser. Sept. 4, 1916, to duty Nogales, Ariz, as Adj. 5tli Sep. Brigade; trans. 3rd Brig., 16th Provisional Div. as Adj. .ST)t. 25; Adj. 1st Brig., 12th Pro. Div. Ft. Sam Houston Oct. 13, 1916. Mustered out Nov. 11, 1916; trans. C. N. G. Res. Assigned conmiand 3rd Sep. Sqdn., Conn. Cav., Mav 23, 1917; 101st M. G. Bn. Aug. 21, 1917. Trans. Div. Staff as M. G. Officer Apr. 1, 1918. Comm'd. Lt.-Col. Aug. 26. Trans. Gen. Staff, A. E. F. and appointed Asst. C. of S., G-3, 2()th Div., Nov. 6. Camp Commander at Niantic and of all troops on Mii/iiiitic. British S. A. Sch., Camiers, Jan., 1918, inclutliiifi 10 days on Brit Front at Vimy Ridge. Shell wound near Chateau-Tliiiirv .lulv 13, 1918; 101st Fd.Hosp., La Ferte to July 23. Sk. in Am. Red Cross Hosp., Neuilly, Oct. 17-Nov. 16, 1918. All Div. sectors. Ret. U. S. Dec. 23; dis. Jan. 4, 1919. Placed on eligible list Gen. Staff. U. S. A. Dec. 23, 1920. Cited for gallantry at Marcheville Sept. 26, Div. G. O. Oct. 16, 1918. Awarded Croix de Guerre with palm by Commander-in-Ch. French Armies: "Ordre No. 12245 "D" (Extrait) Apres approbation du General Commandant en Chef les Forces Expeditionnaires Aniericaines en France, le Mar^chal de France, Commandant en Chef les Armees Francaise de I'Est, cite a I'ordre de I'Armee, : Lieutenant Colonel James L. Howard, Officier de mitrailleuses divi- sionnaires, (26e Division d'Infanterie Americaine) : 'A rendu volontairement de grands services pendant tout I'engage- ment et a organise les defenses des Mitrailleuses a un moment ou un detachment de I'effectif en avant 6tait completement occup^ et entoure; a aide a son repli, se frayant un chemin vers la position principale'. Au Grand Quartier General, le 11 Decembre, 1918. Le Mar^chal de France. Retain." Awarded D. S. C. in orders of G. H. Q., A. E. F. as follows: "For extraordinary heroism in action at Marcheville, France, Sept. 26, 1918. Lt.-Col. Howard directed the machine-gun attack in person. Entering Marcheville ahead of the troops, he rendered great assistance while the town changed hands four times. When he was in a small party, cut off and surrounded h>- the ciiciiiy and under lire from every direc- tion, by his coolness and resourc-efuhicss. he assisted materially in aiding the party to withdraw. He effectively organized machine-gun defenses when the enemy was endeavoring to drive our troops from the town. During the entire day he was under intense artillery bombardment, machine-gun and rifle fire, and hand-to-hand conflict with the enemy." Appointed a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur on May 14, 1919 by the President of France. 233 Keiiyon St., Hartford, Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 175 Major Morgan G. Bulkeley, Jr. Born Dec. 25, 1885. Married. Asst. Treas. Aetna Life Ins. Co., Enl. Tp. B. Mar. 9, 1911. L cpl. Dec 30, 1912; cpl. Sept. 26, 1913; sgt. July 27, 1914; comm'd 2nd Lt. Jan. 4, 1916; 1st Lt. Nov. 2, 1916; Capt. Nov. 30, 1916; Maj. Aug. 1, 1918. Command Tp. B. Nov. 30, 1916; Bn. Apr. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 27; hosp. Limoges Nov. 2; Bordeaux Dec. 6, 1918. Invalided U. S. Dec. 30; dis. Jan. 9, 1919. Mex. Border 1916 as 2nd Lt. Tp. B. Recommended for Croix de Guerre. Citation: "I have read with much pleasure the reports of your gal- lant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on Oct. 27 to 30th, 1918, in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and have ordered your name and deed to be entered in the record of the Yankee Division. C. R. Edwards Major General, Commanding" 1130 Prospect Ave, Hartford, Conn. Major Laurence H. Watres Born July 18, 1882. Attorney. Enl. Oct. 1907, 13th Inf. Penn. N. G., Scranton. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. 108th M. G. Bn., 28th Div. Arr. overseas May 16, 1918. Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, and Oise- Aisne. Shell-wound Sept. 6, 1918, Baslieux; hosp. Nantes. Comm'd. Major Oct. 26, 1918. Assigned to command 101st M. G. Bn. Dec. 27, 1918; trans, back, to 28th Div. Jan. 17, 1919. Sch. at Le Wast, Fr., May 27 —June 9, 1918. Ret. U. S.; May, 1919. Cited G. H. Q., A. E. F.: "For gallantry in action near Baslieux, France. 5 Sept. 1918, in assuming command of a disorganized company in addition to his own and brilliantly leading both companies forward." Elmhurst Boulevard, Scranton, Pa. Major Stillman F. Westbrook Born May 15, 1888. Married. Guernsey, Westbrook Co. wholesale lumber. Enl. Apr. 24, 1911, Tp. B. Cpl. Dec. 21, 1912; Sgt. Mar. 13, 1915; comm'd 2nd Lt. Nov. 28, 1916; 1st Lt. Apr. 26, 1917; Capt. June 3, 1918; Maj. Feb. 22, 1919. All sectors. Det. ser. in charge Bn. baggage Liverpool Oct. 23-Nov. 26, 1917. British S. A. Sch., M. G. Sec, Camiers, Dec. 7, 1917-Jan. 31, 1918. Canadian E. F., Vimy Ridge, Jan. 31-Feb. 18, 1918, for instruction. Trans, command M. G. Co., 104th Inf. Feb. 28; command this Bn. Mar 3, 1919, Mansigne. Sk. in hosp., Chaumont, Mar. 29-Apr. 3, 1918. 1st Inf. N. G. of N. Y., 1904-5; Mex. Border, Tp. B. 1916. lOoJi- Asylum Ave., Hartford, Conn. 176 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion BATTALION MEDICAL DETACHMENT Major Lester L. Powell, M. C. Born Mar. 24, 1S75. Married. Physician. Comm'd 1st Lt. Med. CoHDs, Me. N. G., Augusta July 12, 1917; Capt. Sept. 16, 1918; Major Sept. 26, 1919. Surg. 1st Me. H. F. A. to Aug. 26; 101st Inf. 26th Div. to Dec. 26, 1917. Arr. France Sept. 18, 1917; joined Bn. Dec. 26, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 28; hosp. Limoges Nov. 1; invalided U. S. Dec. 29, 1918; hosp. Devens to Feb. 16, 1919; dis. Aug. 2, 1919. Cita- tion for attending wounded of Bn. under fire July 22, near Epieds and Trugny and July 25, La Fere Wood. "The Division Coiniiiander takes great pleasure in citing in orders the fiilliiuiiit; nainoil otfiiirs and men who have shown marked gallantry and iiiiTit(irii>as scrvirc in the capture of Torcy, Belleau, Givry, Bour- esches Woods, li.K li.'t Woods, Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-Thierry. Etrepilly, Bc/u.t. I.i Fere-en-TardciH'i- mhi enemy from Jul.\ Is l( ds, Trugny and La Fere Woods to the .Jaulgonne . during the advance of this Division against the 25, 1918, in the Second Battle of the I\Iarne. 1st Lt. Lester L. Powell, M. C. 101st M. G. Bn. C. R. Edwards Major General, Coinmaiidiiuj" 4S4 Cumhciiand Ave, roriland, Me. Captain Luman G. Moore, M. C. Born Dec. 17, 1880. Married. Physician. Comm'd 1st Lt. Med. Corps May 5, 1917, Warren, O; Capt. Nov. 13, 1917. Arr. France Sept. 6, 1917. British Army, Paschendaele Sept. 16-Oct. 12, 1917; Arras Oct. 15, 1917-Mar. 5, 1918; Brit. 1st Army R. A. M. C. Sch., Bruay, Mar. 6-16, 1918. Brit. Gen. Hosp., Calais, Apr. 6-Mar. 5; Albert Mar. 6-July 8; reserve to Aug. 1; the Somme Aug. 2-26, 1918; trans. U. S. Army— St. Alihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Joined Bn. Nov. 1, 1918. Ret. U. S. with Bn; dis. Apr. 14, 1919. Kinsman, Ohio. Captain Henry A. Bunker, M. C. Bom lune3, 1889. Physician. Comm'd 1st Lt. Med. Corps July 25, 1917, 5th Mass Inf. N. G; Capt. Mar. 1919. 'joined Bn. Niantic, Oct. 5, 1917. Trans, com- mand 26th Div. Fd. Lab. Dec. 29, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Trans. Sept. 1, 1918, 76th Div. Hqrs., St. Armand, as asst. psychiatrist. Trans, to duty at Base Hosp., Pres-sous-la-Fauche, Nov. 12, 1918; Allercy, Dec. 1918-Feb. 1919; Savenay Feb.-May, 1919. Ret. U. S. May 29; dis. June 21, 1919. Medjield, Mass. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 177 Captain William J. Clegg, D. C. Born Nov. 21, 1886. Married. Dentist. Comm'd 1st Lt., Dent. Corps Aug. 8, 1917, Entered service Quonset, R. I. Trans, to Niantic as camp dent. surg. Left Niantic Oct. 2; arr. France Oct. 21 with 102nd Fd. Hosp. Trans, to Bn. Nov. 21. Trans. 101st Sanit. Train Feb. 4, 1918; later to 103rd Cp. Infirmary; 103rd Fd. Art; 102nd Fd. Hosp. Sanit. Sch. Dec, 1917. Sk. in hosp., Toul, June, 1918. Rejoined Bn. Nov. 21, 1918. Comm'd Capt. Feb. 1919. 11 Vaudcnvatcr St., Providence, R. I. 1st Lieutenant Edward R. Murphy, D. C. Born Feb. 28, 1890. Dentist. Comm'd 1st Lt., Dent. Corps July 5, 1917 and assigned 1st Engrs., Mass, N. G., later 101st Engrs. Arr. France Oct. 18, 1917; joined Bn. Feb. 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Trans. July 18, Base Hosp. 30. Royat; S. O. S. Hqrs., Tours; Cp. Hosp. 27, Tours. Army Dent. Sch. Langres, May 4-22, 1918. Ret. U. S. Apr. 28, 1919; dis. June 3, 1919. 10 Manchester Rd., Winchester, Mass. 1st Lieutenant Buehler, D. C. Joined Bn. as dental surgeon in October and was transferred to another unit about Nov. 20. Address unknown. Chaplain Earl Taggart Born July 6, 1888. Married. Clergyman. Enl. June 15, 1918, Army Sch. for Chaplains, Cp. Taylor, Ky. Comm'd. 1st Lt. & Chapl. July 5, 1918. Arr. France Sept. 2; joined Bn. Sept. 18. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Univ. of Caen Mar. 1-July 1, 1919. Ret. U. S. July 13; dis. July 16, 1919. 4319 Iowa Ave., Washington, D. C. 178 History of Tiik IOIst Machine Gun Battalion COMPANY B Captain H. Wyckoff Mills Born Sept. 29, 1883. Manufacturing. Enl. Tp. B Mar. 8, 1911. Cpl. Mar. 13, 1914; sgt. xA.ug. 2, 191G; 1st sgt. Tp. B Dec. 6, 1916. Dis. for non-residence Dec. 20, 1916. Re-enl. May 2, 1917. Comm'd 1st Lt. May 14, 1917; Capt. Sept. 13, 1918. Adj. and Supply Officer 3rd Sept. Sqdn. Conn. Cav. May 14, 1917. All sectors. Inf. Sch. Chatillon, Aug. 1918; Army M. G. Sch., Langres, Sept. 25-Nov. 1, 1918. Command B Co. Nov. 26, 1918. Mex. Border 1916. .)() Farmiiigtoii Ave., Hartford, Conn. 1st Lieutenant Chester F. Comey Born Aug. 21, 1888. Salesman, Library Bureau, Htfd. Enl. Tp. B May 5, 1914. L. cpl. Jan. 21, 1916; cpl. June 23, 1916; sgt. Dec. 6, 1916; comm'd 2nd Lt. April 26, 1917; 1st Lt. Nov. 16, 1917. Camp Adj. Niantic; Asst. Ship's Adj. Megantic. Command B Co. April-Nov. 26, 1918, until appointed Bn. Adj. All sec- tors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 27; not evacuated. M. G. Sch. Gondrecourt Feb. 22-Mar. 22, 1918. Mex. Border 1916. Mansfield, Mass. 1st Lieutenant Philip S. Wainwright Born May 12, 1885. Auto dealer. Enl. Jan. 25, 1912 Tp. B. Saddler July 3, 1912; sgt. Oct. 30; Q. M. sgt. Dec. 30, 1912; reduced to pvt. at own request Jan. 14, 1914; Tp. elk. April 1, 1914; cpl. July 27, 1914; sgt Sept. 1, 1916; 1st sgt. May 1, 1917. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Jan. 28, 1918; 1st Lt. July 21, 1918. All sectors. Inf. Tactical Sch. Gondrecourt, June 8-July 8, 1918; Army M. G. Sch. Langres, Nov. 17-Dec. 17, 1918. Spec, duty Div. Hcjrs. Montigny, as Div. Ordnance Insp. Jan. 10- 20,1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 12 Forest St., Hartford, Conn. 1st Lieutenant Harold Amory Born Sept. 3, 1893. Cotton broker. Enl. Feb. 1913, Tp. B. 1st Sqdn. Cav., Mass. N. G., Boston. R. O. T. C. Plattsburg 19L'), 'Itj and '17. Coiiim'd 2iid Lt. Auk- S, 1917. Joined Bn. Niantic Sep. 1, 1917. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, Mav, 1918. 1st Lt. Oct. 3, 1918. Sk. in Parker Hill hosp., Boston. April 7, 1919. Dis. .\pril 1."). 1919. At various times Co. mess officer and Bn. billeting and intilliaence officer. Cited for aiding wounded of Company under ^liill-Hrc near Sacerie Farm, July 22; Till' Division Commander takes great pleasure in citing in orders the lollowing iiaiiicd officers and men who have shown marked gallantry Mild iiieritoridiis service in the capture of Torcy, Belleau. (iivry. Boures- rhcs Woods, Kocliet Wooiis, Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-Thierry, Ihreiiilly, Bezuet, Epieds, Trugny and La Fere Woods to the Jaulgonne I'crc-en-Tardenois Road, during the advance of this Division against the enemy from July 18 to 2."), 1918. in the Second Battle of the Marne. ***** 2ni) Lieutknwnt H.\koi.d .Amory, 101st M. G. Bx ***** C. H. Edw.\rds Miijor General, Commanding" IS Guild Road, Dedhani, Mass. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 179 1st Lieutenant Carl J. Sandberg Born Mar. 20, 1892. School teacher. Enl May 23, 1917, 2nd Inf. Maine N. G. Augusta. Cpl. June 6, 1917. Plattsburg R. O. T. C. Aug. 19, 1917. Comm'd 1st Lt. Nov. 27, 1917. Arr. France Jan. 31, 1918. 2nd Corps Sch. Chatillon Feb. 2-Mar. 9; Mar. 9-19.1918 on French front, Belfort, for instruction. Joined Bn. Mar. 24. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Trans. B. to C. Co. Mar. 17, 1919. 171 Washington St., Hartford, Conn. 1st Lieutenant Ch.arles A. Pellett Born Nov. 21, 1885. Builder. Enl. Jan. 16, 1915, 1st Vt. Inf. Joined Bn. Niantic Aug. 23. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Mar. 21, 1917; 1st Lt. & Bn. supply officer June, 1918. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, Jan. 7-Feb.22, 1918 and June 8-July 8, 1918; Inf. Sch. Clamecy Jan. 2- Feb. 2, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 76 Flat St., Brattlcboro, Vt. 1st Lieutenant Charles A. Bennett Born June I, 1896. Married Sept. 7, 1917. Plant quarantine insp. Enl. R. O. T. C. Plattsburg, May 12, 1917. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Aug. 14, 1917. Joined Bn. Niantic, Sept. 1. All sectors ex. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt June 6-July 7, 1918. Trans. U. S. as instructor, Cp. Lee, Va. Aug. 5, 1918. 1st Lt. Sept. 6. Dis. Dec. 21, 1918. Coached Co. B. football team, Niantic. Durham, N. H. 1st Lieutenant William K. Michael Born Dec. 19, 1886. Journalist. Enl. R. O. T. C. Ft. Riley, Kan. May 10, 1917. Comm'd 1st Lt. Aug. 15, 1917. Arr. France Sept. 8, 1917. French Inf. Sch. Valreas, Sept. 1917. Joined Bn. Nov. 9, 1917. Trans. Jan. 10 "Stars and Stripes," Paris, as Bus. and Adv. Mgr. Rejoined Bn. Nov. 10, 1918; trans. 32d Div. Nov. 17, Army of Occ, Germany. Inf. Sch. Chatillon Mar. 1919. Sk. in hosp. Chatillon and Am. R. C. H. No. 3. Spec, duty at various times on different fronts with G-2-D, Gen. Staff. Ret. U. S. with 121st M. G. Bn., 32d Div; dis. May, 1919. :^101 Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 180 The History of The lOlsx Machine Gun Battalion 2.\D Lieutenant A. Stewart (jray Born July 7, 1895. Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B. June 15," 1915. Pvt. 1 cl. Sept. 1, 1916; cpl. Apr. 28, 1917; sgt. June 28, 1917; Bn. sgt. maj. Feb. 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames. Trans. Army Cand. Sch. Langres Apr. 1.: comm'd 2nd Lt. July 9. Instructor A. C. S. Rejoined Bn. Dec. 25, 1918.' Co. B. football team. Mex. Border 1916. GO Evergreen Ave., Hartford, Coiiu. 2nd Lieutenant Houghton Bulkeley Born Aug. 9, 1896. Student Yale. Married Sept. 5, 1917. Enl. Oct. 29, 1915, 10th Fd. Art. Yale Batty., C. N. G. Trans. Tp. B. June 20, 1916. Pvt. 1 cl, and L. cpl. May 1, 1917; cpl. May 25, 1917; sgt. Aug. 27, 1917. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, Nov. 24-Dec. 29, 1917. Chemin des Dames. Trans. Army Cand. Sch. Langres, Apr. 1, 1918; comm'd 2nd Lt. July 9. Instruc- tor M. G. Sch. Langres. Trans. Jan. 1, 1919, 2nd Corps Sch. Chatillon. Rejoined Bn. Mar. 25, Brest. Co. B. football team. 284 Oxford St., Hartford, Conn. 2xD Lieutenant Frederick L. Way Born Oct. 24. 1896. Student Yale. Enl. Tp. B. June 21, 1916. Trans. Reserve Feb. 26, 1917. Active ser. Tp. B. July 25, 1917. Cpl. Aug. 1; sgt. Aug. 27, 1917. French M. G. Sch. Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dec, 10, 1917; 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, Jan. 3-Feb. 3, 1918. Chemin des Dames. Army Cand. Sch. Langres, Apr. 1- July 9, 1918; comm'd 2d Lt. July 9. Instructor Army Anti-Aircraft Sch. Cieux-Moulins. Rejoined Bn. Mar. 17, 1919. Co. B. football team. Mex. Border 1916. 7.96' Prospect Ave.. Hartford, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant C. Gilbert Shepard Born Apr. 5, 1892. Agt. ^tna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B. Dec. 22, 1914. Pvt. 1 cl. Sept. 1, 1916; L. cpl. Dec. 27, 1916; cpl. Jan. 15, 1917; sgt. Apr. 28, 1917. Army Cand. Sch., Langres, Dec. 1, 1917-Mar. 12, 1918. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Feb. 1, 1918. Instructor A. M. G. Sch. Langres, Mar. 12. After armistice trans. 73d Co., 6th Marines, Army of Occupation, Germany. Re- joined Bn. Mar. 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. IS Asvln?n St.. Hartford, Conn. The History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 181 V^ 2nd Lieutenant Gilbert L. Taggart Born Jan. 17, 1S90. Married Dec. 22, 1917. Clk. employ State of California. Enl. Aug. 5, 1917, Sacra- mento, 1st Cal. Cav., later 145th M. G. Bn., 40th Div. Tr. Cp. Kearney, Cal. Comm'd 2d Lt. Dec. 22, 1917. Arr. France Aug. 20, 1918; ioined Bn. Sept. S. Wounded Verdun Oct. 23; hosp. Pongues-les-Eaux and Mesves. Ret. U. S. Jan. 4; dis. Feb. 15, 1919. 3 yrs. 14th U. S. Cav; 7 yrs. Cal. N. G. 635 East D St., Ontario, Cal. 2nd Lieutenant Henry L. Fontaine Born Sept. 16, 1893. Civ. engr. Enl. Miss. N. G. 1916. Tr. Cp. Beauregard. La. 140th M. G. Bn., 39th Div. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Mar. 20, 1917. Arr. France Feb. 1918. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt June 1-July 20, 1918. Trans. 77th Div. Gassed and wounded Meuse- Arg.; hosp. Issoudun and Rimaucourt, Nov.-Dec. Joined Bn. Dec. 23, 1918. 3rd Corps Sch. Clamecy Jan. 1-31, 1919. Left Bn. Cp. Devens; dis. April 19, 1919. Lyon, Miss. COMPANY G Captain Rawdon W. Myers Born June 11, 1884. Married. Sec'y ^tna Cas. and Surety Co. Enl. Tp. B. Apr. 25, 1911. Sgt. June 9, 1911; 1st sgt. Sept. 29, 1913; comm'd 2nd Lt. Mar. 28, 1916; 1st Lt. Nov. 30, 1916; Capt. Apr. 26, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 29, 1918; not evacuated. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, June 8-July 7, 1918. Command of Tp. L. on formation Apr. 14, 1917; of Bn. Nov. 2- Dec 27, 1918, and Jan. 17-Mar. 3, 1919. 7th Regt. N. Y. N. G. 1905-1907. Sqdn. C, Cav., N. Y. N. G. 1907-1908. 1st sgt. Tp. B. Mex. Border 1916. ^57 Laurel St., Hartford, Conn. Captain William S. Eaton Born Nov. 14, 1888. Hart & Hegeman Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B. Mar. 12, 1912; dis. Mar. 11, 1915. Re-enl. Dec. 7, 1915. L. cpl. June 24, 1916; cpl. Sept. 1, 1916. Dis. for non-residence Feb. 7, 1917. Re-enl. Tp. B. Apr. 25, 1917. Comm'd 2nd Lt. and trans. Tp. L. Apr. 26, 1917; 1st Lt. Nov., 1917; Capt. Sept. 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. French M. G. Sch. Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dec. 10, 1917. Ret. U. S. as instructor Aug. 25, 1918; 36th M. G. Bn., 12th Div. Cp. Devens. Dis. Dec. 6, 1918. Mex. Border,1916. Care Hart b' Hegeman Co., Hartford, Conn. 182 History of Tiik 101st Machine Gun Battalion Captain Georgk W. Cheney Born Aug. 9, 1888. Married. Clk. Phoenix Mutual Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B. Mar. 9, 1911. Cpl. May 19. ntlo; sgt. Dec. (i, li)U>; 1st s^t. Tp. IV Doc. 27, 19Hi; roiiini'il 1st Lt. Apr. 2(;, 1<)17. and trans. Tj). L; Capt. .hilv, lOlS. M.G.Scli. Gondre- <-i)urt Nov. 24-Dcc. 'M . 1917. Spec, duty Div. Hqrs. Feb. 191S. Cheniin di'S Danios, Toul, C'liatcavi-Thicrrv. Ret. U. S. as instructor July lo. command Co. C. 3!)th M. (i. Un.. VMU Div. Cp. Lewis, Wash. Sept. 13. .Mox. Border, 10 IC. Dis. Dec. 28, 1918. 