The 302nd
ENGINEERS
by,
Gilbert H. Crawford
Thomas H. Ellett
John J. Hyland
THE day following the Armistice, the
77th Division was relieved by a French division. The
honor of marching through Luxemburg to Coblenz was not to
be allowed us. Instead we were ordered to the rear to a
training area near Chaumont. The Regiment concentrated
immediately at the villages at Vaux and Sammauthe, a few
miles south of the Meuse. There, after a few days spent
in cleaning up and some hard work on the nearby roads,
started the long march south.
In order to get to our Winter quarters near Chaumont, it
was necessary to march 161 miles nearly due south. This
was the longest march engaged in by the Regiment at any
time. It started from Sammauthe on the 21st of November
and ended on the 4th of December at Chateauvillain and
the surrounding villages.
Fortunately for the Regiment, the Winter rains had not
set in until just before the close of this long march.
But immediately after arriving at their Winter quarters,
the rain started and, almost without a day's
intermission, continued for several months.
Bright hopes were entertained for a quick homegoing at
this time, December, 1918. Captain Greene, who returned
from the hospital to the command of the 2nd Battalion
early in the month, was particularly optimistic. He had
the most circumstantial rumors to repeat, that the
Regiment would be in the United States before the New
Year. Unfortunately, these rumors were not to come true,
and the Engineers had several trying months ahead of them
before they were to see the Statue of Liberty.
December was spent mostly in drill. The War being over,
it was apparently of the utmost importance that the
Engineers become expert infantrymen. So the different
companies "snapped into it" and out of it,
daily in the mud and cold rain of the most miserable of
months. Untold machine gun posts were captured, and every
one practiced rifle fire on the improvised ranges-even
the cooks and K. Ps.
Toward the end of December it was discovered that while
the Engineers were so engaged in perfecting their drill
and military etiquette, the roads in the divisional area
had decidedly gone to pot. Due to the constant rain the
roads had softened and the United States Army truck did
the rest.
Large holes appeared everywhere in the once magnificent
highways, and the Regiment was given orders to fix them
up forthwith. This job sounds easy, but it must be
realized that the roads in the divisional area were
several hundred miles in length. The working force of the
Regiment was scarcely more than 1,200 men. Tools were
scarce, material scarcer and the weather atrocious.
Then was seen the phenomenon of rapid road deterioration
in an area containing over 20,000 practically idle men.
It was physically impossible for the men of the Regiment
to keep all the roads even superficially repaired.
Colonel Giesting, realizing the situation, obtained
orders from General Alexander that the troops in each
village, infantry, artillery or what not, were to keep
their own roads in repair, and that Engineer
non-commissioned officers be sent to all the villages to
supervise the road work. This plan worked so well that
later it was adopted by most of the other American
divisions, who found themselves in the same plight as the
77th.
At Chateauvillain, in January, was held a memorial
service for those who had fallen in the field. None will
ever forget this last taps for their absent comrades.
From the 1st of January until just before sailing home,
it was the constant work of the Regiment to keep the
roads repaired. This hard, tiresome work, carried on day
after day in the rain and snow, was a great anti-climax
to the work of the war. It was necessary, however, and
words cannot describe the fine spirit shown by the
officers and men during those long, weary months.
In January, 1919, most of the organization property was
turned in to the various supply depots; only individual
property was retained. This was in anticipation of the
hoped for homegoing. Early in February, orders were
received for a move to the Le Mans area. Le Mans was the
center of the area west of Paris, which was used by the
American Army for preparation for embarkation to the
United States. The orders were received with the
enthusiasm they deserved. Quick work was made of the
preparations, and on the early morning of the 10th of
February, the Regiment entrained at Latrecey. The day was
very cold and cheerless. A most uncomfortable trip of
nearly 72 hours followed. The weather was miserable, and
if it had not been for the splendid health of the men,
much sickness due to the cramped quarters and cold would
have followed.
The Regiment detrained at Sable sur Sarthe on the 12th
and 13th of February. Sable was a fine little city on the
banks of the beautiful Sarthe River. The Regimental
Headquarters were to remain there until a short time
before embarkation. Road work immediately called forth
the efforts of the men. The 1st Battalion maintained its
headquarters in Sable; the 2nd Battalion headquarters
were in Parce. The companies were billeted in various
villages, sometimes divided into platoons for better
working on the roads.
In February several promotions were made in fulfillment
of recommendations made before the Armistice. Major
Per-Lee was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel, Captains
Crawford and Simmons were promoted to be Majors of the
1st and 2nd Battalions respectively, and Lieutenant
Edwards was promoted to be Captain.
The grind of road repairs continued with little letup,
except for an occasional game of baseball between company
teams, until the first part of April. It then became
apparent that homegoing was not far off. The Regiment had
been so separated that permission was asked and granted
for a regimental concentration in one city for the
purpose of getting the men together once at least before
they left France. The city of Chateau-Gontier was chosen.
Over-looking the reaches of the magnificent Mayenne
River, it was a fitting place for the elements of the
Regiment to gather for the last time. The few days spent
in Chateau- Gontier will long be remembered with
pleasure.
In spite of their many months of hard labor on the roads,
the men responded instantly to the desire of the
commander to regain the old-time snap. A most interesting
competition was held to determine the best-drilled
platoon in the Regiment. Each company picked its best
drilled platoon. A battalion competition was then held
and finally the regimental competition. Co. "C"
and Co. "F" qualified for the finals, and in a
wonderful exhibition, the 4th platoon of Co.
"C" won the prize. This platoon was commanded
by Lieutenant Finlayson and Sergeant Reyes. The drill was
indicative of the fine spirit of the men, even after all
the disappointing months following the Armistice.
It was at Chateau-Gontier, also, that the colors of the
Regiment were officially decorated by Major-General
Alexander. This impressive ceremony took place in the
market square, and was followed by a review. During the
ceremony, General Alexander took occasion to speak in the
highest terms of the work of the 302nd Engineers.
An incident of considerable interest at Chateau-Gontier
was a regimental inspection held in the city parks. The
fine way in which all the equipment was laid out for the
area inspectors was indicative of the fine discipline of
the Regiment.
On 17th April, 1919, the final French entrainment took
place. For the last time were the men crowded forty to a
car in the little French freight cars; for the last time
were the discomforts of this kind of traveling to be
experienced. The Regiment arrived at Brest on the 18th
and 19th of April. The weather for a great wonder was
good. Camp Pontanezon might not be all that the
philanthropic at home desired, but it looked good to us.
It was so much better than the usual French
accommodations for soldiers that it appeared almost
paradise, especially as it spelled another letter in the
word HOME.
At Pontanezon the usual series of inspections took
place-rather an extended series. But as the Regiment had
been thoroughly equipped to the last bristle of the tooth
brush, there was not even the suggestion of a delay. And
apparently Pontanezon was the only, place in France where
American Army equipment was plentiful. It was refreshing
t o observe the speed with which it could be secured, and
made us wonder why such an excellent system had not been
adopted before.