Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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GLOWING TRIBUTE 117TH^ENGINEERS MR. OSCAR K. LaROQUK TELLS OF WORK OF REGIMENT. ?: In Chateau Thierry Drive Worked All Day With Picks and Shovels?Held at Night as Reserve Infantry. Columbia, May 10.?The work of the forty-second, or "Rainbow" division, composed of men from 26 States and the District of Columbia, J *" wi + L Ati4 was continuous aim wnuuui from February 19, 1918, until after Christmas of last year, according to Oscar K. LaKoque, formerly private secretary to ex-Governor Manning? of South Carolina, who resigned as State Bank Examiner to enter the overseas service of the Young Men's - Christian Association. Mr. LaRoque "was attached to the "Rainbow" division and was under fire himself al4nost continuously. He was gassed several times. ,* Mr. LaRoque, in his statement, said that "the American soldier is *, without doubt the coolest, nerviest, bravest and most efficient fighter there is on the face of the globe." An interesting statement made by Mr. LaRoque is that the American , soldier is essentially religious; that he will come back home demanding, practical religion and definite results in politics, IV. *' *High Tribute to 117th Engineers. A high tHbute was paid by Mr. LaRoque -to the 117th engineers, composed of troops from North Carolina, South Carolina and California. commanded by Col. J. Monroe Johnson, of Marion, S. C. Every imagini . able service was performed by this regiment, he said, except exploit's In submarines and aeroplanes. The regiment made a record in road and bridge construction, under heavy shell fire and almost insuperable ob~ . stacles, said Mr. LaRoque. The "Rainbow" division, which was commanded by Major General Charles T. Menoher during its* fighting period, was taken overseas by Major General George W. Read, commander of Camp Jackson; and brought back by him. Among the States represented in the division are New York, Ohio, Alabama, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas, Virginia, .Maryland, Louisiana, Oregon, North Carolina, South Carolina, California and the District of Columbia. ;; The statement of Mr. LaRoque follows: The 42d, or "Rainbow" division, aner a period of training in the various training areas in France, entered the lines, taking over parts of the Luneville sector on February 19, 1918, continuing in line under shell fire until after the signing of the armistice on November 11. Though the men of practically every other division in the A. E. F. were granted leave and given periods of rest in the back areas at various times, the men of the 42nd division did not learn the meaning of the word "leave" until after they had landed in Germany, and then not until after Christmas. The boys suggested that the name of the division be changed from the "Rainbow" to the "Pine Tree," since the pine has no leaves. American Soldiers Bravest on Earth. The American soldier is without doubt the coolest, nerviest, bravest and most sensible fighter there is on the face of the globe. It will never be possible for any human being to say enough in praise of the humble private who fought and won this war. It is true, of course, that the work of the enlisted men was necessarily directed and planned by the high type of officers commanding them, >and as a rule the American officers though fully respecting the dividing line between the officer and men, at all times had the interest of his men at heart. A bishop told me in Germany that the American soldier is the only person on earth that can "cuss" and pray at the same time?and he is right. I attended a conference of chaplains from three divisions at a little town in Luxembourg. At this conference one of the chaplains made the statement that fully 90 per cent, of the American soldiers he had buried on the battlefield carried Testaments in their pockets and that the Testaments showed constant use. These men who have survived this war have done some deep thinking since they left home and their ideas in relation to religion and government have undergone some changes. They cannot be fooled by the fireeating politician, nor the impractical preacher; they demand practical religion and definite results in politics. One Big Family. The 42nd division wa^ made up of National Guardsmen from 26 States and the District of Columbia and it was just one big family. I have yet to hear the members of one organization in that division criticise or knock any other organization in the division. It was commanded, during tlu war by .Major General Menoher, whc was loved by every man in the division, and it was a source of great regret to all that he was relieved from command after the war and sent tc Washington as chief of the air ser vice. South Carolinians in Chateau Thierrj Drive. The 117th Engineers, to which regiment I was attached from the beginning of the Chateau Thierry campaign until we landed in Germany was made up of three companies from South Carolina forming the first battalion, three companies from California forming the second battalion and the engineer train from North Carolina. The full strength of the regiment was practically 1,750 men, and from the regimental commander to the lowest ranking private they were men through and through. They have performed every service imaginable except the airplane and submarine. In the Chateau Thierry drive they built roads and bridges under shell fire when it was almost unbelievable