The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-02-21
Copy of Citation Sent to The
News BY Private III. o.
StOgner, of County.
WAS ON MANY FRONTS
The "FOrty-secOnd' Made Its
Presence Felt and Was First
American Division to Hold
Divisional Sector.

Private H. o. Stogner, Co. B, 117th|
Engineers. now with the American
army of occupation in Germany, has
sent The News copy OF a citation
his division, the 42nd or Rainbow
division. received in August of last
year 1t follows:
Headquarters 42nd Div. A. f. F.,
Aug. 18th, 1918.
To the officers and men of the
42nd Division:
A year has elapsed since the for
nation of your organization 1t is
therefore fitting to consider what
you have accomplished as a combat
division, and what you should pre-.
pare to accomplish in the future.
Your first elements entered the
trenches in Lorraine on Feb. 2lst
You served on that front for 10
days, you were the first American
division to hold divisional sector
and when you left the sector June
21st, you had served continuously
as division in the trenches for a
longer time than any other Ameri-
can division. Although you entered
the trenches without experience in
actual warfare. you so conducted
yourselves as to win the respect and
anection OF the French veterans
with whom you fought Under gas
| and bombardment. in raids in pa
trols In the heat of hand-to-hand
combat and in the long dull hours of
trench routine so trying to SOL
dier's spirit. You bore yourselves in
manner worthy OF the traditions
OF our country.
You were withdrawn from Lor-
raine and moved Immediately to the
Champagne front where during the
critical davs from July 14th to July
18th, YOU had the honor Of being
the only American division to fight in
General Gauraud's army which so
gloriously oheved his orders: I'VE
will stand or die" and by its iron de-
tense crushed the German assault
and made possible the offensive OF
From Champagne YOU were called
TO take part In exploiting the sue
cess north OF the Marne. Fresh
from the battle front before Cha,
ons. you were thrown against the
picked troops OF Germany.
For eight consecutive days you at
tackled skillfully prepared positions,
you captured great stores OF arms
and munitions. YOU forced the cross
ing OF the OurcQ. you took Hill PIP
Sergy, Meurcy Ferme and Seringe,
by assault, you drove the enemy. in
Guiding an imperial guard division
before you for depth OF fifteen xii
ometers. when your infantry was re-
lieved. 1t was in full pursuit OF The
retreating Germans. and your arti,
lery continued TO progress and sun
port another American division II
the advance to the Vesle.
For your services in Lorraine
your division was formally com
mended in general orders by the
French army corps under which
you served.
For your services In Champagne
your assembled officers received the
persona thanks and commentators
or General Gauraud himself. For
your services on the Ourcq your di-
vision was officially complimented
in letter from commanding general
lst army CORDS of July 2Sth. 1918.
To your success all ranks and an
services have contributed and de-
sire TO give every man in the com
mand my appreciation OF his cour-
ageous efforts.
However, our position places n
burden OF responsibility upon MS
which we must strive TO bear stead
ily forward without faltering To
our comrades who have fallen, we
owe the sacred obligation OF main
tanning the reputation which thev
died 20 establish. The influence ~
our performance on our allies and
o"r e"emies cannot he over esti-
mated for we we're one OF the fro
divisions sent from our country {,