42nd Artillery, CAC

42nd Artillery, CAC

During World War One


The 42nd Artillery, CAC was an Army Railway Artillery Regiment and was assigned to the French 240mm Railway mounted guns. The 42nd Artillery came into existence in July of 1918 from Coast Artillery Corps units already serving in France. During the first year the American Coast Artillery Corps was in France there were several changes in its organizational make up. In fact, it was said by many CAC men at the time that the unit you were assigned to when you went to bed may not be the unit you were assigned to when you woke up in the morning.

The roots of the 42nd Artillery can be traced through sever reorganizations back to the Seventh Provisional Regiment, CAC, which was one of the first three Coast Artillery Regiments to sail to France during 1917. While in France on July 15, 1918 during one of the many convoluted changes, the 42nd Artillery, CAC was born.

The regiments of the 30th Brigade i.e. the 51st, 52nd and 53rd Regiments were re-organized into six new regiments which were then numbered as the 42nd, 43rd, 51st, 52nd 53rd and 81st Artillery Regiments, CAC. But the 2nd Battalion of the 51st Artillery was assigned to the 57th Artillery and in return the 57th Artillery gave its Batteries C and D up to become part of the 43rd Artillery. During this change the 30th Brigade now consisted of the 42nd, 52nd and 53rd Regiments. The 51st and 81st Regiments became part of the 39th Artillery Brigade and were then not part of the Railway Artillery reserve. Shortly thereafter the 81st Regiment became known as the 44th Artillery Regiment, CAC.

The 1st Battalion of the 42nd Artillery was on duty in the Belfort Sector, France, which was also known as the “Belfort Ruse” having been planned in part by Colonel Arthur L. Conger of the American Expeditionary Force. Colonel Conger had devised a planned major U.S. offensive through the Belfort Gap and toward the Black Forest in Germany.

The Belfort region had been a quiet zone since the initial bloody battles of 1914-15 and was one of the few places where the French had driven the Germans back on their own soil. That happened in the first few weeks of the war, and the Germans had not responded in any significant way. The attention of the German high command was fixed on more decisive terrain farther to the north and west: Verdun, the Somme, and Flanders. In the spring of 1918, General Erich Ludendorff launched a massive effort to break the Allies. Conger, however, was hoping Ludendorff could be led to believe that Belfort was the launch point for Pershing’s offensive. He was attempting to divert the German commander’s attention from Pershing’s actual plan, an attack against the St. Mihiel salient.

The event, later referred to as the “Belfort Ruse,” grew out of the lack of security from General Pershing about the American planned attack in the St. Mihiel salient. General Henri Philippe Pétain, commander of the French armies, had picked up on the fact that Pershing’s plans were common knowledge in Paris, and devised a way to use this breach in security against the Germans, thus the “Belfort Ruse.” General Pétain penned a personal letter to Pershing suggesting that action be taken to mislead the Germans as to the actual American target and offering French assistance. The AEF commander took Pétain’s suggestion seriously and replied on August 23 that he regretted any indiscretions and agreed that measures should be taken to throw the Germans off the scent. He went on to accept Pétain’s offer of assistance, indicate a deception plan would be in the offing, and state that the scheme would be coordinated with the French.

The Americans were insisting on their own sector of the front and their own offensive operations, which meant that Allied units had to be moved out and American troops moved in. It also meant that Allied artillery, aircraft, trucks, and tanks had to allocated to support the AEF. All of this required detailed coordination, and that, in turn, meant that many people had to know the plan. Thus, it was not surprising that there had been a lot of talk. The American demands created an inherent security risk, and it could be assumed that the Germans would find out about it.

The main burden for carrying out the deception fell on Colonel Conger’s shoulders. His success with the ruse could be measured in several ways. One indication would be if American troops obtained the element of surprise during their initial assault against the St. Mihiel salient. That condition, however, could be the result of German laxity. A better criterion of success would be if Conger could lure the Germans into reinforcing their defensive lines in front of Belfort. A third criterion would be even more indicative of a well-executed ruse. What if Conger’s scheme enticed the Germans to diminish their forces in the St. Mihiel salient in order to reinforce their units in the Belfort Gap? That would be all the Americans hoped for. Much depended on how Conger would carry out his duties–but even more depended on the German reaction.

