Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-08-06
An American Doughboy in
France
Py ELLIOTT F. HOFFMAN
Historian of Alexandria Post, No.
"a, American Legion.)
fFor the Alexandria Gazette.)
IN THE TRAINING AREA.

eighty miles 1ToIit S'iN ~
General Headquarters Of the A. /. +
We were billeted in small towns, none
of which had population OF more
than three hundred people, which con-
sisted of elderly men and women and
children. We had sleeping quarters
in barns, hay lofts and vacant rooms
with Concrete carpets" Our ratlons
were Of substantial quality, but
necessarily very limited in quantity.
During our ten days IN framing on!
canned meats and hard tack were 1uf-
nished-coffee with milk but no sugar.
This article was almost unknown TO
the cambat troops with which the
writer served and accounts perhaps
for the soldiers requests for chocolate
and other sweets from home.
On our arrival at the training area
the boxes containing the Soldiers
Kits" prepared by branches Of the
Red Cross and which were shipped
over On the boat with us, were I'M
packed and distributed. one to each
soldier. They contained handkcr-
chiefs, comb. jack-knife, mirror bnt,
tons, nedeles, cotton, tobacco ana
chewing gum.
Our training had lasted just ten
DAYS when call came from the
Rainbow Division" officially known
as the "42nd," for replacement to I'LL
the ranks Of those lost in the Chateau
Thierry engagement which had Just
ended. Several hundred men were Sc
lected to 20, among whom were many
who had not received infantry tram
ing and quite number who had not
been taught how to load a rifle. We
were conveyed in trucks to smaii
town named Blevencourt, where the
Rainbow Division was resting, and
distributed among the companies OF
the lGsth regiment Of infantry OF thai
division. We were billeted in small
buildings about twice the size of an
average sized garage. 1t was here
that we first met "cootie,". our clos
est" personal enemy and who was
destined to remain with us until the
time for the band to play "Good-bye
France-Hello Broadway" Our train
ing there lasted only three days,
when suddenly we were told to roll
packs"-it was the beginning OF SIX
nights of hiking to take our place
with the first army corps for the first
all-American offensive which opened
ut a. m, Septmeber y, 1918, at st.
Mihiel.
With the approach of darkness our
Journey began and became a reality
of our camp song. "There'll Be Miles
and Miles of Hiking Into No Mans
Land in France" We covered about
an average Of sixteen miles per night.
usually arriving at our stopping place
between s ard ! O'Clock =. IN. We
camped in open fields and were per-
mirtcd to sleep until 10 Z. m, when
breakfast every morning during the
hiking period. AT o'clock in the
evening we had supper and continued
on our Journey. In many of the towns
we were able to buy milk and eggs
from the Inhabitants and occasionally
lam was obtainable. The Y. NJ. {. A.
met us in one town and sold chocolate
at a very nominal cost. As we came
near the front line we were quartered
in woods, and our rolling kitchen and
water wagon were camouflaged to
prevent detection by the German
planes, which. from the number of air
raids made on US. were convincing to
us that our approach was well known
to the enemy.
On the night of September 10, 1918,
we took up position in woods about
four miles from the line and COM
plcted preparation for our movement
to orr position in the line. It rained
all day and night two days prior to
the engagement. and even the French
tanks assigned to our regiment had
difficulty in moving over the roads.
Early in the afternoon we were given
one hundred rounds of ammunition
and ordered to clean and present our
rifles for inspection. One Of our num-
her accidentally killed himself while
doing so. A small number of men
were detailed to remain behind with
the kitchen and water wagon and the
balance of US. to the approach Of
darkness, moved out of the woods with
the best wishes of our kitchen guards
that we would not get "bumped Oft
in the battle. The roads had become
congested by the movement of the
thousands of troops and twas neces-
sarv to stand for two hours in a rain
storm while the congestion was being
relieved at a point about one mile
from the line We were told to dis
card all equipment except our gun,
ammunition, mess kit canteen, one
blanket and our emergency ratlons.
which consisted of two pounds OF
corned beef and four boxes of hard
bread. At 1880 a. M. every man was
standing at attention with loaded rifle
in the trenches of mud and water
amidst a most terrific rain storm. At
exactly a. m. the big guns began to
shell the German line. and thus began
the battle Of st. Mihiel
ITO be continued.)