'^shkS^* Class JLSjIO__ Book -3>3 GQPmiGm deposit £H^ **p«» FROM DONIPHAN TO VERDUN The Official History of the 140th Infantry By EVAN ALEXANDER EDWARDS Regimental Chaplain and Official Historian Copyright 1920 by Evan A. Edwards THE WORLD COMPANY Publishers LAWRENCE, KANSAS 10 . 140TH GRAVES FEB IU 1320 ©GU565231 , ®o (Elfosc (Baob Contracts, ^Coyal Sjrtenos anh Jfatifyful J5?olbters %t]t ^sfbtn of tt|« (Prte JSCtmfrreo anh ,3fnrttjeti| P?tjo ;Slee}j ra Jfrattce "^eroes of ilje JUtaocett Cross" il]ts Jgook ts .iBeotcatso CONTENTS Page Chap. I. The Third and Sixth Missouri • 9 Chap. II. Campaigning at Camp Doniphan - - 15 Chap. III. With the British Lion ----- 21 Chap. IV. Alsatian Days ---..-_ 33 Chap. V. Swinging into Line for the Big Drive - 48 Chap. VI. The Five Days ------- 57 Chap. VII. Verdun - - - - - - ... - 1 1 ^ Chap.VIII. The Armistice, and the Days After - - 123 Chap. IX. Homeward Bound - - - - - - 139 Chap. X. The Men Behind the Guns - 147 Divisional, Brigade and Regimental Commanders 148 Roster of Officers 140th Infantry - - - 149 * Alphabetic Roster of Men, with Records - 151 * Alphabetic List of Losses, with Records - - 214 National Guard Roster Third Missouri - - 237 National Guard Roster Sixth Missouri - - 250 List Distinguished Service Crosses and Citations 260 * According to Statistics of Personnel Section 140th Infantry. ILLUSTRATIONS The Regimental Colors - - - Frontispiece .- Page Graves in the Battlefield ----------- Chaplain Edwards - - - ---------- 7 Colonel Albert Linxwiler -----------8/ Brig. Gen. Chas. I. Martin ----------- 14 Lt. Wm. F. Ward, Lt. Frank Lott --------- 17 Col. Wm. Newman ------------- 18 ' Maj. John W. Armour ------------ 24 Col. Bennett C. Clark ------------ 32 German Front Lines and German Trenches in Alsace - 34 The Chaplain's Orchestra - - - - - ■ - - - - - -47 Lt. Col. C. E. Delaplane ----------- 56 Lt. Col. Fred C. Lemmon ----------- 60 Capt. Rexroad, Lt. Holden, Capt. Kenady, Lt. Robertson - - - 62 The Battlefield --------- 66' Sgt. Raynor, Sgt. Tanner, Lt. Scott, Lt. Compton ----- 70 Roy Roberts, Lt, Dwyer, Maj. Wm. A. Smith, Capt. Ray E. Seitz - 72 Corp. Ritter, Pvt. Engberg, Sgt. Maj. Sayre ------ 74 Capt. Rolla B. Holt ----------- - 76 German Guns Captured by 14Cth ---------- 77 ' Two Views of Exermont -----------78 Maj. Murray Davis ------------ 80 *- Wayne R. Berry -------------82 Where the Line Held ------------ 84 / Capt. John H. Pleasants, Maj. Ralph E. Truman ----- 84 ' Capt. J. L. Milligan, Lt. Eustace Smith, Lt. Samuel T. Adams, Pvt. Stigall - - ----- - - 86 ' Pvt. Fred Price and Pvt. Albeit Bogen - - -- - - - -88 Maj. E. W. Slusher, M. C. ---------- 94 ' Map of Route of Advance ----------- 100 Marching Up to Verdun ----------- 114 Maj. Gen. Traub Shaking Hands --------- 118 Officers of First Battalion, 140th --------- 122 Post Office Detail and Pont sur Meuse ------- 124 Maj. Gen. Traub Reviewing 140th Inf. ------- 128 Mess Line, and Some Friends from Missouri ----- 130 Maj. Frank G. Ward and His Huskies -------- 132 Wanderings of 140th Inf. in France -------- 136 Lt. Col. Lemmon, Capt. Whitthorne, Sgt. Mace ----- 138 The Band's Last Tune in France --------- 138 Marching to the Nansemond, Homeward Bound, and Looking for Land - - - - 140 Officers of 140th Inf. Camp Stuart, Va. ------- 144 (G. O. 11) HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY, AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, GENERAL ORDERS March 7, 1919. No. 11. 1. Upon the departure of the 35th Division from the Second Army for return to the United States, the Commanding General of the Army desires to congratulate the Division upon its services to its country in France. Organized and trained in the United States, it received a spe- cial training with the British Army in France beginning in June, 1918. In July it occupied the GERARDMER sector with the French and it executed various successful raids such as the HILSENFIRST and the MATTLE raids upon which it was highly complimented and received decorations from the French with whom it was serving. In the GER- ARDMER sector it covered and protected effectively a tremendous front. In September the Division backed up the First American Army during its preparations in the ST. MIHIEL salient. In the end of September the Division attacked as a part of the First Army in the great VERDUN-ARGONNE battle. It stormed and took VAUQUOIS Hill and Bois de ROSSIGNOL, two strong points of the German defensive line, and it afterward took the for- midable positions near