Tag Archives: 28th Division

People of the Meuse-Argonne: John Schooley

April 9, 2019 by Randy
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Even today French locals, other Europeans and Americans find themselves drawn to the Meuse-Argonne region of France.  Once drawn there, many return time and again; often working on a multi-year research or preservation project.  In this irregular interview series, the Webmaster hopes to introduce readers to some of these individuals and their labors of love.         John Schooley came to the Webmaster’s attention when he published a five minute video on his experience cycling the battlefields of the 109th Field Artillery Regiment, Continue reading →

Books & Movies: Over There with Private Graham–The Compelling World War I Journal of an American Doughboy

April 4, 2019 by Randy
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    “Over There with Private Graham” is a “compelling” AEF war diary–especially with regards to the 28th Division.  The finding and publishing of the diary is a story worth telling too.   Private William J. Graham of Philadelphia was a cop before the war with a wife and seven children.  At the advanced age of thirty-eight he joined the A.E.F. as a military policeman in Company B, 103rd Military Police Battalion, 28th Division.  To quote from the preface:  “Private / Bugler William J. Graham Continue reading →

La Vie en France #34: Boureuilles: Jump-off Line for the 28th and 35th Divisions

November 5, 2018 by Randy
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  What a difference a year makes!  Last year, the Webmaster rented a gite in “The Punchbowl” of Doulcon for six months.  Doulcon was liberated by the 5th Division on 3 November, 1918–quite late in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.  This year the Webmaster is renting the “Gite les Rosiers” in Boureuilles.  This gite is basically on the 28th and 35th Division jump-off line of 26 September–just a few kilometers south of Varennes-en-Argonne.  Said another way, the front-line of 26 Sept. ran east-west from Vauquois Hill (about Continue reading →

Then and Now: Apremont-en-Argonne

March 15, 2018 by Randy
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“The taking of Apremont was the greatest struggle the division had in its fighting career.  Much has been said and written during the war of “the blood-soaked fields of France” and “streams of blood.”  Officers who were at Apremont solemnly vouch for the fact that there was a time in that town when the water running in the gutters was bright red with blood. And not all of it was German blood.” Thus begins a chapter in “The Iron Division:  The National Guard of Pennsylvania Continue reading →

Ninety-Eight Years Ago Today: Crosses from 28 Sept. to 2 October

October 2, 2016 by Randy
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Introduction:  From 26 Sept. to 11 November the webmaster had hoped to post a daily blog entry of activities during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.  However, the realities of work (including business trips), family, and hobby (including tour marketing and two nights of French lessons a week) is making this quite a challenge.  Therefore, the webmaster is scaling back his goals.  However, several individuals have written pieces for the webmaster AND THESE WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THEIR TARGET DATES.  Also, in the spirit of remembrance, the webmaster Continue reading →

We Forget Today: Doughboy Day at Fort Jay, Governors Island, NYC, September, 2016

September 22, 2016 by Randy
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Reenactor and NYC tour guide Kevin Fitzpatrick worked with the World War I Centennial Committee for New York and various reenacting groups and historians to organize Doughboy Day at Fort Jay, Governors Island on September 17, 2016.  New Yorkers were reminded of that long-ago war through a combination of displays and speaking programs.  The day ended with a march to Meuse-Argonne Point, where the Webmaster had the opportunity to say a few words about the war, the doughboys and the Meuse-Argonne.  His text is published below: Continue reading → Continue reading →

Then and Now: Varennes-en-Argonne (?)

April 14, 2016 by Randy
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    Caption:  The above U.S. Army Signal Corps photo serves as the dust jacket cover for Mitchell Yockelson’s recent book:  “Forty-Seven Days:  How Pershing’s Warriors came of age to Defeat the German Army in World War 1.”  The picture is captioned Varennes.  However, the street-scape in the “now” photo does not line up at all with the “then” photo.  Nevertheless, the webmaster is quite certain that the Google earth “now” photo is the right location for three reasons:  1) The angle of the hill and curve Continue reading →

Armistice Day Poem: One by One, by C.E. Baker

November 11, 2014 by Randy
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One by one old soldiers die, One by one they are no more, And their comrades mourn their loss, As they leave this mortal shore.   Standing by an open grave, One more flag-draped coffin rests, Friends and comrades gather ’round, As they pay their last respects.   When the solemn rites are done, And the chaplain turns away, Mournful notes of bugle stir, Mem’ries of a bygone day.   One by one they drop from rank, Just as did the blue and gray, Soldier Continue reading →

Then and Now Gallery: Field Hospital at Les Islettes

September 14, 2014 by Randy
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Caption:  28th Division Field Hospital at Les Islettes Location:  On the rue Jules Bancelin, which is the D603 and the main road through town. Source of Then Photo:  Pennsylvania in the World War:  An Illustrated History of the Twenty-Eighth Division, Volume II, page 780. Source of Now Photo:  Graham Gaulke Note:  The building on the left is the building in which the exposition “Glass in the War” was located.  From the photo, it is not clear whether the hospital was in that building or whether Continue reading →