DIARY OF tlVATE GIUSEPPE L. ROMEO Co. E, 36],st Infantry 91st DIVISION, A. E. F. DURING THE WAR PRICE, FIFTY CENTS COPYRIGHTED 1919 By PRIVATE GIUSEPPE L. ROMEO Phone Madison 112 R-3 P. O. Box 951 Tacoma, Wash. T. V. Copeland & S^n,<^^«- Printers, Tacoma, Wash. DIARY OF PVT. GIUSEPPE L. ROMEO Co. E, 361st Inf. '' 91ST DIVISION, A. E. F. DURING THE WAR PRICE, FIFTY CENTS COPYRIGHTED 1919 GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING Commanding the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. G. H. Q. AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES. General Orders No. 38-A France, February 28, 1919. My Fellow Soldiers: Now that your service with the American Expedi- tionary Forces is about to terminate, I can not let you go without a personal word. At the call to arms, the patriotic young manhood of America eagerly responded and became the formidable army whose decisive victories testify to its efficiency and its valor. With the support of the nation firmly united to defend the cause of liberty, our army has executed the will of the people with resolute purpose. Our democracy has been tested, and the forces of autocracy have been defeated. To the glory of the citizen-soldier, our troops have faithfully fulfilled their trust, and in a succession of brilliant of- fensives have overcome the menace to our civilization. ^1 As an individual, your part in the world war has "^ been an important one in the sum total of our achieve- ^ ments. Whether keeping lonely vigil in the trenches, ^ or gallantly storming the enemy's stronghold; whether \^ enduring monotonous drudgery at the rear, or sustaining t the fighting line at the front, each has bravely and ef- ficiently played his part. By billing sacrifice of per- sonal rights; by cheerful endurance of hardship and privation; by vigor, strength and indomitable will, made effective by thorough organization and cordial co-opera- tion, you inspired the war-worn Allies with new ilfe and turned the tide of threatened defeat into overwhelming victory. With a consecrated devotion to duty and a will to conquer, you have loyally served your country. By your exemplary conduct a standard has been established and maintained never before attained by any army. With mind and body as clean and strong as the decisive blows you delivered against the foe, you are soon to return to the pursuits of peace. In leaving the scenes of your victories, may I ask that you carry home your high ideals and continue to live as you have served — an honor to the principles for which you have fought and to the fallen comrades you leave behind. It is with pride in our success that I extend to you my sincere thanks for your splendid service to the army aiid to the nation. Faithfully, JOHN J. PERSHING, Official Commander in Chief. ROBERT C. DAVIS, Adjutant General. Copy furnished Pvt. Guiseppi L. Romeo, H. P. HOFFMAN, Capt. 361st Inf., Comdg. A SYNOPSIS OF THE AUTHOR I, Giuseppe L. Romeo, was bom in the town of Cliimea, Italy, on April 13, 1891. I came to Canada from Italy in 1907 and worked in Montreal for about one year. I then worked my way to Vancouver, B. C, where I stayed until September, 1909, when I came to Seattle. I worked for the N. P. on an extra gang for about a year and then went to work in a show shed up in the Cascade mountains. Later I came to Tacoma and worked at the Smelter and on the tunnel and for the Hans Peterson Company and Washington Paving Company. After that I returned to Seattle and went to work in the Pacific Steel and Iron Works, remaining there until October 4, 1917, when I entered the service of the United States Army. I am a citizen of the United States, having taken out my papers February 3rd, 1913. MY DIARY I reported to Local Board, District No. 10, October 3rd, 1917, at Seattle, Washington. On October 4th, I g-ot up about 7 o'clock and packed up, ready for anything that might come in my direction. I reported back to the Local Board about 9 o'clock, and waited for the rest of the bunch to show up. When the rest of our quota had arrived we were taken to a big hotel and treated to a big dinner, after which we were taken to a theater. We were treated royally by every one. After the show we paraded around town and then finally marched to the depot, where we en- trained for Camp Lewis. Arriving at the Camp we were marched over to Montana Avenue, to the Depot Brigade Headquarters, where we were assigned to barracks, and received our mess kits and one blanket. We were a curiosity for all eyes, and the soldiers all hollored at us, "Look at the ears on them!" and "Where did you come from?" And when we hollored back "Seattle," they said, "All right, Buddy, B. S." We had expected the same kind of treatment on our arrival here as we had received in Seattle, but were sadly disappointed. Didn't get much sleep that night, as every one was sore, and when any one would snore, a flock of shoes would go in that direction. A snore was a signal for battle. The Top Sergeant tried to quiet them, but it THE DIARY OF was of no use. The men were going to have their last night a night of freedom. I was assigned to the 7th Co. Depot Brigade, and had charge of the 23rd Squad. Dichi't know a thing about Squads East and West, but soon learned. The 21st of October was transferred to Headquarters Company, 361st Infantry. Was in the Pioneers Platoon, Drilled and hiked every day in this Company. Was assigned to take the Squads to English School 3 hours a day at the Y. M. C. A. Had a disagreement with one of the Corporals. Got as punishment 3 days hard labor. Was then transfeiTed to Company E, 361st Infantry, Better known as ''Hungry E." I remained in this Com- pany throughout the entire training of the 91st. While the life at camp was hard, there was plenty of recreation during the evening hours to even things up. that is if we weren't out on a problem or a midnight hike or a fire. There was always a theater to go to, and Greene Park offered all kinds of amusement for the tired soldier. To say nothing of the many 36 and 48-hour week-end passes. Mostly 36-hours though. But after a hard day's drill or digging trenches at night in the rain and wind, standing formations during the cold weather, and especially the fire drills at night, were things that one can never forget, even after having gone through the Argonne. You are awakened by the bugle. Is it the "Call to Arms? Are you in France?" Then you hear the Top Kicker's whistle and his ever cheery voice. "Hit the deck, you leatheniecks." "What do you think this is, a picnic?" Get out and get in line, pronto." "Line up." "Fall in." "Romeo, why in h— 1 haven't you got your pants on? Where do you think you are, on the beach at Waikiki?" "No sir, some one took them and left me a smaller PRIVATE ROMEO o 10 THE DIARY OF pair, and I couldn't g-et ^into them." You line up in your underwear and overcoat with the rest. Then w^e would get the command to double-time, and we would too. About two miles to an imaginary fire in some barracks and practice with the buckets and ladders. We have had as many as three drills in one nig*ht. It breaks the monotony of camp routine — also sleep. 1 think the fire department slept during the day, as night was the only time the call would come. Thus we passed the time, drilling and digging, hiking and more digging until June 23rd. On June 23rd, we left Camp Lewis at 12:15 o'clock. Went through Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Unloaded at Hoboken, New Jersey, about 3 a. m. on June 29th, 1918, and marched about one mile to Camp Merritt with full packs. We stayed at Camp Merritt until July 4th. We had no drilling but drew equipment and had our final overseas examinations. During our stay at Camp Merritt, I had the g-ood fortune to be granted a 21 -hour pass to New York. As it was exceptionally warm that day and coming from a drj'- state my thoughts were far from warfare. What I wanted was a good snort of demon rum. The Top Cutter, who was a g-ood scout when not on duty, was of the same frame of mind that I was, so we cast our lot together and started the search. Not a thing was to be had in New York but a quiet tip from an old trooper; started us for Coney Island. Here, on the advice of the trooper, we rented bathing suits and proceeded to get wet. No, not outwardly, except where glass would accidentally slip from either lack of strength or nervous- ness, but inwardly. We sat around all day in that bathing suit, lapping up the cooling suds and chasing- it down with a dash of Johnny Walker or Old Crow, PRIVATE ROMEO 11 and all the time the cold wind was blowing off the ocean and goose pimples standing out a foot on our bare legs and arms. Did we have a large time? Well, I'll say so. The Top got sick and went down on the beach. I went with him, and we both went to sleep. A "bull" came along and told us to beat it, but we couldn't at that time. We were supposed to be back at camp at 9 A. M., but we didn't get back until noon. The Top was "busted," and I drew Company punishment for being overdue on pass. But the Top said it was worth it. About midnight of July 4th, we hiked with heavy packs about 11 miles, to Hoboken, New Jersey, arriving there about 4:30 a. m., completely all in. Before we left we were given 10 rounds of ammunition and ordered to load and lock our pieces. We were not allowed to smoke or even talk on this hike. So you can imagine how pleasant the trip was. They didn't want us to talk as they were afraid that the German government would hear about it and stop the war. We rested about three hours from this 'pleas- ant hike, and then went on board the boat. She was the Scotian, a "limey" freighter, manned by a "limey" crew. We were very tired and hit our hammocks early, and the next morning, July 6th, w^hen we awoke, we were on the high seas, bound for Scotland, or some sub- teranean cavern. The first thing that was given us, outside of a place to sleep somewhere between the top deck and the rudder, was a swell life preserver. Had to wear it at all times, too, even while we slept. There were only 5000 men on this