| Following is the citation awarded the 369th for its courage and valor in the great offensive in the Champagne, September and October, 1918, by the French Commanding General: CITATION FOR CROIX DE GUERRE AWARDED 369e RÉGIMENT d'INFANTERIE U. S. (FORMERLY 15th N. Y. INFANTRY) FOR ITS OPERATIONS AS A COMBAT UNIT OF A FRENCH DIVISION IN THE GREAT OFFENSIVE IN CHAMPAGNE, SEPT. AND OCT. 1918, BY THE FRENCH COMMANDING GENERAL Under command of Colonel HAYWARD, who, though injured, insisted on leading his regiment in the battle, of Lieutenant Colonel PICKERING, admirably cool and brave, of Major COBB, (killed), of Major SPENCER (grievously wounded), of Major LITTLE, a true leader of men; the 369th R. I. U. S. engaging in an offensive for the first time in the drive of September, 1918, stormed powerful enemy positions energetically defended, took, after heavy fighting, the town of, S--------, captured prisoners and brought back six cannons and a great number of machine guns. |
Other places of service included Camp Taylor (at Louisville, Ky.) and Camp Sherman(Chillicothe, Ohio). The evidence points to his arrival in Britain in April of 1918. Apparently there or in France he became one of sixty 1st Lieutenants of the 369th Infantry (From "Harlem to the Rhine, The Story of New York's Colored Volunteers" - Appendix A, published in 1924). I can find no sign of him being associated with this group in the States.
Little, if any, accurate news came from the front, but my mother said that they knew that her brother had been involved in heavy fighting. The war ended and the family in Nebraska did not hear anything from my uncle and thought that he was likely a late fatality in the hostilities. Then on Christmas day a letter arrived from my uncle describing his group's activities at the end of the war.
After my mother passed away, I found among her effects five letters dating from just before the end of the war to their disembarkation from France from my uncle to his parents & family. The letters are all quite interesting to me and I hope others will find them to be so also.
NOTE: Some of the letters have an * embedded, these were words or letters that Andyman was unable to decipher when transcribing from the original letters.
Thank you, Western Phil, for the suggestion and the contributions to this thread on the 369th Infantry.
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
October 30, 1918
Dear Parents, Brothers & Sisters:
Another letter from me, to let you know, I am still one of the kicking ones & not doing it with a wooden leg neither.
I have been in the front line, but am back again & working hard behind the lines. My first trip to the front lines was very interesting as it was all more or less new to me. The sector we occupied was more or less quiet with but little excitement. I slept for the first time in a dug out with bed companions a million strong, as a Frenchman who was near us put it "Petit Coushet, beaucoup 'Toto'"! Neither did I sleep much on account of the "Cooties" and rats but I got used to them & got away better the second night.
I received a letter from Freda this morning, and it certainly tickled me it was quite ancient, but it was the first I have had from Nebr. since I left Camp Sherman, it was dated Aug. 30 so you see mail is not coming thru very quickly when it takes 2 months to catch up, but from Florence I have been hearing now & then the last one being dated Sept. 5th.
The weather here is still tolerable tho cold nights it warms up pretty nicely during the day, but it is awful wet, in the trenches. I never was without wet feet. Where I am now located we are well off. We train during the day & sleep between sheets, so are more or less in luxury.
I am sending you a few small coins & intend sending you others of as many different denominations as possible for your collection. I am presently not in shape to send you many as I have not drawn any checks since I left the states, but if we stay behind the lines long enough for my mail to catch up I expect to sit quite pretty as I have about $225.00 due me now part of which I have already spent due to my 15 day travels in France. Incidentally I lost a share of my baggage for which I do not expect to be reimbursed.
I am sending you a Xmas package slip but not as a hint for something but thinking that possibly you would be hurt should you not be able to send me anything. I really want nothing as Uncle Sam takes care of us as much as possible of course we have to do without a lot of things but that cannot be remedied. I shall not feel hurt whatever should I not receive anything but your best wishes & greetings.
I must close now
Many regards to all
Herbert
1st Leut. 369th Inf. U. S.
French Postal Sect. 107
American Exp. F.
Via N.Y.