Ludendorff’s reaction was somewhat unexpected and he refused to evacuate the St. Mihiel salient and in fact reinforced his Army Detachment C and the command on its eastern flank, the German Nineteenth Army. Ludendorff, the man Colonel Conger would have to deceive, did not intend to make a gift of the St. Mihiel salient. The Americans would have to fight for it. Conger’s deception operations began to unfold as planned on August 28.

The Belfort plan was for a large-scale offensive to overrun Mulhausen and fight on to the Rhine River, thirteen miles farther east. The Attack would consist of an initial assault force of seven divisions: the, Twenty-ninth, Eightieth, Thirty-fifth, Seventieth, Ninety-first, Seventy-eighth, and Thirty-sixth. General Omar Bundy the commander of the U. S. Sixth Corps was told that the assault would come as a surprise to the hapless Huns, so the planners should consider using minimal artillery of which the First Battalion of the 42nd Artillery, CAC was a part of this plan and were the only Artillery Regiment in this Sector..

A veritable blizzard of American staff officers descended on the placid town of Belfort–and that was not all. The energetic Colonel Conger arranged for a flurry of reconnaissance flights over the German lines west of Mulhausen. Then, too, U.S. signal units began to roll into Belfort, erecting radio antennas and swamping the local telegraph and telephone centers with a multitude of messages. Several French tanks were put to work as well. The vehicles were driven through the freshly harvested fields, making tracks into forested areas (no one happened to record what the mystified tank crews thought of all this). The staff officers raced about the countryside, checking bridge capacities and front-line positions. They peered resolutely at the opposing Germans through field glasses, asked endless questions about rail capabilities, toured hospital facilities, and conducted dozens of motor trips to study the region’s road network.

If the definition of battlefield surprise is that one’s enemy is unprepared for one’s action, Pershing certainly obtained surprise at St. Mihiel. The American preparatory barrages began at 1 a.m. on September 12, and U.S. infantry units launched their assault at 5 a.m. In some places, the Germans fought well; in others, they hardly fought at all. Despite Army Detachment C’s orders issued nearly two weeks before, demanding repair and reinforcement of all defensive obstacles, the U.S. foot soldiers easily breached long-rusted German wire entanglements and quickly overpowered many of the defenders. Within forty-eight hours, Pershing’s men had taken 443 artillery pieces and 752 enemy machine guns at the cost of seven thousand U.S. casualties. On the German side, the problem seemed to be determining what would signal a light push and what comprised a heavy attack. The order to withdraw from the salient did not come until noon, seven hours after the American assault began. As a result, 16,000 German troops became Pershing’s prisoners.

And so, the “Belfort Ruse” was a success because the Americans were a success at the St. Mihiel Offensive against the German Army, and the 42nd Artillery, CAC played a part of that success.

During the existence of the 42nd Artillery Regiment, CAC, while in France during the First World War they participated in the following engagements:

The 42nd Artillery after the war turned in its guns and then moved to the west coast of France to the port city of St. Nazaire. There on February 6, 1919 boarded the USS Kroonland and steamed for home. Aboard the ship with the 42nd Artillery was the 38th Artillery brigade, CAC; the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 24th, and the 26th Photo Section Aero Squadrons; 1102 Aero Replacement Squadron; several Medical personnel; sick and wounded troops, Casual officers and some civilians. All together aboard the Kroonland were 118 Officers, 81 Non-commissioned above grade 17 and 2,666 enlisted men below grade 16, and 18 nurses, 1 American Field Clerk and 5 civilians.

The Kroonland arrived in Newport News, Virginia on February 18, 1919 and began to off load her troops. The commanding officers of the 42nd Artillery, CAC Upon its return in 1919 were:        

Colonel James D. Watson
Captain Charles R. Ficher
Captain John C. Mullane
1st Lt. Lessley E. Spencer
1st Lt. Grafton M. Chubbuck
2nd Lt. Edward O. Walsh
2nd Lt. P. H. Papenporth

After men were discharged from service the 42nd Artillery was reorganized with the remaining troops and kept on Active Duty Status at Camp Eustis, Virginia.