31 Hartfoyd Rd., Manchester, Conn. Captain Chester C. Thomas Born Feb. 5, 1889. Civ. Engr. Enl. Lst Fd. Art. \'t. N. Ci. Sept. 12, 1905 serving as pvt.. cpl., and sgt. to .June 24, 1908 when trans. \t. Sig. Corps and comm'd 1st Lt. lie- signed ,Iune 24, 1909. Comm'd Capt. and Adj. Lst Vt. Inf. Dec. 12, 1910; resigned .lulv 1.^), 1912. Kid. Co. A, 1st Vt. Inf. Apr. 11, 1917, and comm'd 2d Lt. \\n. 12; 1st Lt. May 17. 1917. Trans. Co. C, 101st M.O. Hn.. Niantic, Xu^. 27; to Co. .\ Dec. 1917 and trans, with Co. to 102d .M. (!. Bn. ,lan. 21. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Ret. L. S. as M. G. instructor Cp. Hancock, Ga., May 30, 1918. Comm'd Capt. Sept. 19. Dis. Dec. 18, 1918. Florence, Vt. 1st Lieutenant John H. Agnew Born Oct. 19, 1891. Secretary. Enl. Apr. 20, 1917 R. O. T. C. Plattsburg. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Aug. 15, 1917; 1st Lt. Sept. 13, 1918. .loined Bn. Niantic Sept. 1, 1917. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecomt, ,Iune 8-Jidy 7, 1918. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 28, Verdun. Not evacuated. Command of Co. C Nov. 2-Dec. 27, 1918; Jan. 17--Mar. 3, 1919. 2d C. C. Mass. N. G. and 2d Bn. Mass. F. Art. 1911-191.5. Lvnn, Moss. 1st Lieutenant Gerald Courtney Born Nov. 14, 1894. Student Harvard Law Sch. Enl. May 12, 1917 R. O. T. C. Plattsburg. Comm'd. 2nd Lt. Auk. L"), 1917; 1st Lt. Sejit. 19, 1918. .Joined Bn. Niantic Sept. 1. 1917. Trans. .May 10, 1918 102nd .M. G. Bn.; later Bn. .\dj For a time attached M. G. Co., 102nd Inf. All sectors. Wounded and passed Sejjt. 2:>, 1918. Dis. Apr. 29. 1919. CiteiL "The Division Coni- niander is pleased to cite in orders the foIlowiuK named oHiccrs and en- listed men, and congratulates them on their exceptionally meritoriovis -I'lNHc and gallant conduct during the operations of this Division .iLMiii.-l the enemy at .Marcheville and Hiaville on Si'pt. 2.')tli and 2lith. I'.lls. Under a terrihc (>nemy artillery l)omhardment, lastiiiK for neail.x' four hours, and under intense machine-nun fire, and in Herci' hand-to- hanil conflicts with grenade, rifle, pistol anil bayonet, these otiicers and sokliers accomplished their mission and broke up four counter-attacks. 1st Lieutenant Gerald Courtney, 102nd M. G. Bn. C. R. Edwards Major General, Commanding" .\ warded D. S. C: "For extraordinary heroism in action at Wadon- ville, France Sept. 2.5, 1918. He was wounded while conductins his platoon into position preparatory to laying a barrage for a raid. With utter disrcKard for his personal safet.w h(> remaineil on duty for more than an hour, satisfying himself that all his Kuns were jjroperly laid and adjusted for tiring, .^fter his wounds were dressed, he returni'd to duty and remaineti with his platoon until it was relieved." 04 Bay State Road, Boston, Mass. The History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 183 2nd Lieutenant John E. Cassidy Born Jan. 31, 1896. Lawyer. Enl. Apr. 24, 1917 R. O. T.'C. South Bend, Ind; graduated as 2nd Lt. Tr. Ft. Sheridan, 111. Arr. France Jan. 22, 1918; joined Bn. Mar. 25. All sectors except Chemin des Dames. Shell wound Verdun Oct. 23. Inf. sch. Chatillon, Feb. 1- Mar. 10, 1918. Left Bn. Cp. Devens; dis. Apr., 1919. 332 East Superior St., Ottawa, III. 2nd Lieutenant Morton W. Scoyille Born May 22, 1891. Married. Builder. Enl. Tp. B Dec. 15, 1914. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14,1917. Pvt. 1 cl. Apr. 1, 1917; sgt. May 7, 1917; comm'd 2nd Lt. July 9, 1918. Quarantined at Southampton, Eng. Oct. 26- Dec. 9, 1917. Chemin des Dames. 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, Mar. 1-31, 1918; Army Cand. Sch. Langres Mar. 31-July 15, 1918; instructor Army Anti- Aircraft Sch. Cieux-Moulins, Langres. Rejoined Co. C. Dec. 24. 1918. Capt. Co. C. footbaU team, Niantic, Bn. athletic officer Mansigne. Mex. Border, 1916. 18 Annawan St., Hartford, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant Ralph H. Coburn Bom Oct. 15, 1893. Enl. May 11, 1917 R. O. T. C, Plattsburg. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Aug. 15, 1917. Joined Co. D, Niantic, Sept. 1. Trans. Co. C. Mont. Town Major at Mont. Chemin des Dames and Toul. M. G. Sch. Gondrecourt, April, 1918. Trans. 102d M. G. Bn. May 12. Ret. U. S. July 3; 139th M. G. Bn., 38th Div. Cp. Shelby, Miss. Later trans, to other units including nucleus 101st Div. Asst. Personnel Adj. Demob. Group Cp. Shelby. Dis. Sept. 24, 1919. 70£ Pleasant St., Dracut, Mass. wMIk! ■f-^rt 2nd LIEUTEN.A.NT KeNNETH R. NiSBET Born Mar. 24, 1896. Mech. engr. Enl. June 2, 1917, 3rd Kv. Inf. Lexington. Trans. Sept. Sanit. Det., 139th M. G.'Bn., 38th Div., Cp. Shelby, Miss. Trans. Air Ser. Kelly Fd., Tex., Nov. 1917. Pvt. 1 cl. Jan. 25, 1918. Aero Sch. Atlanta, and Armament Sch. Dayton, O. Comm'd 2nd Lt. Aviation Sec, Sig. Corps Mar. 19, 1918. Arr. France July 12, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 4. St. Mihiel, Trovon, Meuse-Arg. M. G. Sch. Langres, Sept. 25-Oct. 28, i918; Sorbonne Univ. of Paris, Mar. 1, 1919 rejoined Bn. same month. Earlington, Ky. 184 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion ^r V 2nd Lieutenant Wendell H. Tkegarden Born Aug. 29, 1895. Contractor. Enl. Aug. .5, li)17, 4th Inf. Indiana N. G. Cpl. Aug. 19, 1917; sgt. Oct. 19, 1917; comm'd 2nd Lt. May 15, 1918. Tr. Cp. Shelby, Miss. 38th Div. Arr. France Oct. 2, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 14. 2nd Corps Sch. Chatillon, Oct. 15-Nov. 30, 1918; 3rd Corps Sch. Clamecy, Jan. 1-31, 1919. Left Bn. Cp. Devens; dis. April, 1919. I^S2 West 6th St., Anderson, I, id. 2nd Lieutenant Glenn G. Dicker Joined Bn. Dec, 1917; trans. Aug., 1918. Address unknown. Note: The following eleven officers were commis- sioned from the ranks of the Battalion, with the excep- tion of Lieut. Chamberlain, and were carried after re- joining as "casual officers attached to Battalion Head- quarters." 2nd Lieutenant Clinton L. Allen Born Oct. 3. 1893. Clk. Orient Ins. Co., Htfd. Mar- ried Oct. 5, 1917. Enl. Mar. 1, 1915 Tp. B. Cpl. Apr. 28, 1917; sgt May 25, 1917; supply-sgt. Co. B. Sept. 15, 1918. Inf. Cand. Sch. La Valbonne, Oct. 15, 1918- Jan. 15. 1919. Rejoined Bn. Jan. 23 and attached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. Co. B. football team. Mcx. Border 1916. S Elizalnih St., Hartford, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant George H. Berlin Born Nov. 5, 1891. Salesman. Enl. Tp. L, C. N. G. Mar. 29. 1917. Cpl. |uly 1, 1917; sgt. Sept. 27, 1917; All sectors. Shell wound Mandres Apr. 20, 1918. M. G. Sch. Langres Sept. 25, 1918; Army Cand. Sch. La Val- bonne, Oct. 15-Jan. 17, 1919. Rcioined Bn. Feb. 12, and attached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. Troop G, Cav. N. Y. N. G. lulv 1, 19H)-May 1, 1917; Mcx. Border, 1916. 43.9 So. Prospect Ave., Hartford, Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 185 2nd Lieutenant Henry A. Brown Born Feb. IS, 1893. Ins. agent. Enl. Tp. B. Feb. 16, 1916. Pvt. 1 cl. May 1, 1917; cpl. May 2o, 1917; sgt. Feb. 1, 1918. All sectors. Inf. Cand. Sch. La Valbonne Oct. 15, 191S-Jan. 15, 1919. Rejoined Jan. 23 and at- tached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. Mex. Border 1916. 6d Evcrgreoi Ave., Hartford, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant Rodman W. Chamberlain Born Jan. 13, 1892. Asst. purch. agt., Stanley Wks., New Britain. Enl. Co. I, 1st Inf., C. N. G., June 20, 1916. Cpl. Aug. 3, 1916; .sgt. Feb. 16, 1917; conim'd 2d Lt. Mar. 26, 1917 and trans. Co. E, 102d Inf. 1st Corps Sch., Gondrecourt, Dec, 1917. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Injured on patrol, Toul Sector, May 28; hosp. Chauniont, Chateauroux and Biarritz to Sept., 1918. Assigned to 101 st M. G. Bn. Oct. 22 and attached Bn. Hqrs., Meuse- Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27; hosp. to Dec. 1918. Rejoined 102d Inf.; ret. U. S. with Regt.; dis. Apr. 29, 1919. Citations from 102d Inf., 26th Div. and C. H. Q., A. E. F. for "conspicuous bravery in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy on night of Feb. 28, 1918." Recommended in Div. order for D. S. C. for same deed. Mex. Border, 1st Conn. Inf., 1916. 93 Harrison St., New Britain, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant James A. S. Durston Born Mar. 22, 1893. Married June 20, 1917. Sales- man, Royal Typewriter Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. L June 12, 1917. L. cpl. Aug. 1, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Oct., 1917. All sectors. Inf. Cand. Sch., La Valbonne, Oct. 14, 1918. Rejoined Jan. 23, 1919; attached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. Co. C football team. 4403 Springdale Ave., Forest Park, Baltimore, Md. 2nd Lieutenant Lawrence H. Hansel Born Jan. 30, 1898. Student Yale. Enl. June 21, 1916. Tp. B. Mex. Border and furloughed to Reserve Feb. 26, 1917. Active service July 25, 1917, Tp. L. Cpl. Aug. 3, 1917; sgt. April 2, 1918. All sectors. Inf. Cand. Sch. La Valbonne, Oct. 14, 1918. Rejoined Jan. 23, 1919. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. R. O. T. C, Plattsburg, July 5-Aug. 8, 1915. 1144 Prospect Ave., Hartford, Conn. 186 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 2nd Lieutenant Roy D. Heymann Born Dec. S, 1890. Purchasing agt., Arrow Elec. Co., Htfd. Married Apr. 10, 1917. Enl. Co. B, Niantic, Aug. 23, 1917. Pvt. 1 cl. Jan. 4, 1918; cpl. Feb. 1; sgt. Apr. 1, 1918; Bn. sgt. maj. July 1, 1918. Jan. 1918 British S. A. Sch. M. G. Sec. Camiers including 10 days with British, Vimy Ridge. Rejoined Bn. Feb. 13. All sectors. Inf. Can. Sch. La Valbonne Oct. 15, 1918- Jan. 15, 1919. Rejoined Bn. Jan. 23 and attached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1<)19. Dis. at Devens, April 19, 1919. 139 Girard Ave, II art ford, Coiui. 2nd Lieutenant Herbert C. Noyes Born Oct. 5, 1894. Sargent & Co., New Haven. Enl. April 21, 1917, Tp. D, C. N. G., New Haven. Cpl. June 28, 1917. Trans. Bn. Hqrs. Aug. 1917. All sectors. 1st Corj^s Sch. Gondrecourt, May 3-June 3, 1918; Army Cand. Sch. Langres, Oct. 30, 1918-Jan. 31, 1919. Re- joined Feb. and attached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 30, 1919. 393 Orchard St., New Haven, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant Luther J. Parker Born June 18, 1891. Salesman, Parker Shirt Co., New Britain. Enl. May 15, 1917 Tp. B. Pvt. 1 cl. Aug. 15, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Feb. 1, 1918; 1st sgt. Co. B. Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. French M. G. Sch. Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dec. 10, 1917; 1st Corps Sch. Gondrecourt, June 8-July 7, 1918; Inf. Cand. Sch. La Valbonne, Oct. 15-Jan. 15, 1919. Rejoined Jan. 23 and attached Bn. Hqrs. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. Capt. Co. B football team. 73 Evergreen Ave., Hartford, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant Roberts K. Skinxer Born Oct. 1, 1886. Married. Real estate broker. Enl. Tp. B Apr. 4, 1917. Pvt. I cl. May 26, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918. French M. G. Sch. Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dcc. 10, 1917. In charge B Co. mo- tors from May 10, 1918. All sectors. Motor Transport Sch. Dccizc Nov. 1-I)ec. 23, 1918. Comm'd 2d Lt. Mar. 20, 1919. Ll'i No. Beacon St., Hartford, Conn. History or The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 187 2nd Lieutenant William C. Skinner, Jr. Born Dec. 27, 1888. Married. Real estate broker. Enl. Aug. 14, 1917 Tp. B. Niantic. Pvt. 1 cl. Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Apr. 1, 1918. British S. A. vSch., M. G. Sec. Camiers Dec. 7, 1917-Jan. 31, 1918, including 10 days British front Vimy Ridge. Rejoined Bn. Feb. 13. AH sectors. Comm'd 2d Lt. Ordn. Dept., Oct. 20, 1918. Trans. Nov. 9, Ordn. Sch. Is-sur-Tille. Ret. U. S. Jan. 21, 1919; dis. Jan. 28, 1919. Farmington, Conn. The following were commissioned on or after leaving the Battalion and did not serve with it as officers. Headquarters Company Captain Dwight A. Pease Born Oct. 26, 1892. Clk. Hart & Hegeman Mfg. Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B, Dec. 8, 1914. Pvt. 1 cl. Sept. 1, 1916; L. cpl. Dec. 6; cpl. Dec. 27, 1910. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14, 1917. Sgt. May 3; Sqdn. sgt.-major May 19, 1917. Army Cand. Sch., Langres, Dec 1 1917-March9, 1918. Comm'd 2d Lt. Jan. 29, 1918. M. G. .Sch., Langres Mar. 13-May 24, 1918. Trans. 35th Div. May 26; 33rd Div. July 22, 1918; 110th M. G. Bn., 29th Div. July 29. La Houssaye, Belfort and Meuse-Arg. Shell wound Oct. 23, Verdun. His company assisted attack of left of 26th Div. in Molleville Ravine. 1st Lt. Oct. 10, 1918; Capt. May 2, 1919. Ret. U. S. May 22; dis. June 14, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 405 Farmington Ave, Hartford, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant Wilfred H. Tiernax Born Oct. 12, 1893. Clk. Enl. Mar. 13, 1916, Tp. A, C. N. G. New Haven. Cpl. Sept. 15, 1916; trans. Tp. M Apr. 14, 1917; sgt. May 19, 1917; supply-sgt. May 20, 1917. Trans. Bn. Hqrs. Aug. 27, 1917. Sgt. major. (Bn. supply) Sept., 1917. Det. ser. Liverpool with Bn. baggage detail Oct. 23. Rejoined Nov. 26. All sec- tors. Comm'd 2d Lt. Q. M. Corps Dec. 7, 1918; trans. Troop-train Ser. Dec. 25. Univ. of Toulouse Mar. 1- June 20, 1919. Ret. U. S ; dis. July 3, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916, Tp. A. 72 Carmcl St., New Haven, Conn. Company B 1st Lieutenant Paul H. Alling Born July 16, 1896. Student Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. B Apr. 25, 1917. Trans. 102d M. G. Bn. Dec. 6, 1917 on receiving comm. 1st Lt. dating from Oct. 26, 1917 (exam, taken in U. S.). Trans. 3rd Cav. Jan. 12, 1918; Adv. Sec, S. O. S. Apr. 1 ; 2d sec. Gen. Staff, G. H. Q., Chaumont, June 3, 1918-June 10, 1919. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Arg. with 2d and 5th Divs. as guide to French and British observers. Ret. U. S. June 28; dis. July 17, 1919. Hamden, Conn. 188 History of Tin: 101 sr Machine Gun Battalion 2nd Lieutenant Vine R. Parmelee Born Aug. 2, 1894. Law elk. Enl. Tp. B Dec. 8, 1914. Cpl. Mar. 8, 1917; sgt. Apr. 28, 1917; aet'g Bn. sgt.- maj. Aug. 1917; Lst sgt. Co. B Feb. 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Spec, duty Div. mail detail St. Nazaire Dec. 1917. AI. G. Sch. Gondrecourt, Feb. 20-Mar. 27, 1918. Army Cand. Sch. Langres, July 80, 1918. Comm'd 2d Lt. Sept. 25, 1918 and as- signed 309th M. G. Bn., 78th Div., Oct. 1; Meuse- Arg. Gassed Oct. 19; hosp. to Nov. 15 and Jan. -Apr. 1919. Attached Hqrs. Stafif, A. E. F. Univ. Beaune. Apr.-June, 1919. Ret. U. S. Aug. 3; dis. Aug. 22. 1!)19. Alex. Border, 191(i. S4I Asylum Ave, Hartford, Coini. 2nd Lieutenant Robert W. Thomas, Jr. Born July 3, 1888. Clk. Orient Ins. Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B. Feb. 16, 1910. Pvt. 1 cl. Sept. 1, 1916; cpl. Mar. S, 1917; sgt. May 28, 1917. Army Cand. Sch. Langres Dec. 1, 1917- Mar. 12, 1918. Comni'd 2d Lt. Jan. 29, 1918. M. G. Sch. Langres. Mar. 12-May 18, 1918. Assigned 14th. M. G. Bn., 5th Div. Anovild Sector May 20, 1918. Baccarat, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Arg. M. G. Sch. Langres, Nov. 1.5-Dec. 20, 1918. Trans. 316th M. G. Bn., 81st Div. May 1(>, 1919. Cited 5th Div. orders: •■2d Lt. Robert W. Thomas, Co. A. 14th M. G. Bn. For exceptional devotion to duty, enerey. and zeaL On Nov. 5, 1918, at Clery-le-Petit, France, (hnint: tlir Mciisc-.\rgonne offensive, he directed the fire of liis phitooii in Mippr.it i.l tlie troops which were attacking on the oijposite banlv of the Mi'U.sc Uivcr. ITnder direct oliservation of the enemy, he constantly exposed himself, per- son:ill>- directing each gun in its difficult task of overhead fire, thereby furnishing an inspiring example to his men. ]5v command of .Major-General Ely. C. A. TRorr. Chief of Sl Ecli^rd'ood R(l., Lake Forest, 111. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 189 2nd Lieutenant Leslie A. Tracy Born Feb. 11, 1896. Accountant. Enl. Tp. B May S, 1917. Pvt. 1 cl. Aug. 23; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1918. 1st sgt. Mar. 15, 1918. Trans. Art. Sch., Saumur, Aug. 1; comm'd 2d Lt. Oct. 31, 191S; assigned 123rd Fd. Art., 33rd Div. Dec. 18, Army of Occ, Trier, Germany. Ret. U. S. May 15; dis. May 29, 1919. Co. B football team. 56If New Britain Ave., Harlfoni, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant Ralph S. Butler Born Apr. 10, 1891. Ins. agent. Enl. Tp. B June 12, 1917. Trans, to hosp. from Niantic Oct. 2; in hosp. Cp. Devens, Nov. 15-22; trans. 151st Dep. Brigade Nov. 22; 301st Sup. Tr. Dec. 29. Promoted cpl. R. O. T. C, May 15; M. G. Tr. Sch., Cp. Hancock, Ga. June 18. Comm'd 2d Lt. Sept. 6, 1918. Trans. 33rd M. G. Bn., nth Div., Cp. Meade, Oct. 8. Dis. Jan. 30, 1919. ISo Church St., New Haven, Conn. COMPANY C 1st Lieutenant Richard E. Moore Born July 4, 1888. Mtna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B Mar. 12, 1912. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14, 1917. Saddler Dec .30, 1912; cpl. Jan. 21, 1916; sgt. Mar. 8, 1917; 1st sgt. Tp. L. May .3 1917 Trans. Bn. Hqrs. as ordn. sgt. Oct. 1917. Det. ser Liverpool Oct. 23 Bn. baggage detail. Rejoined Nov. 28. Army Cand. bch. Langres, Nov. 30-Mar. 1918; Automatic Weapon Sch. Mar.-May, 1918 French front, Verdun Apr. 1918 for instruction. Comm d 2d Lt. Mav'3, 1918; trans. 9th M. G. Bn., 3rd Div., May 20. Aisne Def , Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, local operation Fismes, bt.Mihiel, Meuse-Arg. Army of Occ. Coblenz area. 1st Lt^ bept 5, 1918. Ret. U S Aug 19, 1919 to Cp. Pike, Ark,; Adj. 9th M. G. Bn.; later aid to Gen.' Lewis commanding post. Mex. Border, 1916. Recommended for Croix de Guerre. Citation: "Ist Lt. Richard E. Moore, Co. D, 9th M G Bn. For extraordinary heroism in action. During the terrinc bombardment of July 14-1.5, 1918, at Crezancy in the Second Battle ot the M-irnc fliis officiT with absohite disregard for his own safety, per- sonallv .hiiMtrd the placiiin ..I the inarhine-guiis under his command, which' proved U, l)c of ^rcat vahic when the enemy launched their at- tack, and which aided materially in turning them back. Later he led his platoon across the river and, after assisting in the capture ot Jaul- gonne, was ordered to go forward in advance of the infantry tor the purpose of routing an enemy machine-gun nest winch was imperting the progress of our troops. In the face of a great danger lie aeeoinphslie(l his mission, silencing the enemy machine-gun, and, although eoiupletei> surrounded at one time, held his position, and delivered such an anni- hilating fire, he personally manning one of. the guns, that our troops were enabled to continue the advance." 6 Fales Street. Hartford, Conn. 190 History oi- '1'hk 101 si AIaciiine Gun Battalion 1st Lieutexant Maurice L. Fl'rxi\all Born Jan. '2S, 1894. Civ. Engr. Conn. State Highway IX'pl. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 16, 191(5. Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. Cpl. May 3. 1917; sgt. July 2, 1917. Chemin des Dames. Comm'd 2d Lt. Ordn. Dcpt. Mar. 14, 1918 and trans, office Ch. of Ordn., Chaumont. Assigned Adv. Unit, Ordn. Park, Void, Apr. 20, 1918; later to 2d Army M. G. & S. A. Center, Void. Promoted 1st Lt. Mar. 9, 1919. Ret. U. S. May 22; dis. Mav 29, 1!)19. Mex. Border, 191(). Co. C football and baseball 1 rams. (!() Fairfield Ave, Ilarljord, Coiiii. 