boat, most of them sick. Oh, yes, we had a swell time. Measles inspection, boat and fire drills, physical drills without shoes, but the most popu- lar thing v/as called "throwing the lunch." In this game a crowd of boys would line the rail and at a given lurch of the boat, Jose everything but their shoes. THE DTARY OP^ There vras a bunch of men forming' an essential part of the aniiy called the by some the "C. C." Brigade, or the 'Iodine Squadron," or even the "Pill Battery," but more commonly called the fig'hting' medics. The gang used to tormert them such as taking their leggings off while asleep or taking a nice hat or other equipment that happened to be needed. Slamming a "limey" on the jaw for insulting the U. S. was also a popular sport. In regard to the eats, there is as little to say as what we received. MaiTnalade, stewed mutton, as tough as a cow's hoof and just about as tasty; oleomargine, tea and the swellest buns. Just the kind a bride makes for her husband's first meal. About the only time we got anything to eat was when we could steal something out of the cook shack when the cook's back was turned. Our sleeping quarters were also good. Swell ham- mock over the mess tables. No fresh air or anything. It sure was great to lie in a hammock and get rocked to sleep by the bilowy deep. After eleven days of this we landed at Glasgow, Scotland, disembarking about 6 p. m., July 17, 1918. Boarded a third-class train for Southampton, England. Arriving at Southampton, we hiked with full packs to a rest camp. It was 3:30 a. m. when we arrived at this camp. It was raining and very muddy, and we were soaked to the skin. We left this camp at 3:30 p. m., on July 20th, arriv- ing at the Southampton docks at 7 p. m. Here we again boarded a boat, this time for La Harve, just across the English Channel. The boat was so crowded that we could not move around. We landed at La Havre, France, on the 21st and hiked to another rest camp. And believe me, it was some hike. About 7 miles and all up hill. Here we had a 3 minute steam bath. We left this rest camp about 4 p. m. on July 22nd and hiked back to La Havre, but this time it was not so bad, as it was all PRIVATE ROMEO 1 MUD (See i'lLge t>o iur Description) THE DIARY OF down hill and the boys were all in good spirits as the *result of a good night's rest. Here we met our first experiences. We entrained in box cars with 40 men in each car— "40 Hommes — 8 Chaveaux". We left the station at 7 p. m. The 2nd Platoon stole 3 kegs of beer but I was out of luck as I belonged to the 3rd Platoon on this box car trip. Private Goan fell off the train and was sent to the hospital and Private Bud Knieland got left, but later both joined the Company. We arrived at Audilly on July 24, and spent the night under sheds, sleeping on the ground. I was on guard that night and walked post for 6 hours without relief. From here we hiked to Ten Bassigney, a distance of 28 kilos. We arrived there about 6 o'clock on the evening of the 25th and were assigned to billets. We moved into them the next morning after the hogs and chickens had been run out. July 26th. The whole Company on fatigue cleaning up the streets of the town. One can't imagine how dirty the place really is. The houses are combination house, bam, chicken house and hog pen. The family live in the front part and the other part is where the stock is kept. The chickens come in the house and scratch around the straw on the floor. The yards are just as dirty as the bams. Just get the place cleaned and the frogs drive in their stock again. This is the first time the place has been cleaned since Napoleon's time. We had to run the cattle and hogs out so we could clean up and get a place to sleep. Believe me, we cleaned up, too. July 27th. Company E mounted guard. I didn't have to go on guard. First piece of good luck I had had since my arrival. Drilled three hours and was off duty. PRIVATE ROMEO 15 July 28th. Drilled all day. To keep from getting dizzy we played easy games, such as hitting a guy in the head mth a rock and let him chase you a couple of kilometers. July 29th. Same old stuff — Squads East and West and chasing each other with clubs. July 30th. Still at it. We must have worn out about a dozen officers the last few days. The officer stands still and gives the commands while we do all the walking. They have awful good voices, but poor feet. July 31st. This was the hottest day we have had, and we had to do some hard hiking. About 18 kilome- ters. Everybody soaked with perspiration. We saw some very interesting sights. Old villages and churches and everything. We sure needed the hike as we havn't been doing much. August 1st. Had field inspection. This is the first one we have had since arriving in France. I guess they wanted to see how much rust can get on our mess gear and tools during a sea voyage. This field in- spection is the real peruvian doughnuts. Speaking of those things I wouldn't mind having a few and some real Camp Lewis Post Ex. Java. A lot of the boys were called down, but I got by 0. K. August 2nd. Dug trenches. This trench digging is all new, as I only had about six months of it. It rests the back. August 3rd. Hiked to Essay today. Didn't get enough exercise yesterday, so the "loot" decided that he needed a walk. Real pleasant. Only about 900° in the shade. These trench hats are real cool. August 4th. We had an inspection this morning, and I got called down because my rifle was dirty. The Capt. said; "Go back and clean that rifle up, and get back out here." I went in and set on my bunk for 16 THE DIARY OF about ten minutes and then picked up my gun and went out and got back in line again. He came over and grabbed my rifle and looked at it and said, "That is better; why didn't you have it like that in the first place?" Well, after the inspection, we didn't do anything much but just hang around close. The band was out this evening and we had some good music and plenty of dancing. The French girls would grab a fellow and start out dancing just like they had known him for a long time. We sure had a good time. August 5th. Organized the Company. This isn't organizing for a liquor party. Was put in the 1st Squad of the 1st Platoon. The 1st Platoon must be the trench diggers. I am sure a lucky dog. August 6th. Out guard problem. The Platoon goes out and defends a position, or attacks as ordered, against the enemy. Also guard duty in enemy territory. August 7th. Company hiked about 10 kilometers to Montiqey. Another officer was getting too lazy to work so the skipper had the boys take him out for exercise. Believe me he got it. August 8th. Drilled part of the day and then lined up for pay. Drew 70 francs. After supper went to a wine joint and got liquored up. Pretty nearly broke so went back and won 150 france in a poker game. Went back to the ^\^ne joint and was drunk the rest of the night. August 9th. Rifle range in the a. m. Went to Chauniont and drew gas masks. Nice things to wear. August 10th. We practised the French skirmish drill all day, and believe me we sure had to drill. We were out in the hills and had to run up one side and lay down on the top and then jump up and run down the other side. PRIVATE ROMEO 17 o 18 THE DIARY OF August 11th. We went out to the place where we quit the skirmish drill the day before and started back over the same ground, only in the opposite direction with the same kind of drill, so we could get the idea of it from both directions. August 12th. We got back to close order drill and went around squads east and west all day. August 18th. Hiked to Fort Laugner today. This is a small town of about six hundred population. All the small French towns look alike. It was so dirty that some of us wanted to put on our gas masks to go through. We didn't go to see the Forts, but for exercise. August 14th. Long practice march. Only allowed one canteen of water on the hike. We were some dry when we returned. Captain told the 1st Sergeant to dismiss the Company and then drown themselves. Be- lieve me they did — in vin blanc and cognac. August 15th. Rifle range in a. m. Did very well. Got a good score. Also had an hour gas mask drill after supper. I can get mine on in about 40 seconds now. That is, if I have good luck. August 16th. We had close-order drill half the day and wigwag and semaphore the rest of the time. August 17th. Problem from Chaumont to Surry. This included the supposed capture of one part of the company by the other half. We separated and went different directions, and then sent out scouts to locate the "Reds" and the "Reds" sent out scouts to locate us. Then we practised skirmish lines and went against each other for fair. August 18th. Inspection. I don't know what they forgot this time, but anyway, we were out on the field as per usual. Got by this one 0. K. PRIVATE ROMEO 13 August 19th. More manuel labor and skirmish work. Would like to have lead an attack on a rum joint, but there were too many watching. August 20th. Dug more trenches. That is the rest did. I beat it off with a couple of birds to a near by house and had a feed. Got back in time to go home. August 21st. Inspection. This seems to be getting to be a regular thing. Got bawled out for not having all my equipment out. Was given extra duty for pun- ishment. Have to walk with full pack one hour each night after retreat for a week. August 22nd. Problem — Capturing a few hills. This was a Battalion problem. Part of the Battalion went into the hills to defend it. The others to capture it. We were on the offensive, and after sending out scouting parties and advance guards, stormed the hills and captured th enemy. These problems are supposed to take place as they would under actual war conditions. August 23rd. We took our packs and hiked over to Chaumont to the gas house. When you go in the gas house you have your gas mask on; after you get in the door is closed and you stay in a while and then lift one side of your mask up to let the gas in so you can see just what it is like. It was done to show you that as long as you had your gas mask on and it didn't leak you were safe from any kind of gas as well as to train you in the use of the masks. At this particular time they used "tear gas." When we raised our mask and let the gas in to our face it couldn't be felt at first, but it could be smelt. We held our mask open about ten seconds and then let it down and cleared our mask. The gas soon took effect, and the tears began running down our faces and our eyes smarted for about a half hour, but there was no bad effects afterwards. 