Military: WWI This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Cay Merryman caym@infowest.com August 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm "THE PRICE OF OUR HERITAGE" W. E. Robb, 1919 American Lithography and Printing Company, Des Moines, Iowa OCCUPATION OF THE RHINE. On March 16, 1919 the Division was reviewed by General Pershing, our commander- in-chief, a certain number of our officers and men were given well merited honors of war. April 2, 1919 the following review of the One Hundred Sixty-eighth's service with the Rainbow Division headquarters. Headquarters Forty-Second Division American Expeditionary Forces Germany, 2 April, 1919 As the Rainbow Division has reached the closing days of its military service, the Commanding General desires to recite in orders the salient features of the service of the One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry. After an intensive training period, during which, due to severe climatic conditions, many hardships had to be endured, the One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry, as part of the Forty-second Division, was moved into the Luneville Sector, and in conjunction with French units took over a portion of the line. After a short period there, spent in putting finishing touches on its training, it was moved with the other elements of the Division, into the Baccarat Sector. Here it held the right half of the Neuf Maison Sub-sector during a period of approximately 100 days and helped the Forty-second Division hold the Baccarat Sector for a longer continuous period than any other American division held a sector. In this service it experienced two extremely severe enemy gas projector attacks. Many of its members were fatally gassed, but there was no time that its line was not held firmly against the futile attacks of the enemy to penetrate it. It also repulsed a strong enemy raid, inflicting heavy casualties and without itself suffering any losses. The One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry was withdrawn from this sector and as part of the Division was moved to the vicinity of Suippes and thrown in as part of General Gourand's now famous army to stem the tide of the German offensive of July 15th. Here the regiment was placed with certain of its elements in the first line and others on the second position, and not a single individual of the enemy succeeded in penetrating the lines it held. On these positions the men underwent, without sufficient cover, what many veteran French officers described as the most intensive enemy artillery fire of the war. They withstood this ordeal with a calmness and a spirit that called forth the admiration of the French with whom they were serving. The French Division Commander in command of the Sector of Suippes remarked with amazement on the steadiness and coolness displayed by the regiment under its first heavy shell fire. After the German offensive had been completely stopped the regiment was withdrawn and immediately thrown into the French and American offensive towards the Ourcq and the Vesle. Here, by its aggressiveness it forged forward 15 kilometers, overcoming and beating down the formidable strong point, Hill 212. The Regiment forced a crossing of the Ourcq, and with the One Hundred Sixty-seventh Infantry, the other regiment of its brigade, after the most severe kind of fighting, in which the village of Sergy changed hands eight times, it finally retained possession of that village, forcing the enemy to withdraw. The fight for Sergy is now one of the prominent points in the history of the American Expeditionary Forces. In the position along the Ourcq the One Hundred Sixty- eighth Infantry underwent, day and night, intense shell and machine un fire, some of which came from the flanks and enfiladed its position. It however held its position and was always ready and eager to push forward when called upon. Upon reaching the heights overlooking the Vesle the regiment was relieved by elements of a fresh division and withdrawn to the Bourmont area for a well-earned rest. Hardly however had it become settled in this area before orders came directing that it proceed to take up its position for attack against the St. Mihiel salient. This was done by hard night marches. In the St. Mihiel operation the One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry forged ahead, reaching its objective many hours before the time limit prescribed and overcoming many German machine gun nests in the thick woods through which it progressed in the early stages of this attack. Upon reaching the final objective prescribed by the Army the One Hundred Sixty- eighth organized its sector and held it. During its period of occupation of this position it executed a most successful raid against Marimbois Farm, killing many of the enemy, destroying machine gun nests and returning with prisoners without itself suffering any casualties. This regiment continually harassed the enemy and kept him constantly uncertain and nervous. The next scene of operation was in the Argonne. Here, in conjunction with the other regiment of its brigade, in savage fighting through thick woods, it took the Cote de Chatilion, which was the key of the famous Kriemhilde Stellung, and held it, thus permitting part of the attack of November 1 to be launched from this favorable point of departure. In overcoming resistance on the Cote de Chatillon the One Hundred Sixty- eighth conquered the strong point of Tuilerie Farm by extremely severe and aggressive fighting. On November 1, as part of the division, this regiment moved to push the attack towards Sedan. Here it forged ahead, and on November 9, when the division was relieved in the front line, the One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry had reached the heihts overlooking the Meuse in the vicinity of Sedan. When the armistice was signed the One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry, with the other elements of the Forty-second Division, marched into Germany, where it remained as part of the American Army of Occupation on the Rhine until its departure for the United States. It is with soldierly pride that the Division Commander thus briefly reviews the magnificent record of the One Hundred Sixty-eighth U. S. Infantry, the old Third Iowa Infantry. Iowa may well be proud of her representation in the Rainbow