CHEPPY, VARRENNES, CHARPENTRY and BAULNY, and afterward MONTREBEAU woods and EXER- MONT. It remained in the battle five days, executing five separate attacks and losing over six thousand officers and men. The Com- manding General of the First Army commended the Division for its fighting spirit. During the five days, battle the Division was opposed by some of the best divisions of the German Army, and from them captured over one thousand officers and men and large quantities of stores and material. Relieved in the great battle of VERDUN-ARGONNE from the fighting line for rest, the Division after two weeks breathing spell was placed in the active SOMMEDIEUE sector southeast of VER- DUN, where for three weeks it harried the enemy with patrols and raids and deeply penetrated his lines, unsettling his morale. Relieved again about November 9th from the SOMMEDIEUE sector for rest it went into cantonment in preparation for early operations against the enemy in the vicinity of METZ. The Armistice of November 11th ended the war. From the Armistice through a period of 'trying waiting to date the Division's interest in military duty has not flagged; its appear- ance, condition and state of readiness have steadily improved. Upon these the Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces has Congratulated the Division, and to his congratulation the Commanding General of the Second Army now wishes to add his congratulations and best wishes. By command of Lieutenant General BULLARD: STUART HEINTZELMAN, Official: Chief of Staff. ALLEN SMITH, JR., Adjutant General. Form 11-500 Printed by G-2 C. Second Army. CHAPLAIN EVAN A. EDWARDS COL. ALBERT LINXWILER Who took the 140th over and brought it back. CHAPTER I. The Old Third and the Old Sixth Take a map of the United States. Draw two lines cutting a wide strip down the center from North to South. This section will cover the territory whose drafted men showed the finest physical and mental standard. On either side East and West the percentage of drafted men passing the physical examination ranged from 50 to 65 percent. But" in these Middle Western States the percentage ranged from 60 to 80, and in most cases well above 70 percent. The broad stretches of country with men working in the open, and the small number of large cities may account in part for this, but it does not account for the spirit of the men. In the 140th Infantry there was a strength, a purpose, a power coming from the disciplined combination of a large number of strong men. A National Guard organization, part of it had gained some experience. But all of its men were eager to go to the defense of the National Honor, and when the supreme test came they fought and died wonderfully. The reason is to be found in their ancestry and rearing. Their fathers were strong men; their mothers were brave women. Cities stand today where a generation ago there were open fields. It is but a short while since this was virgin country. The forbears of these men were pioneers. Strong and virile, generous and just, quick to defend their rights, eager to seize what they desired, their faults and virtues alike great. Conquering a new country, they grew apt in meet- ing emergencies, accustomed to bloodshed, fearless and determined. They were representatives of the Great American Spirit. And they bequeathed to their sons ruddy health, courage, strength, and a loyal love for the Nation. When the time came these men proved worthy of their sires. The regiment was All-Missouri, but it had many Kansas men. Lt. Col. Lemmon, Captain Grigg, Captain Rexroad, Lt. Reid, Lt. Sulli- van, Lt Eustace Smith, the Chaplain, and more than 400 others hail- ed from the Sunflower state. I shall never forget my introduction to it. As Chaplain of the 10 FROM DONIPHAN TO VERDUN old First Kansas, I lost my place to make room for the new Chaplain of the 137th (formed of the 1st and 2nd Kansas) . My Colonel, a splendid officer, Wilder Metcalf, was sent to Camp Beauregard with the rank of Brigadier General. He is a man of marked soldierly ability, and could have counted in France. When, on the first of October, I was transferred to the 140th it was not an unpleas- ant announcement. A good friend loaned me his horse to ride over and report. I confess I made a wide detour, dreading to meet the new Colonel and the officers. Only the Sixth was there, the Third arriving a few days later. When I reported to Col. Linxwiler he welcomed me, and said "We have no Chaplain, and this regiment surely needs one." That evening there was