Battery B, 42nd Artillery

The history of Battery "B" 42nd Railroad Artillery CAC, can be traced back from organization to organization to the period of the American Revolution. The early Artillery Companies of which Battery "B" is a lineal descendant, fought in the War of 1812, In the Florida War, in the Mexican War, in the Civil War and several other campaigns and expeditions. The service of Battery "B" 42d Railroad Artillery is written in golden letters on the pages of American History.

On July 6, 1917, the 2nd Company, C.A.C., Fort Adams, R.I., with 3 officers and 182 enlisted men, were transferred to Battery "K" 7th Provisional Regiment, Coast Artillery. On August 17, 1917 Battery "K" 7th Provisional Regiment, C.A.C., with 3 officers and 181 enlisted men, left Fort Adams, R.I., on the Steamer Plymouth en route for New York City. On August 18, 1917 the Battery left New York for Foreign Service on the RMS Aurania. They arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, August 20, 1917. Anchored in Bantry Bay, Ireland, on August 31, 1917 and arrived in Liverpool, England, September 2, 1917 and finally arrived in La Harve, France on September 11, 1917. On February 5, 1918, pursuant to War Department Orders dated December 27, 1917, the Regiment was changed to the 52nd Artillery, C.A.C.

During the period from May 6, 1918 to September 27, 1918, the Battery participated in 15 engagements with the enemy and fired a total of 1,282 shots from 240mm French Epis Rifles, mounted on railroad carriages. The designation of Battery "B" 42nd Artillery, Railroad, C.A.C. occurred on July 15, 1918 during a reorganization of Artillery units in France.

The entire personnel of Battery "B" have changed since its return to America and have been recruited from the New England States. The Battery took part in the first Railroad Artillery Maneuver in America. Leaving Camp Eustis, VA. for a trip in New England, where it engaged in firing Artillery problems at Rockport and Provincetown, MA., returning to its proper station on October 22, 1920, making the complete trip without an accident. Battery B was afterwards stationed at Camp Eustis, VA, the home of "The Railroad Artillery". This camp is called the "best camp in the Army", and is located about sixteen miles from Newport News, VA, on the east bank of the James River.


Regimental Muster of the 42nd Artillery, CAC

As I find names and information about men who were in the 42nd Artillery I will list them here. If you have information on someone who was in this regiment please email me and I will add their story.


Private First Class William D. Smith, 151260, Battery D

William D. Smith was born in June of 1899 in Salem, Ohio and at the age of 18 years, eleven months he enlisted into the regular Army on May 3, 1917 at the Columbus Barracks in Columbus, Ohio. Smith was first placed into the 3rd Company C.A.C. at Fort Hamilton, New York and was there until January 19, 1918 when he was transferred to Battery M of the 7th Provisional Artillery, C.A.C. On August 18, 1917 Pvt. Smith sailed on the HMS Aurania with the 7th Provisional Artillery for Europe. Smith was advanced in rank to Private First Class on April 13, 1918 while in France and then as the 7th Provisional Artillery was reorganized Smith was then placed in Battery D of the newly formed 42nd Artillery, C.A.C. PFC Smith then returned with the 42nd Artillery on February 18, 1919 and was Honorably discharged on March 10, 1919.

PFC Harlan Benjamin Franklin, Battery E

The first three Coast Artillery Regiments to go to France in 1917 were the 6th, 7th and 8th Provisional Regiments. One Private First Class in Battery H of the 8th Provisional Regiment was a 23-year old by the name of Harlan Benjamin Franklin from North Carolina.

Harlan was born on May 14, 1894 to Udora Johnson (1868-1966) and James Finley Franklin (1871-1927). Harlan was the second eldest son to James and Udora and the Franklin family in the summer of 1900 made their home in Avery County, North Carolina. James Finley or Finley as he was sometimes known as, was a farmer with the family farm located near the unincorporated community of Linville, NC. At that time the Franklin family consisted of Finley his wife Udora or Dora as she was known, and three sons Stanley, Harlan, and Corbin, and daughter Gertrude. Also living on the farm was Finley’s father and mother, Rachel (b. abt. 1828) and Samuel (b. abt. 1825) Franklin.

