The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1919-01-17
Oranges, vosges, France,
December liz. 1918.

Dear Sir:
Now that the ban of censorship has
been lifted to some extent, shall en-
deavcr TO let Dayton know Of her boys
to the best Of my ability.
We're member OF another organ
izatlon other than the 372d Infantry,
/ would class it with the famous 10th
Cavalry that took San Juan Hill in
,os by storm. But that would be self
praise. shall wait and let history
hand out its praise and laudations.
This regiment is comprised OF the
many outfits from various parts Of the
States; namely: the 9th Bn., from the
fair state of Ohio, that has answered
the call to colors three times in its
career; Company L, OF the old 9Th OF
Massachusetts National Guard, the
.cradle state Of abolition; the First
Separate Company Of Tennessee, or
ganixed ia Nashville, the seat of FIVE
institutions of learning that stand
foremost in the eyes Of our people
the First Separate Bn., of Washing
ton, ID. G., the capital Of the nation
that he.ped expedite the elld OF this
war; the First Separate Company Of
Connecticut, q state that helped pros
duce Minute Men; and last, but not
least. the First Separate Company Of
Maryland, organized III Baltimore, Il
city of one hundred thousand Negroes,
Out of this, which formed the nucleus
Of the 372d, men from all walks of
life can be found, along with the
draftees which were sent to us as re-
placements and reinforcements.
We're to write OF the praise that
France has written of US, 1t would re
quire much paper and would become
tiresome to the reader But cannot
refrain from inserting this one ex-
tract from the farewell letter of our
co.onel, commanding the |. d. of our
division: After having held series
of difficult sectors, they took q glor-
ious part in the great decisive battle
which brought the final victory
Yesterday was a great day indeed
for US. In drizzling rain medals
were awarded for bravery and valor
to individuals Of this regiment. As
TO limitations for the highest, there
was none, for some received all that
can be bestowed upon a soldier includ-
ing the Croix de Guerre with the
Palm, coveted by the French, and the
distinguished medal given by the dear
old u. S. Al.
1t might be an interesting fact for
You To know that, since our debut into
the firing line, we have been with a
French division under the command
of q French general. American equip
ment was discarded after one weeks
stay In France for French After d
months training with the French in
their tactics, we were considered Al
and put into our first sector the Ar
gonne Forest, well known to readers
who have followed up this bloody con-
fiict. Our greatest treat was when
we were put on Hill 304, better known
by the French as Cote Mort Homme
and to America as Dead Mans Hill.
AZ this particular point you might
remember, was where the crown
prince lost the cream of the German
army in trying SO hard to take it, this
point being one of the most impor-
tant points in the Verdun sector and
constantly q point of attack. Upon
turning it over before entering that
| triumphant battle of Champagne, it
was still as important, yet unchanged
| by the Hun who had tried from time
to time to wrest it from our men.
Into the fight that lead the Allies to
victory, each and every man In our
outfit went in with smile upon his
face and grim determination to gain
victory.
Over ground that had been known
las No Mans Land for four years,
even further than that, over ground
that had been held by the Germans
for four years, did the gallant sons
born Of colored women charge to vic
tory, through machine-gun nests, with
| u leap and bound for nine days, under
a continuous fire, until No Mans
Land and German positions were
ours.
We are now about through with our
task on this side OF the ocean.
Lafayette, we have paid our debt
to France, yet still we are not
through.
France we thank for her treatment.
Since being in this country we have
been treated as men. Her doors have
been thrown wide open to US. We re-
lspect her.
| May we remain friends and ms
| she soon regain her wealth and re-
build that devastated territory which
was q mass Of beautiful edifices but
| today d mass Oh ruins.