20 THE DIARY OF August 24th. Problem at SuiTey. This was a regimental problem and on the same plan as the others. Pretty tird when we got back, but beaucoup cognac fixes the tired trooper up. August 25th. Another full field inspection and believe me they sure looked them over good. Ever since the Captain called me down for having a dirty rifle he takes an especially good look at my rifle, but I was next to him and had it shined up right, but he bawled me out for having "bad looking equipment." I was not the only one that got bawled out, for about two dozen of them got it. August 26th. Drill cut to six hours. When we were told that our drill had been cut down we sure were a happy bunch, for it meant we would have more time to run around and get acquainted with the girls. August 27th. Drilled all day today. Squads East and West, gas mask and skirmish. I guess the officers think that w^e will forget how. August 28th. Went to Fort Dompere today. It was built in 1645, and remodeled in 1870. Some Fort. It is one of the oldest in France. The top of a moun- tain was dug out and the fort built like an under ground city. To get into it you pass through a big iron gate and was in a big place just like a long city street with- out any cross streets and with high walls built on both sides and ends. On one side was a lot of big iron doors, after passing through one of them you was in a street in the fort proper. Here it was built just like a city, but all under ground. It took the Division seven hours with steady march- ing to pass through the gates. August 29th. Drilling as usual. I guess they still think we don't get enough exercise. Wish I could take charge for about a week. I would do nothing but sleep and eat. PRIVATE ROMEO 21 August 30th. Grenade work with real live ones. It's lots of fun to hear them bust. One fellow pulled the pin and forgot to throw it. Went off in his hand. Haven't found all of him yet. August 31st. Big hike of 15 miles. These others are all small ones. Seven to ten miles each. Must be gettting ready to move to the front. We are getting all tired out drilling. September 1st. Out on a two-day problem. This was a divisional problem. Ordered back to roll up and start for the front. Believe me some excitement. September 2nd. No drill today. Everybody lying around or cleaming up camp preparatory to leaving. Believe me we are leaving it cleaner than it was when we moved in. September Srd. Started hiking to Raibend. Hard walking as the packs were ver>^ heavy and the mud made progress slow. September 4th. The Division arrived at Raibend. Had to unroll packs and pitch tents. Not much chance for a rest either. September 5th. Still at Raibend. Raining hard and lots of mud. Expect to leave in the morning. September 6th. Left this a. m. in box cars, forty- two men to car. On guard and looking for a place to sit down. Not much chance as the rest of the gang were looking for the same chance. September 7th. Still standing up in the box cars. Everybody was dead tired. The sanitary conditions were not of the best either. Not even a chance to exercise. I guess we will get enough before long. Too tired to even pay .attention to the scenery. September 8th. Arrived at Demauge. Bunk fatigue. Everybody all in from the ride, so we all took things easy. 22 THE DIARY OF September 9th. Drilled part of the day. No place to g-o, and couldn't go if we wanted to. September 10th. Left Demauge at 9 p. m. for the front line trenches. Of course we walked. Headed for some woods. September 11th. Landed in the woods and pitched tents. Gave us "Right by File" and took us over 3 hours to get settled. Raining hard and awful muddy. Not allowed to smoke or talk at night. September 12th Slept in the woods in a tent with McCormick and another private so we could keep warm. It was very cold and it was raining hard. Didn't sleep very well either. September 13th. Left the woods and hiked 2 miles to the trucks. Twenty men to a truck. Were some crowded. Going to a place near Verdun. September 14th. Arrived at Maurats. Didn't have much to do but pitch tents and clean up for a camp. Told to clean up for inspection. September 15th. Inspection. Everybody got by 0. K. It seems that all they do during spare time is in- spect. The Captain sure looked me over good. September 16th. Left Maurats. It was some hike we had. Was all in when we arrived, and was put on a detail. Slept in the woods. September 17th. Hiked all night. We do all our hiking at night so as to keep from being seen by the Boche planes. No talking or smoking either. September 18th. Still hiking and all in. Packs are getting awful hea\'y. Reached Verd at night. Wished I had a snort of cognac. September 19th. Hiked all night. German long- range guns firing at us, but we keep on going. Lots PRIVATE ROMEO 23 24 THE DIARY OF of men dropping out from fatigue. They catch up with us when we rest. September 20th. Heard the big guns. We are getting closer to the front line. September 21st. Left the woiods at 9 o'clock and stopped in the trenches while the bombardment was go- ing on. September 22nd. Some place in the back trench. Bombardment keeps up all the time. Pretty tired and hungry. Too busy traveling to eat. September 23rd. Still in the back trenches. Rest- ing as much as we can. All the boys in good spirits. September 24th. Still in the back trenches. We moved up in the evening. September 25th. Preparing to move up. We are in the trenches in the Argonne forest. Our artillery put over a barrage from 2 a. m. until 11 a. m. All infantry soldiers not engaged on active duty told to stay under cover as there was pronounced activity by Ger- man air forces. Seen three airplane engagements. Two Boche planes were seen to fall in flames under heavy fire from American planes. It certainly put heart in us as they were the first American planes we have seen in action, and anything American looked good to us. At 11:45 p. m. we moved up to front line trenches which the French army had occupied for four years, and said advance against Boches was impossible on account of entrenchments. September 26th. Moved out of the trenches at day break and advanced across "No-Man's Land" which was torn up by our artillery. The reinforced concrete dugouts were blown all to pieces. We advanced in skir- mish line. Some tough going. Casuals, as we were in support. Saw our first comrades who had given their all. PRIVATE ROMEO 25 Also some dead Germans. Only one meal of corned willie and one hard tack. Slept along side of the road. September 27th. First trip over the top. Few casuals. Captured the town of Eclesfontain. 364th took over the front so we moved back into some trenches for the night. Heavily shelled. September 28th. Issued some more rations. Moved through Eclesfontain. Mopped up some woods. Were heavily shelled in the p. m. McMullin and Williams killed. Several killed and wounded. Moved up at night and relieved the machine guns who were surrounded by the Germans. Raining hard all the time and awful cold. No raincoats or overcoats but plenty of ammunition. September 29th. Beaucoup shelling snippers. After- noon over the top. Through big German barrage. Many killed and wounded. Lieut. Armstrong wounded. Lieut. Hoffman in command. Captured Gesnes. Hardest fight- ing yet and many of our boys were lost. September 30th. Had to move back out of Gesnes as the Divisions on the right and left had not advanced in support. October 1st. In support. Heavy artillery fire. Very few present for roll call, as our Company was all scattered out. October 2nd. Still in support. Waiting for the other Divisions to advance. Lots of artillery fire. October 3rd. Support. Aeroplanes very active. Beaucoup Boche planes in air. October 4th. Support. Relieved by another dough- boy outfit. My Corporal was killed. Marched about ten kilos to the rear. All in. October 5th. Reserve. Plenty of rest in the woods. Everybody tired, as we had very little sleep during the past ten days. 26 THE DIARY OF October 6th. Reserve. Got some mail and got paid. Believe me, we sure were himgry for we hadn't had much to eat. Had about six trucks of bread. They were un- loaded at the edge of the woods. That night two of us went out and stole 6 or 7 loaves. Sure did enjoy eating it for we were so hungry. In the afternoon were ordered to take a bath in a small creek where there was about an inch of water. Were not allowed to drink it. First time to have our shoes off in 17 days. October 7th. Moved further back. Stopped about noon and pitched tents. Started back to the front at 4:30 a. m. all in. October 8th. Reached front line at daylight and took over some outposts of the 32nd Division. Very few casuals. October 9th. Outposts. Moved up into creek in afternoon. Ready to advance in skirmish line at any moment. Prepared for counter attack at night. October 10th. Stand to. No Attack. Heavy shelling on both sides. Moved forward in come back groups 3 kilos into the woods. October 11th. Held the front. Not much fighting. Machine gun barrage by 347th Machine Gun Battalion. October 12th. Quiet. Rations issued at night. Been relieved. Moved out single file. Passed the rear of the column about midnight. Reached our kitchen and had our supper. Camped for the night. October 13. Hiked all day. All in and feet on the blink. October 14th. Still hiking and everybody sick. Have to keep moving. October 15th. Hiked 18 kilos to Bar-le-Duc. This is about what we have been doing every day. Don't pay much attention to scenery. PRIVATE ROMEO 27 October 16th. Still hiking. All in, but haven't dropped yet. Lots of the boys too sick to go farther. Leave them a long side of the road. October 17th. Hiked. Was taken sick and sent to the hospital. Lots of the boys went with me. October 18th. In bed in Ward K. Too tired to even turn in bed. Lots of wounded here. Also gas patients. Moving them back to the Base Hospital. October 19th. Feeling better. Walked around. Had a feed with Private Dutchy, Headquarters Company and missed the chance to go to the Hospital October 20th. Walked around. Went to town and had another feed. A Major ate with us and paid the bill. He was on his way to Paris. October 2l3t. Feeling pretty good, but still weak. My feet are in pretty bad condition. I guess my shoes are too small — size 11 ^/^ EE. Got in a poker game and won 200 francs. October 22nd. Was in bed all day today. Winning 200 francs kind of fatigued me. October 23rd. Lying around all day and playing cards. Those able to go are leaving for replacement camps. October 24th. Played Cards. Went to the Eed Cross and had a hair cut and a cup of cocoa and some cookies to pass the time away. October 25th. Still hanging around. Went to the Red Cross for more eats. October 26th. Ordered to leave for replacement camp. Don't know^ where we are bound for, but some place on the front. October 27th. Lined up for rations and traveling orders. About 20 men in our bunch. 