The Washington herald., 1922-06-06
The Second Division.

These bore the brunt of some of the
hardest fought battles in the history Of the world.
The returned from France with, perhaps, the
stirring record of any American troops which took
part in the world war. They are bound together
by the eternal memory of the deeds they did, the
hardshps they suffered, and the glory they
.fehieved.
But their arrival in Washington from all Sec
tions of the United States suggests few thoughts
.son the difficulty OF A. E. F. associations in gen.
eral. to which they no exception No
overseas organization has striven harder to pre-
its identity in peace time. Everything pos
sbic has been done to keep aflame the spirit of
, the lndianhead division Local associations have
been formed in most large cities. No effort has
been spared to keep in touch with every man who
, came back from France. But the task grows more
difficult days go by.
Veterans of the Civil and Spanish-American
wars will not understand easily how difficult it
is to keep alive world companonship 1t
sometimes seems that everything possible done
to prevent just such an aftermath Even the
national guard divisions were so filled with men
from other sections OF the country than that in
which the original regiments recruited that
only skeleton organizations be assembled.
= Much greater obstacles encountered in keeping
alive the so-called regular" divisional units such
the First and Second Divisions.
up around nucleus of the Fifth and Sixth Marine
regiments. Many Of the first men who enlisted
for general service used to fill its skeleton
ranks AS soon as the war was over these men
were scattered from Florida to Alaska. Probably
the majority of them make their homes in rural
communities where the individuals are isolated
from their comrades. They find their honors
unsu1g in the local communities which their
paudts largely for veterans OF the sectional national
guard regiments.
1t is pleasing to see so many Second Division
veterans at Quantico this year. 1t is irref-
utable testimony as the splendid efforts made
keep the association alive the part Of its
enthusiastic members. We doubt whether any other
society OF world war veterans could collect many
from all parts Of the United States
Every fighting division has its veterans assoca-
ton Most OF these organized in France
Germany just after the when enthusiasm of
comradeship was at its height and contempt for
other outfits ran strong For time after the
troops back to the United States these soce-
ties threatened the growth of the general vet
Grams associations Rivalry intense. But this
feeling largely has died away. No bitter
sizes carried through the newspapers to
just what parts this and that regiment took in
particular action The public, which knows almost
nothing OF the fighting in France has been
strangely .unresponsive.
This attitude is unjust and irritating. But it
exists and cannot be combatted with any reasonable
hopes OF success The people at home not be
made to understand the difference between a vet
OF the First. Second or Twenty-sxth Divisions,
for example, who took part in every action with the
Germans and a who entered only often
sive with OF the national army organizations
which arrived in France during the summer OF 1918.
So the Division organizations are falling away.
More and more the returned soldier is transferring
his loyalty and efforts to local post composed
OF from all outfits. In such associations he
finds degree of comradcship and sympathy which
he cannot obtain from the scattered society of his
war comrades.
Perhaps eventually the divisions will come into
their again. 1t is possible that memories will
grow stronger with age, For the present, however,
It is perhaps best for the themselves that
war antagonisms be forgotten and that the regular
and national guardsman cooperate with the
national army veteran and the sailor in presenting
firm front to the general public which knows
nothing of the life led by either during the stirring
war days.
Veterans of the Second Division will find
comradeship at Quantico this week which it would
be impossible to duplicate in the American Legion
post of Winchester, Va or FL Paso. Texas But it
will last for a few days only while the latter is
present every day of the year.
No former soldiers deserve more hearty trib-
ute from the people of the National Capital than
the who bore the brunt of battle at Be1eau
Wood at Scissors along the Meuse and at a dozen
other places in France the names of which con-
secrated with American blood. But forced
to the conclusion that. in the mind of the average
citizen, they just "veterans"-nothing more and
nothing less. 1t is useless to become irrtated
this condition. To the people who did not go to
France its mud, its ratified barns etc, far
away, unreal things. To the A. E. F. they are very
near and substantial. There is difference in view