a dinner for the officers of the Sixth — their last meeting as an organization, and I was given a hearty and friendly welcome. I slept that night a happier man than I had been for days, and that was the beginning of a pleasant association to last nearly two years. And as I came to know these men better, and to know the men of the Third, I grew more and more thankful that my lot had been thrown with them. It was not long until I came to know the manhood of the regiment — and was praying God to make me fit to go through it all with such real men.. Chaplain James Small of Kansas City had been Chaplain of the Third. Through some error 1 his papers did not go through, and he was not in Federal Service. But a very large number of the regiment were of his faith. He should have been Chaplain of the 140th, and I placed him to the front all I possibly could. He is a man of the finest type, with a fine spirit and a great big heart. Later he served with the 110th Sanitary Train. For ten months I was the only Chap- lain the 140th had, but I always felt he would have made a better Chaplain for this splendid regiment than I. THE THIRD MISSOURI INFANTRY The Third Regiment was organized at Kansas City, Missouri, on April 3, 1886. The first commanding officer was Colonel ^Milton Moore, who was succeeded by Colonel L. E. Erwin on May 7, 1891. Colonel Erwin was succeeded by Colonel Nathan P. Simonds on July 12, 1893. Colonel Simonds was succeeded by Colonel George P. Gross on October 24, 1895. Colonel Gross commanded the Regiment during its federal service in the Spanish-American War. Upon the recog- nition of the Regiment after the Spanish-American War, Colonel Fred W. Fleming was made its regimental commander and served until January 12, 1901, when he was succeeded by Colonel Cusil Lechtman who succeeded by Colonel Fred A. Lamb on January 1, 1913. Colonel Philip J . Kealy was commissioned Colonel on June 29, 1916. The Regiment volunteered for service under the call of the President on the declaration of war against Spain and was mustered into the federal service at Jefferson Barracks, May 14, 1898 as the THE OLD THIRD AND THE OLD SIXTH 11 Third Missouri Volunteer Infantry. It moved to Camp Alger, Va., May 26, 1898 and remained there until August 23, when it moved to Camp Meade, Pa. It left Camp Meade September 6, 1898 and was mustered out of the federal service at Kansas City on November 7, 1898. Under the President's order of June 16, 1916 the Regiment was mobilized at Camp Clark, Nevada, Mo., on June 23, 1916, and was mustered into federal service on July 7, 1916. It departed for border duty at Laredo, Texas, on July 8, 1916, arriving at Laredo July 10. It remained on duty in the Laredo district until September 2, 1916 when it returned to Camp Clark, Nevada, Mo., and was mustered out of the federal service September 26, 1916. Under the call of the President the Regiment was mobilized at Kansas City, Missouri, on March 25, 1917 for the purpose of guarding bridges, terminals, etc., in Kansas City and vicinity. The third battal- ion under Major Francis D. Ross was sent to Camp Funston to guard buildings under construction at that point and received special com- mendation for its work. On October 13, 1917, the Regiment moved to Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma and was consolidated with the Sixth Missouri Infantry already on the ground into the 140th U. S. Infan- try, Thirty-fifth Division. The Third was from Kansas City with the exception of Co. B, Boonville, and Co. H from Liberty. THE SIXTH MISSOURI INFANTRY This Regiment was organized June 27, 1898, by Brigadier-Gen- eral Harvey C. Clark, at that time a Major in the Second Missouri Infantry. He became Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixth Missouri Infan- try on July 20, 1898, and served with the regiment during the time it was in the federal service. The regiment was mustered into the United States service at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, July 20, 1898, and was mustered out May 10, 1899, at Savannah, Georgia. It served as a part of the Army of Occupation in Cuba. Following the Spanish-American war a nucleus of the regiment was organized and designated the Sixth Separate Battalion, National Guard of Missouri. On January 23, 1908 the battalion was expanded into a complete regiment with Colonel Arthur L. Oliver of Caruthers- ville as its first regimental commander. On July 25, 1914, the regi- ment was disbanded. On June 29, 1917 an executive order of the Governor of Missouri was issued authorizing the reorganization of the Sixth Regiment. Reorganization was completed on July 28, 1917 and the Regiment recognized by the War Department with Colonel Albert Linxwiler as the regimental commander. Under the draft of the President the regiment was mobilized at Camp Clark, Nevada, Missouri, On August 7, 1917 and immediately begun a course of intensive training. On September 26, 1917 it moved to Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma and was consolidated with the Third Missouri Infantry into the 140th U S. Infantry, 35th Division, October, 1917. 