The 302nd
ENGINEERS
by,
Gilbert H. Crawford
Thomas H. Ellett
John J. Hyland
CHAPTER 7
THE VESLE SECTOR.
FROM the 6th to the 8th August, 1918, the Regiment
entrained at Bayon and Blainville (Meur-the et Moselle),
and after a trip of about twenty hours by rail, detrained
at Coulommiers (Seine et Marne), and adjoining villages
about thirty miles east of Paris and twenty miles
southwest of Chateau Thierry.
On the 10th of August the Regiment was transported by
French trucks through Chateau-Thierry and Fere-en-
Tardenois to bivouac in the Forest of Nesles, just east
of the village of Seringes (Aisne). Regimental
headquarters were in a ruined farmhouse at the eastern
limit of Seringes.
No member of the Regiment will forget this trip over the
recently contested ground, which Americans had done so
much to regain. The evidences of terrific battle were on
all sides, fresh and gruesomely eloquent of the heavy
price that had been paid. At last, the time for real
action was at hand for the 302nd Engineers.
From the 1st to the 10th of August, while the 77th
Division had been moving from the Baccarat Sector, the
Allies had pushed the Germans back from the line of the
Ourcq River at Fere-en-Tardenois to the Vesle River at
Fismes and Bazoches. In that part of the line held by
American forces, the 42nd Division on the left, aided by
regiments of the 4th Division, and the 32nd Division on
the right, had, on the 1st and 2nd of August, overcame
determined German resistance on the line of the Oureq
River east of Fere-en-Tardenois and had advanced toward
the Vesle River. It was during this operation that the
42nd Division was relieved by the 4th Division and the
32nd Division by the 28th. The 4th and the 28th Divisions
had pushed on to the Vesle River, where the German troops
had been ordered to make a stand and not to yield ground
at any cost.
During its brief action in this sector the 4th Division
suffered such heavy losses that relief soon became
necessary. The 77th Division was therefore pushed forward
to take over the front held by the 4th Division, and
likewise part of the French front to the left as far as
Mont Notre Dame. On the night of the 11th to 12th of
August, the 302nd Engineers relieved the 4th Engineers.
Due to the concentration of troops on this front, the
width of the divisional sector was much narrower than it
had been at Baccarat. The 1st Battalion of the 302nd
Engineers, attached to the 153rd Infantry Brigade,
covered the left half of the sector, while the 2nd
Battalion covered the right half with the 154th Infantry
Brigade. Regimental and divisional headquarters were
stationed at the Chateau de Fere, north of
Fere-en-Tardenois; both battalion headquarters were in
unforgettable Chery-Chartreuve.
The 77th Division front extended along the valley of the
Vesle from Fismes and Fismettes on the right, to Mont
Notre Dame on the left-a front of about seven kilometers.
The American outposts were located north of the Vesle
River, both on the right and the left of this sector. But
in the center, around Bazoches, the north bank of the
river was strongly held by the enemy. St. Thibaut, a
deserted village on the south side of the river (opposite
Bazoches), was lightly held by the Americans.
Due to its position, Bazoches was of great value to the
Germans, and a thorn in the side of the Americans. Much
of the regimental and divisional history during this
period centers around Bazoches. Upon its capture depended
the satisfactory advance of Allied forces.
The American divisions on the Vesle front were at this
time (12th of August) operating under orders of a French
corps commander. The French command did not contemplate
an immediate advance. Instead, work was to be expedited
on three defense positions, viz., (1) the front line
position of outposts, or so-called "green
line"; (2) the support, or "red" position;
and (3) the reserve, or "blue" position. To the
engineers was assigned the task of laying out the
trenches and placing the barbed wire. The infantry, under
engineer supervision, were to dig the trenches of the
support and reserve positions. Each position was to
consist of three parallels with the necessary approach
trenches. No dugouts were to be constructed.
Co. "C" and Co.
"F" were assigned to the work on the outpost
position; Co. "B" and Co. "D" on the
support position; Co. "A" and Co. "E"
on the reserve position. Headquarters Co. and the
Engineer Train were stationed near divisional
headquarters, fulfilling their regular functions of
map-reproduction and transportation.