28 THE DIARY OF October 28th. Still waiting orders and sleeping on the floors. Have no blankets and it's pretty cold. Can't go any place. October 29^h. On train bound for Belgium. Cars not so bad as the ones we came up to the front on. Riding like millionaires. October 30th. Got off train at Noisey la Sec to draw rations when train pulls out and leaves us. Went to a hotel and got a room. Had some eats and drinks. October olst. Left for another hotel out of towTi so that the M. Ps. wouldn't bother us. Met another soldier who tried to get us to join his outfit. He went away and got two M. Ps. who arrested us and took us to the "can". November 1st. Moved to Chelles to a larger guard house. Gray-headed Loot of the 158th Infantry, 40th Division, asked us questions. Called me Black Joe from Frisco. One of the M. P. Sergeants knocked me down. In this guard house we sleep on concrete floors v/ith one blanket for three men. Had little to eat. November 2nd. On water detail. All I do is carry v\'at€r about one-half kilo. Somebody always on your tail with a gun or a club. Not very much to eat. November ord. Cut wood today and worked awful hard. Had very little slum to eat too. All the prisoners half starved. November 4th. It rained all day today. Lots of mud but there was lots of work too. Everybody soaking wet and not much chance to dry clothes. November 5th. Was on K. P. Got some tobacco and smoked in guard house. Guard saw us and searched us. Had it hid. Finally found it in my bunk but no one owned up to having it. The guard told me that he would be around that night and beat me up. They were in the habit of knocking the prisoners cocoo, so I moved my PRIVATE ROMEO GERMAN ARTILLERY OBSERVATION POST See Pag-e 66 for Description) THE DIARY OF bed. We had a dead line and were not allowed to cross it. When we wanted to go to the latrine we would call out "How is the Head Sentry?" He would call out, "No. 1 coming on the hike", and we would have to double time out. When we would start back they would call out, "No. 2 coming back on the hike," and they would double time back. November 6th. My pal was sent to farm No. 2. We had to go through town to get our chow and always march at attention. One day I forgot to keep my 40 inches between ranks and I was reminded of it by an JM. P. who was in charge of the detail. He came up from behind and without a word of warning, hit me oshind the ear with his fist, but it felt more like a sapling. Believe me, if we hadn't had the M. Ps., I don't think we would have won the war. Like Hell. Novefnber 7th. Worked hard all day. Dug ditches and policed up around camp. Don't hear much about the war here. Keeps you busy dodging clubs and fists. The M. P.'s treat us awful. November 8th. Was on detail shaking cooties off the blankets. Nothing can shake them off. They must be fastened on with glue. November 9th. Worked all day with very little to eat and bad treatment. Cooties won't let me sleep nights. I must have a million on me. November 10th. On kitchen detail. Thought I would steal a bite to eat, but an M. P. busted me in the jaw and changed my mind for once. November 11th. Worked hard around guard house all day. Don't get much chance to rest. Wouldn't mind it so much if we got some decent food or even a lot of what they do feed us. November 12th. Was latrine Sergeant. Believe me I hope I don't get it again. That is the worst I have PRIVATE ROMEO 31 had yet. Understand that an armistice was si^ed yes- terday. "Who won the war?" "M. P.s" "Who helped them?" "The Y. M. C. A."— Like hell. November 13th. On wood detail today. Rode in the wagon so I didn't have to do any walking. The driver was a decent sort of a fellow and gave me a smoke on the Q. T. November 14th. Was courtmartialed. Don't know what our sentence was but soon found out. I got 3 months hard labor and two-thirds of my pay for the same time. November 15th. Taken to No. E cell to serve our sentence. November 16th. They searched us and took all of our tobacco, knives and razors away from us. They said they would give them back to us. November 17th. We work one week and drill the next week in this new camp. November 18th. We loaded ashes on trucks all day. We have a nice place to sleep with a mattress full of straw and 3 blankets apiece. November 19th. Are sleeping upstairs over a Y. M. C. A. and moving pictures. Aren't allowed to go to any of them. November 20th. One of the guard detail Sergeants let a few of us go down stairs to see a moving picture show and have a smoke. November 21st Went on sick call to see the Doctor. Gave me a couple of pills and said I was all right. Went back to work. November 22nd. New order from G. H. Q.: All prisoners must drill a half day every day. Started to drill with rifles. Also played a few games. This is better than working all the time. 32 THE DIARY OF November 23rd. Drilled all day today. This is get- ting to be like old times. November 24th. Hiked about seven kilos and drilled the rest of the day. The eats haven't improved any either. November 25th. Had physical exercises and played games all day. These games are harder than working. Don't seem like Sunday. November 26th. Drilled all day. Beginning to wish that I was back at work. November 27th. Drilled and worked today. One of the fellows got away from the guard house. He was caught, and the guard officer beat him up something awful. November 28th. Took a bath and tried to get rid of the cooties. We put our underwear through the de- louser to try and kill the cooties. It was no use for they were so thick. November 29th. Thanksgiving Day but a poor one for me. Some feed we had. Gravy, bread and butter, and no seconds. Worked half of the day. November 80th. We are building a new stockade. The other one is too full. The mud is up to our knees, and it rains all the time. December 1st. Worked all day stacking lumber. For one big meal we had a chunk of bread and one can of trench trout for three men. December 2nd. Dug trenches to drain the water off all day. Same kind of a heavy meal as yesterday. December 8rd. Have three buildings up all ready. Guess they are going to pinch the whole army by the looks of things. December 4th, Helped move a djmamo. I don't H PRIVATE ROMEO S3 know what they are going to do with it. Probably ex- hibition purposes. We don't even have candles. December 5th. Worked on the buildings all day. December 6th. One of the carpenters gave me a sack of Bull Durham. Thought I was rich. Said for gosh sake not to say a thing to any one as he might get in bad. December 7th. Working — And dodging around trying to get out of all we could. December 8th. Off duty. Tried to get some new clothes. Fighting the cooties. December 9th. Worked on the buildings all day. Believe me not much chance to beat duty here. Not much to eat today. December 10th. Loaded ashes all day. Pretty dirty work. Couldn't even clean up afterwards. December 11th. Back on the same detail where we had been working. It is a big chocolate factory. While waiting for the trucks to unload tried to get some choco- late but one of the Frogs would run us out. December 12th. Called my name and told to roll up and get ready to go. Gave all but 25 Francs of my money back. About half an hour later they called my name and told me it was a mistake. Believe me, I was sure disappointed because didn't get to go. December 13th. The guards found out that I had some money. Were mad because I wouldn't give them any. Made me work awful hard. December 14th. We are allowed to smoke. Bought 40 F. worth of Tobacco and divided it among the prison- ers. Believe me, We sure enjoyed ourselves. December 15th. Drilled in the a. m. and hiked in the p. m. This is a little change, but believe me we were tired. 