Chapter I: Foreword

If love, admiration and respect, with a sense of personal gratification at seeing the hopes and predictions of years fulfilled, may be pleaded as justification for a self-appointed chronicler, then this book needs no excuse. It is offered with a serene confidence that it does justice, and nothing more than simple justice, to as fine and gallant a body of soldiers as ever represented this great commonwealth in action.

There must be, for the loved ones of these modern crusaders, as well as for the thousands of former members of the National Guard, who, like the writer, whole-heartedly envied the opportunities for glorious service that came to their successors in the organization, a sense of deep and abiding pride in the priceless record of achievement. To all such, and to those others to whom American valor is always a readable subject, whatever the locale, the narrative is presented as not unworthy of its cause.

H. G. P.

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. MEN OF IRON 11

II. OFF FOR THE FRONT 25

III. THE LAST HUN DRIVE 48

IV. "KILL OR BE KILLED" 60

V. THE GUARD STANDS FAST 77

VI. BOCHE IN FULL FLIGHT 91

VII. BOMBED FROM THE AIR 108

VIII. IN HEROIC MOLD 121

IX. THE CHURCH OF RONCHERES 137

X. AT GRIPS WITH DEATH 157

XI. DRIVE TO THE VESLE 168

XII. IN DEATH VALLEY 184

XIII. STARS OF GRIM DRAMA 199

XIV. AMBULANCIERS TO FRONT 213

XV. A MARTIAL PANORAMA 227

XVI. IN THE ARGONNE 241

XVII. MILLION DOLLAR BARRAGE 251

XVIII. "AN ENVIABLE REPUTATION" 262

XIX. ENSANGUINED APREMONT 278

XX. TOWARD HUNLAND 291

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE OFFICIAL ORDER DESIGNATING THE 28TH AS THE KEYSTONE DIVISION _Frontispiece_

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FRANCE AT LAST! IRON DIVISION DEBARKING 22

INTO THE MAW OF BATTLE 186

BRIEFLY AT REST IN THE ARGONNE FOREST 248