In addition to the main work of field
fortifications just outlined, the lettered companies had
other duties, such as the repair and upkeep of roads, the
construction of road screens to prevent enemy observation
of movements on roads, reconnaissance, etc.
All troops had been warned to be on the watch for enemy
traps. It was discovered that the Chateau de Fere
(divisional headquarters) was mined with tons of high
explosive and hundreds of unexploded trench mortar
shells. Mines had been placed not only in the Chateau,
but also in the arches of a beautiful old viaduct, the
destruction of which had no military value. Fortunately,
the German troops' charged with the execution of this
vandalism, had failed in their mission, and it was the
duty of the engineers to clear away the explosive. This
work was accomplished successfully under the direction of
Lieutenant Macqueron (French liaison officer attached to
the 302nd Engineers), and Master Engineer John L. Bleier.
For the engineers the Vesle Sector was very different
from that of Baccarat. Not only were the engineer troops
much nearer the fighting front, participating in its many
activities, but conditions of life were fundamentally
changed. All companies, except Co. "C" and Co.
"D", were bivouacked in woods or on hillsides,
and existence was very primitive. Danger from shells and
gas was ever present. sleep was disturbed by artillery
fire, which was almost incessant.
After the first day or two in this sector, Co.
"C" an(' Co. "D" were quartered in a
large cave in a hillside near the road between
Chery-Chartreuve and St. Thibaut. To them this will
always be "THE CAVE". The location of this cave
was almost ideal from the point of view of the engineers.
It was quite near the front, only about two kilometers
south of the Vesle River; yet its damp confines spelled
rest and safety (also "cooties") for the troops
when not at work. This retreat, however, was immediately
discovered by the Boches, who took special pains to
enfilade its approach. Several times during their
occupancy of the cave the kitchens of Co. "C"
and Co. "D" were partially destroyed by
shell-fire and many animals were also killed in the same
way. One of the Co. "D" tool wagons was
likewise added to the "casualty list".
Shortly after the relief of the 4th Division, the
Regiment had its first death from enemy fire. Private
Wallace A. Parmenter, Co. "B", was killed by a
shell splinter on 12th August, 1918, near
Chery-Chartreuve. Other casualties soon followed in all
companies. Capt. R. L. Thomas, Adjutant of the 1st
Battalion, was severely wounded in eleven places, while
at Chery-Chartreuve on 20th August, 1918. In fact,
Chery-Chartreuve was within easy range of the Boche light
artillery and was a favorite target for their gunners,
day and night. It will long live in the memory of those
whose duty called them there.

Co. C Bridge
During August, the following named
officers of the Regiment were transferred to the United
States for promotion, and for duty in connection with the
training of new engineer regiments then in the process of
formation:
Lieut.-Col. H. C. Herkness
Capt. J. W. Mark, Supply Officer
1st Lieut. C. A. Volz, Co. "E"
1st Lieut. H. A. Philip, Co. "E"
1st Lieut. J. E. L. O'Ryan, Co. "A"
1st Lieut. E. L. Robinson, Co. "Y"
2nd Lieut. J. H. Murrin, Co. "E"
All these officers, except Colonel Herkness, had been
with the Regiment since its formation, and their transfer
was greatly regretted. Lieutenant H., C. Cresson, Co.
"A", was appointed Supply Officer to fill the
vacancy caused by Captain Mark's transfer, and was soon
after promoted to the rank of Captain.
During all its operations, the Regiment was short of
commissioned officers, at one time having only two-thirds
of the authorized number. Had it not been for the high
quality of the non-commissioned officers, the Regiment
would have been seriously handicapped.
The change from the quiet sector of Baccarat to the great
activity of the Vesle front, brought with it a striking
change in the duties of the combat engineers. Dugouts
were no longer even thought of; wire and trenches sank
into secondary importance. The principal work of the
engineers became "communications" which,
translated, meant bridges and roads. BRIDGES! What
recollections that. one word brings to the mind of every
man in the Regiment!
BRIDGES, where so many of our brave comrades fell! From
the Vesle to the Meuse, every operation of the Regiment
seemed to lead as inevitably as death to one thing-
BRIDGES! Much other useful work was done, but, in
retrospect, everything else seems to fade into
insignificance in comparison with the building of
footbridges in front of the infantry, or of artillery
bridges just behind them.