12 FROM DONIPHAN TO VERDUN To Major Warren L. Mabrey is due much of the credit for the organization of the sixth. The following is a list of home stations of the companies com- posing this regiment: Regimental Headquarters Jefferson City, Mo. Headquarters Company Cape Girardeau, Mo. Supply Company Seymour, Missouri. Machine Gun Co. Carterville, Mo. Company "A" Lexington, Mo. Company "B" St. Joseph, Mo. Company "C" St. Joseph, Mo. Company "D" Sedalia, Mo. Company "E" Doniphan, Mo. Company "F" Willow Springs, Mo. Company "G" Richmond, Mo, Company "H" Dexter, Mo. Company "I" Kennett, Mo. Company "K" Sikeston, Mo. Company "L" Cape, Girardeau, Mo. Company "M" Poplar Bluffs, Mo. Sanitary Detachment West Plains, Mo. The National Guard counted. It furnished seventeen combat divisions, and sent 382,000 men to France. In the Argonne-Meuse offensive there were five Regular Army divisions, composed largely of drafted men, eight National army Divisions, and eleven National Guard divisions. The National Guard divisions in many cases could have been sent to the field sooner by several months if they had not been compelled to wait for equipment. There was fighting enough for all, and all deserve the highest praise. One needs only to think of the 89th Division to realize that the National Army was equal to all that could be demanded of it. One need only think of the gallant First and the steady Second to remember that the Regulars could always be counted on to the limit. But the National Guard furnished at the outset a half million fight- ing men who met every test and were of incalculable value. I have been with them on the field of battle and I have seen the Regulars on the same field. There was no task that could be set the men which they would not carry out. There is no fair criticism that can be passed upon them. They proved themselves soldiers, these National Guards- men, of the finest type, and equal to the best the enemy could send against them. If it be claimed that they suffered because of incom- petent leadership at times, that must be admitted as true. But they were largely officered by Regulars, who were selected for them . No honest man can deny, in the light of their service, that a large citizen army, properly trained and equipped, and with limited federal control except in emergency, would prove the best supplement to a regular army of 300,000 men as General Pershing suggests, or even a smaller number. We are told that no criticism should be offered on the Regular Army. That means that nothing is to be learned either by the war, THE OLD THIRD AND THE OLD SIXTH 13 or the experience of the last thirty years. But surely we have not yet found perfection! We are told that no word should be spoken that criticizes the in- dividual Regular army officer. But the National Guard officer was criticized — stamped by an efficiency board as incompetent or not fully efficient, and the reasons named. Sometimes the/ were not even named . The United States Army is our own army. We are proud of it, and give it all loyalty. Let no one think we do not love it because we do not wish it Prussianized. Let no one think we are criticiz- ing it when we mark the few officers who deserve criticism. They were inferior not because they were Regulars but because they were inferior men, pushed into positions they were not competent to fill. It was the First Division which relieved the Thirty-Fifth. On this event the historian of the First says: "The courageous Thirty-Fifth Division, to whose relief we would go had fought fiercely for four days and nights. It advanced down the valley of the Aire river, captured Varennes, Cheppy, Very, Char- pentry, Baulny, and the woods and the ridges south of Exermont. How nobly and savagely they fought we can testify, for as we marched over those positions we noted their deep trenches, machine gun nests and gun emplacements. The many dead from Kansas and Missouri who