Within 10-years the family had grown and also moved about 10-miles away from Linville to another farm in the area of Altamont, which was located in Avery County. Finley’s father Samuel had passed on by then but his mother Rachel was still living with the family. Finley and Dora now had added three more sons, Corbin, Veneaire, and Come to the family. By 1910 Finley and the three eldest boys Stanley, Harlan and Corbin all worked the family farm. They even had employed an 18-year old girl on the farm by the name of Susan Shook. Eventually by 1920 the Finley Franklin family grew with the addition of another son and daughter born about 1911 and 1914, and were still on the same farm in Altamont Township.

It was on May 3, 1917 about a month after America had declared war on the Central Powers in Europe, and about two weeks before his twenty-third birthday, that Harlan Benjamin Franklin enlisted into the United States Army. Private Franklin was placed into the Army’s Coast Artillery branch and sent to serve at Fort Mott, New Jersey. There at Fort Mott Franklin spent what he remarked as his “rookie days” in the army. Among his personal photos there are some of him taken at Fort Dupont and Fort Mott. He likely spent some time serving with the 2nd Company CAC at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, and then that Company was ordered to Fort Adams on July 28, 1917 and were formed into Battery H of the newly forming 8th Provisional Regiment, CAC for service in France. It is a known fact that Pvt. Franklin was a member of Battery H, 8th Provisional Regiment, and so the likely path was Fort Mott, to Fort Moultrie, to Fort Adams and Battery H.

On August 25, 1917 Private Harlan B. Franklin sailed to France aboard the RMS Pannonia as a member of Battery H, 8th Provisional Regiment. Somewhere along the line likely while serving in France Pvt. Franklin was advanced in rank to Private First Class.

While with Battery H on May 3, 1918 just one year from the time PFC Franklin enlisted into the army, he had his first combat experience. On that day Battery H was in action for the first time firing into the German lines. The Germans returned fire but there were no casualties. Battery H again on May 30 went into action, but it was on June 7 that Battery H was in their first big shoot. Stationed at Somme Suippes they fired 320 rounds into the German lines. Throughout the first two weeks of July Battery H was kept busy almost daily firing into the Germans and it was on July 15, 1918 that battery H suffered their first casualties. The gun position of Battery H was shelled pretty well by the German guns and 12 members of Battery H were wounded, PFC Franklin was not wounded in that shelling.

At midnight on August 6, 1918 orders were received, which detailed that Battery H, 8th Provisional Regiment was being reorganized and would now become Battery E, 42nd Artillery, CAC. Now with Battery E, of the newly reorganized 42nd Artillery PFC Franklin continued on through the end of the war. The 42nd Artillery returned to America in February of 1919 going to Camp Eustis, Virginia. There many of the men who were enlisted for the duration of the war were honorably discharged and the remainder of the 42nd Artillery was kept together as the 42nd Artillery served after the war on Active Duty status.

PFC Franklin was honorably discharged from the army on March 13, 1919, and returned home to his parent’s farm in Avery County, North Carolina. In January of 1920 Harlan who was then 25-years old and single was still living on the farm with his parents and 6 of his brothers and sisters. By early 1928 Harlan had married a woman named Carolyn who was from Georgia and was born on April 29, 1906. Harlan and Carolyn had moved to Detroit, Michigan where Harlan had taken a job working as machinery dealer selling electric motors. They lived in a rented home on Waverly Avenue where the monthly rent was $60 per month.

Harlan and Carolyn started their family there in that house when their first and only child a son they named Harlan Benjamin Franklin, Jr. was born about May of 1929. They stayed in Detroit for another 4-5 years and by 1935 had moved south to Georgia. They made their home in Moultrie, Georgia, which is located in southwest Georgia. It’s not known why they moved there but because Carolyn was from Georgia this may have been the part of Georgia where her family was from. Harlan took a job as a vocational school teacher where he was still at that job pasted 1940. Likely the Franklin’s remained in the Moultrie area for many years.