One of the first noteworthy operations of the Regiment
after reaching the Vesle, was a river reconnaissance
conducted by men of Co. "C". On the night of
the 15th Au-gust, 1918, four volunteer parties, led
respectively by 1st Sergeant Quinn, Sergeant Ruhlberg,
Corporal Burkhardt, and Corporal Bell, made a complete
reconnaissance of the Vesle River, where it lay between
the lines, reporting locations of existing and demolished
foot bridges, narrow places, etc. These parties were well
ahead of the infantry outposts, and conducted their
observations under artillery and machine gun fire.
Based on the information obtained through this
reconnaissance, a detail from Co. "C" was sent
forward to fell trees across a narrow part of the stream
to form footbridges for the infantry. Corporal Burkhardt
led this detail which ' in its first attempt on the night
of the 18th of August, was unsuccessful, because the
infantry commander refused to allow the detail to pass
through the lines. Again, on the night of the 19th of
August, the men made a second attempt, but were halted by
a German outpost. Finally, on the night of the 21st of
August, accompanied by Lieutenant Mack, of the infantry,
who, with his aides, acted as a covering party, this
detail succeeded in dynamiting two trees across the
Vesle, a few hundred feet southwest of Bazoches.
On the same night as the Co. "C" reconnaissance
(15th of August), 1st Lieut. Madison H. Lewis of Co.
"F", accompanied by Sgts. Jules Gingras and
Frank Roskoski, both of the same company, was also
reconnoitering the river west of Fismes. At this point,
the American line was north of the Vesle. An infantry
relief was taking place at the same time. Heavy-laden
infantrymen were crossing a narrow footbridge. The valley
was a target for enemy gas shells, so that it was
necessary for the men to wear gas masks. The combination
of darkness, gas masks and a narrow bridge (already
overtaxed by the passage of infantrymen) added greatly
to, the difficulty of the task. Several infantrymen fell
off the bridge into the river, and were in grave danger
of drowning. Without hesitation, Lieutenant Lewis and his
two sergeants tore off their masks, plunged into the
stream, and rescued the infantrymen. The three engineers
were severely gassed. Lieutenant Lewis never recovered
sufficiently to return to the Regiment for active duty.
All three were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
for this act of heroism.
A few days later (22nd August, 1918) a Boche attack was
expected, and it was desired to clear a "barrage
zone" for artillery fire. Unfortunately, "The
Cave" lay in this zone, and Co. "C" and
Co. "D" were ordered to a new location toward
the rear. While on the way back to this new position,
Capt. L. F. Harder, Co. "C", received an order
(at 12:30 A. M., 23rd of August) to burn down some German
shacks which were obstructing the fire of one of the.
infantry outposts. These shacks were several miles
distant, in front of the American line, where it lay
north of the Vesle, and about one kilometer west of
Bazoches.
Corp. Leo R. Bell, Pvt. Frank L. Cromer, and Pvt. Lee B.
Crum volunteered to carry out this hazardous mission. The
orders were to burn the buildings at 3:30 A. M., as a
signal for American gunners. There was no time for
preparation. The detail started out at once, carrying
only a three-gallon can of gasoline. The men proceeded
first to the headquarters of the 1st Battalion, 306th
Infantry, and obtained there a runner, Pvt. Neil Sheehan,
who guided them by an exposed short-cut to the
headquarters of Co. "D", 306th Infantry. From
this point another runner guided them across the Vesle to
the outpost platoon of Co. "D", 306th Infantry,
which lay behind a railroad embankment. The shacks were
obstructing the fire of this platoon.
