Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-04-24

this sector until Sept. Oath during
which time we blew up about 200
German mines and traps besides
other Engineering work. We were
then relieved and went behind the
( lines for much needed rest. on
Oct. 4th we made another move
but this time we were fortunate
enough to get trucks which trans
ported us to the Verdun sector. We
arrived that night at large woods.
Here we left the trucks and march
ed into the woods, which was full Of
small wooden huts where we slept
that night. The next day at noon
we hiked again, this time about 1O
kilos we went thru many ruins of
what had once been pretty villages,
arriving at Esmes, another totally
wrecked town, about 4 o'clock.
This place was not very far behind
the lines. We worked there repair
ing roads until Oct. 18th. On the
morning of the 18th we rolled packs
again and started another hike.
This time we went 10 kilos and en-
tered the Argonne sector on the
morning of the LIST. Our Division,
the 5th, attacked between the towns
of Romang and Cunel. We we're
called in as infantry and for two
days and nights we went thru h.
as Fritz fought hard for every inch
Of ground. We forced him back step
by step and finally gained our OBJ
jective. Our lines were established
and we went back to Engineering
work again and worked night and
day strengthening our positions, al
ways under heavy shell fire. Oct.
22nd we went back for rest but it
was a short one and the 26th found
us again at the front. From then
until the signing Of the Armistice on
Nov. 18th we were continually onl
the go and went thru many tough
sessions. Probably the longest day
we put in was at the Meuse River
in the neighborhood Of Clery lei
Petit and Clery lie Grande, attempt
ing to put a bridge across the river
to the town of Dun-sur- Meuse, in
which the Germans were strongly
entrenched. Our first attempt was
made in broad daylight and though
we worked very hard and stuck to
the job with real American tenacity
the attempt was unsuccessful, so
latter Fritz had sunk three Of our
ponton boats and destroyed by
shell-fire two bridges we were fore
ed to retire. The following night we
went at it again and in spite Of all
Fritz's efforts to stop us we sue
ceeded in getting two foot bridges
and a pontoon bridge across. This
enabled our doughboys to cross and
only a few hours after that they
took the town. Our Artillery did
some fine work there. One freak hit
they made which was particularly
noticeable was made on large
brick chimney. The shell cut out
| a perfect diamond and the boys
called it 1.-THE 9Th Division Hit" as
a red Diamond is the insignia Of
our Division. During these opera
tions the IT. Engineers gained an
enviable reputation and great
many Of the boys were cited for
their bravery while quite a few Of
them were awarded Distinguished
Service Crosses. When the Armis-
tice was signed we were in Brande-
vile. The outfit is composed almost
wholly Of men who volunteered
shortly after the declaration Of war
We are very proud of our outfit,
proud Of the work we have done,
proud Of the part we have taken in
the big war and feel perfectly Salts
fled that we give the best that was
in us and know that we did our bit
At the present we are in Luxem-
bdg doing a little Of everything and
nnt much of anvthinr and wa ORC