34 THE DIARY OF December 16th. Lied around all day. Am decorat- ing my mess kit. All the amusement we have. December 17th. Lied around all day. Still working on my mess kit. Believe me it looks pretty fancy. December 18th. Rained all day. Took us to a picture show in the p. m. There must be something wrong. I guess that they mil make up for it before long. December 19th. The Loot gave us a speech and told us that our time would be up the middle of next month. That there was no use of any of us trying to get away. We sure are anxious to get away. December 20th. Worked all day. Still digging ditches and putting up buildings. December 21st. Same details. M. Ps. beat up a couple of prisoners this evening. Believe me they will get theirs. December 22nd. Moved from No. E cell to stockade. We had about 700 men and one kitchen and it was a tough time we had getting chow. Rained most of the time and no one can imagine 700 men in line to one kitchen standing in the rain and mud. Sleeping was pretty bum too. There was about a foot of mud in the barracks and no ticks to sleep on. It was pretty cold. December 23rd. Worked hard all day in the rain. Very little to eat and cruel treatment. December 24th. Same as day before. It's pretty near the same every day. Treat you fine one day and rotten the next six. December 25th. Christmas Day. The Red Cross gave us candy and cigarettes. Also surprised with a good feed. Was issued a pair of rubber boots at night. Some Christmas present. PRIVATE ROMEO 35 December 26th. Got orders not to smoke. Took all our smokes away from us. Orders changed and we are allowed one cigarette after each meal. On a warehouse detail in a. m. and on another in the p. m. December 27th. Worked hard all day. Very muddy and cold. Have bushels of cooties. No water to wash in and no razors. Some bum looking outfit. December 28th. Met a friend named Hildron in the guard house. Was a Mess Sergeant but now a prisoner like me. Asked for a job in the kitchen but never got it. But he got his. He was caught selling rations to the Frogs and got a general court martial. December 29th. Told my time would be up January 24th. One more month of slaving. December 80th. The Major investigated our. condition The Loot was courtmartialed and sent back to the states as a private. December 31st. Camp condemned and work in the buildings stopped. Had to dig some ditches. January 1st. New Year's day. Holiday. Finished decorating my mess kit. Sure looks fine. Will get about ten years if the officers ever see it. January 2nd. Started tearing down the buildings we had built. This is some swell job. January 3rd. On another detail. Must have worked too hard yesterday. We don't have to work very hard. No, not much. January 4th. Carried lumber all day. Ran a nail in my foot and went to the hospital. Painted it with iodine and was marked "Duty." January 5th. Went on trucks to get ashes for side- walks. Drunken M. P. run us in a ditch. Had to walk back to camp. Some hike. THE DIARY OF DESTRUCTION OF CLOTH HALL. A picture of Cloth Hall, in the city of Ypres Belgium, which at one time was considered to be the most beautiful cathedral in the world, where the kings of Belgium were crowned. It is said the Kaiser anticipated being crowned king of Belgium there, but the Allies sadly disappointed him. In chagrin he ordered the shelling of Cloth Hall by his heavy guns in May, 1915, while held by the Ca- nadian forces, completely destroying this wonderful edifice. \ PRIVATE ROMEO 37 EXPLODING SHELLS AT YPRES German shells bursting behind our lines at Ypres, Belgium, plainly showing the difference be- tween gas and high explosive shells, the light color being a. gas shell, the large black one being a 12- inch high explosive. In the background you will see a small 18-pounder bursting. 38 THE DIARY OF January 6th. On K. P. all day chopping wood and incidentally stealing a little grub when the cooks weren't looking. I sure need it. January 7th. Worked all day. When we got back they read the numbers of the men who were to go back to their outfit. My number was read too. Am some happy guy. January 8th. Marched us to Boini to a replacement camp and turned loose. Believe me we fixed up a few M, Ps. who were not on duty. They don't like blue hat cords anj^way. January 9th. Received all new equipment and put on train. I am not going to miss any more trains now. It sure feels good to be a free man. January 10th. Stopped in Paris for about 2 hours. Took the 4:40 train for La Mans. Changed at La Mans for Nougent. Slept all night in barns at Nougent. January 11th. Got up at 8 a. m. Marched over to the office. Rode 18 kilos on trucks. Arrived at Belleme about 2 p. m. Reported back to Company. The Captain asked how I was getting along. Said, "Very well, sir." January 12th. Sat around all day. I guess they are thinking up something for me to do. January 13th. Was on K. P. with Private Shaw Marteany. Was pretty hungry and went to get some meat and bread. Cook Myre said, "You have already got your share. I have 150 men to feed at 6:30." Got in a poker game at night and won 150 F. Played until 12 January 14th. Physical drill and some squads East and West. Had a 2 mile hike in the afternoon.' Januaiy 15th. Squads East and West and 'round about all day. Also some signal drill and calisthenics. January 16th. Rained all day today, so we spent our time listening to lectures. First aid work too. PRIVATE ROMEO 39 January 17th. Battalion went out on a problem. Raining hard and lots of mud. Tired and hungry when we got back. January 18th. Went on guard. Met an old pal from Headquarters Company. Private Griffith is his name. About 8:30 the O. D. came in the guard house. No one Called "Attention." He said, "Don't you know what to do when an officer comes in?" We said, "Yes, sir, but we never saw you." He took all the Corporals names. Had No. 4 Post inside the guard house. Sat down all night. January 19th. Sunday. Came off guard at 11:30 a. m. Loafed around all day. January 20th. Physical drill, bayonet drill and squads east and west. In the afternoon we passed in review twice. Hiked about 8 miles to do this. Some tired when we got back. January 21st. Practiced for review by Gen. Persliing at the same field. January 22nd. Practiced French drill. Marched us around and around in the morning. Had a field meet in the afternoon. Music by the 361st band. January 23rd. Hiked about 18 kilos doing the French drill. The American one is bad enough. January 24th. Squads East and West all day. Was issued some shoes. They are as bad as the ones I just took off. January 25th. Took a bath. Sent my clothes through the delouser and stayed in the rest of the day drying them. January 26th. Pretty cold. Snowed a little. Stayed as close to a fire as the crowd would permit. January 27th. Reviewed by Gen. Pershing. Hiked 5 kilos with fixed bayonets. Had an early dimier and got to the field about noon. The whole Regiment was 40 THE DIARY OF there. Stood until 4 o'clock in the snow and ice. Some cold feet. Almost frooze. Loot Coffee saw me spit in ranks and ordered me to report to the orderly room after we passed in review. Double timed about 1% miles and was all in when I got back to the billet. After mess reported to Captain for spitting in ranks. Got 3 days extra duty. January 28th. Marched out to drill ground. As- similated capturing macliine guns. Trench mortars fired some gas shells. January 29th. Sighting and aiming drill. Eetreat at 4 o'clock. January 30th. Wood hauling detail with Private Pete Faber. Gave the mule skinner some B. S. and did little work. January 31st. Sighting and aiming drill in a. m. Issued new shoes in p. m. February 1st. Took bath. Rest of day off. Got out of inspection. February 2nd. On bath detail with Private Offield carrying water. Some job carrying water for delouser. Had to carry it about 2 blocks. Now Oh! S. we are in the army. February 3rd. On extra duty for ditching inspection Saturday. On clothes cleaning detail. February 4th. Ditto. Believe me this is no snap. I never saw such dirty clothes in my life. I'll bet some of them haven't been washed since they were issued. February 5th. Ditto. Beat a lot of duty today. I guess they will put me back to duty so they can get through. February 6th. Had Divisional parade today. Had to double time about two miles. Was all in. PRIVATE ROMEO 41 February 7th. Still on clothes cleaning detail. Was just relieved yesterday to get in the parade. February 8th. Inspection. Company E took the prize for being the cleanest outfit. They ought to have taken it with all the work I put in cleaning up clothes and equipment. February 9th. On K. P. \\ath Romo and Jones. We sure did fill up. The cooks were sore and going to re- port us. February 10th. Physical drill, rapid fire. Physical inspection. Ran the 100-yard dash in 15 seconds. I learned that keeping out of the way of the M. Ps. February 11th. Charge quarters. Some cold. Stole coal and wood. Equipment inspection. February 12th. Cleaned equipment On guard. Played Black Jack. Funeral of Sergeant Lezack, Co. F. February 13th. Cleaned Equipment. Played Black Jack. February 14th. Cleaned Equipment. Won 100 F. in Black Jack game. February 15th. Inspection with full pack. Called for long hair and dirtv gas mask. Had to reclean equip- ment. Wine detail. February 16th. Woke up with an awful hang over. Got up at noon and gambled the rest of the day. Won a few francs. February 17th. Charge of quarters today. Cleaned everything up while the boys were out drilling. Also took on a few snorts of annisette. February 18th. Drilled in the rain all day. Have to wear three pairs of wool socks to keep my shoes from coming off. February 19th. Interior guard duty today instead of drill. The fields are almost like rivers. 