Division. By command of Major General Flagler. Signed Wm. N. Hughes, Jr. Colonel, General Staff Chief of Staff On April 8 orders finally came for the homeward journey to begin and more eager or happy men could not have been found in the world. We were going home. NELSON, August, page 405, photograph, 102272 Mechanic Company G Died of pneumonia December 9, 1918, at Echternach, Luxemburg. Relative's address, Elsa Larson, 216 S. 9th Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Nelson had passed through the different drives of the war in safety but during our last drive to Sedan, our boys had to endure great hardships. We had little food and little sleep. The cold, wet days that followed, while we were on the march, caused many to sicken and Nelson died of pneumonia on December 9. A hard and steady worker, faithful to the last. REESE, Thomas, page 405, photograph, 102184 Cook Company K Died December 15, 1918, in Field Hospital No. 167. He was buried in the Hospital Cemetery. Thomas Reese had served faithfully during every battle of the war and had done splendid work in Lorraine, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel and Argonne. There was no more important work in the regiment than the preparing and keeping the boys supplied with food. Relative's address, E. T. Reese, Carbon, Iowa. GLOVER, Harold, page 406, photograph, 99908 Cook Company A Died in Hospital No. 10, December 22, 1918. Relative's address, E. E. Glover, Menlo, Iowa. Glover enlisted as a private but shortly afterwards was given a place in the company kitchen. His unfailing good humor and anxiety to see that the boys were well served, made him a general favorite. Glover's kitchen was as far forward as it was possible for him to get it. He served in every battle of the summer and came through unhurt, but died from appendicitis on December 22. Among all the boys who lost their lives none are held in greater esteem than Harold Glover. HAWKINS, George, page 406, photograph, [no serial number] Private Company M Died of pneumonia at Prum, Germany on December 25, 1918. Relative's address, Alexis M. Hawkins, Red Oak, Iowa. Hawkins was one of the first volunteers after the war was declared. He was taken sick just before the regiment sailed and was left behind. He rejoined his unit the day they were relieved in Lorraine. He gave a good account of himself in Champagne and Chateau Thierry. He acted as a battalion runner which was a dangerous and hard position to fill. While we were in Germany he was taken sick and sent to the hospital where he died. Born in Red Oak, October 24, 1898. SHUCKROW, Patrick, page 407, photograph, 101337 Cook Company G Relative's address, Mrs. Harry Shuckrow, 101 Main Street, Ottumwa, Iowa. Shuckrow took sick and died of pneumonia while at Neuenahr, Germany, on December 16, 1918. He was buried at Neuenahr. Shuckrow had served with the regiment from the beginning of the war. He did splendid work in all of the battles, only to fall a victim to disease. TURNER, Louie J., page 407, photograph [no serial number] Corporal Company H Relative's address, Mrs. Elizabeth Turner, 816 Second Avenue, West Oskaloosa, Iowa. Corporal Turner had served as battalion runner during the greater part of the war. He took an active part in every battle in which the regiment fought. During our march into Germany he became ill on the 5th Day of December. He was sent to evacuation Hospital No. 7 at Prum, Germany, where he died of lobar pneumonia and influenza. He was buried at Prum. Turner had an enviable record. Clean in life and devoted to his duty, he played his full part in helping to win the war. BLOCKLINGER, Frank, page 408, photograph, [no serial number] Private Company I Relative's address, Mrs. Adam Gartner, 1570 Audubon Avenue, Dubuque, Iowa BURKE, Raymond F., page 408, photograph, [no serial number] Wagoner Supply Company Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Burke, Walnut, Iowa. Raymond Burke enlisted in the Third Iowa National Guard and went to France with the regiment. From exposure and from injury to hand, he was sent to the hospital. In July his company commander had him sent to America for rest and to recuperate. He should have received an honorable discharge at this time but he asked to stay in the service. He was sent to Camp Devens, Massachusetts and on September 15th came down with pneumonia and died the 25th. Born September 8, 1893. HITCHINS, F. G., page 409, photograph, [no serial number] Sergeant Company G 168th Infantry Died December 19, 1918 of pneumonia at Aedunu, Germany. Relative's address, E. Hitchins, Third Street, Waterloo, Iowa. After we had arrived in Germany, Sergeant Hitchins was sent to the hospital sick with pneumonia of which he died December 19. He had a long record of splendid service with the regiment. It seemed very unking of fate that he should die before the order came to return home. DJONNE, Martin, page 409, photograph, [no serial number] Private Company C Relative's address, E. S. Alsager, Radcliffe, Iowa. (I have been unable to verify the facts concerning Djonne's death. We know he is dead but the manner of his death is a mystery to us.) THATCHER, Clark, page 410, photograph, [no serial number] Private Company K 168th Infantry Died April 1919. Relative's address, U. C. Thatcher, Kingsley, Iowa. Enlisted April 10, 1917. Served with 168th. Gassed on June 18, 1918. Rejoined the regiment on August 14th, transferred to Divisional Headquarters and returned to his company just before the armistice was signed. While in Germany he was sent to the hospital on December 20 to 26 and returned to the company and again sent to the hospital on January 22. He was sent from there to America where he arrived March 26th at Newport News and from there to Spartansburg, South Carolina, where he died about the middle of April. ALTHAR, Oscar, page 410, photograph, [no serial number] Private Company L Relative's address, Mrs. Anna Bell Althar, 128 Exchange Street, Keokuk, Iowa. Private Althar enlisted July 30th, 1917 and after we had moved to Camp Mills was taken sick and sent to the hospital in New York City. From there he was sent to Baltimore for an operation. He was given an honorable discharge and returned to his home. He was taken ill, sent to the hospital, where he died on July 21, 1918. He was 19 years of age. He was given a military funeral and buried at Wayland, Missouri.