Tag Archives: AEF

Then and Now: Aid Station in Cunel

December 3, 2016 by Randy
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    Caption:  The then photo is captioned:  “Figure 82–Aid station, 358th Infantry, at Cunel, Meuse, October 27, 1918.”  The 358th was part of the 90th Division, which entered the line in mid-October and continued the push northward. Note also in the then photo the sign “Ortskommandantur” above the door.  On period military translation dictionary translates it as Town Major’s Office.   Location:  6 Rue de la Fontaine, which is the D123, the main street running through town.  It is very easy to locate.   Continue reading →

News & Events–Over There: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Visitor Center Update Number 2

November 19, 2016 by Randy
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This post is a follow-up to a post dated July 16, 2016.     The newly-renovated Visitors Center at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon opened up on Veterans Day 2016 and the webmaster had the chance to visit it during his recent visit.   As described in the July post, the first floor was being divided into three main interpretive rooms:  A 1920s-style entrance room, a campaign gallery and a commemorative gallery.  The entrance room was designed to look as it was in the Continue reading →

News and Events–Stateside and Over There: #CountdowntoVeteransDay, 2016 and Veterans Day Ceremonies at ABMC Cemeteries

October 23, 2016 by Randy
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    Just a reminder to join with the World War I Centennial Commission to make Veterans Day 2016 a “day-on” rather than a “day-off.”  The commission encourages citizens to volunteer with a veterans organization or to attend a commemoration ceremony.  A list of volunteer opportunities can be found at this link:  http://www.countdowntoveteransday.org/.     The Webmaster will be in France and will attend on of the ABMC Veterans Day Ceremonies in France  Dates and times for the ceremonies are shown below: Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Continue reading →

News and Events–Stateside: #CountdownToVeteransDay, 2016 and the World War 1 Centennial Commission

October 8, 2016 by Randy
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    By November 1918 over two million U.S. men and women were serving in the armed forces in France and about another two million were serving state-side.  To honor the U.S. men and women who served in the Great War and in all other wars/conflicts, the World War I Centennial Commission is encouraging readers to make Veterans Day 2016 a “day-on” rather than a “day-off.”  The commission encourages citizens to volunteer with a veterans organization or to attend a commemoration ceremony.   A list of volunteer and event opportunities can be Continue reading →

Ninety-Eight Years Ago Today: The Death of TW Culbertson, 80 Division, AEF by Connie Ruzich

October 4, 2016 by Randy
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Webmaster’s Introduction:  Connie Ruzich was the July 2016 “People of the Meuse-Argonne” feature on this website.  The primary emphasis then was on her poetry blog posts in Behind Their Lines.  She also indicated that she was working on a biography of TW Culbertson, who was a volunteer ambulance driver with the AFS and who subsequently joined the AEF.  He was killed in the Meuse-Argonne on 4 October.  Connie was one of the first to volunteer to write a blog post for “Ninety-Eight Years Ago Today” on 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 →

Ninety-Eight Years Ago Today: A Look Back on Day 1 and Montfaucon

September 27, 2016 by Randy
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From 26  Sept. to 11 Nov. 2016–the 98th anniversary of the Meuse-Argonne–the webmaster plans to post a daily entry; some of which will be prepared by guest writers.  In most cases, the post will also contain a photograph of the grave of a soldier who died on that day and who is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.  During his recent battlefield tour the webmaster did a “random walk” of the cemetery; photographing individual crosses.  Readers are encouraged to provide any details on those persons via comment Continue reading →

Ninety-Eight Years Ago Today: Meuse-Argonne Offensive Begins

September 26, 2016 by Randy
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From 26  Sept. to 11 Nov. 2016–the 98th anniversary of the Meuse-Argonne–the webmaster plans to post a daily entry; some of which will be prepared by guest writers.  In most cases, the post will also contain a photograph of the grave of a soldier who died on that day and who is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.  During his recent battlefield tour the webmaster did a “random walk” of the cemetery; photographing individual crosses. For the first entry, the author has selected a few paragraphs from Continue reading →

Then and Now: First Aid in Septsarges

September 24, 2016 by Randy
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    Caption:  “If this wounded soldier can reach Septsarges, across the valley, he will find a first aid station.  To get there, he must crawl and scramble over the intervening space that is swept by a flanking machine gun fire.”   Location:  The un-numbered road that runs between Nantillois and Septsarges, closer to Septsarges.  The original photographer was standing a bit further in the field, and his picture did not capture the bend in the road.  There was also no farm and no tree 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 →