The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-18
Col. Hayes, War Hero, Says Veterans, Disillu=
 stoned By Events

the Waterbury troops were given their baptism of fire and, as a result of which, they received commendation from superior off, cers and the Allied troops.
 Corporal Frank Coyle was the first Waterbury boy to make the supreme sacrifice in France. He belonged to Co. "A" 102nd Regi- ment. AS you know, the local American Legion Post was named after him. Corporal Hugh Mellon, BSC, lost his life at Epeida, France. Chick" McGinn and Gil- bert Young fell at St. Miheal. Your It. Shea died shortly after the war from wounds. The local WFW Auxiliary is named after him.
 Over the years, Waterbury com- rades who were school mates and pals of these fallen heroes, are still carrying on. Familiar to us all are the names of Cunningham, Barry, Downs, Rowe, Griffin, Ayl- ward, Delaney, Horgan, Bolan and many others. They have not for gotten, nor will they ever forget.
 Chateau Thierry
 The division in July took over the line at Chateau Thierry and on July 18th was the first outfit to start the battle of Chateau Thierry. Many of the boys fell on the wheat field going out from Triangle Farm, Belleau Woods and the town of Bouresches. Here also, in the town of Belleau, stands the YD Overseas Memorial, the most beautiful of all those set up for the AEF. In the artillery prepara- tion it was necessary to land a stiff barage on the town of Belleau. In this mess, the little church in the town was badly damaged by our artillery. After the war, through contributions from the veterans of the division alone, the church was restored and per- petual light now shines there as a lasting memorial to the dead of the division.
 For seven days and nights the division hammered away and gain ed ground. Then it was trans ferred to St. Mihiel, where when the great drive started, it was the 26th that closed the salient by forced marches through the night at the town of Vigneulles. After that it suffered untold casualties at Marcheville in a fake attack to deract attention from the drive at Verdun. It was later trans ferred into the Argonne forest and was in the front line when the ArmiStice was signed and put in effect. It was started for the Army of Occupation on the Rhine, but was so wasted with men fall ing down in their tracks from gas and fatigue that it had to be re- lieved. Returning to the states, it was mustered out at Camp Dev- ems in May, 1920. What glorious record, and I am convinced that I'D is proud of it all.
 YD Cemetery
 Your devotion to your comrades living or dead-bespeak undying loyalty to triology of ideals-God, country and it's brave defenders at home or in The I'D Cemetery" across the seas, versed so beauti- fully by your late Judge Advo- cate, Colonel Anderson:
  "The peasant children pass it, as
 they leave the village school; The pious strangers cross them
 selves, along the road to Foul, The captains call Attention" as
 the dusty troops plod by; The officers salute, though receiV-
 ing no reply!
 Iris spot, all brown and barren,
 mid the poppies and the
 grain
 The YD Cemetery, by roadside
 on Lorraine.
 "Of all the myriad places for the
 dead of man to rest,
 The graveyard of warrier, for
 freeman is the best;
 Oh. Not for them our pity. but
 far across the foam,
 For the gray-haired mother weep
 ing, in some New England
 home,
 'Tis she who has our pity, 'Tis she
 who feels the pain
 Of the I'D cemetery by roadside
 in Lorraine.
 You have kept the faith! Con- tinue to carry on, my I'D con- radeS.