Immediate action was imperative. Without time to
reconnoiter, the three engineers crawled over the
embank-ment and dashed toward the shacks. It was bright
moon-light, and the ground was flat and bare. Speed,
matched with daring, was their only protection. There
were about ten buildings in the group. A central one was
selected for firing. The men climbed inside, and almost
at once the shacks became targets of enemy rifle grenades
and machine guns. Hastily loose lumber, boxes,
bunks-anything that was at hand were gathered together
and sprinkled with gasoline. Exactly at 3:55 A. M.,
Private Cromer set a match to the building, which
immediately broke into flames, which quickly spread to
the other shacks in the group. The three men dashed back
through the bullet-swept space to shelter behind the
railroad embankment, safe and happy in the knowledge that
their mission had succeeded-and with them they carried
enough fuel to use in a second attempt in case the
buildings were not completely destroyed. This act of
daring and successful accomplishment deserves special
mention here, because it has never been properly rewarded
by official recognition. Through an unfortunate loss of
papers and affidavits, no decorations have come to these
brave men, who not only were successful in a most
dangerous and important mission, but by their foresight
in saving enough gasoline for a second attempt, showed
themselves ready again to face almost certain death if
their first efforts failed.
On the night of the 23rd-24th of August, Captain Simmons
of Co. "D", with a detail of twenty-five men,
set out with a portable truss foot bridge, which had been
designed by Major Giesting and Lieut. Thomas H. Ellett,
to the Vesle at a point about two and a half kilometers
east of Bazoches. The trip to the river was made under
heavy artillery fire, and upon arrival at the designated
spot, the officer in command found that the truss was ten
feet short of the required length. To a less determined
man than Captain Simmons, this would immediately have
spelled failure. But not to him! By means of axes and
rope lashings, which the party carried with them, the men
quickly constructed an extra "bent" or trestle
on which to rest one end of the truss. This done, the
bridge was soon made Passable for troops. Captain Simmons
personally supervised this task and worked in the water
himself.
These twenty-five men of Co. "D" were cited by
Division General Order No. 35 for this piece of work.
While transporting material for this bridge, Sergeants
Doris and Wever were killed outright, and Sergeant
Rothfuss, Corporal Chapman and Private Van Allen were
severely wounded.
At about this time, Co. "E" relieved Co.
"F" at the front. Captain La Fetra of Co.
"E" determined to throw across a foot bridge
with some material that had been prepared by Co.
"F", but had not been used before the relief
came. The Co. "E" foot bridge was a
"double lock spar bridge", the first and last
bridge of this type used by the Regiment while in action.
The construction of this bridge took about three hours,
during which time the valley was under heavy gas and
machine gun fire.
The various actions, which have just been described, are
merely "highlights" and are typical of the fine
spirit of determination and aggressiveness of the
Regiment. Much hard routine work was also accomplished on
the different defensive positions. The ground, which had
been gained by the Americans at such heavy cost, was not
to be lost again. All the efforts of the Regiment were
devoted to strengthening the positions, and to preparing
for a further American advance. Plans were made, and
material collected, for heavy artillery bridges across
the Vesle, to be built as soon as the Boches could be
driven back. The Regiment here for the first time made
use of captured German material. Two carefully designed
German portable trestle bridges had been left behind by
the retreating foe. Different companies of the Regiment
practiced using this material in order to be prepared for
the expected advance.
Much creditable work was done during this period by Co.
"C" wiring outpost positions, and Co.
"E" and Co. "F" placing road
camouflage at night at Villa Savoye and Mont St. Martin.
Quentin Roosevelt's grave was near the regimental
headquarters, and Colonel Sherrill directed Pvt. Leland
Easton of Co. "A" to cut and place a stone to
mark the spot where the plane had crashed to earth.
Colonel Roosevelt wrote personally to Colonel Sherrill
and thanked him for this act of sympathy and respect.
On the 25th of August, the Regimental Adjutant, Capt. G.
H. Crawford, was placed in command of Co. "B".
Capt. Marshall J. Noyes was made Adjutant in his place.
At the same time, Co. "B" relieved Co.
"C" of some of the latter company's work on the
outpost position. With commendable initiative and
courage, Sergeants Braun and Boyd of Co. "B"
handled the work in connection with one of these outposts
a few hundred feet south of the Vesle. Though consisting
only of trench digging and wiring, it was carried on
steadily, day and night, in a very exposed position in
advance of the infantry. At about the same time, Sergeant
Desoucey of Co. "B", with a detail of seven
men, was gassed severely while occupied on similar
outpost work.
As has already been noted, the village of Bazoches, on
the north bank of the Vesle, held by the enemy, was a
constant source of trouble for the Americans. Orders were
received to capture the town and drive the Boches back
from the river. To Co. "G" of the 306th
Infantry was allotted this task. A squad of men from Co.
