East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-09-18

tho brigade made ready for a com
1le.e rehabitulationI
At Eiercourt the news was received
hat the brigade would form q part o;
he Third American army being then
formed to occupy Germany and that
the brigade was the only Representa-
tive OF the q. p. F. artillery to be sc
signaly honored. All mechanical
equipment was repaired at Biercourt.
guns overhauled, personal equipment
issued, and every part of the enor-
nous brigade machine made ready
for the march overland into Geramny
Days Seem Long In Germany.
Just six months to a day after the
signing of the armistice. and on Moth
er's day. likewise the 66th Field Ar
tillery brigade, after nearly a year and
half in France, during which time
they trained faithfully. fought faith
fully through the four major battles
of the American participation OF the
war. served in the Army of Occupa-
ton on the far side of the Rhine from
the United States as the sole repre-
sentation of heavy army artillery, and
generally did what was given them to
DO received orders to start on the way
back to the United States they knew
before the war. November 18th was
the date of the armistice which found
| the brigade moving forward on the
| top wave of the American advance in
Argonne. and May 11th was the. date
that the order detaching the brigade
from the Third Corps and the Third
army was received at Brigade head
quarters and which stsated that the
members of the 10th and 14sth
were of the S. o. S. for return to the
United States.
The news Of the receipt of the or
der was accepted in varying moods, |
sorne members skeptical, others wild
ly hilarious. Rumors on rumors,
counter rumors and more rumors had |
been the lot of the brigade for the |
past few monthss and the actual news |
was received by many as another CRY
of wolf.
Gloom Arrives: Is DispelIcd.
At about the supper hour of the
brigade. May 18th a deep. deep
gloom was cast over the 146th at |
Rendorf and the 14sth at Hohr
through the news that no more troops
would be taken from the occupied
area. With the brigade all but on the
move the possibilities were many
But, after a nights anguish. Tuesday 4
noon it was announced that the ad-
vice. from brigade headquarters the
night before did not apply to the 66th
brigade. and the entire organization
again to take. heart Within a few
minutes after the receipt of the glad
some news. trucks were rolling to-
wards the cheek-in parking area, Of
ficers and men alike were wildly Il
scrambling through mail boxes for the
letters that broke the news, to the
home folks. z.r. r
Members of the 66th Brigade wear
the new Victory Medal with four
clasps All officers and men on ac-
tive duty in the army at any time be-
tween April 6. 1917. and May II,
1918, are entitled TO wear the Victory
Medal, says G. o. T5. To be eligible
for a battle clasp the officer or en-
listed may must have actually par
under orders in any of the
IL major operations.
(, Under this ruling the 66th Bri-
gade is entitled to the Victory Medal
with four battle clasps denoting par
ticipation in the Champagne Meuse
Defensive. between July 15 and July
Is, 1915; the Aisne Marne Offensive
July lS ana August ., 1915
he st. AIihiel offensive between Sept.
IL and Sept. is, 1918; and the Meuse-
Argonne Offensive Sept. 26th and
November IL, 1918.
Officers and men serving overseas
,ut not entitled to battle clasp may
wear clasps for service in France be-
.ween April 9Th, 1917, and November
II. 1918.
For aacb hattie clasn a brOnz star
may be placed on the service ribbon.