1st Lieutexaxt E. Saxdersox Cushmax Born July 22, 1892. Dept. Supt. Colt's Fire Arms Co. Enl. Tp. B Mar. 1, 1915. Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. Cook Sept. 1, 19 IG; cpl. Dec. 6, 1916; mess sgt. Apr. 12, 1917; comm'd 1st Lt. Jan. 2, 1918. Trans. 1st Div. as M. G. inspector and in command Mob. Ordn. Rep. Shop No. 1. Trans. May 6 G. H. Q., Chaiunont, asst. to M. G. and S. A. Insp., A. E. F. foul, Chateau- Thierry, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Arg. on inspection tours. Refused captaincy Mar. 1919 in order to return to U. S. Dis. Mar. 14, 1919. Co. C football team. Mex. Border, 1916. HI drove .Si., Xnc Haven, Conn. 2xD Lieutexaxt Francis A. Christensex Born lulv 13, 1894. Clk. Orient Ins. Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B, "Mar. 30, 1915. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14, 1917. Cpl. May 3, 1917; sgt. July 2, 1917; 1st sgt. Co. C, Oct. 3, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau- Thierry. Amiy Cand. Sch., Langres, Aug. 1, 1918; 2d Lt. Sept. 25. Trans. 314th Inf., 79th Div.; Troyon, (jrande Montagne, and Meuse-Arg. 3rd Corps Sch., Clamecy, Nov. 17-Dec. 17, 1918. Reserve, Armv of Occ. Belgium to Feb. 5, 1919. Ret. U. S. Mav 2(); "dis. June 2, 1919. Mex. Border, 191(). Co. C football team. 1.9 Baltimore St., Hartford, Con)i. 2nd Lieutexaxt Sidnkv \V. Rodda Horn Mav 6, 1891. Salesman. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 16. 1916. Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. Cpl. May 3, 1917; mess-.sgt. Aug. 1,1917; Bn. sgt.-maj. Apr. 1, 1918. With Bn. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Army Cand. Sch. Langres, Aug. 1; comm'd 2d Lt. Sept. 25, 1918. Assigned 314th Inf. 79th Div. Oct. 3; Troyon and Meuse-Arg. Army of Occ. Reserve, Belgium. Ret. U. S. May 26; dis. June 2. 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. (lien Lvon, Pa. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 191 2nd Lieutenant Ian D. Mackenzie Born Nov. 17, 1890, Edinburgh, Scotland. Clk. Htfd. Machine Screw Co. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 16, 1916. Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. Sgt. May 3, 1917. With Bn. Chemin des Dames. 1st Corps Sch., Gondrecourt, Jan. 3-Feb. 3, 1918. Trans. Amiy Cand. Sch., Langres, Apr. 1 ; comm'd 2d Lt. July 9, 1918. Instructor Army M. G. Sch. Langres, July 9-Sept. 12. Trans. 89th Div., Sept., 1918; St. Mihiel, Meuse-Arg. Gassed Thiau- court, Oct. 4. Actg. athletic officer, 89th Div., Jan.- Mav, 1919. Ret. U. S. Mav; dis. June 1, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. S.3 Gillett St., Hartford, Conn. 2nd Lieutenant Felix E. Baridon Born Feb. 4, 1891. Manufacturing. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 16. 1916; Trans. Tp. L Apr. 14, 1917. Pvt. 1 cl. Aug. 1. 1*)17; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Oct. 1, 1918; comm'd 2d Lt. Oct. 30, 1918. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. Trans. G. H. O., Chaumont, Oct. 1-30, 1918; 30th Div. Nov.. 1918~ G. H. Q., Chaumont, Feb., 1919; 3rd Div. Armv of Occ, Coblenz area. Germany, March; 28th Div. "to U. S.; dis. May 4, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. JjO Winlhrop St., Torr'nigto)i. Conn. 2nd Lieutenant William J. Thornton Born Dec. 6, 1891. Chief elk.. Conn. State Highway Dept. Enl. Tp. L. May 8, 1917. Pvt. Icl Aug. 1, 1917. Trans. Hqrs. Co. Aug. 27. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. Engr. Cand. Sch., Langres, Oct. 1-Dec. 28, 1918; as- signed Co. D, 101st Engrs. Jan. 4, 1919. Comm'd 2d Lt., Engr. Corps, Mar. 20, 1919. Trans. Co. E, 101st Engrs. Ret. U. S. and dis. May 20, 1919. 353 Prospect Ave., Hartford. Conn. 192 History of Tiik 101st Maciiixe Gun Battalion Interpreter Leo Edguard Woroxick ("Coi.onel") Interpreter assigned to the Battalion from French MiUtary Mission to American Army. Horn, Paris, May -i. IS.SO. Pearl Ijuyer, Maiiritz, Saks & Co., Paris. In Australia when war broke out . Returned to France and joined colors Dec. 24, 1914. 31st French Inf. to May, 1910; Sth Engrs. to Oct. 12, 1917; Sch. for Interpreters to Oct. 20; trans. 162d French Inf., Xeuf- chateau Area as interpreter with 101st, 102d, 103rd, and l()4th Am. Inf Kcgts. Assigned 101st Bn. Dec. 20, 1917. Trans. Dec. 10, lOl.S to hillcting office 3rd Am. Army Coblenz. Dis. Apr. 21, 1919. Continuous SI i\ ill' 4 yrs. 3 mos. Awarded Croix de Guerre Jan. 7, 1915 for fur- ni-hini; information to Fr. G. H. Q. Discovered two mines were to be til 111 under trenches of 31st Fr. Inf. Trenches vacated, resulting in .-a\ uiy; ninety lives. Citation: ".5th Corps d'Arni^e, 10th Division 31e \iii\. ilTnfanterie, EXTRAIT de I'Ordre du Regiment. Le Lt. Colonel Coniniandant le 31e Rgt. d'lnf. cite a I'ordre du regiment le militaire dont le nom suit: WORONICK, Leo, 2e CI. Mle. 6e Cie. 'A donne comme agent de liai- son de nombreuses preuves de courage et de devouenient, et tout spe- cialement le 23 Mars 1916 dans I' accomplissement de missions peril- leuses, sous un bombardement des plus violents.' le 18 Aoiit, 1910. le Lt-Colonel Cdt. le Rgt. stgne: CUNY" 79 Ooslcrpark, Amsterdam, Hollaiid. Headquarters Company Private, First Class, Roy E. Atherton ("Holie") Born Dec. 30, 1896. Farmer. Enl. Apr. 15, 1917, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans. Co. A, 101st M. G. Bn., Niantic, Aug. 20, 1917. Later trans. Hqrs. Co. All sectors. Greensboro, Vt. Wagoner Henry A. Bennett ("Tiny") Born June 28, 1894. Laborer. Enl. July 1, 1917, 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt. 1 cl. Aug. 1, 1918; wag. Oct. 4, 1918. All sectors. Served with B Co. part of time. Det. ser. 101st Supply Train, 1st Anny Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 20-Jan. 20, 1918. Lincoln, Vt. Wagoner Mario A. Bianchi ("Biank") Born June 30, 1895. Hospital attendant. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf. lune 18, 1917, Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20. 1917. Trans. B Co. Apr. 1, 1918 and back to Hqrs. Co. in August. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23, Verdun. Hosp. Nov. 3- Dec. 15, 1918. 1618 Broadway, Piqua, Ohio. 194 History of The 101st AIachixe Gun Battalion* Sergeant Harrison C. Bracken ("Brack") Born June 20, 1S1)3. Priv. Sect'y, JEtna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp' B Apr. 4, 1917. Trans. Co. C Aug. 22, 1917 as Co. elk. Cpl. Aug. 27, 1917. Sgt. Oct. 1, 1918. Trans. Hqrs. Co. Oct. 1, 1918, as Personnel Sgt. All sectors. S Hubbard PL, Wethersficld, Conn. Private Arthur F. Clark ("Ci.arkik") Born 1S92. Factory hand. Fnl. Tp. 1) Cav. Conn. N. C. New Haven MaV 2, n)17. Trans. Heirs. Co. Aug. 27, 1917. UO Ralston Ave. Whitncxvillc. Conn. Wagoner Frank J. Clark ("Hick") Born Oct. 16, 1896. Fanner. Enl. June 27, 1917, 1st \'t. Inf. Ft. F.than .\llcn. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All see- tors. Del. ser. lOlst Supply Train, 1st Army Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 24 Dec. 10, 19l8. Orange, 17. Skrgkant Major Rodney G. Dennis ("Rod") Bom Sept. 1."), 1896. Student Yale. luil. lune 12, 1917. Tp. B. Cpl. Aug. 28, 1917; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918; Bn. sgt. maj. Oct. 17, 191S. Trans. Bn. Hqrs. Oct. 14. All sectors. 308 W. 82d St., New York, N. Y. History of The 101 st Maciiixe Gux Battalion 195 Field Clerk Adolph E. Fenselau ("Fen") Born July 5. ISOo. Priv. Sect'y Enl. Tp. L. June 5, 1917. Cpl. May 1, lOlS; sgt. June 1, 1918; fd. clk^May 1, 1919. Bn. elk. until trans. Sept. 26. 1918 Div. Message Center. All Div. sectors. Trans. Jan. 2-1, 1919 Am. Commission to Negotiate Peace and later to Provost Marshall's Off. Paris. Trans. Aug. 8 as sect'y to Brig.- Gen. Bandholtz. Am. Inter-Allied Milit. Mission to Hungary. Sent to Budapest where married Elizabeth Krenn Jan. 2, 1920. Dis. Feb. 7, \'ienna. Civilian sect'y to Col. Causev. Am. Technical Adviser to Austria. Ret. U. S. July 16' 1920. 11 Warroiloii Ave, Hartford, Co)iii. "Wagoner Frank L. Folsom ("Folie") Born Aug. 2. 1892. Farmer. Enl. June 28. 1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All sectors. Gassed A'erdun Oct. 23. Det. ser. 101st Supply Train, 1st Anny Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 24-Dec. 10, 1918. Served part of time in B Co. Tioibriii^c, 17. Wagoner Percy L. Griswold ("Perc") Born Mar. 22, 1898. Auto mech. Enl. Jtme 30. 1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. AH sectors. Det. ser. 101st M. P. Hqrs. Aug. 28-Sept. S, 1918: 101st Sup. Train 1st Armv Hqrs., Souillv, Nov. 24-Jan. 10. 1919. Morrisville, 17. Private Harold H. Henry ("WHiFriT") Bom Nov. 1. 1891. Fanner. Enl. Tune 25, 1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans. Co. A, 101st M. G. Bn., Niantic. Aug. 27; later to Co. B; thence to Hqrs. Co. All sectors. Det. ser. 101st Supplv Train 1st Armv Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 2-I-Jan. 10, 1918.' Morctowii. ]'t. 196 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Wagoner William Hull ("Bill") Born July 25, 1893. Farmer. Enl. lune 22, 1917 1st Vt. Inf." Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All sectors. Brook Held, 17. Wagoner Daniel A. James ("Jim") Born Mar. 22, 1890. Landscape gardener. Enl. July 9, 1917 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All sectors. Anhur)i, Maine. Private Andre S. Janet ("Jennie") Born Sept. 5, 1891. Architectural draftsman. Enl. May 8, 1917 Tp. B. Trans. Ordn. Det. Hqrs. Co. Sept. 25, 1917. All sectors. h'M Albany Ave., Haiiford. (.'oiin. I Cook John P. Kipp ("Kipper") Born Mar. 20, 1884. Married. Carpenter. Enl. Aug. 9, 1910 1st Vt. Inf. as cook. Trans, from Co. B Dec. 21, 1917. Sk. in hosp. England Oct. 1917. Rejoined Dec. Det. ser. Rimaucourt as cook Bn. baggage detail. Rejoined Mar. 19 IS. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Mex. Border, 1910. 57 Beaeli Si.. Henniiiy^ton. 17. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 197 Wagoner Malcolm MacAskill ("Scotty") Born Mar. 14, 1892. Granite cutter. Enl. June 27, 1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All sectors. Granitevillc, Vt. Wagoner John MacDonald, Jr. ("Jake") Born Mar. 23, 1894. Granite cutter. Enl. June 27, 1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All Sectors. Springfield, Vt. Wagoner Henry E. McCann ("Faithful Phil") Born July 31, 1896. Chauffeur. Enl. Niantic Aug. 1, 1917. Wag. Nov. 2, 1917. Det. ser. as driver in Div. Hqrs. Toul Sector. All sectors. 43 Clinton St., So. Manchester, Conn. 0^ Wagoner Donald McDonald ("Mac") Born June 4, 1895. Granite cutter. Enl. June 2, 1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All sectors. Det. ser. 101st Supply Train, 1st Army Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 24-Jan. 10, 1919. 9 Bassctt St., Barre, Vt. 198 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Wagoner William W. Menard ("Frog") Born July 15, 1894. Laborer. Enl. June 1, 1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All sec- tors. Bdrn\ Vt. i Wagoner Collies B. JNIillard ("Coll.") Born April 8. 1893. Farmer. Enl. May 27, 1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 20. 1917. All sec- tors. Morrisvillc, 17. Wagoner Daniel O. Nash ("Dan") Born Jan. 22, 1892. Paper maker. Enl. [ulv 25. 1917 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan AUen. Wag. Aug. 20,'l917. All sectors. Keene, N. H. ^^ v ■^■♦' ^ i Private, First Class, Samuel C. Neiburg ("Cease") Born Jan. 6, 1897. Student. Enl. Nov. 18, 191() M. G. Co. 1st Vt. Inf. St. Albans. All sectors. Det. ser. Div. Hqrs., Montigny, Dec. 11-Jan. 7, 1919. Bn. baseball team. 41 federal SI., St. Alhaius, 17. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 199 Corporal Albert Newman ("Gus") Born Nov. 2, 1891. Accountant. Enl. Apr. 26, 1917 Tp M, 3rd Sqdn. Conn. Cav. New Haven. Trans. Niantic to Hqrs. Co. Cpl. Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. Bn. motor-cycle messgr. 2d Corps Sch., Signal Sec, Chatillon, Dec. 22-Feb. 6, 1919. 377 Ellsworth Ave., New Haven, Conn. Sergeant Dudley M. North ("Dud") Born Oct. 12, 1894. Married July 26, 1917. Mach., New Haven Screw Co. Enl. June 23, 1916 Tp. A., C N. G., New Haven. Pvt. Icl June 22, 1917. Trans. Ordn. Det., Hqrs. Co. Sept. 25, 1917. Ordn. sgt. May 211918. All sectors. 2d Corps Sch., Signal Sec, Chat- illon Dec. 22-Feb. 6, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. 136 Derby Ave., New Haven, Conn. Private James R. Phillips ('-Rookie") Born Aug. 26, 1895. Paper maker. Enl. Jime 16, 1917 M. G. Co. 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. Wounded and gassed Verdun Oct. 27. Bn. motor-cycle messgr. Attached Div. Hqrs. for a time as messgr. 36 Elm Si., Norwood, N. Y. Wagoner Peter Picket ("Pete") Born July 29, 1894. Farmer. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen June 24, 1917. Wag. Aug. 20, 1917. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Wounded Oct. 23 Ver- dvm; hosp. Mesves, Neuf chateau, Chateauroux. Re- joined Bn. Pvlar. 22, 1919. Served part of time in C Co. Randolph, Vt. 200 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Private John Roberts ("Jicky") Born Jan. 21, 1895. Farmer. Enl. June 23, 1917, 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. Served in Co. C Apr. 1, 1918-Feb. 15, 1919. Det. ser. 101st Supply Train, 1st Army Hqrs., Souilly, Nov. 24-Jan. 10. 1919. Brookjicid, 17. Wagoner Harry E. Smith ("Rusty") Born Dec. 31, 1886. Blacksmith. Enl. June 26, 1917 M. G. Co., 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen. Trans. D Co. 101st M. G. Bn. Aug. 27, 1917. Wag. Sept. 24, 1917. Trans, from Co. D, 103d M. G. Bn. Jan. 14, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser. Div. Hqrs. as motor-cycle messgr. Nov. 17, 1918-Feb. 15, 1919. 52 Kellogg St., Portland. Mc. '> ■ H :2 i k} I lL_i , Sergeant Major Urson W. Smith ("Ration") Born Dec. 10, 1892. Toolmaker. Enl. May 2. 1917 Tp. A, C. N. G., New Haven. Pvt. 1 cl. Apr. 1 1918; cpl. Nov. 11, 1918; Bn. supply sgt. with rank sgt. maj., Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. Millers FalLs, Mass. -/xt -^ Private John W. Sullivan ("Sullie") Born 1S99. Machinist. Enl. Apr. 16, 1917 Tp. D, C. N. G., New Haven. Trans. Ordn. Det., Hqrs. Co., Sept. 25, 1917. £15 Humphrey St., New Haven, Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 201 Private Ancel L. Turcotte ("Turk") Born Oct. 29, 1898. Machinist. Enl. Nov. 16, 1916 M. G. Co. 1st Vt. Inf. St. Albans. All sectors. Det. ser. Div. Hqrs. Sept. 1-Nov. 11, 1918. 36 Walnut St., St. Albans, Vt. Sergeant George A. Williams ("Father") Born Nov. 25, 1882. Asst. at Tp. B Armory. Enl. Mar. 8, 1911 Tp. B. Trans. Tp. L. Apr. 14, 1917; to Hqrs. Co., Aug. 20, 1917. Stable sgt. May 21, 1917; All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 25; hosp. Le Mans Oct. 27-Nov. 7, 1918. Mex. Border, 1916. M. G. Co., 1st Inf. Conn. N. G. 1905-1908. 180 Benton St., Hartford, Conn. Sanitary Detachment Cook William G. B. Angermann ("Dutch") Born Sept. 16, 1892. Mechanic. Enl. June 20, l!>lfi, 1st Conn. Amb. Co., Htfd. Trans. 3rd Sqdn. Conn. Cav. July 25, 1917. Trans. Feb. 1, 1918, 104th Amb. Co., 26th Div. All sectors. Gassed Mandres April 20; hosp. Tours to July 5th. Ret. U. S. with Div.; dis. April 29, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916. Address unkninvn. Private Ernest E. Anderson" ("Whitie") Born April 7, 1896. Piano-tuner. Enl. Oct. 1917. Tr. Cp. Taylor. Arr. France April Sth. Joined Bn. Julv. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Sk. in hosp. Bordeaux Oct. 24, 1918. Ret. U. S. Dec. 9; dis. Jan. 27, 1919. 4iJ Obcrrick St., LaPoiie, Ind. Private Nemire Craft Joined Bn. Etrochey, Aug. 1918. Trans. 102(1 Amb. Co. Sept. 11. St. Mihiel, Troyon and Mcuse-Arg. Address iDikmnvu. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 203 Private, 1st Class, Harry J. Crompton ("Lenme") Born July 26, 1895. Shoe-cutter. Enl. April 21. 1917, Fd. Hosp. No. 1, N. H. N. G. Manchester. Arr. France Oct. 5; joined Bn. Jan. 21, 1918. All sectors. Citation: "The Division Commander takes great pleasure in citing in orders the following named officers and men who have shown marked gallantry and meritorious service in the capture of Torcy, Belleau. Givrv, Bouresches Woods Rochet Woods, Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-thicrrv, Etrepilly, Be- zuet, Epieds, Trugny and La Fere Woods to the .laulgonne — Fere-en- Tardenois Road, during the advance of this Division against the enemy from July 18th to 2.5th, 1918, in the Second Battle of the .Marne. PRiv.tTE, 1st Cl.\ss, Harry Crompton, Med. Det., 101st M. G. Bn. R. Edw.\rds Major General, Commandinn" Jfi Walnut St., Nashua, N. H. Private, 1st Class, Ernest A. Crossland ("Ernie") Born Jan. 23, 1895. Married. Student, dentistry. Enl. July 25, 1917, 5th Mass. Inf., N. G., Charleston. Arr. France Oct. 23; joined Bn. Dec. 6th. Trans. Feb. 5, 1918, 101st Sanit. Train; 103rd F. A.; 102d Fd. Hosp. Rejoined Bn. Nov. 24, 1918. 66 Colby St., Bradford, Mass. Private, 1st Class, Edward R. Curran ("Ed.") Born March 21, 1896. Student. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Trans. Div. Fd. Lab. Dec. 27, 1917; Med Det., Co. I, 104th Inf. Aug. 1918. All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 28; hosp. Bordeaux. Ret. U. S. Dec. 9; hosp. Cp. Merritt; dis. Jan. 9, 1919. 195 Fairview St., New Britain, Conn. Private Elias B. Denison ("Agent") Born May 2, 1886. Married. Hotel elk. Enl. Co. B Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Sk. in hosp. Oct. 3, 1917. Arr. France Jan. 22, 1918; joined Bn. June, 1918. Trans. Bn. San. Det. Sept. 1918. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames and Toul. 16th U. S. Inf. 1904-1907; U. S. Hosp. Corps 1909-1912. 288 Trumbull St., Hartford, Conn. 204 History of Tiik lOlsr Machink (Un l^Arr.M.ioN Private, 1st Class, Jewell W. Cjodard Bom Nov. 20. ISi):-;. Clk. Aetna LitV Ins. Co. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Pvt. 1st cl. 13ec. 4, 1917. Trans. Dec. 27 to Div. Fd. Lab. All Div. sectors. Sk. in hosp. Jan. 15-Feb. 8, 1!)!!). Ret. U. S. and dis. April 20, 1010. North Granby, Conn. l'in\ATE, 1st Class, Chaklks '1'. Inc.krsoll ("Doc") Horn Sept. 22. 1S90. Married. Clk. KnL lune 29, 1917, Isl Hy. Fd. Art., Me. N. G. Arr. France Oct. 30, I'.tlT; joined Bii. .livii. 2L All sectors. Classed north Chateau-Thierry .Inly 2.'); hosp. to .\uK 2."). Citation: "The Division Commander takes t;reat pleasure in eitint; in onlers the foMowini; named officers and men wlio liave shown marked tiallantrv and meritorious servi<'e in the cap- ture of Tori'y. Helleau. Oivry. Houresclies Woods, Rochet Woo.ls, Hill l!l() ov<'rl()okin(; Chateau-Thierry. l';trei)illy. Hezuet, lOpieds, Tru«ny. and La l'"erc Woods to the .lault;onn( — Fere-en-Tardenois Road, diuinc the advance of this Division against the enemv from .luly LSth to 2oth, I'.IIS. in Ihe Second Battle of the Marne. I'liiN \i'K. 1st Ci..\ss. CiiAui.Ks iNdKHsoi.t.. Mk». Dkt. lOlsT M.C.Bn. (' R Kdw.msds Miijor General, Comnianiliiid" IS Brhnonl Si.. PorlLuid. .1/c. I'RDAri;. 1st Class. Eugene F. Kelly ("CiEXE") Born April 24, 1S94. Sales clk. Enl. June 22, lOlC 1st Conn. Amb. Co., N. G. Trans. 3rd Sqdn. Conn. Cav. July 25, 1917. Trans. 101st Amb. Co., 26th Div. Feb. i, 191,S. All Div. sectors. Ret. U. S. April 17; dis. April 30, 1919. Mex. Border 1910. 