June 5, 1918 – Full diary entry:

“Hiked 9 mi. with heavy packs + return. Sham battle.

Signed pay roll.

On guard tonight.”

Spoiler alert: Chaplain Edwards in From Doniphan to Verdun: The Official History of the 140th Infantry says the timing of this payday was not accidental:

Dates are important here. The men were paid on June the fifth, and we marched on June the sixth. Any old soldier will grasp the significance of the dates. June the fifth was pay day. Pay day! And we moved out on June the sixth!

Just to officially close this chapter of Robert’s story, this is from Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War – American Expeditionary Forces: Divisions, Vol. 2:

May 12, Div (less Arty, 110th F Sig Bn, and certain trains) moves from Le Havre to the Gamaches Training Area near Eu, where, May 20 – June 5, it trains with the Br 30th Div under control of the Br XIX Corps. 

(Translation: the division, except for the Artillery, Signal Batallion, and a few other units, trained with the British 30th Division in the British 14th Corps from May 20 to June 5)

Where was Robert today? See the timeline.