that their tasks could be completed; their work in building bridges across the Ourcq, river under direct observation of the enemy was marvelous; this work was performed by units of the 1st battalion from South Carolina. These men would work with picks and shovels all day making roads passable fqr the ammunition, rations and artillery* and at night would be held on the alert waiting for the time to go "over the top" as infantry. Filling a gap between the 83rd and 84th infantry brigades, the engineers made the farthest advance of the 42nd division in this campaign. The next day when the other organizations were resting, the engineers were split up into details to repair roads and bury the dead. It was during this campaign that my chief, the division secretary of the Y. M. C. A., cautioned me not to let the men of my regiment get the impression that I was scared. My reply was^ "Hell; I am scared, and the man that says he isn't is a liar or a fool!" I was, however, to furnish each company with supplies every day during this campaign. When the division was relieved from this front we all expected a rest, but shQck troops were needed for the St. Mihiel drive and, of course, the 42nd division was hiked up above Toul for this scrap. In this engagement details from the engineers were used with the artillery, with the tanks, with the signal corps, .with the infantry and as engineers for the purpose of keeping the roads open. Eight of our men were sent out at night to locate the position for the infantry laying white tape to indicate to the infantry the course for them to take, and while these eight men were lying in a shell hole waiting for the infantry a shell landed amongst them, killing seven. and severely wounding the eighth man, who was brought back to the Y. ^1. C. A. tent at Ansauville, which was being used as a dressing station. Outfit Again Moved Up. When the fight was over and German prisoners had been brought bacfc until we were tired of looking al them, the engineers were ordered tc construct positions in order that we should be prepared against a countei attack from the enemy. On the night of October 1 the outfit was moved in French trucks up from pari of the Argonne Forest to Very anc Exermont. Here they were agair called upon to act as reserve infantrj at night and engineers during the day. The roads were in miserable condition and it was necessary thai the engineers put them in shape fo] the division to function. After the position was constructed and the Germans were driven back, we hikec towards Sedan. At one point on Sunday order! were received to move headquarter! to a town named Verrieres. I wen up .with the advance party on horse back Monday morning and when w< reached Bruilles, about two kilom eters from Verrieres, we could se< the German and American infantr: in action in the town to which wi were ordered to proceed. Acting 01 advice of the colonel commandini the American infantry we stopped a Bruilles. It was at this place tha the German demolition squad hai gotten in such splendid work. Th< road had been blown up and com pletely demolished for something ov er a mile, and it was up to the en gineers to rebuild this road so as ti make it passable for rations and am munition trucks before night. Ou regimental headquarters were loca ted in a chateau a short distanc from this demolished road, and dur ing the afternoon while the corduro road was being built, the German placed a box barrage around our oi fice. To one who has never bee: caught in a box barrage it is impos sible to describe. The nearest description that I can give of my feelings that afternoon when the shells were falling thick and fast on all four sides is that of a man who has been fastened with his head on the block waiting for the candle to burn the string that will release the axe to cut off his head. For some reason the enemy fire stopped before any one in our party was seriously injured. The 117th engineers finished the road, however, and more than 2,000 trucks in addition to artillery, wagons and carts passed over that road within the next 12 hours, thus i providing rations and ammunition . for the fast advance on the retreat. ing enemy toward Sedan. The other roads were jammed during the afteri noon and night, and the next day for a K /-?ii f 1 A ni il An t !1'0 n o n A1 i /I auuui xv miico uicic nao a olfiiu . line of trucks, wagons, etc., moving ; only a few inches at a time. Riding . in a staff car with the regimental . surgeon, I was 15 hours going nine i kilometers, or about six miles. Our , men went on up through Chemery, Chehery and Bulson with the infantry to the banks of the Meuse river before Sedan and when ordered out were preparing to bridge this river for a futher advance. At this point when the 42nd division had practi(Continued on page 3, column 1.) I PORTABLE AND STATIONARY Engines AND BOILERS Saw, Lath and Shingle Mills, Injectors. Pumps and Fittings . Wood Sa^s, Splitters, Shafts, Pulleys, Belting, Gasoline Engines LAXOE5TOCK LOMBARD Foundry, Machine, Boiler Works, Supply Store. AUGUSTA. GA. Piles Cured in 6 to 14 Days Druggists refund money if PAZO OINTMENT fails to cure Itching, Blind, Bleeding or Protruding Piles. Instantly relieves Itching Piles, and you can get . restful sleep after the first application. Price 60c. You Do More Work, You are more ambitious and you get more enjoyment out of everything when your blood is in good condition. 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