20 Bium'H St., Hartford, Conn. Sergeant, 1st Class, Edward J. Kenefick ("Eddie") Born June 23, 1893. Phamiacist. Enl., April 5, 1912, l.st Conn. Amb. Co.. Htfd. Sgt. Aug. 31. 1917: sgt. 1st d. April '), li)lS. Trans. 3nl Sqdn. Conn. Cav. July 2.5, 1017. All sec- tors. Classed Verdun Oct. 23. Mex. Bonier. 101(1. Citation: "The Division Comin.mder takes ^reat pleasure in citinj; in orders the follow- ing named officers and men who have shown marked sallantry and mer- itorious service in the capture of Torev, Belleau, Givrv, Boiireschcs Woods, Rochet Woods. Hill 100 overlooking Chateau-Thierry. Etre- pilly. Be/.uet, IO))ieds, TruKii.v and La F'ere VVooils to the Jaulgonne — I'ere-en-Tardenois Koad, durins the ailvanco of tliis Diyision against the enemy from July LSth to 2.')th, lOlS, in the .Second Battle of the .Marne. Skuok.wt, 1st Ci..\!iiiii^//itiii, Afdss. Sergeant Arthur J. Kinley ("Gimme") Born Nov. 11, 1S91. Enl. 101st Engrs. M. N. G., Boston, July 25, 1917. Arr. overseas Oct. 9; joined Bn. Feb. (), 191 S. All sectors. Trans, to duty Base 82, Con- trcxeville; later office Ch. Surg. Tours. Sk. in hosp. Vittel. Sgt. Feb. 22, 1919. Ret. U. S. May 22; dis. May 27, 1919. 29 Nor III SI., Sloiir/nim, Mass. Private Herman B. Levin ("Pop") J]orn IX'c. 23, 1SS9. Box-office elk. Enl. [uly 10, 1917 1st Hy. Fd. Art., Me. N. G., Portland. Joined Bn. Sept. 17, 1917 Niantic. All sectors. Citation: "Tlic Division Comniantlor takes Ki'cat pleasure in citing in orders the following named offieers and men who have shown marked gallantry and meritorious service in the capture of Torcy, Belleau, Givry, jiourescluw Woods, Hochct Woods, II ill 190 overlooking Chft- teau-Thierry, lOtrepilly, Bezuet, FOpiods, Trngny :ins Major General, Commanding" D. S. C. awarded March 18, 1919: "Private Harold P. Saurman, San. Det., 102d M. G. Bn. For extraordinary heroism in action near Trugny, France, 22-23 July, 1918. Private Saurman displayed remark- able courage in going out under lieavy machine-gun and artillery fire, giving aid to wounded soldiers anti carrying them back to the dressing stations. Harry C. Hale Major General, Commanding" 21 Berwick Road, Medford, Mass. History of The 101st Machine Gux Battalion 207 Private, 1st Class, Anthony W. Telesca ("Murphy") Born June 20, 1893. Steamfitter. Enl. June 23, 1916 1st Amb. Co., C. X. G., Htfd. Trans. 3rd Sqdn. Conn. Cav. July 25, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 29. Citation: "The Division Commander is pleased to cite in orders the following named men who by their brave and courageous conduct under fire, at and near Brabant, north of Verdun, between October 18 and 26, 1918, have proved their right to this honor. Private, 1st Class, Anthony W. Telesca, Sax. Det., 101st M. G. Bn. R. Edwards Major General, Commandiny" 46 E. Albert St., Torrington, Conn. Private, 1st Class, Ernest J. Utzig ("Ernie") Bom Mar. 3, 1894. Printer, Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., Htfd. Enl. April 13, 1915, 1st Amb. Co. C. N. G., Htfd. Trans. 3rd Sqdn. Conn. Cav. Julv 2.5, 1917. Trans. Div. Fd. Lab. Dec. 28, 1917; later to Sanit. Det., 103rd M. G. Bn. Citation: "The following named officers and men who displayed marked gallantry and performed services of extraordinary value during opera- tions of this Division north of Verdun, between Oct. IS and Nov. 11, 1918, are congratulated by the Di\asion Commander and are hereby cited in orders. Priv.vte, 1st Class, Ernest J. Utzig, S.*.n. Det. 103rd M. G. Bn. C. R. Edwards Major General, Commanding" 15 Park St., Hartford, Conn. Company B i2i T Private, 1st Class, E. Whith.ksey Abbe ("Abie") Born March 29, 1898. Adjuster Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B April 25, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 26th; hosp. Monpont to Dec. 24th. Ret. U. S. Jan. 6th; dis. Jan. 31, 1919. riS S/ Cp. Upton, N. Y. Arr. France March 20, 1918; joined Bn. June 6. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. 176 Montrose Ave., Brooklyn. N. Y. J^^ dpTCn i Private Harry Blumk ("Hula-hula") liorn Sept. 15, 1888. Married. Waiter. Dft. Oct. 9, 1917. Tr. Cp. Upton. Arr. France, March 20; joined Bn. June G. All .sectors ex. Chemin des Dames and Toul. 34.i W. 15th St., New York, N. Y. Cook Jcjhn j. Bokdickkr ("Johnny") lk)rn April 4, 1895. Cook. Enl. as cook. 1st Vl. Inf. April 28, 1917, Ft. Ethan Allen. Assigned Bn. Hqrs. at Niantic; trans. B Co. Dec. 21, 1917. Det. ser. as cook, Bn. (Ictachment at French M. G. vSch., Chatenois Nov. 25 Dec. 10, 1917. All sectors. ISJ Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Private Samuel P. Bostater ("Sam") Born Mar. 25, 1891. Farmer. Dft. May 25, 1918. Tr. Cp. Zachary Taylor, Ky., and Cp. Beauregard, La. 142d M. C. Bn. Arr France Sept. i^; ioined Bn. Dec. 11. 1918. Brxtui, Ohio. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 215 Private Harry Bostow Born Sept. 10, 1888. Laborer. Dft. xMay 10, 1918- Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 4; joined Bn. Sept- 8. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed Verdun Oct. 29; hosp. to Dec. 11. R. F. D. 2, Ruso, N. D. Sergeant Benjamin A. Bourn ("Ben") Born Sept. 28, 1894. Clk., Colt Mfg. Co. Enl. Tp. B April 18, 1917. Pvt. 1st cl. July 1, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. Co. and Bn. base- ball teams. 430 Prospect Ave, Hartford, Conn. Wagoner William S. Bourn, Jr. ("Bill") Born June 14, 1893. Plumber. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917 Niantic. Pvt. 1st cl. Oct. 1, 1917; wag. March 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul. Sk. in hosp. Vichy, Monpont and Savenay, April 26-Sept. 12, 1918. Trans. P. W. E. Co. 28 St. Pierre de Corps. Ret. U. S. Jan. 21; dis. Feb. 12, 1919. 2 Howard Court, Biirnside, Conn. Sergeant Elmer G. Brackett ("Big Boy") Born Aug. 30, 1898. Student. Enl. Oct. 17, 1916, M. G. Co., 1st Vt. Inf., St. Albans. Cpl. April 3, 1917; sgt. July 8, 1917. All sectors ex. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- Arg. Wounded north Chateau-Thierry July 22; hosp. to Dec. 18, 1918, Chaumont, Mesves, Pougues-les- Eaux, Nevers. Trans. Co. H, 101st Inf. Jan. 1919. Det. ser., 101st Inf. Hqrs. month of Feb. Co. football and baseball teams; 101st Inf. football team. Dis. April 28, 1919. Metropolitan Police Force, Central Station, Detroit, Mich. 216 History of Tiik IOIst Machine Gun Battalion Pki\ate Clarence R. Brady ("Coxnie") Bom Jan. 17, 189S. Student. Enl. Tp. B Aug. 19, 1917 Niantic. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 9, 1918. Rejoined Bn. March 2(3. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Gassed Verdun Oct. 27; hosp. Bordeaux. Invalided U. S. Dec. 24, 191S; Cp. Merritt to Jan. IS. Dis. Ian. 27, 1919. J I', Wdsl/iiiiiloii SI., Xrw Brila'ni. Conn. Pri\'ate John Breeze ("Jack") Born Nov. 7, 1891. Ironworker. Dft. May 11, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, and Mayet, Fr. Arr. France August 9; joined Bn. Sept. 8. St. Mihiel. Troyon, Meuse-Arg. J 4 Commerce St., Scotia, N. Y. Private, 1stCl.,Trueman W. Brewer ("Old Timer") Born July 17, 1892. Laborer. Enl. Jan. ::;(), 1916. 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. All sectors. Mcx. Border, 1910. Si. Jolinsbury Coiirr, 17. r CokPoKAi, HAkoi.u J. Hrickley ("Brick") Born Oct. 8, 1896. Student. Trinitv Coll. Enl. Tp. B May 1, 1917. Pvt. 1st cl. Oct. IT), 19'l7; wag. March 1, 1918; cpl. Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. Co. and Bn. base- ball teams; Co. football team. Jcivcll Cil\\ Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 217 1 Corporal Garold Briggs ("Brigsie") Born Feb. 8, 1897. Laborer. Enl. Co. D 1st Vt. Inf. Feb. 21, 1916. Pvt. 1st class, Aug. 1, 1918; cpl. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound Oct. 23, Verdun. Mex. Border, 1916. 165 Railroad St., St. Jolnishitrw Vt. i Corporal Brainerd W. Brown ("Brownie") Born July 9, 1894. Clk. Enl. Tp. B May 21, 1917. Pvt. 1st class July 15, 1918; cpl. April 3, 1919. All sec- tors. Trans. Hqrs. Tp., 26th Div., Sept. 16, 1918. Ret. U. S. April 4; dis. April 29, 1919. WO Shuttle Meadow Ave., New Britain, Conn. Private Homer F. Brown ("Brownie") Born April 5, 1897. Farmer. Enl. Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen, June 22, 1917. Trans, from Bn. Hqrs. to Co. B April 1, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp. Rimau- court, Vichy. Tours and Brest, Oct. 16, 1918. Ret. U. S. Dec. 15, 1918; dis. Jan. 11, 1919. Randolph Center, Vt. Sergeant Howard J. Bruemmer ("Bruem") Born Jan. 24, 1894. Clk., Landers, Frary & Clark Co., New Britain. Enl. Tp. B April 11, 1917. Pvt. 1st class May 26, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound, Verdun, Oct. 23. In Dec, 1918, furnished model for pack- roll selected by Div. Commander from among competitors of other organizations and adopted as standard for Division. Extract from letter recommending a citation in orders: "On Oct. 25, 1918, Sgt. Bruemmer was struck by a shell fragment with such force as to knock him down and temporarily disable him, but he re- fused to be evacuated. It became necessary a short time later to make a relief of the 1st Platoon which had become exluiustcd while going to the support of the infantry in Houppy Bois. . . . When Sgt. Bruem- mer heard of the proposed relief he voluntarily offered to lead the relieving platoon forward, though well knowing the dangerous charac- ter of the road to be covered, and although himself severely shaken and unable to carry a pack, as the result of the explosion of the shell. I accepted his offer, and Sgt. Bruemmer effected the relief, remaining as platoon sergeant in the Houppy Bois under Lieut. Wainwright until the platoon and Company were ordered back to Marre. Chester F. Comey, 1st Lieut., 101st M. G. Bn., A. E. F." 197 West Main St., New Britain, Conn. 218 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion PvT. Stonewall J. Bryant ("Stonewall Jackson") Born Sept. 17, 1894. Farmer. Dft. May 26, 1918. Tr. Cp. Lee, Va. Arr. France Aug. o; joined Bn. Dec. 10. R. F. D. 2, Amherst, Va. Wagoner Malcolm I. Buck ("Buckie") Born April 20, 1896. Chauffeur. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf., St. Johnsbury, June 30, 1917. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. Wounded June 12, Toul Sector. Gassed Ver- dun Oct. 29. Injured in accident Nov. 27. Hosp. Chau- niont and Bordeaux. Invalided home and in hosp., Hoboken. Dis. Feb. 13, 1919. Six months in U. S. Navy, 1917. Barton, Vt. Wagoner Adrian S. Buckman ("Buck") Born Nov. 13, 1892. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B May 15, 1917. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. 92 Sterling St., Hartford, Conn. Wagoner William Burden ("Bill") Born Sept. 3, 1898. Chauffeur. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf. St. Johnsbury Dec. 16, 1916. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound north Chateau-Thierry July 22; hosp. Chaumont; rejoined Sept. 5th. 55 Western Ave., St. Johnsbury, Vt. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 219 Corporal Gerald D. Burxham ("Jerry") Born June 12, 1899. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Niantic Sept. 27, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Nov. 6, 1918; cpl. Dec. 1, 1918. Shell wound July 22, north Chateau- Thierry; hosp. to Aug. 8th. All sectors. 3 Greenfield St., Hartford, Conn. Private Harley G. Butler ("Harl") Born Nov. 28, 1893. School teacher. Dft. May 25, 1918. Tr. Cps. Zachary Taylor, Ky., Beauregard, La. Arr. France Sept. 3rd; joined Bn. Dec. 10th. R. F. D. 4, Montpclier, Ohio. Private Antonio Calastro ("Tony") Born March 1, 1895. House painter. Dft. Dec. 7, 1917. Tr. in 306th Inf. Cp. Upton. Arr. France March 20th; joined Bn. June 6, 1918. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. 67 James St., Nciv York, N. Y. Corporal Harry S. Campbell Born Sept. 29, 1884. Salesman for Colt Mfg. Co. in So. America. Enl. Niantic Aug. 22, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Feb. 1, 1918; cpl. Sept. 21, 1918. All sectors. 539 Callc Carrole, Adrogue, F. C. S. Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America. 220 History of The IUIst Machine Gun Battalion HoRSESHOER Louis Canzenella ("Custer") Born Julv 2, 1894. Blacksmith. Enl. Tp. B July 27, 1917. Horseshoer Aug. 1, 1917. Trans. M. G. Co., l()4th Inf., May 2, 1918; back to Co. March 1919; later to St. Aignan for return to U. S. All Div. sectors. Co. and Bn. baseball teams. Ret. U. S. April 22; dis. Apr. 24, 1919. />S^ Morris Si., Hartford, Conn. Private Gerolamo Casazza ("Cazaz") Born March 10, 1890. Sales elk. Dft. May 27, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr. France Aug. 4; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 7 James St., New York City. 'pS^-S *--\ Private Leo Cassidy ("Cass") Born Feb. IS, 1892. Machinist. Dft. May 13, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France, Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel. Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Sk. in hosp. Nov. 27-Dec. 5, 1918. S22 Buffalo St., O/can, .V. 1'. > "^*V: Private Eugenic Cassinki.i.i ("Caz") Born June 17, 1888. Laborer. Dft. May 2."). 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 337 E. l.'fdtli St., Neic York Cily. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 221 ^ > Private Samuel D. Cetner ("Sammie") Born Nov. 23, 1894. Sales elk. Dft. May 13, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Shell wound, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. Care of Jacob Cetner, 162 Tompkins Ave., Brooklvii, v. Y. Wagoner Edgar W. Champion ("Champ") Born July 30, 1894. Clk., Aetna Fire Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B April 4, 1917. Pvt. 1st class May 26, 1917; wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell-shocked north Chateau- Thierry July 22d; hosp. Bazoilles and Chauniont July -'3rd-Aug. 20th. Old Lvmc, Conn. Sergeant Harold N. Chandler ("Chan") Born Aug. 17, 1887. Clk., Conn. Mut. Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B April 23, 1917. Pvt. 1st class July 1, 1917; cpl. July 15, 1918; sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. AH sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 23rd; hosp. Nov. 5th-Dec. 23rd, Allerey. Sk. in Parker Hill Hosp., Boston, April 8-29. Dis. April 29, 1919. Conn. Mutual Life Ins. Co., Hartford, Conn. Private Porter B. Chase ("Port") Born May 27, 1896. Real estate broker. Enl. Niantic Aug. 21, 1917. Left Bn. at Niantic Sept. 30 for hosp. Dis. acct. physical disability Jan. 25, 1918. 12 Arnoldalc Road, West Hartford, Conn. 222 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion ^jat^it^ Private Floyd B. Clapp ("Clappie") Born Jan. 1, 1895. Mill hand. Enl. 1st Virginia Inf., N. G., June 23, 1916. Tr. Cp. McClellan, Ala. Arr. France April 15, 1918; joined Bn. May 13th. All sec- tors ex. Chemin des Dames. Gassed Verdun Oct. 23rd; hosp. Nov. Ist-Dec. 18th. Mex. Border July 1916 to Jan., 1917. 329 Church St., Danville, ]'a. Private Sam R. Click ("Bougie") Born Oct. 23, 1894. Clk. Dft. Sept. 22, 1917. Tr. Cp. Travis, Texas. Arr. France April 16, 1918; joined Bn. May 13. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Durant, Okla. Private Albert J. Combs ("Rooster") Born Feb. 15, 1894. Laborer. Dft. May 10, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga., and Mayet, Fr. Arr. France Aug. 6, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Lake George, N . Y . Wagoner John J. Corcoran ("Cork") ^I.mJ' Born Mav 29, 1890. Paper maker. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf., - ' •' Ft. Ethan Allen, June 29, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Sept. 21, 1918; wag. Nov. 6, 1918. Shell wound July 22, north Chateau-Thierry; hosp. Rejoined Bn. Sept. 20th. All Sv sectors ex. St. Mihiel. Fifzdale, Vt. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalioi 223 Sergeant George B. Coy ("Kid") Born May 10, 1900. Clk. Enl. Niantic Aug. 22, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917; rejoined Bn. March 26, 1918. Later trans. M. P. Co., 4th Corps. With Army of Occ, Coblenz; promoted cpl. and sgt. Re-en- Usted. Ardonia, N. Y. X Private, 1st Class, William J. Crane ("Bill") Born Jan. 25, 1893. Pliunber. Enl. Niantic Aug. 21, 1917. Pvt. 1st class April 1, 1918. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 11; rejoined 101st Bn. Jan. 23, 1918. All sectors. 272 S. Congress Ave., Atlantic City, N. J. Sergeant Richard Cushman ("Dick") Born Oct. 9, 1888. Married. Treas., Cushman Chuck Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B June 7, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917. Cpl. May 1, 1918; sgt. July 11, 1918. With this unit at Harchechamp and St. Aignan in charge of records. Ret. U. S. Feb. 1; dis. Feb. 2-t, 1919. Cushman Chuck Co., Hartford, Conn. Wagoner Louis R. Daniels ("Dink") Born Jan. 10, 1895. Clk., Robt. Price Coal Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B June 12, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917; wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. 8 Lexington Road, West Hartford, Conn. 224 History of Tiik 101 st Machink Gun Battalion Wagoner Homkr P. Darling ("Home") Born Sept. 30, 1S95. Farmer. Enl. Co. C 1st Vt. Inf. Tune 19, 1917, Ft. Ethan Allen. Wag. Aug. 24, 1917. Trans, from Hqrs. Co. April 1, 1918 to B Co. as pvt. Private 1st class Nov. 6, 191S. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Ver- dun. All sectors. Sk. in hosp. Tours, Savenay and Brest March 8th-May. Ret. U. vS. June 6, 1919; hosp. Cp. Merritt and Oswego, N. Y. Uis. July 31, 1919. Marshjidd, Vt. Corporal Godfrey M. Day ("Dotty") Born Dec. 4, 1897. Student, Choate Sch. Enl. Tp. B May 15, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. April 10, 1919. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Sk. in hosp., Mesves, Sept. 6, 1918-Jan. IG, 1919. 27 Marsliall St., Hartford, Co)iii. Private, 1st Class, Lyle E. Dean ("Deanie") Born Nov. 19, 1892. Farmer. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf. Ft. Ethan Allen June 28, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Sept. 21, 1918. All sectors. Whrclock, Vt. Private Martin Decator ("Lightnin' ") Born Nov. 17, 1891. Farmer. Dft. Sept. 21, 1917. Tr. Cp. Devens, 301st M. G 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 11. Middlchurg, N. Y. Wn. Arr. France July 28, History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 225 Mechanic Martin R. Dexheimer ("Dexie") Born Aug. 18, 1895. Carpenter. Enl. Tp. B June 5, 1917. Mech. Sept. 8, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun. Sk. in hosp. Bar-sur-Aube Oct. 2Sth- Dec. 12th. Bloomfichl, Conn. Private, 1st Class, James E. Dick ("Dick") Born Sept. 14, 1894. Box maker. Enl. 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen, July 21, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Dec, 1918. Trans, from Hqrs. Co. to B Co. April 1, 1918. Shell wound July 22d, north Chateau-Thierry; hosp. Chau- mont. All sectors. Rejoined Bn. Sept. Trans, to Hqrs. Co. Nov., 1918. Later sk. in hosp. Ret. U. S. May 29th; dis. June 11, 1919. Winchester, N. H. Private Donald M. Dockrell ("Dock") Born May 19, 1898. Bookkeeper, Dockrell & Halli- day Co., Htfd. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917 Niantic. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp. Langres; rejoined Bn. Nov. 16th. Sk. in hosp., Nantes and Brest Jan. 1, 1919. Invalided U. S. April 3; hosp.. Fox Hills, Staten I. Dis. May 3, 1919. Co. football team. ll(j Beverly Road, West Hartford, Conn. Private, 1st Class, Edwin O. Drager ("Drag") Born Oct. 23, 1895. Married. Horseshoer. Dft. May 13, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. and Mayet, Fr. Arr. France July 3, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 350 Merchants Road, Rochester, N. Y. 226 History of The lOlsr Machini: Gun Battalion I'kuatk Leslie C. Egglestox C'Eggy") Born Feb. 19, 1S9G. Clerk, Anna Life Ins. Co. EnL 'Pp. B Niantic, Aug. 19, 1917. All sectors. aU Allendale Road, Hartford, Conn. Pruatk Frank I'aikowski ("Fake") Born April 4, 1895. Metal moulder. Dft. Sept. 22, 1917. Tr. Cps. Custer, IMich., and Hancock, Ga. o40th Inf. Arr. France Aug. 4, 1918; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Shell wound, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. to Nov. 28th. I40O American Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. Private, 1st Class, Wilson S. Falls ("F.-\ther") Born Dec. 18, 1883. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B Niantic Aug. 20, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, June 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, \Vrdun; hosp. Limoges, Nov. Ist-Dec. 10th. 10S7 Farniiiii^ton Ave., Hartford. Conn. ^» « *, Private Fred Ferris ("Siirimi'") Enl. 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen, April 4, 1917. Trans, from Hqrs. Co. to B Co. April 1, 1918. AH sec- tors . J.J Caledonian St., St. Johnsbury, Vl. lliisoKV ov Twv lOlsr Macimm: ("!r\ Haiiai,u>\ rKivATE, 1st Class, William Flottman ("Rill") Horn Sept. 10, 1SS7. Married. R. R. cni^iiKMiuui. 1^1. May 10, 191S. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. and Mayet, I'r. Arr. I'ranco Aug. Oth; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Miliiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. :J90 Walnut St., Biithilo, X. Y. Privatk Jamks I. Floyd ("Hop tok") r.ornSept. 10, ISO.'). Packer. Dfl. MaylM, 1!»1S. Tr. Cp. Lee, \'a. Arr. France Aiit;'. (Uh; ioincd Hii. Dec. 1 1, 191S. Bit en a ]'ist(.i, Va. Pki\atk, Lst Class, John J. Folf.v ("Mhr ailleuse") r>orn March 29, 1897. Clk., Travekn-s Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B June 5, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917. All sectore. Gassed Oct. 2ord, Verdun. Engine House No. S, 90 Market St., Hartjord, Conn. Wagoner Burdette W. Fothercill (."Burt") Bom April 3, 1895. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Niantic, Aug. 23, 1917. Wag. June 1, 1918. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31-Feb. 4, 1918. Cheniin des Dames, Toul. Cha- teau-Thierry. Shell wound July 22d north Chateau- Thierrv; hosp. Vittel, Mai-s-sur-Alliers and Nantes. In- valided U. S. April 8, 1919; hosp. N. Y. and Cp. Devens. Dis. June 10, 1919. 94:2 West Boulevard, Hartford, Conn. 228 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion- Private, 1st Class, John J. Fothergill ("Forto") Born Oct. 6, 1889. Clk. Dft. Sept. 22, 1917. Tr. Cp. Dcvens, 301st Inf., TOth Hiv. Arr. France Aug. 3, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 11. S Bvcnicn Si., East Bostoi. Mass. Private John P. Fought ("Jack") Born Tune 10, 1890. Clk. Dft. Mav 27, 1918. Tr. in 138tli M. G. Bn., Cp. Shelbv, -Miss. Arr. France Aug. 5th; joined Bn. Dec. 23, 1918. S/iclhvvillc, III. Private Stanislau Gasixski ("Ski") Born May 5, 1895. Miner. Dft. June 26, 191S. Tr. Cp. Lee, Va. Arr. France Aug. (5th; joined Bn. Dec. 11, 1918. Diirvca, Pa. ::3k. Private Stanley T. Gates ("Stan.") Fnl. April 24. 1917, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Assigned 102d M. G. Bn. Aug. 1917. Trans. 101st Bn. Nov. 19 IS. Sk. in hosp. Dec. 1918. All Div. sectors. Banict, 17. r History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 229 Private, 1st Class, Wallace H. Gladwin ("Wally") Born April 1, 1893. Clk., Gen. Agency, Aetna Life Ins. Co.. Htfd. Enl. Tp. B May 8, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917. All sectors. Sk. inhosp. Oct. 18-Nov. IS, 1918, Vichy. 199 Bnmsivick Ave, W'csl Ilurlford. Com. Private Clarence H. Golden ("Goldie") Born ^lay 29, 1895. Farmer. Dft. May 27, 1918. Tr. Cp. Beauregard, La., 142d M. G. Bn., 39th Div. Arr. France Sept. 3rd; joined Bn. Dec. 11, 1918. Left Hn. at Cp. Devens. Dis. April 2(i, 1919. Hico, La. Wagoner Henry R. Goodwin ("F.a.tima") Born Nov, 2, 1894. Clk., Tucker & Goodwin, Inc., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B April 23, 1917. Pvt. 1st class June 1917; wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. Sk. in Hosp. Sept. 29, 1918; rejoined Bn. Oct. 7th; re- turned to Hosp. at Rimaucourt Oct. r2th. Trans. Classi- fication Cp., St. Aignan Nov. 1, 1918. Rejoined Bn. March 9, 1919. 576 Farmington Ave., HartJ'onl, Conn. Private, 1st Class, Harry J. Gorse, Jr. ("Harry") Born July 8, 1896. Farmer. Enl. Niantic Sept. 28, 1917. Py^;. 1st class Nov. 6, 1918. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun. Simsburv, Conn. 230 History of The 101st Machine Gun Batallion Private Evan Gott ("Ev") Born July 21, 188S. Miner. Dft. April '^■■ 191S. Tr. Cp. Beauregard, La. Arr. France Aug. Gth; joined Bn. Dec. 22, 1918. 2108 Waverly Place, St. Louis, Mo. Wagoner Earle H. Gowdy ("Hank") Born April 24, 1897. Chaufifeur. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 29th. Verdun. Goodtviii St., Biirnside, Conn. Private William H. Gray ("Bill Hesselgrave") Born Dec. 21. 1890. Sales manager. Enl. Aug. 19, 1917, Tp. B, Niantic. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun. 19 Nilcs St., Hartford, Conn. Sergeant Frank A. Greer Bom Sept. 12, 1897. Married Aug. 27, 1917. Sales- man. Enl. Niantic Aug. 23, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917. Later trans. Ordn. Dept.; sgt. Sept. 24, 1918. Meuse-Arg., 168th Inf.; wounded at Ville aux Bois; hosp. Chaumont and Dijon. At S. A. Ordn. Sch., Is-sur-Tille. Ret. U. S. and dis. March 1919. 5724 Hofnian Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. lIisrc^KV OF Tiir lOlsr M m-iunf C^.tn Baitaiion 231 ^ IL _Ji PKixAri:, Isr Class, Fkkp J. CiKosski ai s fl^RKunY") Rom April i), 1804. Salesman. Stanlo\ Riilo \: Level Co.. New Britain. Enl. Tp. R Mav 4. 1917. Fvt. 1st class Oct. 1, 1017. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 8, 1918; re- joined Bn. Feb. 4th. All sectors. Cassed Oct. 23rd, Ver- dun; hosp., Limoges. Nov. "Jo. Spec, duty, Paris; rejoined Bn. Jan. 8, 1910. 1077 Hdlscy St.. Brooklyn. X. Y. Note: Name legally changed to Fred. J. Gross. Privatk, 1st Class. John S. CiVnxixo C'Jack"") Born Aug. M. ISOo. Student, Georgetown V. Enl. Pp. B May lo. 1017. Fvt. 1st class\-Vug. 23, 1017. Shell -sliock and gas Tuly 22d north Chateau-Thierry; hosp. Contrexeville to Sept. oth; P. W. E. Co. 32, St. Nazaire. to Dec. 18. Ret. U. S. Jan. 1st; dis. Jan. 15. 1010. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Co. football team. .'■> /.'■();; 5/., Hartford. Conn. Pkivatk Avglst a. Hacker (,"H.\ck") Bom Tune 8. 1805. Iron worker. Dft. Mav 13, 1018. Tr. Cp." Hancock, Ga. Arr. France July 30, 1018; joined Bn. Dec. 22. "With another unit. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. SS6 Hunterdon St.. Xcicark. X. J. Private Albert G. Hall ("Al") Bom Dec. 20, 1804. Salesman. Dft. May 24. 1018. Tr. Cp. Devens, 302d Inf.. 7Gth Div. Arr. France July 12th; joined Bn. Dec. 10, 1918. L\'ndo)i. 17. 232 History of Tiik IOIst AIachink Ciix Battalion- Private. 1st Class, Gardiner H. Hall ("Orderly") Born April 9, 1899. Student. Enl. Tp. B May 28, 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 28th, Verdun; hosp. to Xov. 2(5, 1918. So. Willingtoii duiii. Corporal Walter R. Hall ("Walt") Born Aug. 30, 1893. Adjuster. Gen Agcv. Aetna Life Ins. Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. BApril 24. 1917. Pvt. 1st class Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, \"erdun. 79 Mill St., MiUichestcr, Conn. •*- ^ Corporal Clarence E. Halvorsex ("Tige") Born Feb. 16, 1897. Farmer. Enl. Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen, July o, 1917. Trans. Bn. Hqrs. Co. Niantic. Pvt. 1st class Oct. 17, 1918; cpl. Dec. 1, 1918. Trans, from Hqrs. Co. to B Co. April 1. 1918. All sectors. Gas sch., Clamccy Jan. 11-18, 1919. C//cLsco, Vt. ■-■'. ,.. II IIIMII 111 Pkinatk. IstCl., Piiii.ip H.Hammkksloigh ("Agile") Born Tan. 20, 1894. Clk., L. B. Haas Sz Co., tobacco dealers, Htfd. Enl. Tp. B June 4, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 1, 1918. All sectors. 12£ Maplcwood Ave., West Hartford, Conn. History of Thk IOIst Maciiixe Gun Battalion 233 J>ii(«ft| Wagoner EoMixn R. Hampson ("Weary") Born lulv 2(5, 1804. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B March (i, 1917. Wag. March 1, 1918. Chemin dt's Danu's. Toul. Oluitoau-Thiony. Sholl wound July 22, north Cha- teau-Thieny; liosp. Limoges, Invalided lioine .Ian. 3, 1<)10; hosp. until dis. at Cp. Menitt Feb. 20. 1<,)19. Citation: -TTie Division Coiumaniler takes great pleasure in eitin« in orders the following named oHieers and men who have shown marked gallantry and meritorious service in the capture of Torey. Jielleau. Givry, Houresehes Woods. Rocliet Woods, Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-Thierry, Etrepilly, Bezuet. Epeids, Trug- ny, and La Fere Woods to the Jaulgonne — Fere-en-Tardenois Road, during the .advance of this Division against the enemy from July IS to 2,^, litis, in the Second Battle of the Marne. W AU. I'^UMIXD R. H.\MPSON, Co.Ml>,\NY B, lOlsT ^L G. Bx. ***** C. R. Edwwrds Major General, Commandiinj" Awarded D. S. C. Oct. 20, U)1S: '■Edmuiiit R. Hampson. Wagoner, Co. B. 101st Machine Gun Battalion, for extraordinary heroism in action near Trugny. France, July 22, 191S. .Mthough painfully wounded by shell-fire, he courageously continued his duty of evacuating the wounded, until exhausted from loss of blooil." By Okukr of the Sechet.\ry of War Pey'ton C. March General, Chief of Staff oS Revere St., W'alerluiry, Co)ui. Priyate John J. Harmon ("Jack") Bom May 18, 1888. Electrician. Dft. May 10, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock and Mayet, Fr. An-. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Sept. 8, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- Arg, 474 ViUes Si., Albany, X. V. :'9 : i Priyate Thomas L. Harriett ("Tom") Bom Aug. 23, 1893. IMarried. Farmer. Dft. May 28, 1918. Tr. 141st M. G. Bn., 39th DiY., Cp. Beauregard, La. Arr. France Aug. Gth; joined Bn. Dec. 11, 1918. Wallensivi, Ark. ^ '^6*v ^. Supply Sergeant Edward V. Harrington ("Ed") Bom Oct. 26, 1893. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B May 1, 1917. P\'t., 1st class, July 1, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; supply sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. AH sectors. Co. clk. until promoted to sgt. 12 Winter St., So. Manchester, Conn. 234 History of The IUIst Machine Gun Battalion Sergeant Everett H. Hart ("Ev"") Born July 10, 1894. Member, Chas. C. Hart Seed Co., Wethersfield, Conn. Enl. Tp. B May 8, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 23, 1917; cpl. Aug. 27, 1917; sgt. Feb. 1, 1918 All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Limoges, Oct. 16-Dec. 10, 1918. Co. football and Co. and Bn. baseball teams. Co. athletic N. C. O. at Mansignc. State St., Wethersfield, Conn. Corporal William H. Hart, Jr. ("Bill") Born Feb. 26, 1895. Student, Yale. Enl. Tp. B May 8, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Jan. 1, 1918; cpl. Sept. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp. Nov. 1- Dec. 28. Co. football team. 324 JIart St., Nciv Brita'ui. Conn. Wagoner Clifford R. Haskins ("Clif") Born May 17, 1893. Clk., Conn. Mut. Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 1, 1917; wag. March 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Shell wound Oct. 22 north Chateau-Thierrv; hosp. until invalided home Jan. 9, 1919. Hosp. Cp Utpon until dis. March 22, 1919. Citation: "The Division Commander takes great pleasure in citing in orders the following named officers and men who have shown marked gallantry and meritorious service in the capture of Torcy, Belleau, Givry, Boure- sches Woods, Rochet Woods, Hill 190 overlooking Chateau-Thierry, Etrepilly, Bezuet, Epieds, Trugny, and La Fere Woods to the Jaulgonne — Fere-en-Tardenois Road, during the advance of this Division against the enemy from July 15 to 25, 1918, in the Second Battle of the Marne. ♦ » * # * W.vG. Clifford R. H.\skin.s, Comp.v.ny B, 101st M. G. Bx. ***** C. R. Edwards Major General, Commanding" Awarded D. S. C. Clifford R. Ha.s-kin.% Wagoner, Co. B, 101st M. G. Battalion. "For extraordinary heroism in action near Trugny, France, July 22, 1918. He was seriously wounded in the leg while placing injured soldiers in his anihulance. Nevertheless, he insisted on drivng the ma- cliine to the dressing .station, and continued the work of evacuating the wounded until exhausted from loss of blood." By (Jkder of the Secretary of War Peyton C. March General, Chief of Staff 66 Burn side Avenue, East Hartford, Conn. Corporal Ellsworth A. Hawkes ("Ell") Born Jan. 30, 1890. Pri\-. sec, Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B May 4, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. and Co. clk. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser., Div. Hqrs., Eccomoy, Feb. 20, 1919. Ret. U. S. April 15; dis. May 4, 1919. 28 Conway St., Greenfield, Mass. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 235 Sergeant John Heron ("Jack") Born Dec. 6, ISO-i. Public accountant. Enl. Auj^. 24, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Feb. 1, 1918; cpl. Sept. 21, 1918; sgt. Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. Co. and Bn. baseball teams. Sir West 6th St., Plainftdd, N. J. 1st Sergeant Clark B. Hill ("Bub") Born March 3, 1892. Mech. engr., Terry Steam Tur- bine Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B March 6, 1917. Pvt., 1st class. May 26, 1917; cpl. Aug. 1, 1917; sgt. Feb. 1, 1918; 1st sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. French M. G. sch., Chatenois, Nov. 25-Dec. 10, 1917. All sectors. Gassed Verdun Oct. 23rd. Co. football team. HiU Bros. Co., Hudson, Mass. 1st Sergeant Clifford E. Houdkr ("Clif") Born Feb. 9, 1897. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. B April 30, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917; to Dcp. Div., 1st Corps, March 24, 1918. Sgt. Feb.; 1st sgt. March, 1918. Army Cand. Sch., Langres, summer of 1918; Inf. Tactical Sch. and Gas Sch., Gondrecourt, Oct., 1918. Served as 1st sgt., Kitchen Car Ser. Ret. U. S. July 7th; dis. July 15, 1919. Irviiigton-on-Hudsoji, N. Y. Private Winfield C. Hodgkins ("Tim") Bom Dec. 30, 1893. P. 0. elk.. Bar Harbor, Me. Dft. April 27, 1918. Tr. M. G. Co., 302d Inf., 76th Div., Cp. Devens. Arr. France July 16. Clk., Ry. Transport Office to Atig. Trans. 41st Div. Joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 54 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor, Me. 236 HisioRv (ii- TiiK lOlsT Machine Gun Battalion I'RixAri;, Isi Class, John H. Jackson, Jr. ("Jack") Born April 19, lS9-t. Student, Columl)ia U. luil. 'Pp. R Tune 10, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 22, 1917. Sk. ui hos])., Lc- Havre, Oct. 31-Dec. 22, 1917. All sectors. Trans. Div. Hqrs. Tp. Dec. 15, 191S. Ret. U. S. April rnh; (lis. April 29. 1919. Co. fo()ll)all team. 5!) Cabot St., Hartford, Conn. Private ARTiirK II. Jacob ("Art") Horn Oct. 21, 189."). Teanisler. Dft. July (i, HHS. Tr. Cp. Haneock, Ga., and Selles-sur-Cher, Fr. Arr. Franee Oct. 4th; joined Bn. Dec. 11, 1918. 1 1 Id W'il/ow Place, Milicaiil.ur, Wis. Private Clarence H. Jar\ts ("John Bunny") Born Dee. 12. 1894. Dft. May 10, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. (ilh; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Mas.sciia Spriiii^s, N. Y. Pruatk, 1st Class, ARruiR Johnson ("Art") Born April 18, 1891. Clk., Taylor Lumber Co., Htfd. l':nl. Tp. B May 15, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 1918. All sectors. 259 New Britain Av( Hartford. Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 237 Corporal Herbert Johnson ("Herb") Born Jan. 29, 1895. Salesman. Enl. Tp. B May 15, 1917. PVt., 1st class, April 1, 1918; cpl. April 10, 1919. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Toul, May 1-18, 1918. 259 New Britain Ave., Hartford, Conn. Private, 1st Class, Allen N. Jones ("Foggy") Born Feb. 27, 1896. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. B April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. At Univ. of Rennes March-July, 1919. Ret. U. S. July Uth; dis. July 18, 1919. Co. football team. 222 Rector St., Perth Anibov, N. J. Corporal Raymond L. Jones ("Algerian") Born May 28, 1895. Velvet weaver. Enl. Tp. B Aug. 19, 1917, Niantic. P\i;., 1st class, April 1, 1918; cpl. April 10, 1919. x\ll sectors. Gassed, Verdun. Oct. 23rd. Sk. in hosp. Sept. 13-20, and Dec. 14-30, 1918. Eight months former service, 2d Regt., C. N. G. Clinton, Conn. Private, 1st Class, Joseph D. Joynt ("Joe") Born Nov. 28, 1892. Silk worker. Dft. May 18, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga., and Mayet, Fr., 83rd Div. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mrhiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Pvt., 1st class, Dec. 16, 1918. Trans, hosp., Cp. Devens, April, 1919. Dis. May 29, 1919. 5 No. Main St., Carthage, N. Y. 238 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Pkin'ate, 1st Class, Eugene M. Kelcy ("Barber") Born July 21, 1S92. Reporter. Enl. Tp. B, Niantic, Aug. 19, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau- Thierry. Trans. Motion Pict. Sec., Photo Lab., Paris, Aug. 1918. Ret. U. vS. June; dis. June 27, 1919. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Corporal John T. Kelley ("Jack") Born June IS, 1893. Chauffeur. Enl. Oct. :-!, 1917, Niantic. Wag. March 1, 1918; cpl. Nov. (j, 191S. All sectors. Gassed Oct. 23rd, Verdun. 120 Bonner Si., Hartford, Conn. Sergeant Harold J. Kennedy ("Chick") Born Sept. 21, 1898. Student. Enl. April 3, 1917, M. G. Co., 1st Vt. Inf., St. Albans. Pvt., 1st class, June 21. 1917; cpl. July 9; sgt. Aug. 10, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. 1st Corps Sch., Gondrecourt, May, 1918. Left Bn. July 22; ret. U. S. as instructor, Cps. Merritt, Dix, Funston and Wads- worth. Dis. Dec. 27, 1918. ;/ Stowcll St., St. Albans, Vt. Private William Kievit ("Kiev") Born Nov. 19, 189"). Motorman. Enl. Sept. 27, 1917, Niantic. All sectors. Gassed, \'crdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. to Dec. 22d. J4() Warren St., Patterson, X. J. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 239 » Albany Ave., West Hartford, Conn. Private William H. Shelley ("Weeyum") Born Oct. 16, 1893. Tailor. Dft. Sept. 20, 1917. Tr. Cps. Dodge and Pike, 352d Inf. Arr. France July 6th- joined Bn. July 28, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- Arg. oOl Cherry St., Eric, Pa. & Wagoner Joseph H. Slater ("Slats") Born April 22, 1897. Asst. foreman, Stanley Works, New Britain. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. Trans. Div. Train and M. P Hqrs., Nov. 20, 1918. Ret. U. S. April 18th; dis. April 29, 1919. Previous service in U. S. Navy. Co. football team. ■5.93 W. Main St., New Britain. Conn. Private Robert T. Smith ("Bob") Born Dec. 27, 1898. Clk. Enl. July 7, 19 1: Ft. Jackson, Ga., 5th Ga. Inf., N. G. Tr. Cp. Wheeler, Ga. Arr. France July 2, 1918; joined Bn. late July. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. No. Clayton St., Lawrencevillc, Ga. 254 History of Tuk IOIst Machine Gun Battalion Privatk, 1st Class, Wii.i iam L. Smith ("Bill") Born Oct. 15, 1S9G. Bond salesman. Enl. Aug. 20, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp., Mesves and Bor- deaux. Ret. U. S. March 4th; dis. March 2S, 1919. Four years Harvard Milit. Sch., Los Angeles; U. S. In- struction cp., Monterey, Cal., 1914. 1010 U'iis/iiii'^loii Si., Sdii Frdiifisro, Cal. Private Joseph D. Staph ("Aviator") Born May 24, 1898. Empl., Underwood Typewriter Co., Htfd. Enl. Aug. 20. 1917, Niantic. Wounded near Torcy, July IS, 1918; hosp. Chaumont, St. Nazaire and Brest. Invalided home Oct. 1st; hosp. at Rahwav, X. J. Dis. Jan. 18, 1919. Bloo)nlicld, Conn. y^ Private, 1st Class, Edward C. Stephexsox ("Steve") Born Nov. 28, 1898. Machinist. Enl. Aug. 1, 1917, 1st Indiana Inf., N. G. Pvt., 1st class, Dec. 1, 1918. Tr. Cp. Shelby, 38th Div. Arr. France June 25th; joined Bn. July 28th. St. Mihicl, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. (}assed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. 525 E. New York St., Ind'uuuipolis, Ind. dk. Private, 1st Class, Alfred G. Stoughton ("Curly") Born March 3, 1895. Clk., W. G. Stoughton & Son, E. Htfd. Enl. Sept. 28, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, July 18, 1918. All sectors. 1231 Main Si., Easl Ilaiifdrd. Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 255 Corporal Reuel C. Stratton ("Strat") Born Aug. 2S, 1893. Chemist, New Departure Mfg. Co., Bristol. Enl. Tp. B June 12, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Feb. 1, 1918; cpl. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 23rd, Verdun. 820 Wethers field Ave., Hartford, Conn. i Private James G. Swift ("Jimmie") Born March 25, 1895. Clk., Thomson, Fenn & Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B May 27, 1917. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 9, 1918; rejoined Bn. March 26th. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames and Meuse-Arg. Sk. in hosp. Oct. 15-Dec. 20, 1918. Co. and Bn. baseball; Co. football team. 55 Harbison Ave., Hartford, Conn, ^^- Mech. Lyal S. Tefft ("Teffty") Born April 9, 1894. Married. Machinist. Enl. Aug. 20, 1917, Niantic. Mech. Oct. 1, 1917. Det. ser.. Motor Repair Shop No. 1, Sept. 26-Xov. 4, 1918. All sectors. Glastonbury, Conn. Private Ernest C. Tiede ("Teed") Born July 8, 1893. Married. Contractor. Dft. May 13, 1918". Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr. France Sept. 3rd"; joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 50 Fairfield Ave., Biifalo, N. Y. i ^»«V., 256 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion i****'! Corporal Arthur W R. Tiltox ("Art") Born April 27, 1897. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. B April 25, 1917. Pvt., 1st class Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. April 10, 1919. All sectors. Ii2£ Sigourney St., Hartford, Coiui. Private Carmine F. Tirelli ("Carmen") Born July 3, 1895. Teamster. Dft. Oct. 8, 1917. Tr. Cp. Upton, N. Y., 304th M. G. Bn., 27th Div. Arr. France March 19th; joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 100 Park St., New York, N. Y. Private William L. Triplet ("Red") Born April 2, 1895. Farmer. Enl. June 9, 1917. 3rd Ark. Inf., N. G. Tr. Cp. Beauregard, La., Ulst M. G. Bn. Arr. France June 11th; joined Bn. July 29th. St. Mihiel,Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. Nov. 1-Dec. 2, 1918, Rimaucourt. Sk. in hosp., Le Mans, March 20, 1919. Ret. U. S. julv 12th; dis. July 23, 1919. Emerson, Ark. Pki\ate, 1st Class, Clarenx'e A. L'shkr ("Ush") liorn .\ov. 16, 1896. Clk. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Nian- tic. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 191S. AH sectors. 70 East St., Rockvillc, Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 257 Wagoner Harry G. Valentine ("Black Snake") Born Sept. 11, 1893. Married Sept. 30, 1917. Con- ductor, Htfd. St. Ry. Co. Enl. Aug. 20, 1917, Niantic Wag. March 1, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Nantes Dec. 26, 1918, until ret. U. S. March 19th; dis. April 17' 1919. ^ 169 Maple Ave, Hartjord, Conn. Wagoner Bulkeley Van Schaack ("Buck") Born August 12, 1896. Student, Williams Coll. Enl Aug. 20, 1917, Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. 888 Asylum Ave., Hartford, Conn. Private Giuseppe Venizia ("Joe") Born Sept. 21, 1887. Stone-mason. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917, Cp. Devens. Joined Bn. Sept. 21, Niantic. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Det. ser., St. Blin Bn baggage Feb. 8-Mar. 26th. Kings Highway, Westport, Conn. Private Walter E. Wade ("Walt") Born July 16, 1895. Farmer. Dft. Sept. 18, 1917. Tr. cps. Pike and Beauregard, 153rd Inf. Arr. France Sept. 3rd; joined Bn. Dec. 9, 1918. Adona, Ark. 258 History of The IUIst Maciiink Gun Battalion' Corporal Arthur P. R. Wadlund (''Art") Born Nov. 21, 1895. Student, Trinity Coll. Enl. Tp. B May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917; cpl. Aug. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. Nov. 9th-Dec. 6th, AUerey. Ret. U. S. Jan. 31st; dis. Feb. 12, 1919. 30 Fairvicw St., Hartford, Coini. Pvt., 1st Class, Frank C. Wadsworth ("Waddie") Born March 1, 1898. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 21, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 23rd, Vcrdvm; hosp. Nov. 2d- 17th; rejoined Bn. Nov. 27th. Wtirchoiisc Ft., Conn. Private Edward L. Walters ("Eddie") Born May 7, 1895. Farmer. Dft. July 5. 191S. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. and Selles-sur-Cher, Fr. Arr. France Oct. 4th; joined Bn. Dec. 10th. Prairie du Cl/icn, Wis. Corporal Gardner C. Weld ("Cuzzy") Born Dec. 9, 1891. Stock broker, R. T. H. Barnes & Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B May 15, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 23, 1917; cpl. Feb. 1, 1918. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Shell wound July 22d north Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Chaumont and Alesves. Ret. U. S. March 24; dis. April 4, 1919. Co. football team. 43 Pari; Place, New Britain, Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 259 Private Walter Wellauer ("vSwiss") Born May 21, 1891. Farmer. Dft. July 3, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga., and Selles-sur-Cher, Fr. Arr. France Oct. 4th; joined Bn. Dec. 10th. ]'ci-0)ia, ]]'is. Private Edward G. Wendt ("Whity") Born Sept. 16, 1896. Machinist. Enl. Oct. S, 1917, Niantic. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917; rejoined 101st March 26, 1918. All sectors ex. Meuse-Arg. Shell wound July 22d, Epieds; hosp., Bazoilles, to July 30th. Sk. in hosp. Sept. 12-Dec. 7. 1918. After dis., re-enlisted in U. S. Army. 158 Cai-cw St., Springfield, Mass. ijyjll^;" Private, 1st Class, James A. White ("Jimmie") Born Ian. 11, 1888. Married. Laborer. Dft. Sept. 4, 1917. fr. Cps. Dodge and Pike, 349th Inf. Pvt., 1st class, Nov. 6, 1918. Arr. France July 1st; joined Bn. July 29th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 904 E. Center St., Pa.xton, III. Sergeant Grenville D. Whitney ("Gren") Born luly 16, 1893. Stock broker, Thomson, Fenn & Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. B Feb. 16, 1916. Pvt., 1st class. May 1, 1917; cpl. May 25, 1917; sgt. April 1, 1918. All sectors. Army Cand. vSch., La Valbonne. Oct. 15th- Feb. 1st. At L'Univ. de Poitiers Feb. 26-July 1, 1919. Ret. U. S. luly 20th; dis. July 28, 1919. Mex. Border, 1916 41 Evergreen Ave., Hartford, Conn. 2(J0 History of Thk 101st AIaciiink Gun Battalion Privatk Edwaki) Williams ("Xicgkk") Born Oct. 17, ISDS. Farmer. Dft. Dec. 0, l'.)17. 'I'r. Cps. Harrison and Wheeler, (ja., 12 1st Inf. Arr. France July 4th; joined Bn. July 2!), 191S. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Sk. in hosp. Nov. 4-Dec. 14, 1918. Martin, Ga. 1^ Aniiiml^i ^.. Sergeant Harold G. Williams ("Sailor") Born Dec. 21, 1f»| Corporal Ernest E. Alton ("Ernie") Born Dec. 7, 1890. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. L, May 29, 1917. Pvt. 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917; cpl. Oct. 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. to Dec. 9th. Co. K, 1st Inf., C. N. G., 1910-13. Silver Lane, East Hartford, Conn. 204 History of Thk 101st Machink Gun Battalion Privatk Hkxry a. Amann ("Hank'") Born Oct. 14. ISOO. Married. Plumber. Dft. May 25. 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Ga. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel. Troyon, Meuse-Arg. WIS Boston Road, Nrw York, X. Y. Private Oscar R. Anderson ("Bob") Bom Jan. 23. 1S90. Brass moulder. Dft. May 11, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. An-. France Aug. 10th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Miliiel. Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Ga-ssed. Verdun, Oct. 29th; hosp. to Dec. 28th. 309 Broodii\iv, So. Bosloii. Mtiss. Private Sherman Andersen ("Sherm") Born Sept. 23, 189o. Married. Paper business. Dft. May 11, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. An'. France Aug. 9th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. Gassed, Verdun. Oct. 29th; hosp., Limoges to Jan. 30, 1919. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- Arg. Ret. U. S. Feb. 13;dis. Feb. 25, 1919. Dexter, X. Y. l^KU ATE. 1st Class. 1-3d\vakii M. Annis (,"En") IkM-n Nov. 8, 1899. Fanner. Enl. Apr. 4, 1917, Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf. All sectoi-s. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp. to Dec. 12th. West Burke. Yl. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 265 Private George B. Arnold ("Slim") Born March 30, 1890. Metal polisher. Dft. May 11, I!) 18. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 8th; joined Bn. Sept. 9, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp., Langres, Nov. 26- Dec. 28, 1918. S Normal CiDUpits, Cortland, X . Y . Private Robert D. Baker ("Doc") Bom Oct. 7, 1899. Fanner. Enl. June 15, 1917, Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf. All sectors. Shell wound, \>rdun, Oct. 23rd; hosp., Mesves. Rejoined Bn., Dec. 22, 1918. Wasliiio'lon. 17. V^ ' --^ Wagoner Edward B. Barnes ("Ed") Bom Aug. 21, 1891. Ice dealer. Enl. Xiantic Oct. 2, 1917. Wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser., Div. Hqrs., Eccomoy, Nov. 20, 191S-April 18, 1919. 208 Sumner St., Bristol, Con)!. Pri\ate, 1st CL.A.SS, George H. Barnes ("George") Bom March I, 1895. Medical student. Enl. Niantic Aug. 23, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. All sec- tors ex. Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Mandres, April 20th; hosp. to Mav 1, 1918. Sk. in hosp., Vichy, Sept. 23-Jan. 14, 1919. 10th Fd. Art. (Yale Batt'y), Dec. 1916-June 1917. Co. football team. Woodbury, Conn. 2G() History of Tiik IOIst Machine Gun Battalion CoKPOKAi, Hknry C. Barrows ("Hkx") Horn May !), 1898. Auto supply salesman. Enl. Aul,'. 27, 1917, Niantic. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. ;-!l. \\)]7. Cpl. May. 1918. Ret. U. vS. April r2th: dis. May 4. 1919. 4d L'nicohi St.. Hartford, Coiiit. Pkivatk Li.oyd \V. Bi:a(ii ("Sandy") Born May 22, 1895. Accountant. Enl. Niantic Aug. 21, 1917. Chemin dcs Dames. Toul, Chateavi-Thierry. Shell wound, north Chateau-Thierry, Inly 2;ith; hosp., Nantes. Rejoined Jan. 17, 1919. /AS' Ilinclhoruc St., Hartford. Conn. Privatk Mii.es a. Bf.rry ("Bk.rry") Born Nov. 4, 1895. Mechanic. Enl. Dec. A. 191(), Co. D, 1st Vt. Inf., St. Johnsburv. All sectors. Trans. Sept. 12, 1918, ]()2d M. G. Bn. "(n'lsscd, Verdun, Oct. 22d. ,SY; Railroad St., Si. Johnshiirw 17. Private Lee P. Bibkat ("Frog") Born lunc (5,1897. Factory hand. Enl. Niantic, Sept. 29, 1917". All sectors. Trans. Div. Heirs., Oct. 15, 1918, as orderly to Col. Howard. Ret. U. S. Dec. 24th; dis. Jan. 24, 1919. 6U7 Zion Si., Hartford, Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 267 Private Charles C. Bill ("Carroll") Born Aug. 11, 1890. Clk., Htfd. St. Ry. Co. Enl. Tp. L, June 5, 1917. Dis. physical disability Aug. <**sBBp^"' V Private Antonio Caraccio ("Tony") Born April 5, 1888. Electrician. Dft. May 29, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 9th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Oct. 27th, Verdun. Left Bn. and ret. U. S. Aui?. 1, 1919; dis. Aug. 18, 1919. 67' West 169th St., New York, N. Y. ^^' 272 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Private John F. Carlson ("Jack") Born June 22, 1888. Farmer. Dft. May 10, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 7th; joined Bn. Sept. Nth. St, Miliiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Jamestown, N . Y . Private William P. Cassidy ("Cass") Bom Sept. 10, 1887. Ice dealer. Dft. April 29, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. i\rr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Sept. 6th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. 754 Broadway, Nnvbiirg, N. Y. Pri\ate Anthony Cervone ("Tony") Born Jan. 5, 1895. Carpenter. Dft. May 10, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock. Arr. France Aug. 5th; joined Bn. Sept. 8th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. Gassed, Oct. 27th, Verdun. 8.9 Byron Si., East Boston. Mass. Corporal Thomas H. Chambers ("Tom") Born July 18, 1892. Clk. Dft. March 17, 1918. Tr. C^p. Green, N. C, 39th Inf., 4th Div. Arr. France May 17th. Cpl. July 24th. Shell wound Aug. 7th while with 4th Div., Aisne-Marne; hosp. to Sept. 26th. Chateau- Thierry and Meuse-Arg. Joined Bn. Oct. 11th, being re- duced on that account to pvt. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 28th. Pvt., 1st class, Dec. 1st. So. Manchester, Conn. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 273 Corporal William E. Chambers ("Bill") Born Oct. 12, 1898. Empl., Cheney Bros., S. M. Enl. Niantic, Aug. 21, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 1918; cpl. Nov. 16, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 2Sth. Co. football team. So. Maiiclieslcr, Conn. ibw-^ J ^^^Nw^K;! Private Herbert C. Chew ("Herb") Born Tan. 22, 1893. Ranchman. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917. Tr. 316th Inf., 90th Div., Cp. Travis, Tex. Arr. France April 16, 1918; joined Bn. May 12th. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Shell wound Oct. 23rd, Verdun; hosp., and invalided U. S. Dec. 9, 1918; dis. Jan. 20, 1919. Caslcll, Texas. ,*-, ^^=lS. "^1 Private Marion L. Chew ("Marion") Born Jan. 22, 1895. Ranchman. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917. Tr. 316th Inf., 90th Div., Cp. Travis, Tex. Arr. France April 16, 1918; joined Bn. May 12th. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Shell wound, Oct. 27th, Verdun; hosp., Revigny, to Nov. 12th. Nov. 12, 1918-March 15, 1919, 319th Inf., 80th Div. Rejoined Bn. March 15th. Castell, Tex. Private Dave A. Childers ("Tennessee") Born Feb. 25, 1895. Mechanic. Dft. Aug. 19, 1917. Tr. 318th M. G. Bn., 81st Div., Cp. Jackson, S. C. Arr. France April 16, 1918; joined Bn. May 12th. Toul and Chateau-Thierry. Shell wound July 25th north Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Bazoilles and Bordeaux. P. W. E. Co., Nov. 1-Dec. 6, 1918; 2d Anny Hqrs., Toul, Jan. 20-March 20, 1919. Rejoined Bn. Alarch 23. Ripley, Miss. 274 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battaliox Pkuatk, 1st Class, Gordon N. Christopher ("Chris") Born Oct. 25, 1S96. Married. Time-study elk. Enl. Aug. 22, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1918. Trans. Div. Hqrs. message center, Oct. 4th. Univ. of Rennes, March l-|uly 1, 1919. Sk. in hosp., Coetqui- dan, March 13-30,' 1919. Ret. U. S. July 14th; dis. July 18, 1919. R. F. D. 4, Rockvillc, Conn. Private Constantino Cimminello ("Zip") Born, Italy, March 18, 1888. Barber. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917, Cp. Devens. Joined Bn., Niantic, Sept. 21st. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Chaumont, Nov. 7-Dec. 24, 1918. Two yrs. in Italian army. Soul h port, Conn. Corporal Ernest C. Clark ("Ernie") Born Sept. 8, 1892. Auto mechanic. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, July 13th; wag. Nov. 1st; cpl. Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 27th, \^er- dun. 31o Pearl Si., Haiijord, Conn. ^ ^^^ ^ Wagoner Joseph F. Clark ("Joe") Born Nov. 22, 1890, Auto .salesman. Enl. Tp. L May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 1, 1917; wag. May 1, 1918. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Trans. Sp. Tr. Bn. Dec. 31, 1917, later to Co. D, 101st Supply Tr. Re- joined Bn. May 7, 1918. 2481 Cirston Ave., New York, N. Y. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 275 Private, 1st Class, James A. Coleman ("Jimmie") Born Nov. 22, 1897. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. L May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 27, 1917. All sectors. Gassed, north Chateau-Thierry, July 2oth, and at Verdun Oct. 28th; hosp., Bordeaux, Oct. 27-Dec. 5, 1918. Rejoined Bn. Dec. 14th. 33 May Si., Ilarlfoni Coidi. Private Henry C. Combe ("Barb") Born Dec. 8, 1892. Barber. Dft. vSept. 20, 1917. Tr. .301st M. G. Bn., 76th Div., Cp. Devens. Arr. France Aug. 4, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 37 Center Si., Bristol, Conn. Sergeant Joseph F. Comereord ("Snapper") Born Sept. 24, 1894. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B March 28, 1917. Trans. Tp. L April 14. Cpl. July 1, 1917; sgt. April 1, 1918. French M. G. Sch., Chatenois, Nov. 18-Dec. 4, 1917; gas Sch., Gondre- court, Aug. 2-16, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Oct. 28th, Verdun; hosp., Limoges, Nov. 6-Dec. 15th. One yr. Cav., Vt., N. G., Norwich Univ., 1913; one month Mass. Naval Res., 1914. '570 Broadview Terrace, Hartford, Conn. Corporal Harold M. Connolly ("Con") Born Feb. 5, 1897. Surveyor, Conn. State Highway Dept.,Htfd. Enl. Tp. L May 29. 1917. Pvt., 1st class, April 1st; cpl. Oct. 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound July 25th, north Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Vittel to Aug. 24th. Gassed Oct. 28th, Verdun; hosp., Poitiers to Dec. 1 1th. Rejoined Bn. Dec. 27th. .29 Bid-well Ave., East Hartford, Co)in. 276 History of Tin: 101 st Machine Gun Battalion Private, 1st Class, Matthew H. Connors ("Matt") Born Dec. 30, 1897. Student, Mass. Inst. Tech. Enl. Tp. L April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 27, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Shell wound, July 25th, north Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Save- nay, Monpont, Vichy. Invalided U. S. Oct. 22, 191S; U. S. Hosp., Rahway. Dis. Dec. 21 , 191S. Co. football and baseball teams. 21 Sevniour St., Ihiiij'ord, Coiiii. jH^ Mechanic George A. Cormier ("Corm") Born Aug. 2, 1894. Casket maker. Enl. June 29, 1917 Co. D, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Pvt., 1st class, Nov. 1, 1918; mech. Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th; hosp., Verdun, Nov. 4-10, 1918. Bristol, Vt. Private, 1st Class, Edmund F. Costello ("Eddie") Born July 13, 1894. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. L June 5, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Oct. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 28th; hosp., Nubecourt to Nov. 17th. Care Orient Ins. Co., 20 Tri)iit\' St., Hartford, Conn. Cook John J. Costello ("Johnnie") Born Oct. 12, 1898. Blacksmith. Enl. March 6, 1917 Tp. B. Trans. Tp. L May 2, 1917. 1917; wag. April 1, 1918; cook Dec. 147'S Broad St., Hartford, Conn. Horseshoer May 3, 1, 1918. All sectors. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 277 Private Arthur E. Cota ("Art") Born April 11, 1897. Farmer. Enl. July 1, 1917, Co. D, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. Det. ser. Div. supply depot Feb. 2-March 27, 191S. All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. Gassed, Oct. 2ul(r-.in-Chirf." AwardcdlApril 10, 1919. Bristol, Conn. kks^ Private Victor U. Heilig ("Vic") Born Oct. 11, 1894. Farmer. Dft. July 20, 1918. Tr. Cp. McArthur, Texas, 162d Inf., 41st Div. Arr. France Oct. 6, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. in 103rd M. G. Bn. Joined 101st M. G. Bn. Dec. 21st. New Braunfels, Texas. 288 History of Tiik 101 st Machine Gun Battalion Private Edmund J. Hixslky ("Ed") Born Feb. 3, 1888. Mercantile agency reporter. Enl. Dec. 4, 1917, Q. M. Corps, Ft. Slocum' N. Y. Tr. Cp. Johnston, Fla. Arr. France Aug. 3, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 62 College St., Worcester, Mass. Corporal David I. Hitchcock ("Dave") Born 1893. Chemist. Enl. Aug. 25, 1917, Niantic. L. cpl. May 26, 1918. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Trans. Gas Ser. Lab., Paris, June 20, 1918; to Chem. Warfare Ser., Chaumont, July 10th. Cpl. Nov., 1918. Ret. U. S. Dec. 23, 1918; dis. Jan. 13, 1919. JJ Slinison Place, Delroil, Mich. Corporal George H. Hoey, Jr. ("George") Born July 9, 1884. Efficiency engr., Colt's Fire Arms Co. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917. Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918; cpl. Nov. 1, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser.. Mobile Veteri- nary Corps, Aug. 24, 1918. Rejoined Bn. Sept. 13th. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th. 172 Farm i)i;:,t 0)1 Ave, Ilarlfonl. C'oini. Private Jacob P. Horowitz ("Jake") Born Feb. 21, 1893. Merchant. Dft. May 5, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, Ga. Arr. France Aug. 6, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg. in 103rd M. G. Bn. Wound- ed Nov. 11th, Verdun; hosp. to Dec. 12th. Trans. 101st M. G. Bn. Dec. 21st. 340 E. 74th Si., New York, N. V. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 289 Private John C, Hiissey ("Jack") Born Dec. 10, 1895. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Aug. 23, 1917, Niantic. Shell wound July 25th, north Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Bazoilles and Vichy, until in- valided U. S. Sept. 28, 1918; hosp.. Cape May, N. J., and Staten I. Dis. Aug. 30, 1919. 26 Pliny St., Hartford, Conn. Cook Ernest L. Hutchinson ("Hutch") Born Dec. 9, 1895. Teamster. Enl. Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen, July 3, 1917. Cook Dec. 3, All sectors ex. Chemin des Dames. 2'rowe Hill, Barre, Vt. 1918. Wagoner Henry H. Hyde ("Hobey") Born May 6, 1897. Student. Enl. Tp. L April 23, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 8, 1917; wag. April 1, 1918. Quarantined Southampton, Eng. Oct. 29-Dec. 28, r917 All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29; hosp., Nevers and Neufchateau Oct. 20-Dec. 12, 1918. Det. ser., Dijon, Jan., 1919. R. O. T. C, Plattsburg, smu- mer, 1915. 638 Prospect Ave. Hartford, Conn. Private Isidor Hyman ("Hy") Born March 20, 1890. Hat cutter. Dft. May 25, li)18. Tr. Cp. Hancock, 323rd M. G. Bn., 83rd Div. Arr France Aug. 6th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg., 103rd M. G. Bn. Trans. 101st M. G. Bn. Dec. 21st. 339 South 2d St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 290 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion ^ - - 1st Sergeant Edward J. Joiixston ("Pipper") Born June 9, 1894. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. L June 5, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. April 1, 1918; sgt. Aug. 1, 1918; 1st sgt. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Chauniont, May 12-30, 1918; Angers Oct. 22-Nov. 2, 1918. Co. football and baseball teams. DO Bond Si., Hartford, Conn. Private, 1st Class, Ralph A. Jones ("Broadway") Born Sept. 23, 1894. Salesman. Enl. Tp. L May 4, 1917. P\i;., 1st class, May 1, 1919. Quarantined, South- ampton, England, Nov. 29-Dec. 28, 1917. Chemin des Dames, Toul, Chateau-Thierry. Gassed, Mandres, April 20, 1918. Shell wound July 25th, north Chateau- Thierry; hosp., Chauinont, Vittel, Montpont, July 26- Oct., 1918. P. E. S. Hqrs., Paris, Oct. 1, 1918-May 1, 1919. Ret. U. S. and dis. June 12, 1919. 376 Main St., West Springfield, Mass. Private, 1st Class, Marshall H. Kashman ("Kash") Born April 23, 1894. Buyer, Wise, Smith & Co., Htfd. Enl. Tp. L June 19, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Nov. 11, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th. //) Sumner St., Hartford, Conn. Corporal John W. Kearney ("Jack") Born Oct. 19, 1897. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. L April 25, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. 1444 Gaylord St., Denver, Colorado. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 291 Private, 1st Class, Freas G. Keen ("Tommie") Born June 9, 1894. Salesman, National Biscuit Co., New Britain. Enl. Tp. L May 8, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 27, 1917. Quarantined Southampton, England, Nov. 29-Dec. 28,1917. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. Glen Lvon, Pa. Corporal John J. Keevers ("Jack") Born Sept. 3, 1897. Clk., Aetna Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. L April 24, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Oct. 1, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th Sk. in hosp. Jan. 29-March 22, 1919, Bourmont. Trans. 102d Fd. Art., Mayet. Ret. U. S. April 17; dis. April 29, 1919. 53 Montowese St., Hartford, Conn. Private Albert Kilby ("Al") Born March 21, 1891. Fireman. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917 Tr. Cp. Devens, 303rd M. G. Bn., 76th Div. France Aug. 4, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 11th. 193 Hartford Ave., New Britain, Conn. Arr. -i^V^-^ Wagoner Ernest S. Kitson ("Kit") Born June 5, 1895. Lumber salesman. Enl. Tp. L April 23, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug; 27, 1917; wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser., 33rd Div., Ligny, Aug. 26-Sept. 1, 1918. Sk., 103rd F. H., Nov. 29- Dec. 11, 1918. Oyster Bay, Long Island, N. Y. 292 History of The IUIst Machine Gun Battalion Private Philip F. Klein ("Phil") Born July 19, 1S95. Postal elk. Dft. May 25, 1918. Tr. Cp. Hancock, S3rd Div. Arr. France Aug. 6, 1918. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse-Arg., l()3rd M. G. Bn. Trans. 101st M. G. Bn., Dec. 21st. 1434 Bryant Ave., Bronx, New York\ N. Y. Wagoner Harold F. Kropp ("Bertha") Born July 30. 1899. Clk., City Bank & Trust Co., Htfd. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918. Gassed, Mandres, Apr. 20. Det. ser., Hqrs. Tp., 26th Div., as motor-cycle despatch rider July 26th, and offi- cially trans. Aug. 16, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Nov. 9th. Ret. U. S.April 4th; dis. April 29, 1919. 352 Vine St., Hartford, Conn. 4^:= ^/^ Private Harry G. Laffin ("Smiler") Born July 26, 1892. Cook. Dft. Sept. 19, 1917. Tr. Cp. Pike. Ark., 352d M. G. Bn. Arr. France July 2, 1918; joined Bn. July 27th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Meuse- Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th: hosp. to Dec. 29th. Det. ser., 4th R. P. 0. Area, Feb. 4-March 12, 1919. Williams, Minn. Private Oney E. Lanciault ("Frog") Born May 31, 1896. Farmer. Enl. June 0, 1917, Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., Barre, Vt. All sectors. Assigned Bn. Hqrs. Co. and later trans, to C Co. Gassed, Mandres, April 2()th; hosp., Toul, to May 31st. Sk. in hosp., Dec. r>-19, 1<)1S. Ra)idolpli Center, Vt. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 293 Private, 1st Class, Edmund L. LaRock ("Eddie") Born Aug. 14, 1S92. Machinist, New Departure Mfg. Co., Bristol. Enl. Oct. 2, 1917, Niantic. Pvt., 1st class, April 1, 1918. All sectors. Shell wound, Verdun, Oct. 23rd. Richmond, Vt. Sergeant Arnold R. Lask ("Husky") Born Jan. 17, 1894. Professional baseball. Enl. Aug, 21, 1917, Niantic. Mech. April 1, 1918; sgt. Oct. 1, 1918. All sectors. Co. football, baseball, and Bn. baseball teams. Coal St., Glen Lyon, Pa. Cook Louis F. LeBlond ("Louie") Born April 28, 1895. Carpenter. Enl. Tp. L May 8, 1917. Cook May 8, 1917. Shell wound July 25th north of Chateau-Thierry; hosp., Bazoilles and Mesves. Trans, to reclass. camp, Blois, Sept. 30th. In charge officers' mess, 13th Marines, Nov. 1, 1918-June 30, 1919 Nantes. Ret. U. S. July 17th. Hosp., Baltimore, for operation until dis. Feb. 13, 1920. 168 Jackson St., WiUimantic, Conn. Private Archie C. Lenzi ("Kid") Born Nov. 4, 1896. Machinist. Enl. Aug. 28, 1917, Niantic. All sectors. Gassed, April 20th, Mandres; hosp. to May 12th. 181 John St., New Haven, Conn. 294 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion Private, 1st Class, Robert J. Lindsay ("Bob") Born Nov. 20, 1894. Clk., Htfd. Mach. Screw Co. Enl. Tp. L May 22, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. Chemin des Dames and Toul. Gassed, Flirey, June 25, 1918, causing phlebitis of the legs, pneumonia, and pleurisy; hosp., Toul, Bazoilles, Bordeaux, July 3rd- Oct. 5th. Trans. A. P. O. Exp. Ser., Oct. 7th Tours, Bourges, La Courtine. Ret. U. S. March 11 th; dis. March 25, 1919. 96 Hudson St., Hartford, Conn. Private Willie C. Littlefield ("Willie") Born May 7, 1888. Farmer. Dft. Sept^. 28, 191J. Tr. Cps. Gordon and Wheeler, _Ga. 1918; joined Bn. July 27th. Arr. France July 6, St. Mihiel, Troyon, "Meuse- Arg. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 27th. Bainbridge, Ga. Private Andrew J. Long ("Andy") Born April 29, 1893. Farmer. Dft. May 28, 1918. Tr. Cp. Shelby, Miss., 138th M. G. Bn., 38th Div. Arr. France Oct. Uth; joined Bn. Dec. 21st. R. F. D. 3, Ccntralia, HI. Private William J. Lower ("Bill") Born Sept. 20, 1893. Farmer. Enl. Sept. 20, 1917. Tr. 122d Inf., 31st Div., Cp. Wheeler, Ga. Arr. France July (), 1918; joined Bn. July 28th. St. Mihiel, Troyon, Aleusc-Arg. K. F. D. 4, Aberdeen, Miss. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 295 Private George T. Lowery ("Tom") Born Jan. 2, 1896. Lumber grader. Enl. July IS, 1917, 2d Miss. Inf., N. G., Gulfport. Tr. Cp. Beaure- gard, La., 142d M. G. Bn., 39th Div. Arr. France Sept. 3, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 9th. Lyman, Miss. 0^ Private, 1st Class, Louis R. Lyman ("Louie") Born March 4, 1897. Clk., Travelers Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. L May 29, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917. All sectors. Gassed, July 25th, north Chateau-Thierry. 330 W ether sfield Ave., Hartford, Conn. Private Hugh J. MacDonald ("Mac") Born Dec. 27, 1891. Machinist. Dft. Sept. 20, 1917. Tr. Cp. Devens, 303rd M. G. Bn.,76th Div. Arr. France July 23, 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8th. 4o8 High St., Torriiigtoii, Conn. Private William Manchester ("Bill") Farmer. Dft. Cp. Devens, 1917. Arr. France Aug., 1918; joined Bn. Dec. 8. Schoharie, N. Y. 296 History of The 101st A4achine Gun Battalion Sergeant Major Charles E. McCarthy ("Mac") Born Oct. 21, 1895. Clk., Phoenix Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. L June 12, 1917. Pvt. Icl. Aug. 27. 1917. Trans. June, 191.S, 26th Div. Hqrs. Sgt. July 4th; sgt. maj. Sept. 24th. All Div. sectors. Ret. U. S. March 30; dis. May 3, 1919. 19 Cottage St., Rockvillc, Conn. /-•X Corporal Lester K. McElwain ("Mac") Born May 10, 1895. Student. Enl. Tp. L May 1, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Sept. 23, 1917; cpl. Oct. 17, 1918. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 23rd; Am. R. C. Hosp., Bellevue to Dec. 1st. 3rd Corps Gas Sch., Clamecy, Jan. 18-25, 1919. 209 Linden St., Holyoke, Mass. Corporal George J. McGinn ("Dodo") Born Sept. 14, 1891. Photo engraver, Manternack Co. Enl. Aug. 21, 1917, Niantic. Wag. April 1, 1918; cpl. Dec. 6, 1918. All sectors. Sk. in hosp., Neufcha- teau, Jan. 1-15, 1918. Sp. Tr. Bn. Jan. 15-Feb. 7, 1918. Sk. in hosp., Bazoilles, June 21-July 12, 1918. 136 Maplewood Ave., West Hartford, Conn. Corporal William B. McIntosh ("Mac") Born Sept. 7, 1894. Aetna Life Ins Co. Enl. Tp. B June 21, 1916. Trans. Tp. L April 14, 1917. Pvt., 1st class, Aug. 27, 1917; cpl. Sept. 27, 1917. Chemin des Dames. Det. ser., Bn. baggage, St.Blin, Andelot, Rimau- court, April 1-Nov. 28, 1918. Mex. Border, 1916. Co. football team. Care Aetna Life Ins. Co., New York City. History or The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 29- v-- Private, 1st Class, Richard Menegat ("Minnie") Born Oct. 18, 1888. Stone cutter. Enl. June 21, 1917, Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., Barre, Vt. All sectors. Gassed, Verdun, Oct. 29th. Italian army, 1912. Stafford Springs, Conn. %t^^[^ *^Srf? =^11' Private Francis L. Winslow ("Winnie") Born Sept. 21, 1892. Engr., Colt's Fire Arms Co. Enl. Aug. 28, 1917, Niantic. Sk. in hosp., Chaumont and Vichy. Trans. 2d Army Hqrs. Oct. 15, 1918. Univ. of Lyons, March-July, 1919. Ret. U. S. July 27th; dis. Aug. 2, 1919. ISO Walnul Si., Monlclair, N. J. Priv.\te, Alfred E. Wgod.ard (-'Elf") Born Oct. 2, 1894. Farmer. Enl. Co. C, 1st Vt. Inf., Ft. Ethan Allen. 1918. Plain field, Vt. All sectors. Sk. in hosp. Oct. 8-31, 316 History of Thk 101st Machine Gux Battalion Wagonkr Leon A. Woodmancy ("Tixk") Born Sept. S, 1897. Clk., Conn. Mutual Life Ins. Co. Enl. Tp. B April 4. 1917. Trans. Tp. L April 14th. Pvt.. 1st class, Aus.,^ 1, 1917; wag. April 1, 1918. All sectors. Det. ser., 33rd Div., Ligny, Aug. 19-22, 1918; 2r)th Div. Hqrs. Sept. 20-Nov. 21, 1918; U. P. and Train Heirs., 26th Div., Nov. 16-28, 1918. (kissed, Wrdun. Oct. 27th. Co. football team. J7S Laurel St., Hartford. Conn. Private Merwix G. Zeigler (•"Jerry") Born March 17, 1896. Farmer. Dft. May 28, 1918. Tr. Cp. Lee, Va. Arr. France Aug. 6th; joined Bn. Dec. 9th. Sk. in hosp. Sept. 2-Oct. 15. 19 IS. Stoyes Town, Fa. Cook Alexander Zymiski ("Alec") Born Aug. 26, 1886. Butcher. Dft., Cp. Devens, Sept. 20, 1917. Joined Bn. Sept. 21st. Xiantic. Cook Dec. 1, 1918. All sectors. Branlord, Conn. Attached as Welfare Workers /^ Miss Anna deLacy Gary Entered Y. M. C. A. service Dec. 1, 1917. Sailed for France on Rochambcau Nov. 29, 1917. Arrived Bor- deaux Dec. 8th. Assigned to duty with Bn. at Etrochey Aug. 29, 1918. Transferred in Troyon Sector to duty at "Y" headquarters of 26th Div. While there Miss Gary saw to forwarding Y. M. G. A. supplies to the Bat- talion. Rejoined at Brest and returned to U. S. with Bn. Wethersfuid, Conn. The Rev. Gharles E. Hesselgrave, Ph.D. Entered Y. M. G. A. service from Manchester, Gonn. Jan. 1, 1918. Sailed for France on Rocliambeau Jan. 10, 1918. Arrived Bordeaux Jan. 20th. Assigned to Bn. at Vregny Feb. 10, 1918. Left Bn. at Verdun Oct. 15, 1918, and was assigned to "Y" headcjuarters of 26th Div. Thereafter, until Bn. moved to Mansigne, Dr. Hessel- grave was able to make frequent visits to it and directed Bn. "Y" work from Div. Hqrs. He was with Bn. in all sectors. Rejoined at Brest March 29, 1919, and re- turned to U. S. with Bn. 709 White Building, Seattle, Wash. The Rev. Ernest deF. Miel, D.D. Entered Red Gross service May 29, 1917. Sailed for France June 2, 1917, arriving June 12. Ganteen service with French troops at Gare du Nord, Paris, June 20- Aug. 1, 1917; with 1st Div., A. E. F., in training area, Aug. 1-Sept. 1, 1917; service of Hospital Supply, A. R. G. Hqrs., Paris, Sept. 1-Nov. 1, 1917; A. R. G. at Base Hosp. IS, Bazoilles, Nov. 1, 1917-Jan. 6, 1918. Fur- loughed home Jan. 22, 1918, and returned to France April 16th to duty as A. R. G. field chaplain. Spec. duty at 1st Div., Hosp. 110, Beauvais, May 25- July 2; in charge Ghaplain's Bureau, A. R. G., Paris, July 2- Aug. 5; duty with Sanitary Train, 26th Div., Aug. 25- Dec. 11. Dr. Miel was able to make many visits to the 101st M. G. Bn. and conducted a number of services while at Bazoilles and later when with Div. Sanit. Train. Returned to U. S. Feb. 2, 1919. 120 Sigourney St., Hartford, Conn. Statistics Compiled by .Sgt. John R. Stoddard STRENGTH AT PORT OF EMBARKATION FOR FRANCE B Co 6 ofTicers 173 men C Co 6 officers 175 men Ilqrs. Co 2 officers 32 men Med. Del 1 officer 13 men Strength of Haltalion . . .15 officers 393 men Transfers from 1st Vt. Inf. To B Co 1 officer 20 men To B Co 1 officer 28 men To Hqrs. Co 32 men Total 2 officers 80 men REPLACEMENTS (OFFICERS)* Cominandins (pdiccrs 2 For B C.o 7 For C Co <> For Hqrs Co., including Med. Det 7 Total 22 REPLACEMENTS (MEN)* For B Co 86 For C Co 10() Total 192 * From other units in France. NUMBER OF MEN COMMISSIONED From B Co Ki From C Co 10 From I I<|rs, Co (J Total 32 TRANSFERS TO ARMY CANDIDATE SCHOOLS From B Co 13 From C Co 9 From 1 l<|rs. Co 5 Total 27 SENT TO MACHINE GUN SCHOOLS (OFFICERS) l-Voni B Co 13 From C Co 10 From I Iqrs. Co 3 Total 26 SENT TO MACHINE GUN SCHOOLS iMEN) From B Co 11 I-'rom C Co 10 From Hqrs. Co 6 Total . TO ARMY SANITARY SCHOOL (OFFICERS) From Med. Del. (dental) 1 TO ARMY GAS SCHOOL iMoni B (;.<) 3 I*'r()in C (".o 4 'Jotal 7 TO MOTOR TRANSPORT SCHOOL (MEN) From B Co 1 TO SPECIAL TRAINING BATTALION (•'FOOT-SCHOOL') From B Co 16 men From C Co 10 men F"rom Hqrs. Co 2 men From Med. Det 1 man Total 29 men INVALIDED TO THE STATES (.MEN) From B Co 13 From C Co 8 From Hqrs. Co 2 From Med. Det Total 23 RETURNED TO STATES AS INSTRUC- TORS, ETC. From B Co 1 officer 3 men From C Co 3 officers 6 men Total 4 officers 9 men CASUALTIES Killed in Action B Co 5 C Co 9 Total 14 Died of Wounds B Co 1 C Co _*6 Total 7 *One ofliccr. Died of Disease B Co 3 C Co 5 1 Iqrs. Co 1 Total 9 Wounded in Action Severely Slightly B Co. 12 " 13 C Co. 1.') 19 1 Iqrs. Co. 1 1 Med. Det. 1 5 Tolal 29 38 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 319 Gassed Severely Slightly B Co. 2 42 C Co. 8 ao Hqrs. Co. 1 5 Med. Det. 4 Total 11 106 Shell-shocked B Co 5 C Co 2 Total 7 Total dead 30 Total wounded 6^ Total gassed 117 Total shell-shocked 7 Total 221 During the war the total number borne on the rolls of the Battalion was: 38 officers, 544 enlisted men. NUMBER OF MARRIED MEN IN BATTALION B Co •> officers 14 men C Co 4 officers 15 men Hqrs. and Med. Det 8 officers 6 men Total 17 officers 35 men AVERAGE AGE Officers B Co 27 yrs. Men, B Co 23 yrs. Officers, C Co 25 yrs. Men, C Co 23 yrs. Officers, Hqrs., and Med. Det 29 yrs. Men, Med. Det 23 yrs. Men, Hqrs. Co 24 yrs. Average age of Battalion 24.8 yrs. TABLE SHOWING CIVIL OCCUPATIONS Note- Under building trades is included builders, carpenters, masons, etc.; el occupving clerical positions in miscellaneous lines; engineering— civil, electrical, ana insurance— agents, clerks, adjusters, etc.; manufacturing— clerks and operatives; printi printers and engravers. Occupation Barbers Brokers Building trades Chauffeurs Clergymen Clerks Cooks Dentists Engineering Farmers Insurance Insurance executives Laborers Lawyers Manufacturing Merchandising Miners Miscellaneous Newspaper men Painters Physicians and Surgeons Printing trades Railroading Salesmen Students Stone-cutters Officers Hars. Co. Sanit. Det. Co. B 27 2 4 23 26 10 35 2 3 16 3 6 9 34 Co. C 2 9 3 13 1 5 30 44 12 16 3 4 16 16 3 erks — those mechanical; ng trades — • Total 2 6 23 9 1 49 3 3 14 62 81 3 24 2 101 3 3 46 5 3 4 7 10 34 60 6 320 men came from Connecticut. 