Chapter III Chapter XVII Chapter XX Chapter XXV CHAPTER I. CHAPTER II. CHAPTER III. CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER V. CHAPTER VI. CHAPTER VII. CHAPTER VIII. CHAPTER IX. CHAPTER X. CHAPTER XI. CHAPTER XII. CHAPTER XIII. CHAPTER XIV. CHAPTER XV. CHAPTER XVI. CHAPTER XVII. CHAPTER XVIII. CHAPTER XIX. CHAPTER XX. CHAPTER XXI. CHAPTER XXII. CHAPTER XXIII. CHAPTER XXIV. CHAPTER XXV. CHAPTER XXVI. CHAPTER XXVII. 1 CHAPTER XXVIII. CHAPTER XIX. CHAPTER XXX. CHAPTER XXXI. CHAPTER XXXII. CHAPTER XXXIII. CHAPTER I. CHAPTER II. CHAPTER III. CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER V. CHAPTER VI. CHAPTER VII. CHAPTER VIII. CHAPTER IX. CHAPTER X. CHAPTER XI. CHAPTER XII. CHAPTER XIII. CHAPTER XIV. CHAPTER XV. CHAPTER XVI. CHAPTER XVII. CHAPTER XVIII. CHAPTER XIX. CHAPTER XX. CHAPTER XXI. CHAPTER XXII. CHAPTER XXIII. CHAPTER XXIV. CHAPTER XXV. CHAPTER XXVI. CHAPTER XXVII. CHAPTER XXVIII. CHAPTER XXIX. CHAPTER XXX. CHAPTER XXXI. CHAPTER XXXII. CHAPTER XXXIII. Delta of the Triple Elevens, by William Elmer Bachman Project Gutenberg's The Delta of the Triple Elevens, by William Elmer Bachman This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Delta of the Triple Elevens The History of Battery D, 311th Field Artillery US Army, American Expeditionary Forces Delta of the Triple Elevens, by William Elmer Bachman 2 Author: William Elmer Bachman Release Date: January 28, 2007 [EBook #20468] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DELTA OF THE TRIPLE ELEVENS *** Produced by David Edwards, Christine P. Travers and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) [Transcriber's notes: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected (e.g. gunnner for gunner), recurrent misspelling of the author haven't (e.g. Montlucon for Montluçon, canvass for canvases, incidently for incidentally, paraphanelia for paraphernalia, calesthenics for calisthenic, etc ). Delta of the Triple Elevens, by William Elmer Bachman 3 Chapter III : The word "by" has been changed to "from" (partially sheltered from the Southern sun). Chapter III 4 Chapter XVII : The spelling of Sommbernont has been changed to Sombernon. Chapter XVII 5 Chapter XX : The word casual has been changed to casualty (sent him home as a casualty). Chapter XX 6 Chapter XXV : It is not clear if the printed word is trained or roamed (where he last trained/roamed). Definitions: Cootie: Noun US: a head-louse (Macquarie Online Dictionnary - Book of slang).] THE DELTA OF THE TRIPLE ELEVENS THE HISTORY OF BATTERY D, 311th FIELD ARTILLERY UNITED STATES ARMY, AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES [Illustration] By WILLIAM ELMER BACHMAN Standard-Sentinel Print Hazleton, Pa. 1920 COPYRIGHT 1920 BY WILLIAM ELMER BACHMAN [Illustration: GROUP PHOTO OF BATTERY D. 311th F. A. Taken at Benoite Vaux, France, March 14, 1919. Reproduced from the Official Photo taken by the Photographic Section of the Signal Corps, U. S. A.] To The memory of our pals whom we buried in France This Book Is Dedicated [Illustration: WILLIAM E. BACHMAN ARMY RECORD. Inducted into service at Hazleton, Penna., November 1st, 1917. Sent to Camp Meade, Md., November 2nd, 1917, and assigned as Private to Battery D, 311th Field Artillery. Received rank of Private First Class, February 4th, 1918. Placed on detached service, May 18th, 1918, and assigned as Battery Clerk, First Provisional Battery, Fourth Officers' Training School, Camp Meade. Rejoined Battery D June 27th, 1918, and accompanied outfit to France. Assigned to attend Camouflage School at Camp La Courtine, September 30th, 1918, and qualified as artillery