The history of Company B, 311th Infantry in the World War
History
The history of Company B, 311th Infantry in the World War
United States. Army. Infantry. 311th regiment, 1917-1919. Co. B; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- United States
At 2:00 A. M. October 10th we aroused from our slumbers with orders to
roll packs and be ready to leave at once. This was another example of
how things are done in the army. Having spent several hours in rolling
packs and getting breakfast, it was 7:30 A. M. before we started out.
Our hikes of several days previous to arrival at this camp had taken
us through many ruined villages and parts of the country recently
evacuated by the enemy. Today’s hike covered 22 kilos and brought us
into the heart of the Argonne, the same ground having been bitterly
contested by opposing armies only a week previous. It was here that
we were able to form a definite idea of how the Germans lived behind
the lines. Every hillside was covered with dugouts made of concrete
and heavily timbered and furnished in a style that had been unknown
to us during the past four months. In the Limey Sector we found some
German camps that were fitted up in grand style, but these could not
be compared with the ones mentioned above. The officers’ quarters were
equipped with shower baths and in one place a large swimming pool.
Everything seemed to denote that the Germans intended to stay there for
all time. The signs on the trees and every crossroad led one to believe
that the Germans were a nation of sign painters. Arriving at our
destination after hiking about 23 kilos we appreciated an opportunity
to rest and lost no time in pitching tents and getting a much needed
sleep.
The following day we marched about 4 kilos and took up a position in
the Bois de Chatel. It was here, on the eve of October 12th, that our
much battered company of approximately 80 men, all veterans of the
St. Mihiel, received 104 replacements from the 86th Division. Some of
these men had never fired a rifle and were not familiar with the use
of the gas mask. The company was again reorganized. The four platoons
were placed in charge of Sergeants Newell, Lehy, White and Weber,
respectively; to these men and our two officers, Lts. Lahey and Luhn,
is due the credit of training these new and inexperienced men so that
when they were called upon they made a creditable showing. Too much
cannot be said about the way these men took care of what seemed to be
almost a hopeless task.
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