42 THE DIARY OF February 20tli. Rain let up a little today, so we went at it again — Squads East and West. February 21st. Field meet. Company E won all honors. I won the 100-yard dash; also equipment race. Rained hard. February 22nd. No inspection. Co. E had a big party. Some feed and plenty of drinks. Lasted until 2 a. m. Was on the stage acting as Black Joe from Frisco. We all got cocoo. February 23rd. Sunday. Nothing to do. After dinner Sergeant Frey and I went for a 7 kilo hike. Bought a dozen eggs in the country and some meat. Sergeant Frey, McGonigle, Casabeer and I had some feed and plenty to drink. We ate so much we had to take a walk to settle our supper. Played Black Jack and was some lucky. Won 400 Francs. February 24th. Was on K. P. Rained all day but the Company took a long hike. February 25th. Second platoon took a bath and drilled all day. February 26th. Was room orderly. Went on a wine detail and had a big supper and had a good feed with a private family. February 27th. Took a bath in the a. m. and went on another wine detail at noon. Was cooco the rest of the day. When I got back one of the boys put me to bed and didn't wake up until 7 o'clock. I was hungry so Sergeant Fry and I went out and got a big feed. February 28th. Was on a pit detail at the range Was on No. 12 target. All the men firing on No. 12 must have been cocoo for they only got two bulls-eyes. The mud was knee deep all around. March 1st. Had inspection of rifles and side arms. Every thing O. K. Got into a poker gajne and played until reveille next morning. Broke even. PRIVATE ROMEO 43 m 44 THE DIARY OF March 2nd. Paid at 8 o'clock. Lots of money to g-amble with. "Ho, Dice, for a Big 7!" Hit 'em bones witli an old natural." "And he went away on a pair of box cars." "Snake eyes for 20 francs." "I've got you faded, drive on." "Phoebe dice for 30 francs." "Twenty francs he's right." That's all you heai\ March 3rd. The Company stood muster and inspec- tion of equipment and rifles. They Vv^ere all dirty. The Captain said, "Of all the dirty, rotten, filthy outlits, you are one today. I am ashamed of you, the Major is ashamed of you, the Company officers are ashan^ed of you, and you should be ashamed of yourself." Went on out- post guard and had to take full field equipmen-. Rained all night but we had some good feeds. March 4th. Had an easy guard. Came off in P. M. and cleaned up. March 5th. Went on fatigue in a. m. and washed up for inspection in p. m. March 6th. On wagon detail. Had to haul wood about 6 kilos. Prettj^ tired. March 7th. Changed billets. Fell in for drill at 1 o'clock. Practiced new drill. March 8th. Stood inspection. Was room orderly. Pretty soft for me. March 9th. Turned in extra O. Ds. and shoes. Y. M. C. A. served hot chocolate and cookies in the p. m. March 10th. Had a real inspection. Nothing doing in the afternoon. Had a fight \vith Corporal Lanquist at night. Gave him a black eye. He is wearing dark glasses now. March 11th. Embarkation officer inspected us on drill. Were on the bum proper but got by 0. K. Said we were the cleanest outfit he ever saw. Drilled in the afternoon. PRIVATE ROMEO 45 March 12th. Divisional inspection in the morning. Nothing doing in the p. m. March 13th. On fatigue detail. The Company had corn willie for dinner but I had a big feed at a restaurant. March 14th. On fatigue detail in the morning. Were supposed to drill in the p. m. but the Skipper opened his heart and let us off. Had a big show at the Y. M. C. A. Were supposed to take a bath but run out of water, so we were S. O. L. March 15th. Had inspection of full packs in morning preparatory to embarkation. No drill in the p. m. March 16th. Sunday. No drill. Had to stand check revellie and retreat. Played poker all day and broke even. March 17th. Passed in review for Major General Lewis of the 30th Division. Brig. Gen. McDonald was presented with the D. S. C. Sergeant West of the 363rd was presented with the Congressional Medal. Were in- spected by the Major. March 18th. Company on guard. Corporal Eshel made a mistake and came to order arms and got bawUed out. This was the last guard mount for the Regiment in France. Had a field meet in the afternoon. March 19th. No drill. Policed up and got ready to move. Slept on stone floor with one blanket that night. Pretty cold. March 20th. Left Bellume, France, at 8 a. m. and hiked 23 kilos through Merci to Noganet. Arrived there at 1 p. m. Y. M. C. A. gave us a teaspoonful of chocolate and half a cooky. Given Right by File and loaded on box cars eight by twenty feet with 29 men with packs to a car. Believe me, we were some crowded. Put on guard so watched my chance for some one to get up so I could sit down. Went through Le Mans at 6:20 and had supper at Sable at 7:30. Left Sable at 8 o'clock. 46 THE DIARY OF March 21st. Arrived at St. Nazaire at 7 a. m. and had breakfast in the cars. Order to fall in for a 2 mile hike for Camp No. 2. It was 4 miles to camp and we carried full packs. Had inspection when we arrived at camp and found one louse on a fellow so the whole division had to go through the delouser. Drew bed sacks, filled them with straw and hiked over to Camp 1 to turn in reserve rations. Returned and lined up for mess. There were 10,000 men feeding from one kitchen. Went to the Y. M. C. A. at 6:30 to see a movie. The place was so crowded that they tried to put some of us out. There was nothing doing with the bunch so they let us stay. The show was rotten. March 22nd. We moved to Camp No. 1, about 1^/4 miles. Nothing doing the rest of the morning. Played games in the afternoon until 2 o'clock. Lined up to take a bath and get clean clothes. March 23rd. Sunday. Rained all day. Nothing to do. Company fell in for mess at noon. Decided to wait until the line got short so I wouldn't have to wait so long. Went over when it was short and one of the Mess line officers saw me and asked, "Why didn't you line up v^dth your Company?" I said, "Sir, it was raining too hard to stand in line." "All right", he said, "now you can wait until supper." March 24th. Played games and had Company drill in the morning. Identification inspection after mess and the rest of the day off. March 25th. Headquarters Company, Macliine Gun Company and Supply Company went on board ship. Rest of the bunch played games and drilled in the morning and had the afternoon off. March 26th. Lined up for breakest. Mush and tea. One hour's exercise and 1^/^ hours' drill. Rest of the day off. I PRIVATE ROMEO 47 AMERICAN TRENCH IN THE ARGONNE 48 THE DIARY OF March 27th. Little change at breakfast this a. m. Had beans. At noon we had camouflaged bully beef (something the boys sure like) with tea. March 28th. It must have been a holiday as we had 2 hot cakes for breakfast. Signed the pay roll. March 29th. Don't know what we had for breakfast as I overslept. Ordered to get ready for inspection. Every thing ready when the top kicker said the inspection was called off. It must have been raining too hard. March 30th. Had physical exercise and drilled all morning. Took a bath in the afternoon. They put 300 through in 5 minutes. You go in the bath house through one door and stay in 5 minutes and out the other side. Ten thousand men can get a bath in 1 hour. Some bath. March 31st. Played games and physical exercise in the morning. Paraded and Passed in review while they decorated one of the Q. M. Colonels in the afternoon. April 1st. Played games and had physical drill in the a. m. Cootie examination in the P. M. Hiked to Camp No. 2 and went through the cootie building. Told to stay around camp and be ready to go aboard ship. Got paid. Private Marks was asleep when his name was called. He got out of bed and put his overcoat on and went after his pay without dressing. April 2nd. Breakfast at 6:30. Rolled packs and stacked rifles in the street. Policed the barracks and had dinnier. Left camp at 1:30 and hiked 3 miles to St. Nazaire. The Y. M. C. A. gave us a cup of chocolate, 2 cookies, a bar of chocolate, a package of gum and some cigarettes. Went on board the U. S. S. Mexican at 4 p. m. Were marched right by file down to "D" deck. Had bunk No. 479. Were not allowed to smoke and had to stay by our bunks until all troops were on board. Had mess at 7 o'clock consisting of a half cup of tea, two small pieces of bread, a can cf sardines and one O. D. spud. Had PRIVATE ROMEO some time getting back to our deck as it was so crowded it was almost impossible to move in any direction. April 8rd. Left France at 4:30 in the morning and had breakfast at 8 30. Had life boat drill at 3 o'clock. Sure had some time to move around for the drill. After that we had inspection. April 4th. Had cootie inspection. The weather was very bad. Sea very rough and raining. April 5th. Stood in canteen line for over 3 hours. Had another life-boat drill. April 6th. The Y. M. C. A. gave us a piece of lemon. The sea was pretty rough and nearly everybody was sick. Felt pretty good, myself. Got in a poker game and lost nearly 150 dollars. April 7th. Our Company on guard. I had Post No. 12 of the second relief. It was cold and the sea was rough so I didn't get any sleep. April 8th. Sea a little better, but rained hard all day. Had boat drill and cootie inspection. The Y. M. C. A. gave us some candy. April 9th. Rained all day. The wind was strong and the sea sure was rough. One of the sailors got in a poker game and won about 300 bucks. Then an order came out prohibiting gambling. We used chips and cashed in after the game. They put an M. P. in each hold to stop gambling but that didn't make any difference. April 10th. Heard the top cutter say, "Get up, get ^P, yovL should have been up 2 hours ago." He nearly got beat up as he woke up some F Company boys. It rained a little in the morning but was fine in the after- noon. Got in a poker game and won about 50 bucks. April 11th. Got in the canteen line this morning and got some candy and peanut butter. Put them in my bunk. Private Romo found them and had a feed. I asked THE DIARY OF him about it and he said, "Private Truax told me I could have them so I ate them. They gave us some postal cards in the afternoon. You couldn't guess what they were like. They were all alike and had printed on them, "I am safe and sound in the good old U. S. A. We were about 50 hours out of New York then. The sea was pretty rough. April 12th. The top cutter came around and told us to lay everything out on our bunks for inspection. Didn't eat any dinner but I did eat about 2 dollars worth of candy. Sea still rough but the sun shining bright. April 13th. We received orders to wash, shave and have our hair cut short. We rolled our packs and put all Red Cross bags inside. Got a letter from Gen. Persh- ing putting out some advice. Got in a poker game and played 5 hands. Only stayed once and lost 65 smacks. April 14th. Ordered to turn in all fatigue clothes. Was on a detail to swab up the boat in the afternoon. The sea was calm and the £un very bright. We could see lots of boats and could see a lighthouse in the distance. We arrived at New York at 8:30 at night but stayed on board until morning. April loth. We got up at 4 o'clock and rolled our blankets. Had breakfast at 5. The boat pulled over to Pier No. 2 and we were ordered to go below and get our packs and stand by our bunks. After the boat tied up, we put on our packs and came ashore in sigle file. We stopped on the dock for about a half hour while the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Salvation