The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-13
G. rim Reaper's 'Mistletoe"
22nd Anniversary Secheprey
buy Youths Rendezvous With Dea Mietoe" Became Password
of Hate, "Over the Top.

Final preparations for the 22nd
annual celebration of Seichprey
Day have been completed. Her
man Schaefer, former commander
Of the local YD, will be chairman
Of the event, which will be featur-
ed by banquet and dance at
the Hotel Elton Saturday evening,
April 20. The banquet will start
at 8 pm.
Major Thomas Horrigan of this
city, Lieut.. Col. James Quinn Of
New Haven and Major Charles
Hart Of this city will be the
speakers Of the evening.
Col. William J. Shannahan will
be POSTMASTER, and in memory
of that historic battle the Demo-
crat is privileged to print a REM
iniscent story by one who took
part and who recalls the fateful
word-"Mistletoe"
BY COL. VIM. ]. SHANAHAN
Mistletoe at Christmas time is
a symbol of peace and good will
to all Of us. But to Veterans of
the 26th Division, particularly the
102nd Infantry, it is the reminder
of the 10th, Goth and 21st of
April, 1918, when they withstood
the attack and artillery fire of
one of the best troops of the Gen.
trail Powers at Seicheprey,
small village north of Toul. On
that night, the 10th, "Mistletoe"
was the password for taking over
the sector. 1t was las the morn
ing of the Goth that Co. A had
taken its position and that word
was passed over the telephone to
Maj. Rau, the Battalion COM
mander, shortly after the attack
began.
Christmas Day
But this story is about a scene
on Christmas Day that year in
the home Of a middle class fam
lily in Langres. Langres is the
chief town in the Department of
Haute, Marine, France, one-half
hours ride by automobile south
of Chaumont, the American Army
Headquarters. It was used as the
center Of training activities for
officers and men of the Amer
lean Expeditionary Force. Here
were found the Staff College for
Field Officers, the line officers
school, the school where 1000
non-commisSioned officers took
their months training and were
commissioned Second Lieuten-
ants; the Tank school; Dental
School; Intelligence School; and
many others. Altogether including
demonstrations, troops and two
hospitals, there were $4,000 Amer
leans in the area, quarterd Ell
ther in billets or barracks.
The town stood on high hill
similar to our Pine Hill and was
surrounded by a wall that was
100 feet in height in some places.
Its history went back to the days
of Rome. ii short walk took you
to the field where Caesar defeat
ed the Gallo Chief Veringelter-
oux. Here too was the little
spring from which the mighty
Marine wends its way to the sea
and near it is the cave where
Sabinus, another Gallo chief, hid
for 1a.ne years from the legions
of Rome. The Languois Tribe was
noted for its beautiful women and
the Emperor Tiberius spent many
summers there. The entrance to
the town consists of AN arch that
was built in his honor. Four
horses could stand abreast at
most places on top of the wall and
on the south there is a moat and
bridge gate. This south gate is
the principal entrance to the
town and leads to the main high
way south and another road
which partly encircles the town
and leads north. 1t has a cathe-
dral and seminary and another
very fine church, called st. Mar
tins. The houses are built close
together with high walls all
around. One of these houses was
the home of a family named Bar
riot; this was a spacious house
with gravsled walks and a small
garden.
Woman Dentist
Madame Barriot was a widow
whose husband had been dem
list before he died. There were
two sons who were medical Of
ficers n the French Army, and
three daughters in the family.
Madame continued her husbands
business which was mostly ex-
tracing teeth.
There were four American Of
ficers billetcd in this house,
lieutenant colonel, two majors,
and a captain of artillery. The
last was a Y. D. officer. He had met
the writer near the cathedral
about souT-thirty Christmas af-
ternoon. After a tour of this old
edifice h took me to his billet
at TIE Barriot home. Shortly af-
ter our arrival a very motheriy