But later in life Harlan and Carolyn had left Georgia and moved to Tallahassee, Florida. Harlan passed away while living in Florida on March 26, 1973 and was buried in the Roselawn Cemetery in Tallahassee. Carolyn lived on until her death on November 16, 1998 and she was buried next to her husband. After their death’s Harlan Benjamin Franklin, Jr. had bronze grave markers placed on their graves. Harlan’s bronze marker lists his military information of “PFC, Battery E 42nd Artillery CAC World War One.” And Carolyn’s marker simply says “Carolyn W. Franklin Beloved Wife and Mother.”

Kendel Hess, Battery E

Kendel Hess followed much the same path into Battery E of the 42nd Artillery as did PFC Franklin. Kendel Hess was first a member of Battery H of the 8th Provisional Regiment and sailed to France aboard the RMS Pannonia. Then on August 6, 1918 Battery H, 8th Provisional Regiment was reorganized into Battery H of the 53rd Artillery and then reorganized again into Battery E of the 42nd Artillery, CAC.

After the war the 42nd Artillery sailed for home on February 5, 1919 and arrived in Newport News, Virginia on February 19. The 42nd Artillery then was stationed to Camp Eustis, VA and then men were discharged. Kendel Hess was honorably discharged from the army on March 8, 1919.

PFC Charles J. Mitchell, Battery B

Charles John Mitchellwas born March 2, 1885 in Spring Valley, Illinois, the first white child born in the newly built coal mining community. His parents were immigrants from England, his father James Mitchell had come from the lead mining district of Newlyn, Cornwall. In 1888 James Mitchell moved his family to the newly forming iron mining community of Soudan in northern Minnesota. The family moved again to Ely, Minnesota in 1904 to work in the underground iron mines of that area.  These were rough pioneer areas. The famous evangelist, Billy Sunday, once remarked, “The only difference between Ely and hell is that Ely has a railroad into it.”  The second school teacher in Ely, Mrs. Vida Squier James, said, “I knew I was at the end of the railroad, but I felt that I was at the end of the world.” James Mitchell became a shift boss & later a Mine Captain. 

Like many young men of his time, Charles Mitchell probably left school early to help the family earn a living. Like his father, he worked in the iron mines at Soudan and Ely, Minnesota. He became familiar with mining techniques, and became a steam fitter. 

Charles Mitchell, enlisted into the Army on May 7, 1917 at Escanaba, Michigan, at the age of 32, and was 5’ 4” tall. He had brown eyes and dark brown hair and a fair complexion.  He was a private (150961) inBattery M of the 7th Provisional Regiment. Later in his WWI notebook he was assigned to Battery K, 52nd Artillery, CAC. He left the U.S. with the 7th Provisional Regiment embarked on the HMS Aurania on August 18, 1917 to cross the Atlantic with the American Expeditionary Force. 

A letter that Pvt. Mitchell had written on December 4, 1917 indicates that by then he was with, Battery K, 7th Regiment, C.A.C. A.E.F. (Coast Artillery Corps, American Expeditionary Force). That letter was postmarked through Stambaugh, Michigan on December 30, 1917 The letter reads,

Dear Sister,
     I got your letter and was glad to hear from you.  We are all glad to get lot of mail from the States and some one that we know.  The weather is not cold but we have lots of rain and there is lot of mud.  We had a good weather coming over and had a fine trip and went to England and then came over hear.  There is lot of things that I would like to tell you but if I wrote any thing you would not get this letter.  I have seen quite a little of this country but I can not name any of the town that I have been in. We are making camps and built a rail road and getting ready for the men that comeing but we are going to leave hear the 15th of this month for the front and I suppose that is were we will spend our Christmas. We had a fine dinnr on Thankgivin we had turkey and geese but it is not like we have at home it is hard to cook out in the field.  The hard thing to do is the waiting for the thing that we need because they take so long to come.