"C" of the 302nd Engineers was assigned to the
attacking party, for the specific purpose of bombing a
supposed tunnel in the cellars of the Bazoches Chateau.
This squad was made up of the following:
Corp. Thomas F. Reilly, in charge
Corp. Allen Stromberg
Corp. William J. Knowlson
Pvt. 1st Class Raymond T. Ball Pvt.
1st Class Arthur Georger
Pvt. Frank Schulz
Pvt. John Bastedo
Pvt. Lionel Hodgkinson
Pvt. Edward P. Morrissey
On the evening of 26th August 1918, the attacking party
assembled about a kilometer northwest of St. Thibaut.
Early on the morning of the 27th the attack began,
covered by an intense machine gun barrage. The advance
proceeded smoothly from the west toward the east. In a
short time, the town was in the possession of the
Americans. The engineers looked in vain for a tunnel in
the Chateau. It was not there!
The American plan was to "clean
up" Bazoches, and then to retire to a position south
of the village until the inevitable enemy artillery fire
had subsided. Everything proceed according to schedule
until the latter part of the plan was put into execution.
As the American troops started for their objective toward
the south of the village, the enemy began a heavy
counter-attack, which drove the Americans south of the
river, with many casualties. Corporal Knowlson and
Private Georger were instantly killed during this action.
During the raid on Ba-zoches, Privates SchuIz and
Morrissey of Co. "C" had an experience which
they are not likely to forget. Stopping to give first aid
to two wounded comrades, they became separated from the
attacking infantrymen, and before they could catch up
they were intercepted by the German counter-attack. The
sought refuge in a pile of charcoal bags, to which they
also took with them a blinded and half-crazed American
infantryman. For five days these three men stayed in this
precarious position, almost starving, and at last without
water. Each day they expected that an American advance
would rescue them. Finally, after making careful plans
They slipped out from their shelter,
attacked and killed two German machine gunners and,
leading the wounded infantryman, escaped to the American
outposts, bringing with them valuable information. For
this, and for their bravery in rescuing the wounded man,
both Morrissey and Schulz were awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross.
All this time, the Regiment expected an advance
northward, and preparations were made accordingly. As
soon as the order came to advance, each battalion was to
throw two artillery bridges across the Vesle, as well as
several foot bridges. In addition, one company of each
battalion was to accompany the advancing infantry.
On the 2nd of September, orders were, however, received
by the engineers to pack up and march to the rear for
intensive training. This was welcomed by a few because it
seemed to mean a much-desired rest, and a respite from
the grueling work at the front. But to most of the
officers and men, life at the front was more alluring
than the routine of training, and it was with
disappointment and regret that the southward
"hike" was made.
The Regiment was concentrated several miles south of the
Vesle, near Mareuil en Dole. For one company, however,
there was to be no rest. No sooner was the new camp
reached on the afternoon of 2nd of September, than the
com-manding officer of Co. "B" received orders
to build two footbridges across the Vesle "where
desired by the Commanding Officer 305th Infantry."
Led by Captain Crawford of Co. "B", the 1st and
4th platoons, under the command respectively of Lieut. F.
W. Weston and Lieut. R. C. -O'Donnell, turned about
immediately and marched back to their old bivouac,
northwest of Chery-Chartreuve, reaching there on the
morning of the 3rd of September. The bridges were to be
built undercover of night, so the day was spent in
resting and practicing bridge building with some trestles
which previously had been built by Co. "C" from
material salvaged from a German hangar.
At about 8 P. M. these two platoons set out for the
river. The route lay through the village of Mont Notre
Dame, which was being heavily shelled at the time. Beyond
Mont Notre Dame, concentrated gas was encountered in the
valley of the Vesle. The night was dark, it was
impracticable to wear gas masks, but it was decided to go
on and risk the gas, for the bridges had to be built.
After passing through the infantry outpost, the platoons
took the wrong route and in a few minutes had lost the
location of their objective. The situation was
precarious. Operations were being conducted in "No
Man's Land", within range of enemy machine gun and
gas shellfire. The route to the rear was open, but the
advance planned for the infantry depended upon the
success of the mission. Protected only by the blackness
of the night, the two platoons waited for about an hour,
until a reconnaissance had been made.
