The History of the 103rd Regiment of the 26th Division of the U.S. Army during World War I

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	with its auxiliary units, machine guns, one~pounders, and slokes would hold,—- a front line 0f ohservation, Tr. de Boston; line of resistance, Tr. de Newport; and support line, Tr. de New Haven. VVOrk on the trenches did not progress rapidly but was Finally finished, and the next step was instruction in the making of reliefs and disposition of troops in the trenches. This was practiced both during daytime and at night, the battalions of the regiment relieving one another. Sonic of the dificulties encountered under actual conditions were experieneed,—bad weather, intense darkness, and the neces- sity for silence, and in practice, of course, some nien figuratively and actually trot lost, for though the Noncourt subsection looks simple on a stretch, it was a different proposition at midnight in a driving storm, Signal rockets, buzzors, and runners were used, and everything was done to inake conditions as nearly real as possible. By the first of Janimry the rcgiinent had heen well grounded in the funda— nientals, not the least of which was getting the men to knew how to take care of their health under all sorts of conditions, for drill was carried on whatever the weather, cold, rain, or snow; and the men became hard and fit. The last of the period was devoted to target and rifle work, a good deal of which was crowded into the last two weeks of the stay at Lilfol. Along with other work battalion and regimentul inanueuvres were conducted. The regiment had its share of detail also, for each company in turn went to Neuf- ehfiteau to work at the niilhearl tluere and at Rebevul liarrarks, principally load- ing and unloading of cars. This was a necessity due to the fact that at that time Labor Battalions had not arrived or been organized in sufi·i~i-nt number to ineet conditions. _ Beginning with about the last of November pursuant to plans of General Head- quarters a certain number of ofH·1~rs and noneemmissirmed officers was sent to Gcndrccourt to the " First Corps S·hol." The cmirse taken there was il n10nth’s intensive training in all of the dii't`ei·ent branches oi infantry work, certain officers being assigned to special eou1·ses,—musketry, tactics, etc. These officers then returned (unless held as instructors) to the organization and were of ·o11rs· able to give valuable instructions to the other officers and men. The school at Gondrecourt, one of the first to be organized for the instruction of American nHizers and men, was the forerunner of that group of schools which was developed before the end of the war throughout the A. E. F. School life was not any vacation; the program was as full and hard as that of the training camps in the states. The American officers in charge were assisted by English and French officers attached to the American forces for that purpose. Officers show- ing proficiency and excellency with the ability to instruct were retained at the Along with other work battalion and regimental manueuvres were conducted. The regiinent had its share of detail also, for each company in turn went to Neuf— chateau to work at the railhead tliere and at Rebeval l§ar1·at·ks, principally load- ing and unloading of cars. This was a necessity due to the fact that at that time Labor Battalions had not arrived or been organized in sufl·i·i-nt number to meet conditions. Beginning with about the last of November pursuant to plans of General Head- quarters a certain number ol` oftic1~rs and noncominissinned officers was sent to Gondrcconrt to the " First Corps S·hool." The course taken there was il m0nth’s intensive training in all of the diilerent branches of infantry work, certain officers being assigned to special cou1·scs,—musketry, tactics, etc. These officers then returned (unless held as instructors) to the organization and were of ·o11rs· able to give valuable instructions to the other officers and men. The school at Gondrecourt, one of the First to be organized for the instruction of American nfheers and men, was the forerunner of that group of schools which was developed before the end of the war throughout the A. E. F. School life was not any vacation; the program was as full and hard as that of the training camps in the states. The American officers in charge were assisted by English and French officers attached to the American forces for that purpose. Oflicers show- ing proficiency and excellency with the ability to instruct were retained at the school or detached and sent to other schools and divisions. The1·e seemed to be a concerted eilort all along the line to raise the standard of training as high as possible. This system of Corps, and later Army, schools was one of the means. It has already been said that the regiment had by the first of January received a good foundation training. Of course the next question was, “‘When will the Division go in?" The regiment was made ready several weeks prior to the date of actual departure and only awaited thc orders to pro. The move finally came the first week in February, the regiment leaving February 5 and 6. Prior to its departure the entire regiinent with full equipinent, trains and all, was re- viewed (February 2) by the Brigade Commander. That, too, was a day not to be forgotten; the 103rd was ready. The next step on the great adventure lay ahead. One cannot easily forget it for, of the ofheers who passed by that day, about twenty-five per cent are left; of the men, not fifty per cent. It was at fine- lookin;15 lot of men; it was sueh at spectacle as is not olten given to men to be a part of. Out there on that rolling lield in platoon front they marched in review, "eyes right," as they passed (lennral Cole who stood alone, carried the challenge "we are ready," and they were ready. And who was there to cheer the regiment. on its way? None but the simple villagers who knew what it meant; for four years they had been seeing their own march away.
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