Chapter I: Foreword: "You're in the Army now."

"So this is France!"

Oft I heard these phrases repeated as more and more the realization dawned, first at Camp Meade, Md., and later overseas, that war seemed mostly drudgery with only the personal satisfaction of doing one's duty and that Sunny France was rainy most of the time.

The memory of Battery D, 311th U. S. F. A., will never fade in utter oblivion in the minds of its members. 'Tis a strange fancy of nature, however, gradually to forget many of the associations and circumstances of sombre hue as the silver linings appear in our respective clouds of life in greater radiance as each day finds us drifting farther from ties of camp life.

Soldiers, who once enjoyed the comradeship of camp life, where they made many acquaintances and mayhap friends, are now scattered in all walks of civilian life. While their minds are yet alive with facts and figures, time always effaces concrete absorptions. The time will come when a printed record of Battery D will be a joyous reminder.

With these facts in mind I have endeavored to set forth a history of the events of the battery and the names and addresses of those who belonged.

The records are true to fact and figure, being compilations of my diaries, note-books and address album, all verified with utmost care before publication.

In future years when the ex-service men and their friends glance over this volume, if a moment of pleasant reminiscence is added, this book will have fully served its purpose.

WILLIAM ELMER BACHMAN,
1920. Hazleton, Penna.

PREFATORY NOTE.

An effort has been made in this volume to state as concisely and clearly as possible the main events connected with the History of Battery D.

To recount in print every specific incident connected with the life of the organization, or to attempt a military biographical sketch of every battery member, would require many volumes.

My soldier-comrade readers will, no doubt, recall many instances which could have been included in this volume with marked appropriateness.

The selection of the material, however, has been with utmost consideration and for the expressed purpose of having the complete narrative give the non-military reader a general view of the conditions and experiences that fell to the lot of the average unit in the United States Army in service in this country and overseas.

Grateful acknowledgment is due to those who aided in the verification of all material used. Many of the battery members made suggestions that have been embodied in the text.

To A. Ernest Shafer, D. C., and Conrad A. Balliet, of Hazleton, Penna., belongs credit for information supplied covering periods when the author was on detached service from the battery. To Dr. Shafer acknowledgment is also due for the use of photographs from which a number of the illustrations have been reproduced.

From Prof. Fred H. Bachman, C. A. C., of Hazleton, Penna., who read over the manuscript, many valuable suggestions were received.

W. E. B.
Hazleton, Penna., 1920.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

SOURCES OF THE DELTA
World Events--The Nucleus--Declaration of War. U. S.
Joins--Selective Service Plans.

CHAPTER II.

A CAMP BELCHED FORTH
Selection of Camp Meade Site--Cantonment Construction
Building Progresses--Home Leaving Preparations.

CHAPTER III.

"YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW"
Officers at Fort Niagara--Assignment of Officers
Barrack org.--New Soldiers Arrive.

CHAPTER IV.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Description of Barracks--A Day's Routine--Getting
Catalogued--Inoculations and Drills--Soldiers Arrive
and Leave.

CHAPTER V.

LEARNING TO BE A SOLDIER
First Non-Commissioned Personnel--Effects of
Transfers--Schools--Hikes--Athletics--Idle Hours.

CHAPTER VI.

FLEETING HOURS OF LEAVE
Holiday Season Approaches--Thanksgiving Feast Practice
Marches--Barrack 0103--Christmas 1917.

CHAPTER VII.

WELL GROOMED BY DETAIL
Stable Police--Inspections--Staff Changes.

CHAPTER VIII.

BATTERY PROGRESS
Formal Retreat--Quarantine--Celebration--Rumors. Baltimore
Parade--West Elkridge Hike.

CHAPTER IX.

FAREWELL TO CAMP MEADE
Getting Ready--Advance Detail--Departure.

CHAPTER X.

ABOARD THE S. S. MORVADA
Set-Sailing--Coastland Appears--Halifax Harbor--Convoy
Assembles.

CHAPTER XI.

DODGING SUBMARINES
Ocean Journey Starts--Transport Life--Sub Scares. Destroyers
Delayed--Battle With Subs.

