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           On January 22 Headquarters and Company A marched to Flagey via Baissey, Co. B to Flagey from le Havt, Co. C remaining at Areevaux. This consolidated things so that our training went on with number one speed. Here Company A 149th Machine Gun Battalion (Co. I 4th Penna.) was attached to us and later on assigned, making our battalion one of four com­panies. It becoming Co. D 150th Machine Gun Battalion stationed at Bourg.

           It would appear that pressure must have been applied as we were not expecting orders to go to trenches until March 1st. However—this movement was begun on February 18, the Battalion traveling by rail—Joe Marston and I went in the Battalion side-car going on the 18th to Luneville via St. Geosmos, Langres, Clefmont, Neufchateau, Mirecourt, Tentonville, Hardue, Bayon Haussonville and Blainville. We stayed at the Y.M.C.A. in Luneville overnight and in the morning being misdirected went to Moriviller, then back to Luneville where we got straightened out and found the new station Giriviller, getting there by way of Gerbeviller and Serainville.

           Gerbeviller has been given some prominence in the states. Several magazine articles having been written about it. Fritz burned it for spite and people in California are rebuilding. Frits did a good job—so did the Cali­fornians. However, Jacques insists on decorating the front yards of the pretty bungalows with his marks of prosperity—dung heaps.

           Girviller was Battalion headquarters for some time. A and B com­panies going into the trenches near Luneville (Rouge Bouquet Sub Sector, the 165th Infantry (69th New York) and C and D Companies near Benaminil (to get to Company P.C. we rode from Benaminil to Blemercy via Domjevik) with the 166th (4th Ohio). Between Blemerey and Domoevin I had my first experience with shell fire and gas. Not dangerous but interesting.

           On March 10 Headquarters went to Benaminil by truck via Mattexey, Magnieres, Moyen, Vathemenil and Chenevieres.

           On March 22 Battalion Headquarters moved to Laronxe via Chenevierres and St. Clement and went back to Giriviller via Chenevieres, Moyen, Vallois, and Serainville, on the 23rd. Here the Battalion was assembled and all plans made for a grand maneuver march back to the old training area (Battalion headquarters at Flagey) but the Hun offensive had begun. Persh­ing offered the French the use of all American troops and we took over the Baccarat sector as a division holding it, as you know 110 days, and being the first American division to hold a divisional sector. (When we first went in each of our four Infantry Regiments had a Battalion in line with a French Battalion sandwiched in between French 1 Battalion 165th, French 1 Batta­lion 166th, French 1 Battalion 167th, French 1 Battalion 168th.

           On March 29 the Battalion moved to Domptail in Mattexey Magnieres and St. Pierremont. This march was the first to be made by the complete Battalion (4 companies) as a unit. Here Company D was attached to the Infantry, the balance of the Battalion marching on the 31st, to Brouville via Fontenoy La Joute, Glonville and Azerailles. The other three companies left Brouville one by one to join the Infantry Battalion to which they were attached for trench service and on the 18th of April Headquarters went to the next village Merviller where Brigade Headquarters was located. Here we remained for two months attached to Brigade Headquarters while the 165th and 166th alternated in line and division reserve and the Regiment in line alternated its battalions in line support and reserve. My work was interesting. Besides doing my routine work (I was relieved of the Supply Officer duty by Proudfit at Browville) I did aide-de-camp work inspecting

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