Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-18

F. Foss OF North Wayne, and Mrs.
George F. Foss of Wollaston, Mass. has
been cited for gallantry around Chateau
Thierry. He vas graduate at Kent s
Hill, class of 1911. Since that time has
made his home at 1O7 Taylor St.. VOL
laston, Mass. he enlisted in July, 1917
and sailed for overseas Sept. Of the
same year. The citation issued Aug 81
reads as follows:
The Division Commander takes great
pleasure in citing in orders for marked
gallantry and meritorious service in the
capture of Torcy. Billeau. Givry. Bour-
overlooking Chateau-Thierry, Etrepilly,
Bezuet. Epieds. Trugny, and La Fere
Woods to the Jaulgonne- Fere on Tarde-
nois Road during the advance Of this
Division against the enemy from July
18th to 25th, 1915 in the second battle of
the Marine, Private Carroll p. Foss,
Medical Department 101st Infantry.
c. r. EDWARDS,
Major General COMMANDING
The following are extracts from a
letter written by Private Foss and dated
Sept. Is. 1918;
/ hardly know how to start in. I have
SO much to say. In the first place / am
Q. Is. and sti., on the job. Was in the
drive. We started it. l came out with
out a scratch and enjoyed it. 1t sure
was fun to chase those Austrians and
Boches.
My last letter to you was the 9Th
when l sent the citation. The next day
was rain the same as usual, and We
stayed in our tents all day; the follow
ing day was the same and we stayed in
TOO. just getting up for meals. After
supper as it was getting good and dark,
orders came in TO pack up. We pulled
down our tents; it was still raining, and
so dark you could not see your hand
before your face.
In the afternoon l put on my rubber
boots and l was glad l did. We started
out in columns of two. hanging for dear
life on the En- in front of u.s. We
could not see him. We were on our way
to the front lines. and were told we were
to go over the top at s o'clock in the
morning. We ploughed through the
mud and about 1890 crawled into dug
out. dropped our load, and cuddled up
in a knot to get little sleep.
At 1.30 our guns opened upon the
Boche, and maybe it wasn't some bonn
parchment at that. l slept a little. and
at $50 we went up through the trench
70 the lire trench and at O'Clock sharp
out the bo.-s went. That was when We
struck the hardest fighting. They had
nests of machine guns and the bulle.;
sure whlzzed. But the boys got them
and got them good. Our bomba rdments
had kept them in their dugouts. and we
were on them before they could get OIL.
one fellow captured the first l6 all nv
himself Afte- We got them started it
was much easier going; by noon we had
gone about three kilometers. and take
Aco prisoners. We kept on going along
me edge OF some woods, and the word
came pack that the Boche were flank
ing US, and to pull out of the woods so
we went out into a field about 81 vards
and got set to meet them. In A few
minutes they began to come out hut
they had their hands over their he.ds
waving anything white they could find
Gee, it was funny.
Ihey were sure glad to be taken pris.
oners, the same as all the rest We tooL
Ii was nearly dark then and we n,t IN
IN little Boche house. and silent unti,
lz"o In the morning; then we started
aIter them again. But this time an
other battalion that was behind nc ,ho
Wy oeiore was ahead of us. The Boche
had run SO far that they couldn't keen
up with tnem Bunches of prisoners
were coming back and We hear that IN.
Americans got about 1900 We camneo
mat night about 20 kilometers fro,,
"here we started How is that W.
were renewed that night by the French
and came back about six, kilome+.r.
ana are camping in the woods We .ra
'a',hs me weather now. and it seems
sood' II is like camping out to be in
these woods. We are having good eats
mad some Boche oatmeal for breakf..,
maybe we didn't capture had 80
everything from the Boche. revolvers
o's guns, little guns, and air kinds ~
u
ammunition. One town We got ras
supply depot. and there was ever{th,r.
you could imagine.
You notice I said ENJOYED # ana ;,
was run to see the different punches .,
Austrians. Hungarians. AIbanians 80
every old kind of Boche come ONT -
captured. or course it was hard 4,
see some Of our boys picked off. but VIC
iost very few in this drive. ana wer,
iarther than we did before. You neor,.
know more &C the war than we 40 a.
we get papers very seldom. and onIn
know what we do ourselves.
have few souvenirs and if co,,a
nave carried them, could have ,aa
everything. The besr little souvenir
'hat want to get back to the STAT.
is myself. and / know that thera 80
DINERS VINO want the same souvenir ~.
This enclosed ticket is for the .ms
way in Paris and the bill ia -
herman. One of the fellows has a -,
as big as his hand. guess no 90,
oaymaeter. The old Kaiser :.