Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-14
BY HOWARD r.. sMALLEY,
Lieut.. Colonel, Infantry.

= AZ INC morning OF April b, 1917,
the United States went into
~ the war against Germany. On
that eventful day the 10th,
18th. 26th and 2sth United States In
fantry and the 9Th. 9Th and 7th United
States Field Artillery. together with
many other troops Of the Regular
Army. were scattered along the Mex
lean border from Brownsville. Tex.
to Arizona. where they had served
for some years guarding our southern
boundary.
They were already trained to the
top Of efficiency for open warfare.
They were bronzed by the Texas sun
and hard as nails from the life Of
soldiers In the field. They were some
of the worlds best fighting men.
On that epochal day matters began
to shape their course. which portend-
ed for these already famous regi-
ments new pages Of undying glory in
their history. They were destined to
be the vanguard of the greatest
armies ever put into the field by the
nation. They were to be the leaders
Of the spirit. the training and the
lighting of our forces, in the cause OF
liberty for the world. They were to
be the first to answer the country's
call, the first to meet the shock OF
battle. the ones to hold the lines until
others could follow. They were to be
the LIST Division.
4 \ i
Quietly and without the knowledge
Of the outside world they began to
prepare. They were filled to war
strength by transfers from other reg
iments and then hurried across the
continent in special trains. 1t was
Kipling's Special train for Atkins"
for the troopships were on the tide.
For miles around Hoboken the rail-
road yards were Allied with troop
trains arriving in the night.
On the night Of June 13. 1917. mer-
chants ships began slipping down the
bay. They gave no outward appear
ance Of troopships departing on so
momentous q mission. No soldiers
were on deck. No bands played
farewell. The troops Of the LIST Dr.
vision were on their way to the bat
ffle front. America was in the war
Landing in France the latter part OF
June, the division went Immediately
to the Gondrecourt training area'
where It trained In trench warfare
until 1t went into the lines In the
Luneville sector, southeast of Nancy,
On October 81. 1917.
It was there that America fired the
first shot and suffered the first losses.
At sos on the morning Of October ~
Battery c, eth Field Artillery. from o
position 400 meters east of Bathle-
mont, fred the shot that signaled our
active participation in the war.
On November 8 the first losses oc-
CURED when a platoon of Company F.
18th Infantry, was isolated by a box
barrage and raided. In the hand-to-
hand fighting that ensued Corp. Gres-
ham and Privates Enright and Hay
were killed. They were buried at
Bathlemont on November 4. and Gen.
Bordeaux Of the French army, ad-
dressing the funeral escort, which
was comprised Of both French and
American troops said. in part: Thus.
the death Of this humble corporal and
these two private soldiers appears to
w with extraordinary grandeur. We
will, therefore. ask that the mortal
remains Of these young men remain
here; be left to US forever. We will
inscribe on their tombs. Here lie the
first soldiers Of the United States to
fall on the soil Of France, for liberty
and justice-Corp. Gresham. Private
Enright. Private Hay In the name
Of France I thank you"
The division all through Its train
ing was drilled in these three funda-
mental principlesi
Its own invincibility. 1t was granted that
obstacles dif1cult to overcome might arise. and
that there might be several methods of sur
mounting them. and that the best method
would probably be the one involving the leas
loss, but neither officer nor man was allowed t.
conceive Of the existence Of an obstacle tina
could "hold up the divisions advance. Thu
expressions 'held up" Checked" etc., wer'
forbidden in orders and discussions. In BATH
and maneuver after the orders had been given
the question was not, ''Can you do it1' bu
Elbow are you going to do itf'
Everything goes forward. There is no duty
except that expressly prescribed that can keel
q member Of the division at the rear taxi