CHAPTER XII.

A ROYAL WELSH RECEPTION
Barry, South Wales--Parade--His Majesty's Letter. English
Rail Journey.

CHAPTER XIII.

A BRITISH REST CAMP
Crowded Tenting--English Mess--A Rainy Hike. Off for
Southampton--Flight Across the Channel.

CHAPTER XIV.

"SO THIS IS FRANCE!"
Cherbourg--A Battery Bath--Side-Door Pullmans. Montmorillon.

CHAPTER XV.

WHITE TROOPS INVADE MONTMORILLON
Racial Difficulties--French Billets--Impressions. The
Gartempe.

CHAPTER XVI.

ACTIVE TRAINING AT LA COURTINE
To La Courtine--French Artillery Camp--Russian Revolt--Life
on the Range--Sickness--Casualties.

CHAPTER XVII.

NOVEMBER 11th AT LA COURTINE
November 7th--November 11th--Celebration--Farewell
Banquet--Ville Sous La Ferte--Fuel Details--Delayed Departure.

CHAPTER XVIII.

MUD AND BLANCHEVILLE
Mud and Rats--Historic Monteclair--Thanksgiving 1918--Candle
Mystery--Sick Horses Arrive.

CHAPTER XIX.

AN ADVENTUROUS CONVOY
Belgian Trip Proposed--100 Volunteers--Remount 13--Convoying
Mules--Christmas 1918.

CHAPTER XX.

ON THE ROAD TO BENOITE VAUX
Anxious to Join Division--First Service Stripe--A. E. F. Leave
Centers--Mounted Hikes--Overland to Benoite Vaux.

CHAPTER XXI.

WAR ORPHANS AND HORSE SHOWS
Two Battery Mascots--Battalion and Regimental Shows--Division
and Corps Shows--More Personnel Changes--Maneuvres--More
Sickness and Casualties.

CHAPTER XXII.

HOMEWARD BOUND
Boncourt--Cirey les Mareilles--Divisional Review. Camp
Montoir--St. Nazaire--Edward Luckenbach--New York--Camp
Dix--Home.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE LORRAINE CROSS
Story of the Seventy-Ninth Divisional Insignia.

CHAPTER XXIV.

BATTERY D HONOR ROLL
Names of Those Who Died and Graves Where Buried.

CHAPTER XXV.

"ONE OF US"
Tribute to Private First Class Joseph A. Loughran.

CHAPTER XXVI.

IN MEMORIAM
In Memory of Departed Comrades.

CHAPTER XXVII.

FIRST BATTERY D STAFF
First Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Personnel.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

BATTERY D OFFICERS
Complete List of Officers Associated With the Battery.

CHAPTER XIX.

ROSTER OF BATTERY D
List of Names That Comprised the Sailing List of the U. S. S.
Edward Luckenbach.

CHAPTER XXX.

RECORD OF BATTERY TRANSFERS
Those Who Gained Commissions--List of Men Transferred to Other
Organizations.

CHAPTER XXXI.

PERSONALITIES
A Few Battery Reflections.

CHAPTER XXXII.

A FEW GENERAL ORDERS
Messages From Several of the Officers.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

MEMORABLE DATES
Calendar of Battery's Eventful Dates.

LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS.

Group Photo of Battery D

William Elmer Bachman

Albert L. Smith

David A. Reed

Perry E. Hall

Sidney F. Bennett

C. D. Bailey

Frank J. Hamilton

Third Class French Coach

Side-Door Pullman Special

Interior of French Box Car

A Real American Special

Montmorillon Station

Montmorillon Street Scene

Entrance to Camp La Courtine

American Y. M. C. A. at Camp La Courtine

A Battery D Kitchen Crew

Group of Battery D Sergeants

Battery D on the Road

Aboard The Edward Luckenbach

At Bush Terminal

Serving Battery Mess Along the Road

Battery D on the Road

Lorraine Cross

Joseph A. Loughran

Cemetery at La Courtine

Horace J. Fardon

Grave of William Reynolds

Barrack at Camp La Courtine