camouflager. On October 3rd, 1918, was registered, through Major A. L. James. Jr., Chief G-2-D, G. H. Q., A. E. F., with the American Press Section, 10 Rue St. Anne, Paris, which registration carried grant to write for publication in the United States. Remained with battery until March 7th, 1919, when selected to attend the A. E. F. University, at Beaune, Cote D'Or. Rejoined battery at St. Nazaire May 1st, 1919. Discharged at Camp Dix, N. J., June 4th, 1919.] FOREWORD. "You're in the Army now." Chapter XXV 7 "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. Chapter XXV 8 W. E. B. Hazleton, Penna., 1920. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter XXV 9 CHAPTER I. SOURCES OF THE DELTA World Events The Nucleus Declaration of War. U. S. Joins Selective Service Plans. CHAPTER I. 10 [...]...CHAPTER II CHAPTER II A CAMP BELCHED FORTH Selection of Camp Meade Site Cantonment Construction Building Progresses Home Leaving Preparations 11 CHAPTER III CHAPTER III "YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW" Officers at Fort Niagara Assignment of Officers Barrack org. New Soldiers Arrive 12 CHAPTER IV CHAPTER IV FIRST IMPRESSIONS Description of Barracks A Day's Routine Getting Catalogued Inoculations and... York Camp Dix Home 31 CHAPTER XXIII CHAPTER XXIII THE LORRAINE CROSS Story of the Seventy-Ninth Divisional Insignia 32 CHAPTER XXIV CHAPTER XXIV BATTERY D HONOR ROLL Names of Those Who Died and Graves Where Buried 33 CHAPTER XXV CHAPTER XXV "ONE OF US" Tribute to Private First Class Joseph A Loughran 34 CHAPTER XXVI CHAPTER XXVI IN MEMORIAM In Memory of Departed Comrades 35 CHAPTER XXVII CHAPTER XXVII... Hike Off for Southampton Flight Across the Channel 22 CHAPTER XIV CHAPTER XIV "SO THIS IS FRANCE!" Cherbourg A Battery Bath Side-Door Pullmans Montmorillon 23 CHAPTER XV CHAPTER XV WHITE TROOPS INVADE MONTMORILLON Racial Difficulties French Billets Impressions The Gartempe 24 CHAPTER XVI 25 CHAPTER XVI ACTIVE TRAINING AT LA COURTINE To La Courtine French Artillery Camp Russian Revolt Life on the Range... Getting Catalogued Inoculations and Drills Soldiers Arrive and Leave 13 CHAPTER V CHAPTER V LEARNING TO BE A SOLDIER First Non-Commissioned Personnel Effects of Transfers Schools Hikes Athletics Idle Hours 14 CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VI FLEETING HOURS OF LEAVE Holiday Season Approaches Thanksgiving Feast Practice Marches Barrack 0103 Christmas 1917 15 CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VII WELL GROOMED BY DETAIL Stable Police... Thanksgiving 1918 Candle Mystery Sick Horses Arrive 27 CHAPTER XIX CHAPTER XIX AN ADVENTUROUS CONVOY Belgian Trip Proposed 100 Volunteers Remount 13 Convoying Mules Christmas 1918 28 CHAPTER XX 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 29 CHAPTER XXI 30 CHAPTER XXI WAR ORPHANS AND HORSE SHOWS Two Battery Mascots... PROGRESS Formal Retreat Quarantine Celebration Rumors Baltimore Parade West Elkridge Hike 17 CHAPTER IX CHAPTER IX FAREWELL TO CAMP MEADE Getting Ready Advance Detail Departure 18 CHAPTER X CHAPTER X ABOARD THE S S MORVADA Set-Sailing Coastland Appears Halifax Harbor Convoy Assembles 19 CHAPTER XI CHAPTER XI DODGING SUBMARINES Ocean Journey Starts Transport Life Sub Scares Destroyers Delayed Battle With Subs . at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Delta of the Triple Elevens The History of Battery D, 311th Field Artillery US Army, American Expeditionary Forces Delta of the Triple Elevens, . XXXI. CHAPTER XXXII. CHAPTER XXXIII. Delta of the Triple Elevens, by William Elmer Bachman Project Gutenberg's The Delta of the Triple Elevens, by William Elmer