New Britain herald., 1929-04-04
COMPANY 1, l02D
 ID HAVE REUNION
Former BuddiS to Assemble in
 Merideu ou April 27

Co. I, 10.nd Infantry Association' will hold its annual reunion on Aprii 27. in Meriden. Each year the mem- bers of the company who served the unit during the World War gather alternating between New Britain and Meriden, the two cities from winch the greater part of the company was formed.
 The occasion will be marked with \ banouet to be served at the Old Colony inn in the Hartford-Meriden turnpike consisting of steak and all the fixings.
 Last year the reunion was held In this city at Schuetzen park and about 75 of the original members or Co. I, 102nd Inf, were present. This year, after 2 compilation or the nresent addresses of the veterans or the company, moro than that num- Der are expected to attend.
 The present officers of the asso- citation are John R. Feegel of Meri- den. former captain of the company. president; Edward E. Ogren. of New Britain. former sergeant in the com- pany, vice president: Fred E. Beebe of MAriden, former company clerk. as secretary and Clarence J. Gala han of New Britain. formerly third battalion gas sergeant. as treasurer.
 At a recent meeting of the o1icers. the place and date for the banquet was decided upon Gerald P. Crean of this city was named chairman or a committee 10 handle the New Brit ain end of the affair while Messrs. Feeeel and Beebe of Meriden are making arrangements there.
 The reunion is held each year as near to the anniversary Of the battle of Seicheprey as is possible. This took place on April 20, 1918. and was the first major engagement Tn Whlcn the l0ad regiment and more partic- ularly the first and third battalions were engaged. Company l took prominent part in the counter-attack launched in the evening of that day III WHlCH tIlt oSl llidI U 'oSPo had taken the American first line or trenches, were hurled back to their original positions.
 The company was the result of the amalgamation of the two companies l of the First and Second Regiments, C. N. G. at Camp Yale. New Haven on August 25, 1917. The First Reg iment company was New Britain outfit while that of the second was from Meriden.
 On September 12, 1917. the outfit sailed for Europe. landing at Liver pool and going from there to South ampton. England. It arrived at Le- Havre. France, on October 7, 1917 and immediately was sent to the Vosgcs section of France into train ing camps. Co. l and the third bat talion was billeted at Certilleux, three kilometres from Neufchateau.
 The company entered the trenches for the first time on the night of February ', 1918 in the Chemin des Danes sector near Fort Malmaison. After a period of intensive training in actual warfare under the tutelage of French contingents. the company was withdrawn and sent into the 'roul sector to relieve the First Di- vision. (American which was or Gered to the British sector at Can tigny The company entered this sector on April and remained therc until May 30.
 It was then hurriedly transferred to the Chateau Thierry front and was sent into position in the Bel lcau woods. now known as the Bois ae la Brigade des Marines where the Second American Division had stag ed bloody defense against the Ger man drive 10 Paris in April and May.
 The l02nd regiment was en- tfenched entirely by the night of July and Company l was placed in the front lines. Withstanding terrific bombardments for the next two weeks, lending off raidng par ties and suffering airplane bombing attacks the front line positions were consolidated
 On the afternoon Of July IS. the drive to close the Chateau Thicrry salient was launched with Co. I in 'he first wave. The results Of that drive are history now and number among the most glorious pages of the country's war data.
 After a short rest. the division was ordered to the St. Mihicl salient where again. with Company in :he van. an attack was launched on Sep tembcr 10 which was one Of the greatest feats of the American army in the World War. It was sn ad- vance guard Of Co. I which first set foot in Nigneullcs thereby complete ly closing the salient and entrappins thousands of German prisoners whose retreat was cut off.
 After that. the company took part Tn the launching Of inc drive al Nerdun which marked the begin ming of the cid for the German army and later il went through the Argonne Forest campaign. the wors, and bloodiest of the war
 With depleted ranks. the company vas ordered into marching order 10 become part of the army of occupa- ton on German territory after the armistice had been signed but 90 weakened was the personnel that Dn immediate rest was ordered. The company was returned to this coun- try and was billeted at Camp Dev- ems. Mass. While there. the entire division staged a parade in Boston. the final review before Major Gen eraI Clarence R. Edwards. It was mustered out in the early part Of May. 1919.