The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-12
Gillette, Wounded Minot
Man, Wrote We Was
"With Fine Bunch"
CRACK FIGHTERS
BOYS COMPANIONS
Men Who Have Seen Six
Months Service Fight
at Side of Dakotans

Illumination OF the hazard that any
single community would carry by
reason of the concentration of its
soldiers in one unit in service on
the firing line in France, is respon-
gtble for the breaking up of the
1B4th u. s. infantry, formerly the
First North Dakota, according to
advices received in Fargo today
from members of Co. b, of Fargo.
In the European war there have
been frequent actions in which en-
tire companies, and even regiments,
have been virtually wiped out, and
General Pershing. in the organiza-
ton OF the American army in
France has adopted the policy that
does away with the concentration Of
men from one community in a single
unit.
Likes New Regiment.
A letter received at Minot by Mrs.
Al. r. Geer, mother OF Private Ray
niond Gillette, recently reported by
General Pershing as wounded in
action, indicates that the North
Dakota troops, or at least a. part
OF them. are now with the First
Americans who crossed the water.
The Minot company-Oo. d of the
old First North Dakota was bat
talioned with Co. A of Bismarck,
CO. b of Fargo, and Co. G Of Graf
ton-and Private Gillette's letter re-
veals action taken by General Perish
ing as relates to those several COM
panies, for they all Jared alike on
arrival in France.
Our regiment was turned into al
depot brigade when we arrived in
our second camp in France" wrote
Private Gillette several days before
he was wounded. Some OF our
company were sent to the 18th Inf,
and some one to the 18th Inf and
the rest OF them stayed behind. II
haven't the least idea where Capt
Gross Lieut.. Hayes, Lantz, Robbins
or any OF the others are at pres
ant, and the chances are that / will
not see them till we meet in good
old Minot."
The paragraph which indicates
that Mr.. Gillette was with the regu-
lars under General Pershing when
he was wounded, follows:
"a Fine Regiment"
Il am certainly in a fine regiment |
now. The 18th and 18th regiments
are the two crack regiments of the
United States army and / am GER |
ta4niy proud to be able to say that /
am with them. They were in the 1
first bunch that came across with
General Pershing last spring, so
that you can see that they are a
well trained bunch of men, and
what they don't know about modern
warfare isn't worth knowing. will
be a regular soldier when l get
back. ! expect to see . little Of
modern warfare, now that I am in
such q crack organization. When
We were in the United States read
q good deal about the good showing
the United States troops made in
the trenches. Well. they we're some
Of the boys who came across with
General Pershing last spring. /
don't think ever met a finer bunch
o9 fellows than the ones in this
regiment"
A paragraph of the letter which
strikes home with gratifying effect
10 the hearts OF those who gave so
generously to supply the boys with
reads as follows:
sIf you send men anything, please
send some Camel cigarets and some
Bull Durham, q couple of tooth
brushes and some paste and some
lace soap"
The letter which was written two
weeks before the fight in which It's
writer was wounded, shows that the .
North Dakota troops as a body
we're not engaged in the contest as
many have naturally supposed, and
hat he was injured while fighting
With the regular troops which have
lean in France for six months.