They then cautiously approached the bridge site, and in a
few minutes had erected two-foot bridges. This was about
midnight of the 3rd to 4th of September. The men noticed
that the night had grown strangely quiet, and counted
themselves lucky that the enemy artillerymen had not
discovered their operations.
As soon as the bridges were completed the platoons
marched back to their bivouac, and after two or three
hours rest there, continued the march south to rejoin the
Regiment. On reaching headquarters, about noon they were
greeted by the news that the Germans had retired from
their position on the Vesle, and that our infantry was
already advancing. Furthermore, orders had already been
received for the engineers to be "up and at
'em" again. ..
Co. "A" and Co. "D" were at once
detailed to advance with the infantry. Each of the other
four companies was to erect a heavy artillery bridge
across the river. To Co. "B" and Co.
"F" was assigned captured German bridge
material; Co. "C" was to build a
"crib" bridge; and Co. "E" was to
repair a demolished German pile bridge.

Although several miles south of the
river, the Regiment started at once, the several
companies spreading fan-like over the area, and reaching
their objectives during the afternoon of the 4th of
September.
Co. "F" encountered considerable difficulty at
Fismes and Fismettes. Not only was it necessary at that
point to bridge the Vesle, but also the Ardre River, and
the railroad cut, where the latter was crossed by the
main road. Major Giesting took personal charge of this
work, which was completed on the 5th of September.
Co. "C" was meanwhile building a crib bridge at
Bazoches, which, because of the many difficulties
encountered, was not completed until the 5th of
September.
Co. "E", further east, repaired the old German
bridge north of Ville-Savoye, which was ready for use by
9 P. M., 4th of September. The same night, Co.
"E" cleared a portion of the Rheims-Rouen Road,
which had been obstructed by the retreating enemy.
The same officers and platoons of Co. "B" that
had built the foot bridges the night before were also
selected for the construction of the artillery bridge,
because they had had Practice in putting together the
captured German material, and speed was of prime
importance. Although officers and
men had had only about four or five hours sleep in sixty
hours, the bridge was completed at about 6 P. M., 4th of
September. It was placed about 600 meters west of
Bazoches, on the left of the American line. Part of the
164th French Division used this bridge on the 4th and 5th
of September, and because of this, the French Government
awarded the Croix de Guerre with palm to the 302nd
Engineers. The citation follows:
GRAND QUARTER GENERAL
des
ARMEES FRANCAISES DE L'EST
ETAT-MAJOR
ORDRE No. 16,657 "D" (Extrait) Bureau du
personnel
(Decorations)
Apres approbation du General Commandant en Chef des
Forces expeditionnaires Americaines en France, le
Marechal de France, Commandant en Chef des Armees
Francaises de L'Est cite A l'Ordre de I'Armee:
. . . . . . . . . . ..
Colonel SHERRILL, du 302' Regiment du Genie Ameri-cain:
"Le 302' Regiment du Genie Americain, sous le
Com-mandement du Colonel SHERRILL, a construit, le 6
Septembre 1918, en trois heures sous un violent feu
d'artillerie, un pont sur la Vesle, ce qui a permis des
le debut des operations, le passage de l'artillerie
francaise contribuant ainsi au succes de
l'offensive."
. . . . . . . . . . ..
Au Grand Quartier General, le 20 AVRIL 1919.
LE MARRCHAL DE FRANCE,
Commandant en Chef des Armees Francaises de l'Est
Signe: PETAIN
POUR EXTRAIT CONFORME:
Le Lieutenant-Colonel,
Chef du Bureau du Personnel
(Signed) --------------------
Co. "C" and Co. "B" were likewise
assigned to work on the St. Thibaut-Bazoches Road, which
was in an indescribable condition, due to the fact that
for five weeks it had lain in No Man's Land. This road
had been badly torn up by shells. The cut leading north
from St. Thibaut was blocked by two heavy-laden, wrecked
motor trucks. It was necessary to dynamite these trucks
from the road. Lieut. J. J. Hyland personally carried out
this work.
This whole area was strewn with the dead from the 4th U.
