“Hiked 9 mi. with heavy packs + return." Continue reading....
Monchaux
Damages
“Marched 3 miles to Gamaches again for field maneuver." Continue reading...
Gamaches
"An entertainment in evening. Our camp is at Monchaux.” Continue reading...
Rumors and Restlessness
June 2, 1918 - Full diary entry:“Slept in a.m.Wrote to my dear Elinore.Unable to get a draft so can’t send Elinore the money which I know she needs badly.”The YMCA offered the service of sending money home for soldiers. From Summary of World War Work of the American YMCA:This service was especially valuable in the … Continue reading Rumors and Restlessness
The Big Picture
June 1, 1918 - Full diary entry:“Inspection today.Half holiday today.On guard tonight.”If we learned anything from Robert’s time at Camp Dodge and Camp Mills, it’s that inspections are often the precursor to a move. We shall see.Just to give a little of the larger context here - Robert, of course, didn’t know any of this. … Continue reading The Big Picture
Pay Day
May 31, 1918 - Full diary entry:“B Co. won everything in the contests today. Muster in P.M. Rec’d pay for April. Everyone drunk. Received 51 [francs]. Sold my watch for 55 [francs].Will send 100 [francs] to Elinore.Call to arms at 11:30 P.M.Air Raids.”A lot to unpack here, but again, I have very little to go … Continue reading Pay Day
Decoration Day
May 30, 1918 - Full diary entry:“Decoration Day. Drilled in A.M.P.M. marched to Marche to a talk on bayonet by a Scotch Colonel.Reviewed by Gen. Wright.”Interesting that Robert called it “Decoration Day.” From what I’ve seen, “Memorial Day” had been a more commonly used name since the turn of the century. But it didn’t become official until … Continue reading Decoration Day
General Wright
May 29, 1918 - Full diary entry:“Had an air raid near here. Heard Jerry’s planes last night.Marched 10 miles with packs. Another fight with the 328th tonight.Gen. Wright visited camp.”That’s a lot for one day! I would hope the fight with the 328th didn’t happen while General Wright was visiting.Major General William Wright was in … Continue reading General Wright
The 140th Goes to War (sort of)
May 28, 1918 - Full diary entry:“Went to Rifle Range. Score 14 out of 40.Dug trenches in a.m., short arm.The 328th came over + the 140th drove them back with rocks + clubs.”You think Robert was kidding about repelling a raid by the 328th? From Chaplain Edwards in From Doniphan to Verdun: The Official History … Continue reading The 140th Goes to War (sort of)
Drill
May 27, 1918 - Full diary entry:“Had a demonstration of English Drill by a crack platoon. Very good. These bums in Co. B. were jealous + tried to find fault. Bayonet drill in p.m.”Every once in a while Robert lets us know how he felt about some of the other men in his unit. Next: The … Continue reading Drill