Well Sister, I do not know what you can send me because it is hard to carry every thing with you.  I have four heavey blankets and I do not get cold but a scarf will be fine and I want to thank you for it.  I had a letter form Annie and was supprise to hear from her.  I will write home and to Annie and you and I will put them all in one envolpe and send it home and mother will send them to you.  I am gald that you like to teach and you like the place.  Well I think have told you all that I can write so I will close.
                                                                                                From your Loveing Broth
                                                                                                Charlie J. Mitchell
                                                                                                Battery K 7th Regt
I will write again and you write often because there are times that I can not.

A second letter of his written January 8, 1918 and indicates that he was still with Battery K ,7th Regiment, C.A.C. It reads,

Dear Mother,
I got your letter and was glad to hear that you are all well.  I am well and hope this will find you all the same.  We have some cold weather but last night it started to rain and all the snow is gone.  I hope it do not freeze up because we could not walk.  We are having a good time now the boys are helping to buy the food so we can have more to eat.  I got everything that you sent over and we had a good time open the boxes we were like kids.  I do not want you to send me any more things because I can not take so much with me when I move.  Well mother there is not much that I can say but you see more in the paper at home than we know, but I think this summer will see the end of it.  Well I will have to close and hope to hear from you soon.
                                                                                                                 Your Loving son Charlie

The last letter I got was Dec 5.  I am going to get my picture taken the first time I can and will send you some for the rest of the folks.

And a third letter of his was written April 7, 1918, but by this time his unit was called Battery K, 52 Artillery C.A.C.  It reads,

Dear Sister,
I got your letter a few days ago and was glad to hear that you were well.  I am well and hope this will find you the same.  We are haveing lots of rain and the mud is over our shoes but it is all in the game and we have to make the best of it.  Well we have been very busy for the last few weeks get things ready to move some of the boys are in the cars and I in a few days will leave hear for the front.  I have been up there a few times takeing supplies up but they was not doing much fighting but we do all of our traveling in the nights. 

Well Audrey you said to get a few huns for you I think I will get some if they do not get me but I am willing to take a chance.  I am on a machine gun now and they are a fine thing to use.  Well sister if you are going to get married I would not till after this war is over because you can not tell how many men it is going to take to drive then back.  Well I will have to close because the trucks are back and I have to help to load them. 
                                                                                                            From your brother Charlie
Do not tell mother I am on a machine gun.

His discharge papers state that he became a 2nd class gunner in February 1918 and a private 1st class on November 11, 1918. Under battles, engagements, skirmishes, and expeditions were listed, Belfort Sector attached to the 2nd French Army November 6-11, 1918.  His was described as having excellent character; his service was honest and faithful, no AWOL.  He had no wounds and was in good physical condition. PFC Charles Mitchell returned to the States with the entire 42nd Artillery. They boarded the USS Kroonland at St. Nazaire, France on February 6, 1919 and arrived in Newport News, Virgibia on February 18, 1919.PFC Mitchell's last day in the 42nd Artillery was February 26, 1919 and then he was sent to an Army camp near his home for Honorary Discharge from Active Duty. PFC Mitchell was discharged at Camp Custer, Michigan on March 7, 1919.

After his military service, Charles Mitchell returned to live and work in the mining operations of Ely, Minnesota. By the mid-1920s, he had moved to the small community of Brookston, Minnesota where he became a car inspector for the Great Northern Rail road. Charles Mitchell married Hedwig Victoria Eklund in 1924. They had two daughters Patricia and Donna Gale. The Charles Mitchell family home was located on a small farm west of Artichoke Creek and on the north bank of the Saint Louis River across the river from Brookston, Minnesota. The Mitchell farm was only a 3-acre lot and was separated from the Saint Louis River by an access road that ran along the riverbank.  

Charles Mitchell was a quiet man and he worked hard. He was an active member of the American legion; he was a finance officer. Charles Mitchell was well respected in town and helped keep things going.  He was patriotic, and always helped arrange the 4th of July, Veteran’s Day, and Memorial Day celebrations to honor the veterans.  He took care of the cemetery in Culver, Minnesota. 

Charles Mitchell died on November 23, 1955.  He is buried in the Culver Cemetery in St. Louis County, Minnesota. His headstone reads;

CHARLES J. MITCHELL
MICHIGAN
PFC BATTERY B 42 ARTY CAC
MARCH 2, 1885 – NOV. 23, 1955


Photo taken in 1917 in the States of a group of soldiers likely from Battery M of the 7th Provisional Regiment. Mitchell is in the first row kneeling second from the left.