S. Division, our own division and the enemy. It was the
Regiment's introduction to the horrors of war on a large
scale.
As soon as work was begun on the St. Thibaut-Bazoches
Road, Captain Harder of Co. "C" sent a detail
into Bazoches to recover the bodies of Corp. William G.
Knowlson and Pvt. Arthur M. Georger, who had been killed
on the 27th of August during the raid on Bazoches.
The 5th of September will never be forgotten by the men
of Co. "A". The platoons that were advancing
with the infantry underwent a terrific enemy barrage on
the heights between the Vesle and the Aisne. Pvt. William
Seidenburg was killed in action, and the following men
died of wounds received during this engagement:
Antonio Maccagno
William Flaherty
James Moran
Twenty others in this company were wounded, including
Lieut. Francis J. Sinnott.
During this advance with the infantry, Co. "D"
also suffered many causalities, including Pvt. Stuart
Fraser, who died of wounds received at Blanzy les Fismes
on 7th of September. Eighteen others in Co. "D"
were
wounded at this village.
On the 5th of September, Lieut. J a m e s F. Brown of Co.
"D", and Lieut. D. Romeo of Co. "B"
were detailed to carry forward in motor trucks some
captured German pontoon boats for use on the Aisne. This
was a difficult task, as the trucks had to pass over
shell-swept roads. The expedition reached its
destination-Longeval-and the boats were successfully
unloaded. Several of the boats had been punctured by
shell splinters.
On the following day (6th September, 1918) Co.
"E" had its worst experience of the entire war.
The country north of the Vesle was honeycombed with large
caves. These were useful as shelters for reserve troops
and the different headquarters. In many of these caves,
however, the Boches had placed traps of various kinds. It
was one of the duties of the engineers to examine all
caves and remove all dangerous material.
In a cave occupied by part of Co. "E", a hidden
mine exploded and killed outright Cooks August C. Keck
and K. Zejmis. Captain La Fetra of Co. "E" was
ordered to clear another large cave, which was to be used
as headquarters of the 154th Brigade. It was full of
mustard gas, which is very treacherous. In order to get
rid of the gas, it was necessary to remove all the bunks
and litter that had accumulated during German occupation.
This work had to be done without gas masks because
explosive traps were likely to be concealed in the
recesses of the cave. In a few hours, however, the work
was completed, but at fearful cost: Over seventy men of
Co. "E" were gassed so severely that they had
to be sent to the hospital, including Captain La Fetra
and Lieutenant Booth. The following men died later from
the effects of this gas:
Sgt. 1st Class W. L. Johnson
Sgt. J. K. Lasher, Jr.
Corp. James A. Foley
Pvt. 1st Class P. B. Gregowski
Pvt. 1st Class John Sheehan
Pvt. 1st Class Leo Levy
Pvt. 1st Class A. H. Bergman
Pvt. Walter E. Runge
As an unfortunate sequel of this operation, the men of
the infantry headquarters inadvertently took back into
the cave some of the bunks that the engineers had so
carefully removed. After occupying the cave for a short
time, many of these men were seriously affected by the
fumes still clinging to the gas-saturated material, and
about fifty were evacuated, including Brig.-Gen. Evan M.
Johnson.
After the evacuation of Captain La Fetra and Lieutenant
Booth, Co. "E" was left without officers for a
short period. Capt. Thomas H. Ellett, who was then
Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, was placed in command of
Co. "E", and he led that company throughout the
rest of the war.
Captain Ullrich of Co. "F", having been
transferred, 1st Lieut. R. C. O'Donnell of Co.
"B" was assigned to the command of Co.
"Y'. He remained in command until after the
Armistice.
In the meantime, Co. "A" and Co. "D"
had maintained platoons with the advanced infantry which
was situated to the south of the Aisne River. The other
four engineer companies were working on roads, and
preparing for an expected advance across the Aisne.
Bridge material, both foot and heavy, was assembled, and
practice was had with floating foot bridges. ,
Co. "B" at this time was located in Vaucere.
