The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-05-22
CHATEAU THIERRY'S GLORY
ASCRIBED TO JOHNSON
ENGINEERS.
South Carolina Engineers the 117th
Threw Down Tools and Picked
Up Rifles and Struck Final Blow
That Broke Huns Resistance.

Camp Merritt Friday and reach Camp
Jackson Saturday, dropped their tools
picked up their rifles and struck the
final blow that broke the backbone
of German resistance at the famous
battle of Chateau-Thierry, reaching
the farthest point of advance of any
dismounted elements of the Rainbow
division, is the testimony of Major
General Flagler, commander of the
division, in an order issued by him on
April 2, copies of which have just
been received here. The order tells
a story that reads like thrilling
tale of adventure. General Flagler in
his order expresses his satisfaction at
being able to speak a word of COM
mendation of the 117th Engineers
and he says that South Carolina,
North Carolina and California, the
states from which the men Of the
regiment come, should be proud OF
what the outfit did in the war against
the Hohenzollern.
The regiment is commanded by
Col. j. Monroe Johnson, of Marion,
and was organized by him, thus bear
ing the name of johnson Engin-
eers." Capt. ]. Roy Pennell, of Co.
lumbia, state highway engineer was
in command of one of the companies
of this regiment when it went to
France, when he was transferred to
another division. Three companies Of
the regiment are from this state, one
each from Columbia, Spartanburg
and Marion. These three and the
the headquarters company of the reg
iment are now ell route to Camp Jack
son for rehabilitation.
General Flagler's order giving
praise to the Johnson Engineers, was
written just before the regiment
sailed for home. 1t reads as fol-
lows:
Headquarters, 42nd Division,
American Expeditionary Forces,
Germany, April 2, 1919.
General Order No. 21-L.
"All the Rainbow division having
reached the closing days of its mill
tary service, the, commanding gen.
eral desires to recite in order the sal
lent features of the service of the
117th engineers.
1.-The 117th engineers have filled
an important and difficult role in the
42nd division. Primarily engineer
troops, they have in addition often
been used as infantry. The high quail
ity of the personnel, the bravery,
self-sacrifice, and patience shown by
all ranks under the most trying con-
ditions have enabled it to fulfill its
double mission with an admirable
degree of efficiency.
Theirs has largely been the con-
slant, plugging unspectacular work
that is necessary for the good of the
whole. Construction, roadmending
and building, dug-outs, wire-entangle
ments erected, these and many other
tasks done carefully, quickly and
steadily, would alone, have earned it
praise and mention. But in addition,
when the critical moments arose the
117th engineers were called upon
and sent into the front line to re
ieve or support the infantry. Their
work was done equally well whether
it was to build bridge across shell
swept area, road. under heavy enc
my fire, a trench system in the very
eyes of the enemy, orSwhether they.
as infantry reserve, were thrown full
force into the action to decide the
fate of the battle. Their value is
proven. 1t is acknowledged by all.
THE 117th engineer regiment, al
ter its preliminary course in the train
ing areas, served in the Luneville and
Barracat sectors. When the 42nd
division moved to the champagne to
become part of General Gouraud's S
famous Fourth army this regiment
was counted upon as reserve. As
such it served through those mem
orable days during which the fate of
the world hung in the balance, and
as such it suffered. 1t occupied the
left flank of the second position un-
der the S3rd infantry brigade.
cat Chateau-Thierry came its first
actual attack. During that battle the
engineers were everywhere in the ad-
vance, on the flanks, in the rear. 1t
was the engineers who made possible
the retention of that narrow strip
along the north hank of the OurcO