Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-03
Local Officers of the
18th Bring Home Citation
Given Division in France


Among the local boys in the Sew
enty-ninth Division, who are ex-
pected home in a few days following
the demobilization of the various out
hts are Captain Archibald Knisely,
Jr. and Lieutenant George Kunkel.
Jr., son of Judge Kunkel. Both
these soldiers responded at the first
call to arms and attended the initial
officers training camp at Fort Niaga-
ra, being subsequently assigned to
Camp Meade. Md.
Lieutenant Kunkel, who returned
recently on the Virginian in command
OF Company c, Three Hundred and
thirteenth Machine Gun Battalion,
was badly gassed in the severe fight
ing in the Argonne Forest, but re-
covered sufficiently in the early part
OF this year to be returned to his
command. 1t was his machine gun
battalion that supported the opening
attack of the leading battalion of the
Seventhy-ninth Division in the COM
mencement of the Argonne-M -Meuse Of
fensive on September 26. For eight
consecutive days his battalion re-
mained in the line. pushing forward
and directing harassing and indirect
fire on the retiring Germans; fire.
Quently the machine gun barrage be.
ing the only path-cutter for the in
fantry in the absence of artillery
preparation.
Major Samuel W. Fleming, Jr., has
been detained at Camp Dix to serve
on court martial and may not
reach his home for several weeks
Mrs. Fleming has joined the Major
there.
The following commendation of the
Seventy-ninth Division was brought
home by Lieutenant Kunkel:
Headquarters Seventy-ninth Division
April II. 1919.
No. 25.
l. The following letter, dated Apri
IL, from the Commander-in-Ch Chief tc
Division Commander is published fol
the information of the command:
american Expeditionary Forces.
office of the Commander-inCh Chief,
France, April IS. 1919.
Major General Joseph Kuhn,
Commanding Seventy ninth Di'
vision, American e. F.
My Dear General Kuhn:
1T afforded me great satisfaction tC
inspect the Seventy ninth Division or
April IL, and on that occasion tC
decorate the standards of your regi-
ments and. for gallantry in action. t.
confer medals upon certain officer:
artillery were in splendid shape. anC
the general appearance of the division
was well up to the standard of tn,
american Expeditionary Forces
Throughout the inspection and re-
view the excellent morale of the mer
and their pride in the record of theil
organization was evident.
'Tn the Meuse-Argonne offense. the
division had its full share of hare
fighting. Entering the line for the
first time on September IS as thu
right OF the center corps. it took part
in the beginning of the great Meuse'
ArEonne offense. BY September "a il
had captured the strong position Of
artillery reaction. the Bois de Beugt
and Nantillois were occupied. or
September 80 1t was relieved. having
advanced ten kilometers. 1t agar
entered the battle on October 90. re.
lieving, as part of the seventeenth
vision in the Grande Montague Sector
to the east OF the Meuse river. From
that time until the armistice went in.
to effect. It was almost constantly In
action. On November Q. Crepion
Wavrille and Giberoy were taken. and
in conjunction with elements on the
right and left Etraye and Moirey
were invested. On November 10
Chaumcnt- devant- -Damvillers was oc-
cupied and on November H. vile,
advance of nine and one-half kilo-
meters.
"This is a fine record for any dt-
vision. and I want the officers and
much they have contributed to the
success of our arms. They may re-
turn home justly proud of themselves
and of the part they have played in
the American Expeditionary Forces.
"ISIIN T PERsHING."