Chapter I: Preface

On one occasion, after having had to swallow an exceptionally large dose of complimentary eloquence, I stated that I was going to borrow a title for my book from my favorite philosopher, Mr. Dooley, and call it “Alone in Europe.”

The title that has been given it sounds almost as egoistic as that; but there will be found in these pages other names than my own. Indeed, objection may be made from a literary point of view that the book bristles with names. I could not write my story otherwise. I knew these men, and what they did, and my only regret is that I have undoubtedly overlooked some, especially amongst replacements, whose names and deeds should be mentioned. Battles are not fought by commanding officers alone, not even by chaplains unaided; and the men who do the fighting usually get little personal credit for their valor.

My chronicle claims no merit save that of being true. The only critics I had in mind while writing it were those who fought in France. If they say that the pictures are true, I am content. The diary style has been deliberately chosen because it permits the introduction of incidents, and also lends itself to the telling of a plain unvarnished tale.

Every Regiment in a combat division has a similar story, if any one of its members has the knowledge and patience to tell it. “The Irish 69th” had naturally its own special flavor of race with the buoyant spirits, the military _élan_, and the religious ardor that mark the race. No picture of the regiment would be complete that did not give a generous place to this phase of its life.

Happily, the Irish spirit has always managed to combine generous tolerance with its fervors. As a result, there are no more enthusiastic adherents of the Irish 69th than those of its members who did not share in the blood or the creed of the majority.

As for myself, I liked them all. I am a very Irish, very Catholic, very American person if anybody challenges my convictions. But normally, and let alone, I am just plain human. My appreciation of patriotism, or courage, or any other attractive human trait, is not limited in any degree by racial or religious or sectional prejudice. That was the spirit of our Army; may it always be the spirit of our Republic.

Joyce Kilmer was to have written this book. I took over the task after his death in battle. The manuscript he left had been hurriedly written, at intervals in a busy soldier existence, which interested him far more than literary work. I have taken the liberty of adding his work, incomplete though it is, to my own; because I feel that Kilmer would be glad at having his name associated with the story of the Regiment which had his absolute devotion; and because I cannot resist the temptation of associating with my own the name of one of the noblest specimens of humanity that has existed in our times.

I wish to thank Major Meaney, Major Bootz, Captain Allen, Lieutenants Harold Allen and Thomas C. P. Martin, Sergeant Major O’Connell and the Company Clerks for data for this book; Sergeant William Halligan, Privates John F. McLoughlin and Arthur Shea, Mr. Paul Shea, and Father John B. Kelly for assistance in preparing the manuscript for publication; and Sergeants T. C. Ranscht and R. L. Clarke for the maps that appear in this volume.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I PREPARATIONS AT HOME 13

II IN TRAINING ABROAD 36

III THE LUNÉVILLE SECTOR 60

IV THE BACCARAT SECTOR 85

V THE CHAMPAGNE DEFENSIVE 119

VI THE BATTLE OF THE OURCQ 158

VII AFTER THE BATTLE 207

VIII THE ST. MIHIEL OFFENSIVE 232

IX THE ARGONNE OFFENSIVE 261

X WITH THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION 306

HISTORICAL APPENDIX BY JOYCE KILMER 331

APPENDICES 355

REGIMENTAL RECORD

DECORATIONS, 165th INFANTRY

OFFICERS WHO SERVED IN THE 165th INFANTRY

CITATIONS, 165th INFANTRY

OFFICERS OF NEW YORK CHAPTER “RAINBOW” DIVISION

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE 165th INFANTRY

WOMAN’S AUXILIARY TO THE 165th INFANTRY

ILLUSTRATIONS

COLONEL DONOVAN IN FIGHTING TRIM _Frontispiece_

PAGE

FRANCIS P. DUFFY, CHAPLAIN, 165TH INFANTRY 22

GENERAL LENIHAN, LIEUTENANT GROSE, COLONEL MITCHELL,
FATHER DUFFY, MR. GEORGE BOOTHBY OF THE “Y,”
AND JUDGE EGEMAN OF THE K. OF C. 142

MAP OF THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE OURCQ 181

AT QUENTIN ROOSEVELT’S GRAVE. THE CENTRAL FIGURE
IS COLONEL MCCOY 238

MAP OF THE ST. MIHIEL SALIENT 245

MAP OF THE BATTLE OF THE ARGONNE 295

OPERATIONS MAP: 165TH INFANTRY, 1917-1919 354

FATHER DUFFY’S STORY

FATHER DUFFY’S STORY