Army and the Jewish Wel- fare put out some coffee, doughnuts, candy, chewing gum, cigarettes, matches and post cards. We got on a ferry at Pier 2 and landed at Brookl^m at 11:30. The Pvcd Cross gave us some real American cake, the first we had had for a long time. We boarded a Long Island train and landed at Camp Mills. Left the train and hiked abo\it 2 miles to our quarters. Arrived there about 2:15 p. m. 1 PRIVATE ROMEO 51 Had dinner about 3 o'clock and it was the best feed since we had left Camp Lewis. Took a bath and went through the delouser at 12 that night. Issued new clothes. April 16th. Had a pass to New York. Arrived there at 2 o'clock. Had a shave the first thing and then walked around the streets. Went to the Salvation Army hotel for dinner. Sat down at the table in the Cafateria and waited for some one to come and wait on me. None came so I asked the cashier if there were any K. Ps. on the job. She told me that I would have to get my own. Believe me, I sure went at it. Ham and eggs, bread, but- ter, pie, cake, French fried and Java, all for six bits. I checked my slicker and went to the Palace theatre. Price: one buck and eleven cents, but it was worth it. Went back to the Salvation Army hotel at 12:15 and hit the hay, beaucoup fatigue. Left a call for six o'clock. April 17th. Didn't get my call at 6 and slept until 10. Was late on pass so was A. W. O. L. Started for camp and arrived there at 12 o'clock. Reported to the first soldier. Confined to quarters for an indefinite period for overstaying pass. April 18th. We had inspection and roll call at nine o'clock this morning. The Skipper took the Company to the show at 10 o'clock. Just as we were going in 20 of us were taken out for detail. Loaded trucks until noon. Knocked off for dinner. After mess the Company lined up and had some pictures taken. Then I went back and loaded trucks the rest of the afternoon. Had my picture taken with full pack. April 19. Raffled off a manicure set and it ^^'as won by Private W. H. Shaw. Went up to the supply room and drew some clothes. About 6 o'clock a nigger came along with a pair of dress shoes so I bought them for 2 and a half bucks. THE DIARY OF April 20th. Eaffled off the shoes I bought. Got four and a half out of it. Bought the shoes back for two and a half. | April 21st. The Company had their picture taken I again. On guard again. Private Fritz was on kitchen guard so about 10 o'clock I went over and asked • him how chances were to knock off a little food. He said it was 0. K. We only had about a dozen eggs apiece. When I came off at 12, I met Private O' Sri en and he | said he was hungry, so I took him to the kitchen and nxed ' himself up with a feed. '■. April 22nd. When we first came to thvi camp we were ordered to stand reveille every morning-. The first ; morning only about half the gang were out. The next ; morning only a few so the top kicker decided to check reveille. Now w^e have roll call every monnng. i April 23rd. Rifie inspection this morniii:;. Ordered not to leave the barracks for more than 80 minutes at ] a time as they were preparing to split the company into detachments to send to other camps for discharge. Sent \ a package of souvenirs home. The Company held a smoker with plenty of coffee, cake, and all lands of fruit and ice cream. There were some good speeches by EO'nae of the men. After that we went to a movie. April 24th. Rolled our packs after breakfast. The Company was split in bunches. Hiked to the Long Island ' Rail Road and boarded the train. At four we were on our way. April 25th. Got up at 8 o'clock in Pennsylvania. ; Stopped at Pittsburg at 9:30 for breakfast. Stopped at } Alliance, Ohio for a few minutes where the Red Cross \ gave us coffee and doughnuts. Passed Through Fort ^ Wayne, Indiana about 6 p. m. and arrived at Chicago ^ at 10:15 where we stayed 2 hours. There the Red Cross [ gave us candy, post cards and cigarettes. PRIVATE ROMEO 53 EFFECT OF A 21 CM. GUN (Note Horse in Tree) 54 THE DIARY OF April 26th. Woke up in Waterto^vn, Wisconsin. The sun was shining bright and it was very warm but dusty. Hit LaCrosse, Wisconsin, at 10:30, and Minnesota City at 12-30. Got into Minneapolis at 4:30 and got off the train for exercise. The Red Cross gave us candy, cigar- ettes and matches. Arrived at Montevideo at 8.30 p. m. where the Eed Cross put out doughnuts and ice cream. April 27th. Arrived at Lemmon, North Dakota at 7:30. Also stopped at Hettinger for a few moments. Arrived at Miles City, Montana at 2:15 p. m. Here the Red Cross gave us oranges. Got into Roundup at 8:30 and the whole town was out to greet us. April 28th. When we got up there was no water on the train and we had to wait until we hit Deer Lodge before we could wash. Landed there at 7:30. The Red Cross put out breakfast for us. Arrived at Missoula at 1 and at St. Marie, Idaho at 3:30. Landed in Spokane, Washington, at 7 o'clock and went at once to the Spokane Hotel for the big feed. After mess we paraded until 10:30 and then went back to the train. April 29th. Got into Ellensburg at reveille and landed in Seattle at 11 o'clock. Marched up to the Mason- ic Temple and had some swell eats. Marched back to the train and started for Tacoma at 4:45, arriving there at 6:30. Paraded around to\vn and went to the Tacoma Commercial Club for another big feed. Marched back to the train and started for Camp Lewis. This is some busy place for as soon as we hit camp they started right out to muster out. We hit the hay at 2 o'clock after turning in our packs. April 30th. Up at 6:30 and had breakfast. At 9 we we were lined up for our final physical exams. Had to take an extra one for heart trouble, but it was only a cold. Returned at 1 and verified service record and signed pay roll. At 7 o'clock, Browman and I jazzed over to Greene Park and got a shave. On the way back we PRIVATE ROMEO 53 stopped at the Hostess House and had a red chevron sewed on by a Y. M. C. A. girl. Were treated to a supper. May 1st. Got up late and didn't get much breakfast. Lined up at 8 o'clock for final discharge papers and pay. Eeceived my discharge and turned in my blankets. I was a free man again. Went over to the bus station and took a bus for Tacoma. Hurrah! Let 'er Buck! Powder River! Yours truly, G. L. ROMEO. ODE TO THE 91st DIVISION. From all over the West they heard the call And freely came and gave their all; Farmers, mechanics, pushers of quill. Shipped to Camp Lewis to learn their drill. "We'll stick together" the boys all vowed, "Of the 91st Division the world shall be proud." So they shipped them to France, so far away. In the name of Freedom and the U. S. A. Boom of thunder and the lightning flash, The torn earth rocks to the barrage crash. The strongholds in the Argonne almost sway But the 91st Division saves the day. Few men live to answer the roll; The boys of the Division paid the toll; Paid with their lives — their all they gave. And sleep their last sleep in a soldier's grave. 5S THE DIARY OF ADDRESS BY COLONEL DAVIS The 361st Infantry has received its baptism of fire and has justified all predictions as to what its conduct would be. It has most creditably upheld all traditions that go toward establishing a worthy reputation in the military service. Never once has it faltered in any of the tasks assigned to the regiment; not once has it been ordered to advance but what it gained the necessary ground, and it is with well founded pride that we know that, on the high roll of honor of illustrous regiments of this war, must be written the name of the 361st In- fantry. The Commander-in-Chief congratulates you one all and extends to you, to our wounded and sick, as well as to those who have passed away, his sincere thanks for the glorious achievements of this splendid regiment. We are assembled here today, however, not to glory in our achievements, but to come to a realization of the high price we have paid for our victories, and bring back to our minds the memories of our friends and comrades who have fallen in this great cause and who have been sacrificed that our inhuman foe might be vanquished and the world made safe for our families and to our posterity. They are gone but what can be greater than to be laid away with the consecrated knowledge that one has given his very all to the work and in a cause than which there never was better or more righteous. We honor our dead yet more do they honor us as we bring back to our memory Miller Farvvell, D. Smith Long and Paul Moore and others of our illustrous dead. We see them again as upright stalwart men who straggled to do their duties, never looking back but always encouraging and protect- ing others, and went fealessly to their deaths. We are lonely without them, and grieve deeply that they should PRIVATE ROMEO 57 have been sacrificed. Their memory will always be with us as an example to us in many ways, and at this time and for ever after, our hearts must g-o out to their mothers and fathers, their wives and children, and to their sweethearts — they are the sufferers now — and their sacrifice is the greater in that they must continue on in life v/ithout their loved ones. We must ever remember their sad bereavement and stand ready to assist them because of their sacrifices to our cause. The Division has sent to us officers and men to take the place of those who have gone, and we welcome you to our regiment v/ith all our hearts and souls, and we ask you to become one of the great family that exists in this regiment as our cause is your cause, and we are all of one blood. Let your sorrows be our sorrows, the joys of one be the joys of the other. We will fight side by side, suffer side by side, and with this thought we welcome you to the 361st Infantry. We are proud of the Regiment as we are proud of you now a part of it, and it must be for evermore be your pride and love. We are glad to have you with us on this occasion, and we feel that the souls of those glorious ones who have de- parted welcome you as strongly as we do ourselves. (Colonel Davis, Commanding the 861st Infantry, was killed in axition in Belgium, November 2, 1918, and buried at Warlegem, Belgium.) "When the war drums cease their throbbing, And the battle flags are furled In the parliament of nations, The federation of the world." 