lay face forward as we stepped over the corpses spoke eloquently of the bravery and devotion of the Thirty-Fifth Division." The two regiments, now one, were mustered into Federal Service in the 35th division. The process was short, a merciless Doctor gave one the typhoid shot in the arm, and one became a soldier in the great Army. The insignia of the division was a Santa Fe Cross within a circle. When the men went overseas, this sign was stenciled on trunks and baggage. When, later on in France, it became a shoulder insig- nia, curiously enough the breaks in the circle necessary for the stencil, became permanent in the cloth insignia, although obviously incorrect. This, then, was the beginning of the 140th Infantry. Many of its men and officers had been given valuable training, and all had the old Missouri spirit. In the reorganization some good officers were lost, and in time the weaker ones were weeded out; but the regiment was singularly fortunate in having good men in the replacements sent in, and in the many excellent officers transferred to it. The old Third and the old Sixth had served the State. They were ready and willing when called to serve the Nation. The old Third and the old Sixth were to become a new One Hun dred and Fortieth — they were to travel far and meet the hardest conditions of war. But the loyal spirit of these old regiments was so builded into the new that it could write splendid chapters in an honorable and glorious history. 14 FROM DONIPHAN TO VERDUN BRIG. GEN. CHARLES I. MARTIN Commanding 70th Brigade CHAPTER II. Campaigning at Camp Doniphan The Thirty-Fifth Division was mobilized at Camp Doniphan, ad- joining Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Nearby was the little town of Lawton, a discouraged and dying village', which was transformed into a busy little city by the trade of the neighboring troops. Oklahoma has 70,000 square miles, of which 640 are water. But the water was a long way from Camp Doniphan. The climate is said to be of the "Continental type." It is! The "prevailing soil is a deep red loam largely made up of decomposed sandstone." At Doniphan it was of a dirty, grayish hue and largely made up of de composed sandstone — and everything else! The Camp was situated in a large valley surrounded by hills, Signal Mountain being one of the most prominent. It is an excellent artillery range, but a poor place for an Infantry regiment. The buildings were not completed, there was a poor supply of very poor water, and at first the men were crowded 10 in a tent, which was afterwards reduced to 8 and then to 6 or 7. We began to drill and exercise at once and covered the whole territory of the Camp. And the ground was impartial. It covered us. One day it might blow over on the 137th, and they would be the favored ones. But the next day it would all blow back on us. It was a comfort to be assured that the bath houses would be completed in a few months. The organization of the Division proceeded like magic. 10,000 Kansas men and 14,000 Missourians! On August 5th, 1919, they had been mustered into the Federal Service, and here for seven months they were to be hammered into a homogeneous whole. The Sixth Missouri had been so generous as to bring an extra Company — from Campbell — and a good outfit it was. The new totals of organization called for so great a strength that the National Guard regiments doubled up, in this way losing half its officers. In this way we were to lose some fine men. Col. Kealy, Major Ross, Captain Imes, Captain Walter Williams and 15 16 FROM DONIPHAN TO VERDUN Captain Barnes were some of the men lost by the Old Third who would unquestionably have made their marks with the outfit. The Sixth lost Bain of Cape Girardeau, Thornburg, Malone of Sikeston, Braschler of Doniphan, Major Morgan and others who were officers of the finest type. If I may trust the judgment of the men and of other officers, if I may trust my own judgment, we lost at Doniphan some of our very best officers. Some of them remained in the Service and did splendid work at home. But I know them, and I know that all the time they were miserably unhappy because they could not go overseas. Let us remember in writing the history of this army, those men who were wild to go overseas, but were compelled to remain at home. Their work here was necessary and helped win the war. They did their duty cheerfully. Their hearts were as big and true as yours. Their work was tiresome and difficult, with none of the excitement and the glory that lighted