The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-20
GLORIOUS FIRST
IS COMING HOME

is breaking camp along the Rhine
and will be home by the first OF Sep
TENDER.
Tho men of this famous OUTFIT were
to start entraining last Friday at
Neuwied. Germany. On their arrival
in this country they will 60 to Camp
Pike, near Little Rock. Ark.
A copj of an extra edition of The
Bridgehead Sentinel. the daily news
paper OF the First division, has been
received. This, the frst extra" pub
lished by the army editors, carries the
following story of the homing. which
shows how welcome the news was to
the men:
THE First division--first in every
thing but one.
First to reach France--frst to
complete training--first to nght-to
take part in an offensive action
first 10 sacrifice officers and men In
the worl. struggle as a fighting unit
first TO cross the Rhine into Germany
and now the last to go home!
And for all the bitter nosgtalia
that has marked time with the wear
ers of the immortal Red One in the
last long months on German soil
the wistfui longing for home that
has heard the tramp Of homecoming
r
stripcrs OF the divisions in the ligha
OF retrospect will consider it most
that the first should be the rear guard
OF the A. E. r In its departure AZ IL
was with its advance guard in the
coming.
1T will mean something for the
years TO come for the men OF Can
ttgny and Scissors and the Argonne
and the Meuse to say to their chill
dren-I was the real veteran OF the
A. r. FL sat by its cradle--I fol-
lowed its hearse.
''The First division goes home
In rid-August with record OF
which any military organization
would be proud indeed Composed
Of veteran regular army outfits. whose
colors had had their baptism OF blood
and IRE in other years, the division
was yet to earn in France lAurels
far greater than those OF any other
wars in American history. The guns
of the ath, 6th and 9TH field had
Numbered in older struggles than the
world war. The 10th and 18th infan-
try regiments were veterans OF three
AMI 2sth. both formed in the 1901
expansion OF the army. were too
young for major war record. but
both had seen their share OF ser
vice
Every organization In the division
brought to France traditions and
ideals that served as an Inspiration
for the fighting personnel and made
them the finest hghting mon on the
continent Small wonder that from
friend and foe alike came tributes
OF unsought praise. From the very
first--from its initial inception In the
Aix~tc mtpt1S
ing impetus to the admiration OF
American arms in Europe. 1t war
the First that taught the world that
the American army was not a puny
thing to. be despised, but force to
bs<ieckoned with in the winning OF
the war.
The First taught the French in
the vicinity of Toul and Luneville
that II could make a sterling show
Ing in a defensive sector. Canttgny
4fispellei forever any illusion that
the Firrt could not conduct an Of
fensive. And in the bloody days al
scissors the division piayed an al
mont incAlculable part In The saving
OF France.
Who won the war n q debatable
question. But the sober judgment OF
Retrospective history will accord tina,
Frame would have been lost: In June
and July but for the presence OF the
nrst three American divisions.
I'm the three major offensives Of
the american army. the First has al
" vs. played a stellar role. In the
course at St. Michel, In the stubborn
t,ghting in the Arsonne. and in the
final decisive blow along the Mouse
that made possible the German capt.
ulation on November II, 1918. the
I First was there. And whenever the
First was present, the foe was pain
fully aware of It,
German officers have given their
testimony that their troops dreaded
( the First--that they did not believe
the american army capable OF pro-
du ing so hne body Of combat
troops In four years Infantry and
artillery. they declared that they
had never encountered liner troops
haps .the greatest tribute to the
achievements Of the division. But
It does not stand unsupported FOL
the deeds Of the division and IT.
elements have been recognized by
the highest awards OF tho American
army and by those OF our allies.
Today. q four-striper Of the First
division wears the victory ribbon
with five bronze stars-each twinkling
point recording the achievements Of
the First in the Montdidier -Noyon de-
fensive sector Among those old four
and three-stripe wearers. there are
fe that have not exchanged one OF
more OF the bronze stars for the sill
yer cnes, that records Individual cita-
ton for extreme gallantry The col
ors cf every organization In the al
vision bear one croix de guerre
T..oEe OF the 2Sth infantry have two
Every ofiicer and man of the First
infantry brigade who has suffered IN
the period OF hostilities wears At least
one silver star on his victory ribbon.
T. Aviduals wear the highest military
awards Of France and America---&nd
There are many OF them since the
e-misttce French marshals have been
Kept busy pinning the croix de guerre
on the First division men.
-And now the First Is going home
II has been far away. indeed. since
June ~. 1917. when the wistfui eyes
locked on the fading statue with ~
uptifted torchi Many--far too many