58 THE DIARY OF THE ARGONNE DRIVE The following is a brief account of the attack made by the 181st Brigade of the 91st Division on the town j of Gesnes, September 29th, 1918: j I "The 181st Brigade, comprised of the 361st and 362nd Infantry Regiments, supported by the 347th Ma- - chine Gun Battalion, went into action for the first time with the 91st Division at da^vn of September 26th. Its i starting point was a line southwest of the town of i Avocourt in the department of the Mouse, in the Ar- \ gonne, about 14 miles west by northwest of Verdun. At | noon of September 29th the Brigade was occupying a line of pits on the long side hill just north and northwest of the Cierges woods (Bois Commimal de Cierges) or , was lying in shelter in the northern part of the woods : itself. I "Shortly after noon on the 29th the Brigade re- | ceived an order from a high military source directing it ^ to capture the town of Gesnes regardless of cost. Gesnes 1 lay about a mile and a half in front of the positions \ occupied by the two regiments and the Machine Gun Battalion. The orders were to move forward after a j short artillery preparation that was to begin at 3:30 p. j m. I At 3:40 the 362nd Infantry advanced, followed by a part of the 361st, with the 347tli Machine Gun Battalion at the right. From the front line as held at 3:40 to the town of Gesnes the route ran over three ridge tops. it J PRIVATE ROMEO 59 The starting point was near the crest of the first ridge. It was a small distance between the first ridge and the second, a greater distance between the second ridge and the third while the third ridge overlooked the town. The front of attack for the Brigade and the Machine Gun Battalion was about a mile wide. The ridges were bare except for a couple of small patches of woods be- tween the first ridge and the second. "On the high timbered hills west and north and northeast of Gesnes, the Germans had dozens of artillery batteries and scores of machine gun nests. Directly in front of the Brigade were also machine gun nests, while the ridges at the right front and a woods at the left front were also full of machine gun emplacements and rifle snipers. As the Germans saw the American line strike the top of the first ridge, everything they had broke loose. High explosives, shrapnel, gas shells, snipers' bullets, and machine gun bursts, were poured into the thinning ranks of the devoted men who made this charge. "The most remarkable thing about the attack on Gesnes is that the town was taken. By 5:00 o'clock the Germans could be seen streaming out of it up the hills to the northward. Certain 91st units entered the streets yelUng Towder River,' the well-known battle cry of the 361st Infantry. So great was the confusion, and so heavy the losses, that maintenance of regimental or even company fronts was impossible, and at the end rem- nants of many companies of both regiments got to town, while certain of them proceeded some hundreds of yards beyond the town and dug in for the night. "Shortly before 10:00 o'clock a general order came to the Brigade directing it to retire to the old Una While tlie 181st Brigade had taken Gesnes 'regardless of cost,' it was left in a narrow salient thrust out from the main front Line of the army. Because of the fire THE DIARY OF from the flanks, the position was not considered tenable, and so although it had done all that was asked of it and more, the Brigade was compeUed to retire. Those who could, of course, straggled back to their positions that night, arriving at all hours until morning, but another 24 hours lost men were making their way to their outfits, one by one. "So astonished were the Germans at this exhibition of courage and fight that they did not attempt again to occupy in any force the ground between Gesnes and the Cierges woods. Gesnes was retaken on the 4th of October. "Because of the exceeding confusion on that after- noon, and because the men in seeldng temporary shelter in shell holes and here and there, became so badly scat- tered, it has been impossible to get eye witness details of many of the deaths. Men saw other men killed, but did not know who they were, or in the uproar did not realize who they were. But this was probably the greatest ordeal through which any portion of the 91st Division passed, and perhaps little apolog>' is necessary when the report made has to say simply that the soldier lost his life in 'going to Gesnes!' "COLIN V. DYMENT, CVD-EF "Lt. A. R. C., 91st Division." PRIVATE ROMEO 61 THE TOLL The follounng Comrades of my Company gave their all for the cause of freedom and democracy: Sergeant Don W. Clark, Bordeaux, Wash. Corporal Guy O. Enman, Deer Park, Wash. Private Ottavio Fiscalini, Temecula, Cal. Corporal Leo K. McCormack, Republic. Wash. Private Bert C. Smith, Falls City, Wash. Private John McMullen, Inot, Mont. Private Charles V. Williams, Chico, Cal. Private Leland W. Toll, Kooskia, Idaho. Corporal John L. Hepworth, Blackfoot, Idaho. Private Carol F. Jackson, Artesian, S. Dak. Private Victor Kangas, Norwood, Idaho. Private Gay Luther Jones, Snohomish, Wash. Private Frank R. Mitchell, Birmingham, Ala. Private Claus E. Nygren, Portland, Ore. Private William Lawrence O'Neal, Fortson, Wash. Private Dan W. Root, Seattle, Wash. Private Lloyd J. Carr, New Kamilche, Wash. Private Robert C. Worthington, Jerome, Idaho. Private Floyd Minch, May^^ood, Mo. Private Kyle G. Walker, Shoshone, Wyo. Private Christof C. J. Brending, Seattle, Wash. Private Stanley Karpinski, East Tacoma, Wash. Private Harmon T. Draney, Auburn, Wash. 62 THE DIARY OF 91st DIVISION CASUALTY LIST Regiment Killed in Died of Missing in Prisoners Total Action Wounds Action 361 Inf. 227 78 89 2 446 362 Inf. 240 64 190 11 475 863 Inf. 208 54 101 8 371 364 Inf. 142 41 62 2 247 346 M. G. Battalion 2 1 3 347 M. G. Battalion 42 15 4 61 348 M. G. Battalion 25 9 6 40 346 Art. ........> 347 Art. , ...>...> «.»..... 348 Art. 316 T. M. Battery ........ ......... . .. 316 Eng. 28 13 18 59 Total 934 275 470 23 1702 PRIVATE ROMEO 63 ^a^^p^g^7 ^^M88Mj|ja||MiwB»^[|ap n ^fl ^^^8 s K^ g^^Sa M- ^ Hb m ^Si^ m iii^^^Pl5iiii::^:-;:"Sfe ^^kgjjI^^M ^^^H |f| ®i^K ^gSssajjff S:&:::lii 64 THE DIARY OF THE CASUALTY LIST dsion Killed in Died of Missing in Prisoners Total Action Wounds Action 1 2203 1050 1789 106 5248 2 2716 1329 1067 148 5268 3 1901 589 873 254 3617 4 1500 618 817 51 2986 5 970 505 989 60 2504 6 49 67 3 3 122 7 175 98 50 3 326 26 1388 560 462 354 2864 27 1302 404 330 158 2194 28 1544 553 1174 619 3890 29 597 220 267 33 1117 30 1084 415 251 22 ^ 1772 32 1694 708 768 43 3213 35 596 217 808 112 1738 36 328 217 808 112 1772 37 658 116 303 2 869 42 1702 289 440 85 2950 77 1275 552 529 336 2692 78 915 339 508 63 1825 79 880 352 1142 9 2389 80 636 337 286 96 1355 81 203 86 79 2 270 82 802 324 271 189 1^92 88 20 33 7 6 66 89 838 427 256 4 1525 90 936 427 287 35 1585 91 934 275 470 23 1702 92 109 50 47 5 211 93 372 105 8 4 489 PRIVATE ROMEO 65 IN FLANDERS FIELDS In Flanders field the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row. That mark our place; and in the sky The larks still bravely singing fly. Scarce heard amidst the guns below. We are the dead, Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunsets glow. Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe. To you from falling hands we throw the Torch- Be yours to hold it high; If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. — [Lieut. Col. John McCrae, Montreal, Canada. 66 THE DIARY OF FLANDERS MUD. A typical scene behind the lines at the Somme, showing the famous Flanders mud. The boys were compelled to spend many months under these con- ditions, wading- through mud up to their waist lines. One can readily imagine the difficulty experienced wallo\\ing through this mud with rations, ammunition' and v/ater, taking from four to eight hours to traverse a distance of two miles. The Somme will never be for- gotten by any of our boys, and many of them will never recover from the exposure and hardships endured w^hile on duty at this front. GERMAN ARTILLERY OBSERVATION POST This wonderful picture shows what is known as a camouflage German Artillery Observation Post. You will notice the observer's crow's nest in the top from which point the Germans were able to watch the effect of their artillery fire on our front line trenches. These are built to a height of from 40 to 50 feet. They are constructed by the use of poles set in cement, and covered with tree limbs and painted burlap. These posts are camouflaged in this manner, so they cannot be detected by our airmen or obsrvation ballons. Often there are machine gun em- placements and sniper's posts concealed therein. To the left of the ladder you will note a small dugout used by the Germans while off duty. PRIVATE ROMEO 67 MAMMOTH SHELL HOLE. The picture shown is an actual reproduction of the photo^aph taken from a captured Prussian guard officer on being searched June 8, 1916. This photograph givs one a good idea of the destruction which it might cause dropping amongst a battalion. This was taken some thirteen miles behind the German lines by a German officer, and is typical of millions of holes made by the heavy guns on the western front. This hole being 12 feet deep and 22 feet in diameter, affords a good swimming- hole for our boys. Oftimes as many men lose their lives by falling into these holes during an attack as those being hit by shells. Note the look of amazement on the German officer's face, wondering where the next one will land. 68 THE DIARY OF A SHELL FROM A BIG BERTHA EXPLODING BEHIND OUR LINES .^ PRIVATE ROMEO THE EJ^RGREEN TREE IS THE INSIGNA OF THE 91st (WILD WEST) DIVISION 70 THE DIARY OF H j ^ i P : o ^ ] |! (,! LIBRARY OF CONGRESS nmi. 005 816 605 4 • i p. o. BOX 951 PHONE MADISON 12 R-3 G. L. ROMEO AUTHOR OF "THE DIARY OF PVT. G. L. ROMEO" PRICE 50 CENTS 98th AND PARK AVE. CARE P OF G. LINTON Tacoma, Wash.