St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1919-01-22
WHY THE "R0CK
OF THE MARINE"
STOOD FAST
Sergt. Klefbeck Writes of
the Bravery of the
Thirty-eighth U. S.
Infantry
THE COL. LED THE
GALLANT TROOPS
Individual Deeds of HerOism
Too Numerous to
Recount

AOO Y OuO W
Recount
by Sergeant Victor B. klefbcck,
Laiison Unit, 3Sth U. S. Infantry
Mailed from the Front Nov. 5, 1913
AS irresistible as the surging waves
Of the incoming tide, waves of Ameli-
can fighting men have swept into and
over German strongholds and far into
enemy territory in the Valley of the
lIeuse.
With the smashing, hammering,
k-destroying power of storm driv-
ell surf, American shock troops have
struck whenever the Kaiscr's wall of
men and steel threatened to hold.
The waves have steadily advanced
and the meek of the bottle" through
which Prussia's legions sought to es-
cape almost certain humiliation is
closed. Therefore for the inglorious
retreat of the Hun lines from Bel
GUM, for the glorious sweep for
ward of the allied armies, and for
the imminent collapse of the House
of Hohenzollcrn give Americas first
;rmy it's need of thanks.
Among all regiments that went
into action in the Valley of the
Meuse the one that distinguished
itself the most was the Thirty-eighth
United States infantry, the famous
Rock of the Marine. A regiment of
veterans who won undying glory by
alone stopping two divisions of Ger
mans in the enemy drive of July IA
-, and led by Colonel Frank H. Adj
ans. winner of the Distinguished
Service Cross, they fully merit the
honor of being used as shock troops
by the allied high command.
A hard task was allotted to the
thirty eighth. They were ordered
to break through some of the Ger
mans strongest defcnces, 60 on, and
prepare the way for other Americans
to follow. In later years, when his
torians record the deeds of our
men on this sector Of the western
front, it will be written that the
Thirty eighth did it's big bit with
noble hcriosm.
Meanwhile l will write briefly of
what the regiment has just done
md endured.
After several days and nights of
marching over roads and fields that
we're being pounded by enemy long
'angc guns the Thirty-eighth took
ID position before the German
ines and prepared to attack.
Just as the sun swung into position
me morning not long ago the word
vas given and the boys went over the
OPP.
What happened as the battalions
olmed waves and advanced is almost
beyond the power of imagination to
picture or words to describe.
From their carefully prepared posi-
ions in trenches on the crest of a
ill, and in thick woods, the enemy
.rcctcd US with an awful salvo of
re.
Immense batteries of artillery hurl-
d tons of shrieking shells upon US.
treat, Jagged pieces of mctel tore
'aping holes in our lines.
But we went on!
Machine guns concealed in scores
f nests ahead and on flank positions
ang their terrifying tack-tack-tack
ong while the murderous little steel
moved US down. Whizz
ang shells ripped and tore at our
anks and clouds of gas choked and
mothcred US.
Still we went on!
Never stopping, not even to aid fall
m comrades, the boys of the Thirty
ighth swept on, unhinchingly, UNI
Shoch troops must be of, hero
lood They must ungrudgingly pay
,c toll-and advance.
Inc MOCK Ol Tic MdIHc lolicu VII
,sistlcssly through the terrible hell I!
i German steel, lcapcd German
'cnchcs, striking down the few foes
no dared to remain and clash bay c
nets. Machine gun nests were sur !,
bundled and the crews eXtcIminatcd ..
Y our men. With never lcssenlng !!
,rcc the regiment rolled on, mcrci- !.
ss, relentless, gloriously brave.
The colonel led his troops. Coolly !,
inning, he dared tho worst of the ,
crman fire, cheering and encourage :
" the men by his presence. saw "
i'm standing at the edge of thic1,t, -.
noking cigar and calmly studying :,
,c positions to which his men were E
ping. One company passed close to ;,
i'm and he called to thcm:-- l.
"You's got them on the run, boys. q
IL you've got to do now is to keep &
lem going"
The soldiers looked into their "
adcr's fearless smiling face, smiled a
,ck at him and went on with re- f
,wcd courage and impetus. $
A second lieutenant was hit in the Il
lad by machine gun bullet that C