the horizon for the men overseas. All honor to "the man with Silver Chevron." He is a true American. We are proud of him, and we shall grow prouder as the real history of this war becomes better known. But not all the officers were permitted to remain in the service. The men who were unfit were weeded out. And so with the officers. The standards for the men were clear. There were certain mental and physical standards, and the rulings seemed generally just. With the officers, it was another matter. It seemed difficult to discover the standards. Major-General William M. Wright, a Regular Army officer, commanded the division. He was an officer of experience and commanded the confidence and loyalty of both of- ficers and men. He cared far more for the men than for his personal reputation, and was fitted in every way to lead the Division into bat- tle. If he could have remained with us in France, we might tell a different story of the Five Days. He was soon sent to France on a tour of the trenches and to Brigadier-General Lucien G. Berry, who commanded the Artillery Brigade, was given the command of the division. My one personal interview with General Berry left me with a very poor opinion of myself, and a very poor opinion of General Berry, so it can hardly be regarded as a success from any standpoint. He is the type of man who has learned everything, can instantly cor- rectly judge any man, and never makes mistakes. I shall not mention many of the good men who were "ruled out," but there are four who are typical. Brigadier-General H. C. Clark of Missouri had been of invaluable service to the National Guard. I heard many officers, including medical officers, speak of his case. All concurred in the statement that he was a soldier of the finest military ability, an inspiration to the men, and strong enough to go over. He was dropped in Decem- ber. Col. Hugh Means of the 130th Field Artillery lives in my town. CAMPAIGNING AT CAMP DONIPHAN 17 I have known him for years. There can be no question that he was in good health, and knew how to command men. He is a lawyer of unusual mental strength. But he could not go over. Major Albert H. Krause was also dropped. He too lives in my own town, and has a fine record as a man and as a soldier. Lt.-Col. Chas. S. Flanders, of the old First Kansas, had been a Captain in the Philippines in the famous 20th Kansas. His strength was iron. He was a soldier through and through. When they went up into Baulny the 137th could have had no better man with them than "Pop Flanders," but an efficiency board got him him just before we left for France. These are but a few. They are men I know. My judgment is strengthened by my experience with men at war, and by the testi- mony of officers and men who knew them . There seems real reason to suppose that it was a disadvantage to be a Guardsman, and the conditions at Doniphan throw light on changes made at a most critical time. Were it not for these, one might be less disposed to look with suspicion on changes made in France — almost on the battlefield itself. We lost some enlisted men by death at Doniphan, and Lt. Ward, a popular and capable officer, a competent, kindly man with many friends. In cases where the bodies had to be shipped, the band ana firing squad were taken to the railroad station, and the men were given the the honors of a military burial. Gradually the hospital was completed, and the men well cared for. Gradually the baths were completed and put to use — although some of the officers baths were only finished six months after we reached Doniphan, to be dismantled a few weeks later — and gradually the regiment developed into a husky, hardy, healthy and happy out- LT. WM. F. WARD Died at Doniphan LT. FRANK LOTT Band Master 18 FROM DONIPHAN TO VERDUN COL. WILLIAM NEWMAN U. S. Army CAMPAIGNING AT CAMP DONIPHAN 19 fit. Signal Mountain, Berry Pass and Rabbit Hill became home. The bayonet work of the outfit attracted general attention. Old di- visions were forgotten, men became used to general discomfort,, and when one day the men returned from a hike singing for the first time, we felt at last that we had a real regiment To one man the regiment owes a great deal. Col. Albert Linx- wiler had been sent to the Brigade and Field Officers School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from which he graduated April 4th, 1918. During his absence, the Regiment was under the command of a Reg- ular Army officer, Col. Wm. Newman of Nashville, Tennessee. Many an old soldier of the 