IN BELGIUM WITH THE FIRST BATTALION
AND THE MACHINE GUN COMPANY.
Five days after the regiment marched out of the line to billets at Mont-decant-Sassy the
entire first battalion and the machine gun company were selected from the division to go into
Belgium, restore order from the chaos which followed the hurried exodus of the Germans and
take over a quantity of stores which were to be given up by the enemy under terms of the
armistice. Accordingly on November 17 men from these units were taken in trucks to Virton,
Belgium, where the battalion post of command was established. Major William H. H. Morris,
Jr., was military commandant of the new district, several towns close to Virton having been
occupied by the various companies, and Captain Andrew J. Carr was station commander at
Virton.
The first task completed was the renewal of the train service on the railroad to
Monemedy. The German hospital in Virton, in which were found several wounded Americans,
was also taken under supervision. Meanwhile the rush of Belgian civilians back to their homes
and the flow of French and English prisoners of war back from the German camps brought the
battalion face to face with the problem of feeding and clothing these people. Additional rolling
kitchens were secured and hundreds of men and women fed during the days the Americans were
there.
Finally the German war material was turned over to Major Morris by Captain Van
Werner of the 21st German Army Parlimentaire and then the battalion was ready to rejoin the
regiment. This was accomplished by November 28 after a march to Marville, France. The
regiment remained here until November 30 when the memorable march into Germany began.
 |
 |
 |