My grandfather, Don Martin, war correspondent for the New York Herald, wrote dramatic dispatches about the battle for Chateau-Thierry and the important role of American forces (posted in my blog SoldierofthePen.blogspot.com). Here is a short excerpt from his June 5, 1918, dispatch headlined WITH THE HERALD CORRESPONDENT, UNDER FIRE ON THE MARNE. … two full [American] regiments … just after daybreak marched in the village. Their line reached from one end of it to the other and stretched out to the countryside … The spectacle was impressive. Waving from the ends of the guns of some of the soldiers were tiny American flags … One company came down the slope leading into the village, singing in perfect chorus all through the village. First it sang the song which goes: “We’ve got artillery; we’ve got the infantry; we’ve got the cavalry; And before we’re through we’ll all go to Germany! To hell with Kaiser Bill!” They sang it with real feeling .... Another song which the boys sang and sang goes: “We’re here because we’re here because we’re going to lick the Hun. “And take it straight from Uncle Sam we’ll stay until it’s done?” The simple French people … cheered as the boys passed. Their favorite greeting was: -- “Beaucoup Americaine! Vive La France! Vive L’Amerique!”
My grandfather, Don Martin, war correspondent for the New York Herald, wrote dramatic dispatches about the battle for Chateau-Thierry and the important role of American forces (posted in my blog SoldierofthePen.blogspot.com). Here is a short excerpt from his June 5, 1918, dispatch headlined WITH THE HERALD CORRESPONDENT, UNDER FIRE ON THE MARNE.
ReplyDelete… two full [American] regiments … just after daybreak marched in the village. Their line reached from one end of it to the other and stretched out to the countryside … The spectacle was impressive. Waving from the ends of the guns of some of the soldiers were tiny American flags … One company came down the slope leading into the village, singing in perfect chorus all through the village. First it sang the song which goes:
“We’ve got artillery; we’ve got the infantry; we’ve got the cavalry;
And before we’re through we’ll all go to Germany!
To hell with Kaiser Bill!”
They sang it with real feeling .... Another song which the boys sang and sang goes:
“We’re here because we’re here because we’re going to lick the Hun.
“And take it straight from Uncle Sam we’ll stay until it’s done?”
The simple French people … cheered as the boys passed. Their favorite greeting was: --
“Beaucoup Americaine! Vive La France! Vive L’Amerique!”