South High School - Tiger Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 30 text:

' 95' ' 1. J , 1 . .1 TQ.. 9 y 3 3 te .A - L A Cliffs Vncflfiifr- 'Wager CITATION FOR BRAVERY HEADQUARTERS 151s1' FIELD ARTILLERY, American Expeditionary Forces, France Special Orders No. 73. July 21, 1918. ' 2. Corporal Edwin Lindell and Private Raymond McGandy, Headquarters Company, 15lst Field Ar- tillery, during a time when the telephone lines to the lst Battalion were down, called for a barrage from a position in front of the Regimental P. C. with a pro- jector and remained bravely at their station under a heavy shell fire until their mission was completed and their message acknowledged, and they are to be commended for their distinguished bravery. By order of Colonel Leach, Gaonce C. Pancn, Ist Lieut., N. G., 151st F. A. Acting Adjutant. FIGHTING HISTORY OF MANY SOUTH HIGH MEN Headquarters Second Division fliegularj American Expeditionary Forces France, November 11, 1918. ORDER. 1. An armistice between the allied nations and Germany has been signed and hostilities ceased temporarily at 11 A. M. today. 2. It is fitting that the great part played by the Second Division in bringing about this momen- tous victory over a redoubtable foe should be recounted at this time. 3. At the end of May, the enemy broke through the allied lines on a wide front west of RHLIMS and reached the MARN1-: near CHATEAU-Tuiansr. The safety of Paris and of the allied Army itself was at stake. It stopped his advance, it drove him back, and it demonstrated for all time that the American is second to none in valor, in endurance and unyielding determination to conquer. 4. Again, on July 18th, during the last great enemy offensive, the Second Division, after a night march of unparalleled difficulty, struck, near SOISSONS, the flank of the enemy's salient, penetrated his lines and brought his offensive to a standstill. This was the beginning of the Allied offensive which has continued unceasingly and untiringly until today. 5. On September 12th to 15th, the American Army fought its first battle in France under American leadership. To the Second Division was assigned the most difiicult and the most im- portant task-the capture of T1-uAUcouR'r and the JAULNY-XAMMES ridge. It reached its second day's objective on the first day, drove off the enemy's counter-attacks, and clinched the victory. 6. In the Champagne District, October 2nd to 19th, it fought beside the Fourth French Army. On October 3rd, it seized BLANC MONT RIDGE, the keystone of the arch of the main German posi- tion, advanced beyond the Ridge and, although both flanks were unsupported, it held all its gains with the utmost tenacity, inflicting tremendous losses on the enemy. This victory freed RHEIMS and forced the entire German Army between that city and the ARGONNE FOREST to retreat to the AISNE, a distance of 30 kilometers. 26

Page 29 text:

A, 'tj' CXJ We iw gx-.4 - Q Hlhice me ug Ilftgeft was ix units. Seems as though they could have found the individuals that were the petty thieves easy enough, for it is general knowledge in the A. E. F. From Coblenz to Trier. On my return traveled at night, to Metz also. The French have control of Metzl It's barred to the A. E. F., but a six-hour wait gave me a chance to see a wee part. The commanding position it occupies, its forts, its natural protection, surely told me why we wasted no more powder than we did in our advances in that sector. Had the war continued we might have surrounded it and starved them out. To my eyes this would be the only way we could have gained entrance. The Boche seemed to have nature with them in every sector where the Americans fought, of course they won this advantage in the earlier months of the war, but we were compelled to remove this advantage nevertheless. The city is as the other German cities, modern and progressive. Claimed to be the most strongly fortified city in the world. I believe it. From Metz to Nancy, passed thru the destroyed cities of Arnaville, Pagny, Pont- Mousson, Dieulouard, Pompey, and smaller villages, all on the Moselle River. Could readily see why advance was so slow here too. The river runs in a deep valleyg the Germans had control of the heights on both sides of the river and at the bottom on one side, with a very narrow strip of land on the other, in some places just wide enough for the rails and a narrow road. Yet the Americans drove them back over these hills, and advanced beyond a small town between Arnaville and Metz. I had visited this part of the battle ground a few days after the armistice was signed and was surprised to see accomplishments of the American troops in cleaning up. There are some Amex who believe that after we are gone it'll be as dirty as ever. We may have taught a lesson that will bring improvement in years to come, but it doesn't seem to have as yet. Traveled all day along the Marne river, and every city is almost entirely destroyed, the topography of the country about the same. To make an advance, it was necessary to cross the river, then to mount steep hills with the Boche on topg to tind the only spots that were not like this it was necessary to penetrate dense forests from the meadow lands. This is where the boys had to fight, and I marvel at it. Germany with her Prussian Guard and nature to assist her did not stop the old marines when they struck at them in Chateau-Thierry, the turning point of the war, to my mindg and I doubt if they will get proper recognition for the part they played here and wher- ever they were sent into the line. I'm in the army, but I take my hat off to the two regiments of Marines that lost ten per cent of the casualties of the A. E. F., and never lost a foot of ground. Tho tired and weary, many a time relieved for a rest, put back into a worse sector where somebody, our own men or French, were being stopped. I saw nearly every front that they had fought in, and I believe that they were the worst. Why were they put there? Because they are the greatest fighting body of men on earth. R. E. HARLIN. 25 ' 1 EG

Page 31 text:

Wcfwtrigj mesa I i ' n the High Seas Q 9 THE PRESIDENT AT BREST U. S. A. Panther, co. Postmaster, New York, N. Y., Dec. 29th, 1918. Dear Mother: I have received several letters from you but have failed to answer them, partly on account of my visit to Brest. I saw the boys at their ship and escorted them to the hospital and around part of the town. I assisted them in buying souvenirs, altho a limited purse prevented the fulfillment of our wants. It was the day that the President came ashore, A- and it was dedicated to holiday festivities. I 9 E. There are around Brest people of a clan known as ii Breton, and for many centuries they have adhered to ancient customs of dress. Ordinarily in street dress the women have lace caps with streamers in the back. To this day, lace beautiful in its age, dresses, coats, and vests decorated by braidwork and beads, hats broad and black, with high crowns and a ribbon fluttering to the winds, are common on the streets and in public. Paris was all alive with people who came to see the President and the parades. The times were lively, and there seemed to be no end to the people's zeal. A hddler took a stand on one of the broad Parisian streets to start waltzing and the popular dances at evening and night. Demonstrative France! While in Paris I viewed several of the main scenes of the war and those of general interest. At one stop at the Place de Concord a number of captured and disabled Boche artillery and tank and anti-aircraft pieces were on exhibition. I went into the tank and cut myself a piece of insulated wire as a souvenir. At one place I put a two Franc piece into a set of picture cards. And some more money for a German non-trench helmet. Laden with these trophies, I started for Bordeaux, where I waited a day before going to Pauillac and the ship. The ship sailed the next day to Cardiff, Wales. where we are now in dock. I had another spell of Mmal de meri' on the way down. Hoping to greet you all soon. I am Your loving son, PAUL BRAMHALL. 27 Gai?-ix