This village was built over several caves, and the
retreating Germans had succeeded in blowing up three
under the main highway. The resulting craters made it
impossible for heavy traffic to reach the village. It was
the duty of Co. "B" to reopen
"communications" with the village. As the
roadway was on a side hill, the "cut and fill"
method was used, and in a few hours (6th of September) a
one-way route through the village was ready for use. The
next day this way was broadened so as to accommodate two
vehicles, so that all types of army transport could use
it in two directions. This was the Regiment's first
encounter with road-demolitions on a large scale. Within
the next few months all companies had similar
experiences, because a favorite practice of the enemy in
retreat was to blow huge craters in the road for the
purpose of hindering the advance of the Allied transport.
Ordinarily the engineers succeeded in repairing the
demolished roads long before the transport reached the
spot. It was only during the phenomenally rapid advance
from 1st of November to the Armistice that these
demolitions were a serious hindrance to the 77th
Division.
The aerial activity in this sector was great at this
time, and it seemed that the Boches had the upper hand.
No one who witnessed them can ever forget the daily
spectacular feats of the German air-squadrons chasing
Allied observation 'planes and burning American and
French balloons.
When American troops reached the heights north of the
Vesle and looked toward the south, they appreciated
thoroughly the excellent opportunities which the
elevation had afforded the enemy during the preceding
month for obser-vation of the movements of American
troops. No further explanation was needed for the uncanny
accuracy of the Boche artillery.
Maj. F. A. Giesting was at this time (September, 1918)
promoted to be acting Lieutenant Colonel, which rank he
shortly received. Capt. F. S. Greene, commanding officer
of the 1st Battalion, was on 8th of September transferred
to the command of the 2nd Battalion, and Capt. H. B.
Perlee of Co. "A" was promoted to the command
of the 1st Battalion, with the rank of Major. Major
PerLee remained in command of this battalion during the
remainder of the war.
On the 13th of September, the 77th Division was relieved
by the 8th Italian Division. The Regiment moved back
again to the woods near Mareuil en Dole, and spent a few
days there resting and salvaging thousands of dollars
worth of war material.
It was expected that the Division was now to be given a
rest. Indeed, the activities of the preceding month had
included many grueling experiences, having been spent
mostly upon a stationary front, which had not been
organized with cover. The tremendous losses of the
infantry in the exposed valley of the Vesle tell a story
which need no further elaboration.
Most of the 77th Division consider the Vesle Sector the
worst that was encountered by the Division, but during
this period of extreme danger and important missions
successfully accomplished, the training of the troops was
completed. They had been tested, and had not been found
wanting. When the banks of the Vesle were forever left
behind them, they had graduated into the ranks of the
(then) few thoroughly trained Americans divisions.
BALLADS OF THE A. E. F.
By BERTON BRALEY
THE ENGINEERS
(Courtesy of Colliers Weekly.)
WHEN the convoy crawls on a long white road,
Straight to the blazing line,
While the drivers nod as they guide their load
On where the star shells shine,
If a "two-ten" drops with a roaring crash,
The big trucks cease to roll,
And the C. 0. growls as he views the smash
And swears at the ten-foot hole!
"Job for the Engineers-
Bring up the wrecking crew,
Shovel and pick will do the trick,
Then we can go on through."
They're on the spot, you bet;
Soon, with a clash of gears,
We're on the way, for the road's 0. K.,
Fixed by the Engineers!
When the storm troops wait at the river banks,
And each stone bridge is blown,
And the stream's too deep for the fat old tanks,
And pontoons must be thrown
Where the water boils with the shell and shot,
It's "Engineers, 'toot sweet,'"
They will lose one-half of the men they've got,
But build that bridge, complete.
"Job for the Engineers-
Never you mind the loss.
Fritz has a hate, but the troops can't wait;
See that they get across,
You won't get no rewards,
Hear any shouts or cheers,
Bring up your mob, for here's a job-
Job for the Engineers."
Oh, they mend the wire where it guards the front;
They dig the dugouts deep,
And to tunnel mines is their steady stunt-
Like moles that get no sleep.
They take their chance where the gas clouds lurk,
And I'll say it appears
That darn small glory and beaucoup work
Comes to the Engineers.
"Job for the Engineers-
Something that 'can't be done,'
Nevertheless they'll do it, yes;
That's how they get their fun.
Armed with a kit of tools,
Careless of hopes or fears,
Big jobs or small, you simply call-
call for the Engineers.