The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1919-07-03
Bossier Boy Tells of
Second Division Work

The following letter, which Mrs. w.
L. Keith. Of the Linton community, re-
Gently received from her son. Cor.
James 4. Keith. who is with the 9TH
Machine Gun Battalion of the Second
Division, in the Army Of Occupation,
Interestingly tells of fOrty-mile
forced march which he took part in
and of some Of the fighting of the
Second Division. The Second Division,
composed of regular soldiers from
every state in the union. saw as hard
| fighting as any other and suffered
heavier casualties than any division.
Cor. Keith's letter follows:
rlcckhanscn, Germany, May ?, 1919.
Dear Mother: Just few lines this
morning to let YOU know that l am
well and that we are intending to have
Il great time to-day.
| The Second Division is observing the
first annual celebration of the battle of
the .Aisne. Now this is the way we
will celebrate:
Get in line for local celebration at
each post: athletics. Rotations, re-
freShments, fun; forget reveille, there
will not be any; concert in every town;
don't forget the ice cream; no corn
willie; beware Of the dOuglnuts the
airplaneS will drop. The star shells
will shine ut night. DO not forget the
Second Division comrades who fell at
Belleau Woods and Chateau Thierry.
Remember the folks at home.
Now don't you think that will give
us Il wonderful time?
One year ago to-day part of the Sec
ond Division We're hurled into. the
great furnace of Chateau Thierry.
Fight until the last man falls" was
the command. We. the 18th Machine
Gun Battalion, were ordered Oh a
forty mile force march into Chateau
Thierry after an all nights ride in box
cars. When we got off the train at
midnight of June LIST. the Germans
were bombing the station. There We're
: women screaming, refugees trying to
get to Paris. people who were driven
from their homes when the Germans
were pressing towards Paris.
We hiked from midnight. June LIST,
until about eight o'clock in the MORN
ing Of June md when we fell out for
two hours. Our breakfast consisted of
salt bacon. bread and coffee.
When we started the hike from the
train Capt. Fechet, now Il major and
the wearer of three medals of honor,
which God knows he deserves, said
only Il few words:
Men. we have hard task before
us. Our buddies are falling. They need
us. | want YOU all to be men. Cor
poralS report here Reaching into lis
cwn private stock of cigarettes he gave
each corporal an even amount to
divide with his men. Squads right
forward, march," We We're off OH the
forty mile force march.
There in the darkness the whole
country seemed to he on fire. For miles
and miles there We're red flares in the
skies The Germans were bombing the
towns Far off to the northeast there
were quick flashes in the heavens, not
unlike thunder storm. and there
came a great rollin. humble, not un-
like the role of inceSsant thunder
They were guns on the front near
Chateau Tnierry. and they were taking
a heavy toll. AS dawn was breaking
and the flares fading III the skies
as far as the eye could see was Il
steady. almost unbroken. line of refu
gees. carrying what they could. There
!, were old gray men and women pulling
wagons: little children pushing wheel
carts: mothers carrying their babies
on their breasts for hours and hours
with scarcely anything to eat, with
that great soft and tired look in their
eyes. and each with smile and nod tt
every American they passed.
AS we came near to the front we
passed through large towns which
were deserted: pigs chickens. horses
I cattle. pretty gardens and fields OF
t ripening grain all left for the Hun
: That evenings march of June e
4 was awful. Mile after mile We hiked
e Oh the hard dusty roads with packs OIL
2 our backs and our feet blistered anC
swollen. Oh. how tired those men were
l how hungry. and every step an agony
a They were so tired that they staggered
D yet not Il grumble or word of protest
: was heard. Each mans lips seemed tt
r be sealed and set with grim determi
r nation. They had seen some Of the hor
E rGrs of war and it was hurting anf
+ burning their very souls. Their heart.
i were bleeding for France. The hike
was finished some time on the morn
ing of June Sd. could not say just
when. remember being out in field
with my squad and machine gun, ant
we were eating raw chickens we had
killed, and they tasted as if they hat
been prepared for kings dinner.
How well those boys fought you al
ready know They fell like wheat be
fore scythe at Belleau Woods, ant
worse for the Boche. They came Ovel
in close formation and the American.
trained their guns upon them at direct
fire. and took prisoners from ten diff
ferent German divisions.
Now that is why we are going tt
make merry to-day, proud of what oul
boys have done and honor those mel
who fell. Your son,
Cpl. JAMES 7. KEITH.