82 men came from Vermont. ^ • ^. ,, • The remainder scattering from almost every State in the Union. 320 History of The 10 1st Machine Gun Battalion DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS *l.t. Col. ,1. 1.. Howard, Jdtli 1 )iv. Sl:ilT— 1 )lslin- ,«uisho(l StTvicf Cross; Chovalicr of tlu' Le- gion of Honor; Croix dr (im-rrc. *lsl Lieut, (ierald Courtney. l()2d NL G. Hn. — Distinguished Service Cross. Sgt. llerlierl K:itenl)urs. Sanit. Del. — Distin- guished Service Cross. Wag. li. H. Hanipson, Co. B — Distinguished Service Cross. Wag. C H. Uaskins. Co. B — Distinguished Service C.ross *Pvt. H. P. Saurman. Sanit. Det. 102d M. G. Bn. — Distinguished Service Cross. Recommended for Croix de Guerre Nhiior NL G. Bulkelev. .Ir.. Bn. Commander. *Ist Lieut. H. Lv iMoore. '.Uh NL G. Bn. .'Jrd Div. Citations for Gallantry *Ll. CoL .L L. HowariL 2(Uh Div. StalT. Nhjjor KL G. Bulkelev. .Ir.. Bn. Commander. ♦Major L. H. Watres. •.>.SIh Div. Capt. L. L. Powell, NL C. Sanit. Det. 1st Lieut. Harold .\morv. Co. B. *lst Lieut. Gerald Courtney. ItVid M. G. Bn. *lst Lieut. H. !•:. IMoore. ;5rd Div. *2d Lieut. R. W. Chamberlain, I()2d Inl. *2d Lieut. H. W. Thomas, .')tli Div. Sgt 1st Class, lv .L Keneliek, Sanit. Del. Sgt. R. J. Maun. Co. B. Sgt. Herbert Ralenbvirg. Sanit. Det. *Sgt. J. A. Rvan, Tank Corps. Cpl. C. J. ^iiel. Co. B W'ag. E. R. Hampson Co. B. Wag. C. W. Uaskins, Co. B. Pvl.. 1st Class, Ignatius Brz.oslowicz, Co. C. Pvl., 1st Class, 11. .1. Cronipton. Sanit. Del. Pvt., Isl Class, C. T. Ingersoll, Sanit. Det. Pvt., 1st Class. J. F. Manion, Co. B. Pvt., 1st Class, A. W. Telesca, Sanit. Det. *Pvt.. 1st Class. !■:. .1. I'l/.ig. Sanit. Del.. l();>rd M. G. Bn. tPvl. Louis Hart. Co. B. Pvt. II. B. Levin, Sanit. Det. *Pvt H. P. Saurman. Sanit. Det.. l()2d M. G. Bn. Recommended for Citation Sgt. Howard .1. Bruemmer. Co. B. Cpl. KIton M. .Mien. Co. C. Citations for Meritorious Service in S. O. S. *Sgt. II. R. Haw lev, "Stars and Stripes". *Cpl. A. W. Morriil, C. B. O. ♦Awarded while In units indicated, t Posthumou.'!. MACHINE GUN ORGANIZATION OF A DIVISION 1 Inf. M. G. companies, one in each regiment. 2 Brigade battalions of I companies each. 1 Divisional battalion of 2 companies (motor- ized). Total 11 M. G. companies. ordnance equipment Machine Gun L"rei\ch Holchkiss Machine (lun. Model I'.tl 1. Caliber: S mm. Weight of Equipment Machine gun '/•] jj's. Tripod mount •>>*^ "'s. Ammunition case loaded with 12 strips (288 cartridges) 28 lbs. Spare parts including large and small I>ouch 2 I ' 2 lbs. Spare barrel in case 28 '2 lbs. Approximate number ol shots per minute: 2.')0 Effective range: 3.. '")()() yards. Side Arms Automatic Pistol. Caliber 1:"), Model I'.Ul. Weight: 2 lbs. 7 ounces. Rapidity of lire: This type pistol has been fired 21 times in 12 seconds, beginning with the pistol empty and the loaded magazines on a table at llu' side of the operator, lender tfie same conditions 21 shots were fired in 28 sec- onds making 21 hits on a target (i ft. by 2 ft. at 2:'i yds. distance. Magazines (three): capacity of 7 ball cartridges each. Number of rounds machine gun ammunition tired by the Battalion; 1,112.228. Number of rounds of pistol ammunition fired by the Battaliim (pistol practice): l,(i80. Number of machine guns reiilaced: .'52. .Number of guns hit in action: 7 Number of barrels replaced because of wear: 8. Number of b'ord cars lost in action: 10. Maximum number of hours Battalion was without food from the kitchens: 28 hours tluring St. Mihiel OITensive. Maximum number of hours gas masks were worn at any one time : 9 hours (N'crdun Sector). Longest march on foot during action: From Mouilly to \igneulles, 18 kdometers (11.2 miles) with full packs, mad ine guns and e(]uipment, including seven boxes of ammuni- tion per scjuad. Sept. 12. 1918. Longest march on foot other than during action : From Nubeconrt to Villolle-devant-St. Mihiel, 11 kilometers (2.^). 5 miles) with packs. Nov. 17. 1918. Time: 9 hours 15 minutes. Approximate number of miles covered by the Battalion as a unit: Bv rail. 1800. Bv water. (),.')00. By motor. 1000. lOtal. 8.:?00. KITCHEN LOCATIONS Svmbols: ( 2 ) Set up twice; ( ;5 ) Set up three times; ( X) Cooked with luiglish efiuipment; ( **) Cooked with French equipment; ( R ) Rolling kitchen. West Hartford (as Troops B and L) Colchester (as Troops B and I A Niantic (as TVoops B and L) Borden (I';ng.) (X) Southampton (l^ng.) (X) Le Havre (France) (X) Mont-les-Neufchateau LitTol-le-Grand (R) Train, en route to Chemin des Dames (R) Braisne (R) Missy-sur-Aisne (R) Vregnv (R) Ailleval Pinon (**) .Soissons (R) History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 321 KITCHEN LOCATIONS— (Cof(/u(H<'rf) Train en route to St. Blin (R) Brienne-le-Chateau (R) Fontaine (R) Colonibey (R) Vignory "(R) St. Blin (R) Harcourt ("Swamp") (R) Mandres Bernecourt Bois de Hazelle (near Flircy) Raulecourt Foug Void Vitry-le-Francois Coulommes Montreuil-aux-Lions Bezu-le-Guery Near R. R. track N. E. of Chateau-Thierry In Sacerie Woods north of Chateau-Thierry (2) Courtaron Granges Etrochey (3) St. Dizier Near Bar-le-Duc En route to Mouilly Near Mouilly French camp outside of Mouilly Mouilly 2 kilometers outside of Mouilly Seuzey Woods (2) Bevaux Barracks, outside Verdun Cross-roads near Bras Bras Marre Nubecourt Villotte Demange Dainville Coussey Louvieres (2) Mansigne Number of times kitchens were set up: 63. Time spent at Time spent on days. Time spent in Time spent at Time spent in weeks. Time spent in Time spent at Time spent at Time spent in Time spent in Time spent at Time spent at Time spent at Time spent at Time spent on non: 7 days. Time spent at Time spent in Niantic: 10 weeks, board Transport Mctjanlic: 13 England: 6 days. Mont-les-N ufchateau: 14 weeks. Chemin des Dames Sector: 5 Toul Sector: 3 months. Chateau-Thierry: 1 month. Etrochey (at rest): 15 days. St. Mihiel Sector: 5 weeks. Verdun Sector: 5 weeks, 3 days, the Front: 8 months, 23 days. Louvieres: 10 weeks. Mansigne: 7 weeks. Brest: 6 days, board U. S. Transport Agamem- Camp Devens: 3 weeks. France: 17 months. Men going overseas with the Battalion and returning home with it, or later, arc entitled to wear three gold service chevrons denoting 18 months of foreign service: Oct. 9, 1917-April 8, 1919. The Welfare Association The Editor In the carl\- spring of 1918 relatives and friends of the men of the 101st Machine Gun Battahon met at Troop B Armory and organized the Welfare Association. William H. Scoville, whose two sons were members of Company C, originated the idea and made the arrangements for the meeting with the co-operation of J. H. Kelso Davis, a former commanding officer of Troop B. Mr. Scoville was elected chairman of the organization and Mrs. Frank J. Allen and Franklin C. Whitney were chosen to serve with him on the executive committee. The Association was formed that all things possible might be done for the comfort and well-being of the boys in France, and efforts were made to enroll all those personally interested in the Battalion. The membership in- cluded residents of various parts of Connecticut, Vermont and other states of the Union. Meetings were held at the Armory every two weeks and even weekly during the time of the heaviest fighting. Letters were read and news exchanged among the members to the great comfort of many who thus heard indirectly from "the boy". As soon as the wounded began to return from overseas they were brought to the meetings and first-hand news of loved ones came to anxious relatives. Such messages, direct from the Front, showed that the morale was all right over there and did much to keep it high over here. Mr. Scoville's office was a clearing-house for all sorts of infomiation about the Battalion and the men. Hardly a day passed that did not bring in sev- eral urgent enquiries. News was gathered from the Battalion in France, from Washington, from the Red Cross and other sources, and no efforts were spared to ease some anxious heart. When notices of casualties began to come, times were indeed trying. Letters of sympathy were sent to be- reaved ones in behalf of the Association; and the names of the dead and their photographs were placed on a roll of honor at the Annory. Too much credit cannot be given Mr. Scoville for his untiring devotion to the inter- ests of the members, and of the men of the Battalion. He was ably assisted by Miss Lillian York, his secretary, in caring for the many details involved. The first man to come home was Bill O'Niel, chosen from the Battalion to be one of the detachment of the A. E. F. to help in this country dur- ing the first Liberty Loan drive. He received an enthusiastic ovation at the meeting which he addressed, and delivered personal messages to relatives. Captains Eaton and G. W. Cheney, Lieutenant Bennett and History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 323 Sergeant "Deke" Hastings followed soon after, having been sent over to act as instructors in the National Army. In December, 1918, Colonel Howard arrived and addressed a meeting shortly after. He was followed in January by Major Bulkeley, direct from hospital in France where he had been since being gassed at Verdun in October. A community luncheon was given for the Major at the Hotel Bond under the auspices of the Association, at which he outlined the experiences of the Battalion. Later he spoke before a meeting in the Armory after having been intro- duced by his father, the Hon. Morgan G. Bulkeley, himself a veteran of the Civil War. xA.t different times the Association entertained men who came filtering home, among whom were: Whittlesey Abbe, Bill Bourn, Connie Brady, Lee Bibeau, Roy Bristol, Bill Buck, Dick Cushman, Matt Connors, Ed Curran, Jack Gunning, Cliff Haskins, Ted Hampson, Jack Hussey, Squab Manning, J. J. Nolan, Dave Olschefskie, Ed O'Mara, George Paterson, Gordon Robinson, Ev Sturman, Art Wadlund, Clint O'Callahan, Bill Skinner, Charles Sweet, George Mercer, W. P. Allen, Bill Murray, Westell Avery, Eddie Mohr, Albert Snyder, Harry Sceery, Sandy Cushman, Bob Lindsay, Bill Barber, Frank Greer, Bill Smith, Don Dock- rcll, Joe Ryan, Stan Green, Charles McCarthy, Cuzzy Weld and others. Dr. Miel addressed a meeting during his furlough to this country, and Walter Schutz brought back many messages. Talks were also given by J. A. Wiley, father of Jack Wiley of C Company, after his return from "Y" work in France, by Dr. Roberts, the Rev. Dr. Lewis of Waterbury, and the Hon. Everett J. Lake, now governor of Connecticut. Captain Powell, Battalion surgeon, invalided home on account of being gassed at Verdun, came to Hartford to speak to the Association, bringing with him a large number of lantern slides made from snap-shots taken in practically all of the places occupied by the Battalion. These pictures proved of great interest to his hearers, and one of special note showed B Company advanc- ing into the German artillery barrage in the attack of July 22d on the town of Epieds. In April, 1919, the Rev. Dr. Hesselgrave was a guest of honor at the Armory. Following his talk the members took advantage of the opportunity to express their appreciation of the splendid work the Doctor had done for their lads through all the months of hardship and danger. After the relief of the armistice a special service of thanksgiving was held at the Armory. The Rev. John H. Jackson, father of J. H. Jackson, Jr., of B Company conducted the service. The sum of five hundred dollars was contributed by the individual members to provide a celebration for the Battalion on July -4, 1918, and one thousand dollars was forwarded to France to be used at Christmas time. This latter gift never reached the Battalion, having gone astray, 324 History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion but was subsequently recovered and presented to the veteran organization, the 101st Machine Gun Battalion Association. The handsome silk flag, as well as the bunting flag of the Welfare Association, was also given to the boys, and the former has been carried at the funerals of those of our men whose bodies have been sent home. The crowning effort of the Association was the "welcomc-hoine" cele- bration. An appeal for subscription resulted in a generous response. Ar- rangements were made for the members to go to Boston in a body to meet the in-coming troop-ship, and a little steamer was chartered so that all might catch an early glimpse of the great Agamemnon as she loomed ma- jestically out of the mist, into the harbor and up to her dock. Flags and handkerchiefs were waved and eyes strained to find the familiar face, but it was difficult indeed among that mass of animate olive drab crowded on the decks. Occasionally one was lucky, and ecstatic greetings were shrieked back and forth. Later came the wonderful spectacle of the Divisional re- view at Camp Devens, which many of the members attended on their own hook, and then the parade of the "gallant Twenty-Sixth" through the crowded streets of Boston which were lanes of waving color. The "Wel- fare" had a special section in the stands, decorated by a large sign which read "Welfare Association, 101st Machine Gun Battalion". Many a heart swelled as the ranks swung by amid the cheers from the stand. Then came the memorable welcome to Hartford on April 30th. The parade of our Battalion and the 102d Infantry escorted by the State Guard and every military organization in the city will always remain one of the most moving events in the history of Hartford. After the parade the troops were drawn up on the south grounds of the Capitol where the ceremony of presenting the regimental and battalion colors to the State for safe keeping, took place. Major Emerson G. Taylor, of the Division Staff, made the presentation speech and Governor Marcus H. Holcomb received the colors for the State. The troops were dismissed, and a mammoth luncheon given by the city to all returned veterans, filled the big State Armory with olive drab and navy blue. In the evening the Welfare Asso- ciation gave a reception and dance for the Battalion in the High School Auditorium. A handsome gold watch was there presented to Mr. Scoville by the members of the Association as a recognition of his faithful services as chairman. This occasion marked the close of a year of service and co-operation among the members of the Welfare Association, and the ties of friendship thus formed amid the grave anxieties common to all, will endure always. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 325 Presentation of Colors to the State April 30, 1919 1. Major James A. Haggerty, 102d Infantry. 2. Lt. Col. Emerson G. Taylor, 26th Division Staff. 3. Major Michael A. Connor, 102d Infantry. 4. Major Stillman F. Westbrook, 101st M. G. Bn. 5. Lt. Col. James L. Howard, 26th Division Staff. APPENDIX General Orders No. 28 of the War Department, dated April 22, 1919, entitles the Battalion to silver bands to be placed on the color-staff. These bands are awarded under Army Regulations for ])articipation in the following battle engagements: Chemin des Dames Feb. 8-March 21 Toul April 3-June 28 Champagne-Mame Defensive.. .July 15-18 Aisne-Mame Offensive July 18-25 St. Mihiel Offensive Sept. 12-16 Troyon Sector Sept. 17-Oct. 8 Meuse-Argonne Offensive Oct. 18-Nov. 11 Men serving in all sectors with the Battalion are entitled to five battle clasps on the Victory Medal, /. e., one for a defensive sector and one for each of the following major operations: Champagne-lMarne De- fensive, Aisne-Mame Offensive, St. Mihiel Oft'ensive and the Meuse-Ar- gonne Offensive. CITATION OF DIVISION UNITS The following citation was issued in General Orders, 26th Division, October 23, 1918: 1. The Division Commander extends to the Commanding Officer, Fift\--first Infantry Brigade, and the officers and men of the following organ- izations, his hearty congratulations on their great success in the operations of this date for the capture of the heights of the Meuse in the region of Le Houppy Bois and Belleu Bois: Fifty-first Infantry Brigade; 101st In- fantry; 102d Infantry; 101st Machine Gun Battalion; 102d Machine Gun Battalion; Detachment, 101st Field Signal Battalion; Detachment, 101st Sanitary Train; 281st Aero Squadron (French); Balloon No. 25 (French); Fifty-first Artillery Brigade; and 1st Battalion, 2llth Field Artillery (French). 2. The attack as ])lanne(l was difficult of execution, and only to be attempted by trained troops. You carried it out like the veterans you are, and with a dash and \'alor worthy of the best traditions of the Twenty-sixth Division. C. R. Edw.ards, Major General, Commanding. History of The 101st Machine Gun Battalion 327 THE lOlsT MACHINE GUN BATTALION ASSOCIATION On Armistice Day, November 11, 1919, a meeting of the veterans of the BattaHon who were hving in Hartford and vicinity was held at the Hotel Bond. After a reunion dinner a business meeting took place at which the Association was formally organized and started on its career. Since that time the annual meeting has been held on Armistice Day, and a num- ber of special get-togethers have occurred at other times, including the two-day outdoor reunion of June, 1921. The Association undertook to complete the publication of this History which had been begun by the Battalion while in France. It has endeavored to keep the members in touch with one another, and to keep alive the spirit of the old Battalion. Representatives of the Association have been present at the funerals of those of otu' men whose bodies have been brought back and buried in Con- necticut. Assistance has been given to a number of men in the adjustment of Government compensation difficulties. It is a purpose of the Associa- tion to erect a suitable memorial at some tiine in the future to the comrades who gave their lives for their country. Memorial services for the dead have been conducted by Dr. Miel at Trinity Church each spring. In 1920 the Association was granted the first charter to be issued to any organization as a chapter of the Yankee Division Veterans' Associa- tion. National Headquarters is located at the YD Club, 200 Huntington Ave., Boston, Mass. ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 1919 President, Everett H. Hart Secretary, Benjamin A. Bourn Vice President, James A. Durston Treasurer, Roberts K. Skinner 1920 President, Ian D. Mackenzie Secretary, George H. Berlin Vice President, Roy D. Heymann Treasurer, Grenville D. Whitney 1921 President, A. Stewart Gray Secretary, Douglas A. Blease Vice President, H. Holbrook Hyde Treasurer, Henry R. Goodwin HE F A BASSETTE CO PRINTERS SPRINGFIELD. MASS