David.Gettman May 31st, 2008
In April 1918 the Second Cavalry landed in France and was in the Toul sector within three weeks of leaving home. “I should consider myself fortunate to again have your splendid Regiment a part of my command”, wired General Pershing to Colonel West when the Second left Jolo in 1912, and his word was fulfilled, when half a world away, thirty-one of it’ s troopers landed with him as his escort, first in England, then in France, as Headquarters Troop at Chaumont. Continue Reading »
TacomaDave May 30th, 2008
America was not ready for war in 1917 but the event was certainly expected by everyone. There had been a long series of notes between President Wilson and the Imperial German Government in which the President objected to the sinking of American ships when many of our people lost their lives. There was much excitement over the mistreatment of the citizens of occupied territory by the Germans. This was later proven generally to be Allied propaganda, but at the time Americans believed the stories of so-called “Belgian atrocities”. These stories contributed much toward molding in this country public opinion favorable to the Allies. Continue Reading »
TacomaDave May 29th, 2008
On January 8, 1918, orders came for the Second Cavalry to prepare for overseas service. At this time it was intended to take all horses and equipment, but later the horses were left behind on account of shortage of ship tonnage. The inferior grade of animals furnished the regiment in France made everyone feel that much better work could have been done if their own horses had been used.
Preparation and intensive training continued until March 17, 1918, when all the regiment except the first squadron at Fort Myer, Virginia, and Troop E, left Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont, for Camp Merritt, New Jersey. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman May 28th, 2008
I was with the 2nd Cavalry, Commanding Troop “E”, and later the 2nd Squadron as senior captain, and finally for a month I had the Regiment, less the 1st Squadron which remained in Coblenz, Germany (I think) on Army of Occupation duty after the Regiment returned to the US. I was at Fort Ethan Allen from November 1917 to May 1918, then went over to France on the good ship Caserta (an Italian boat which had been a horse transport until they cleaned out the manure and built three tier bunks out of odds and ends of lumber) which was our home for the two weeks it took to cross. Continue Reading »
TacomaDave May 27th, 2008
The regiment, less the first squadron and E Troop, left Genicart, near Bordeaux, in southern France, by train on April 11, 1918, for Gondrecourt. While en route for this place, Troops F, G, H, I, K, and L were detached, leaving only Headquarters, Supply, Machine Gun, and M Troops to arrive at that place. All except Troop M remained here in the Toul Sector from April 14-24. On the 23rd Troop M was sent to the south of France to secure horses. The Headquarters, Supply, and Machine Gun Troops entrained the next day for Valdahon, where they arrived on the 25th and were utilized to manage a remount depot. This camp, situated about twenty miles from the Swiss border, was also an artillery range.
Troops F and G arrived at Baccarrat in the Toul Sector April 14. They were attached to the Forty-Second Division as a reserve with orders to be ready to go into the trenches when called for. While in this sector, they were billeted in the town of Badmenil. After remaining here until May 7, they joined the regiment at Valdahon. Continue Reading »
TacomaDave May 26th, 2008
During the period from November 3 to 8, one platoon of Troop C, under Sergeant McDonough, was attached to the Seventy-Seventh Division, and one platoon, under First Lieutenant Fred C. Thomas, was sent to the Eightieth Division. These two platoons aided the advance of the infantry by locating the enemy machine gun nests and parties which were " digging in " . Sergeant McDonough’ s platoon lost three horses killed, and Lieutenant Thomas’ platoon lost two horses killed and two men wounded. As a result of the fine work at this time Lieutenant Thomas, Sergeant Charles South, and Private Samuel Naylor were recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross. Meantime, the rest of the troop moved on to Brizancy continuing military police work, and was here when the Armistice was signed. Continue Reading »
TacomaDave May 25th, 2008
Headquarters First Division,
American Expeditionary Forces,
France, 19 September, 1918.
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 58
The Division Commander cites the following organizations for distinguished conduct during the operations against the St. Mihiel Salient on September 12-13, 1918: Continue Reading »
TacomaDave May 24th, 2008
By Captain Stephen H. Sherrill
On July 29th the Troop entrained for Dommartin-en-Goele, to join the 3rd Army Corps, and detrained at Chateau Thierry on August 1st. That afternoon we marched to Gland on the other side of the Marne and went into camp there. The following morning the Troop Commander reported to Major General Bullard, the Corps Commander, at Mont St. Pierre. General Bullard asked if the men and animals were ready to proceed at once to the front and join the French cavalry, at Coulonges. When the troop was called together and told what was before them, every man let out a yell.
By the time the troop arrived in Coulonges, it was dark, the road beyond was being heavily shelled, and no one knew where the French Colonel had his P.C. On either side of the road on the march up we had passed by dead Germans and Americans, and so by the time we reached Coulonges -“ which had been evacuated by the Boche only the night before -“ we commenced to feel that we were really at the front. Continue Reading »
TacomaDave May 23rd, 2008
The regimental headquarters and the Supply Troop entrained at Gievres September 18 and arrived at Ligny on the 20th. They made a march over roads crowded with troops going to the Argonne front and arrived at Camp Mallery, Rarecourt, on the 23rd, where they found Troops B, D, F, and H camouflaged in a wood. During the Argonne drive, the regimental headquarters and the Supply Troop were attached to the First Army Corps. They were usually in close contact with the troops mentioned above, which made up the Provisional Squadron. Until October 8 the duty at Rarecourt consisted of traffic control. They moved to Vraincourt on this date and remained until the 18th, when they returned to Camp Mallery. On November 4 they marched forward again with the big drive and reached Apremont November 11. Continue Reading »
TacomaDave May 22nd, 2008
By Captain Ernest N. Harmon
The strength of the squadron at this time, September 8th, 1918, was fourteen officers and four hundred and four enlisted men. The squadron had no staff or demolition outfit; it was simply four line troops under the command of the senior Captain who had only one and a half years of commissioned service. On September 8th Lieutenant Colonel O. P. M. Hazzard took over command. On September 9th orders came detaching Troop " B " from the squadron and ordering the troop to proceed to Menil-la-Tour for courier and liaison duty with the 1st, 42nd, and 89th Divisions. The troop arrived at Menil-la-Tour on the 10th. From this point detachments were sent to the headquarters of the 1st, 42nd and 89th Divisions under the command of N.C.O.’ s. These detachments performed hard and perilous duty on the roads, keeping traffic open and carrying messages under harassing shell fire from the enemy. On the 13th the headquarters of the troop was established at St. Benoit. This position which was in advance of the 42nd Division Artillery position was heavily shelled during the night. On the 14th the troop headquarters moved to Pannes. Continue Reading »