140th will look on his portrait in this vol- ume with pleasure. He is truly "an officer and a gentleman." A strict disciplinarian, he was just. Compelling hard work, he worked hard himself. To him is due much of the credit of whipping the regiment into shape. When he left it he left many friends and no enemies. In France his name was mentioned frequently, and always in a way that showed how the men honored him. "Daddy Newman" they called him — and a man who could win such a tribute from the 140th, in so short a time, had to be a real man and a real soldier. Many times in France I heard men say — and officers too — "If we only had Colonel Newman with us now!" So the days went on — the men learned to throw grenades and to use the bayonet, to shoot the army rifle, and to dig trenches. Es- pecially the latter. They dug trenches and dug more trenches.. They braided barbed wire by the rod. And then saw the artillery cheerfully blow up both wire and trenches in ten minutes. We even had a school in "Early English," and seventy-five men learned to read and write. One G. Co. man persistantly cut classes. A non-com was sent to bring him in, but failed to do so. I sought him out, and on his own confession that he could not write and could barely read,, gave him a fifteen minutes talk on the value of an education. It was a fine talk. I waited for a reply— "Hell, Chaplain," he said, "I am going over there to shoot Germans, not to write letters to 'em!" Each month rumors would come that we were to move. They needed a good division, and we were to move before Christmas . Then we had it straight— the 20th of January. Then the 22nd of Febru- ary—always a few days off, and always "inside" information. We felt that we had learned our lesson. We were tired of Doniphan. We wanted to go. One factor in enabling us to stand the weary grind was the 140th Infantry Band. Most of the Sixth bandsmen were taken from us, and the band was the Third Regiment Band, with a few from the Sixth (which had a good band) and six men were added in France. Its concerts helped the weary days to pass. Early on the cold winter mornings its music as it marched up the regimental street helped us begin the clay. In France it played at regimental parades, guard mounts and concerts. It gave the Chaplain splendid support, 20 FROM DONIPHAN TO VERDUN and was always ready to play at church parade. From all the bands of the Division, it was chosen to play when General Pershing reviewed the Thirty-Fifth Division. Its members were trained as litter-bearers, but musicians were too valuable to lose. And the A. E. F. order prevented them from doing this work on the battlefield. John Shay of Booneville was the only member lost by death. No one can conceive the value of this band to the morale of the regiment. It counted for much both at Doniphan and in France. The men were proud of it and appreciated it. It played so large a part that it seems worth while to give th e Roster in full. ROSTER 140TH INFANTRY BAND 2nd Lieut. Frank K. Lott Sgt. John Crockelt Sgt. Bodo Kammann Walter Hunter Charles Bowne Herman Knabe Lawrence Parrish Harry Wheeler Ralph Weaver William Gormley Ernest Gormley L. Guillot E. R. Holt Roscoe Lenge Ted Wheeler Henry Prati Walter Kempe Corp. Chas. Hall Frank J. Bumell Robert Vicksell Albert Buttz J. P. Ryan Carl Metz Chas. Keilhack Boyce Lackaye Corp. Harry Tibbs LeRoy Ballard Claud Sharp Martin Breving Sgt. Carl Holtzman Charles Wagner Corp. Dan Dedrick Corp. Herbert Johnson Band Leader (See Illustration) 5 Asst. Leader { solo comet asst. solo cornet 1st cornet 1st cornet 2nd cornet 3rd cornet solo clarinet 1st clarinet 2nd clarinet 2nd clarinet 3rd clarinet 3rd clarinet piccolo flute bassoon baritone baritone 1st trombone 2nd trombone 3rd trombone tenor saxaphone 1st horn 2nd horn 3rd horn 4th horn 1st bass 2nd bass 3rd bass 4th bass drums drums bass drum CHAPTER III. With the British Lion AT SEA AND ON LAND The middle of April found us entraining for Camp Mills. After all our waiting, the move seemed to come suddenly, and we were hardly ready for it. In spite of all attempts at secrecy, the "home folks" found out when the men were coming through, and many good-byes were said in Kansas City. The trip was pleasant, and the men were comfortable, although a few complained of being crowded. They were not yet traveling in France. After a week in the cold and mud of Camp Mills came the order to board the train at Mineola and it was a happy crowd that lifted their heavy packs into the cars. From Mineola we