On the left is another 1917 photo before they sailed to France. This is taken inside the barracks and Mitchell is identified in ink pen marked "Charlie" second from the left setting on the bench.

Charles J. Mitchell

Studio photo taken in America befor the 7th Provisional Regiment sailed for France. This is known from the campaign style hats worn by troops in the states. These hats were not taken to France and they worn the Garrison style peaked hats while in France.

Corporal Clyde W. Linton, Battery E, 42nd Artillery, CAC

Distinguished Service Cross Citation
Date of Action:  July 15, 1918

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clyde W. Linton, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Suippes, France, July 15, 1918. Corporal Linton displayed remarkable courage and devotion to duty, a lineman in charge of exposed telephone lines between his battery commander's station and the firing battery, during the German attack at Suippes. At great personal risk he repaired the lines as they were broken by shell fire. In performing this duty he was severely wounded. General Orders No. 21, W.D., 1919. Home Town:  Akron, Michigan.

Sergeant Frank W. Moehler, Battery E, 42d Artillery, CAC

Distinguished Service Cros Citation
Date of Action:  July 14, 1918

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank W. Moehler, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Suippes, France, July 14 - 15, 1918. Having been severely wounded early in the German attack on Suippes, Sergeant Moehler continued to direct the firing of his gun crew for eight hours under intense shell fire, remaining on duty until all the ammunition had been expended and orders to withdraw had been received. General Orders No. No. 142, W.D., 1918. Home Town:  Newark, NJ

First Sergeant George A. Nowlin, Battery E, 42d Artillery, CAC

Distinguished Service Cross Citation
Date of Action:  July 15, 1918

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George A. Nowlin, First Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Suippes, France, July 15, 1918. First Sergeant Nowlin displayed great bravery and devotion to duty during the action of his battery at the opening of the German attack at Suippes. The firing position was under heavy fire, and the members of the battery widely separated when orders to fire were received by his battery. He personally succeeded in quickly organizing the firing section at their posts. On several occasions he carried severely wounded infantrymen long distances to dressing stations. He assisted in repairing damage to exposed telephone lines under heavy shrapnel fire, and with his battery was the last man to leave the firing position. General Orders No. 3, W.D., 1919. Home Town:  Chicago, IL

Private Pulker, Howard C., Battery C, 42d Artillery, CAC

Date of Action:  July 14 - 15, 1918
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Howard C. Pulker, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Suippes. France, July 14 - 15, 1918. Private Pulker, a chauffeur to whom no regular duty during the engagement had been assigned, voluntarily assisted in carrying wounded French and American soldiers to safety under severe bombardment. At one time he gave aid to a severely wounded soldier who was carrying a message to the battery commander, assisting him in performing his mission. When orders to withdraw were received he continued valiant services. General Orders No. No. 143, W.D., 1918. Home Town:  Sharon, PA

Private First Class Orville R. Taylor, Battery E, 42d Artillery, CAC

Date of Action:  July 14 - 15, 1918
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Orville R. Taylor, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Suippes, France, July 14 - 15, 1918 No other duties having been assigned to him, Private Taylor volunteered for service as a stretcher bearer, and working all night under the heaviest shell fire he carried wounded American and French soldiers to safety. While taking a severely wounded soldier by automobile to a hospital a shell burst near him wounding him but he continued on his mission and delivered the wounded man to the aid station. General Orders No. 21, W.D., 1919. Home Town:  Upland, IN

Private Frederick A. Woodward, Battery E, 42d Artillery, CAC

Date of Action:  July 14 - 15, 1918
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frederick A. Woodward, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Suippes, Marne, France, July 14 - 15, 1918. Private Woodward, acting as runner during an engagement, kept up his work throughout the bombardment. On the trip he was wounded by a bursting shell, but succeeded in carrying a very important message to his battery commander. General Orders No. 37, W.D., 1919. Home Town:  Elizabeth, NJ



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