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