such groups would meet similar groups of the enemy when a hand to hand fight would take place, with
credit to the Americans, while on other occasions the Germans, seemingly very much demoralized, were
eager to surrender. The ground taken by the regiment in the first day’s fighting was literally infested
with machine-gun nests; many of them from a strategic position offering stubborn resistance, while
others, as soon as they found themselves at a disadvantage would either surrender or abandon their guns
and flee. The troops were impatient to reach the objective, and their advance was so rapid that it carried
them through their own barrage just before the objective was attained.
The Objective, just outside of Vilcey, was gained ahead of the time scheduled and the three
battalions at once proceeded to mop up the area captured and organize their position, work both difficult
and dangerous for in the rapid advance many snipers and some machine gun nests scattered through the
thick woods had been passed up. However, the work was promptly and effectively accomplished.
At the close of the day’s fighting approximately five percent of the fighting strength of the 2nd
and 3rd Battalions lay dead on the battlefield but the proportion of German dead was overwhelmingly in
excess of our losses, not counting the huge toll in prisoners.
Major I. S. Ashburn, commanding the 2nd Battalion, was wounded in the neck by a machine gun
bullet and had to retire from the field that morning, however, before night he had left the field hospital
and returned to the front and assumed command of his battalion. Major Ashburn was again wounded
September 14th, and evacuated, and was later awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry
on this occasion.
Major Terry Allen, commanding the 3rd Battalion, was wounded by shrapnel before the zero
hour and taken to a field hospital. Upon regaining consciousness he tore off the hospital tag and started
for the front, on the way organizing a number of men who had become separated from their companies
in the thick woods and maze of wire and entanglement. With these men under his command he reached
a section of woods just in time to find a company of enemy machine gunners coming out of their deep
dugouts and placing their guns so as to fire on our second wave. Here the hand to hand fighting was
fierce, though the names of those taking part is unknown. Major Allen himself, though wounded again
and having exhausted all his ammunition continued fighting even using his fists; his command routing
the enemy.
Everything possible had been prepared ahead of the battle so as to take care of the wounded.
Twelve enlisted men from each company had been previously detailed and trained as litter bearers
whose duty it was to secure the wounded on the battlefield and carry them back to the First Aid Stations.
These litter bearers were accompanied by men from the Medical Corps who administered in many cases,
first-aid treatment under fire on the battlefield. At the First Aid Stations more substantial treatment was
given. The wounded were classed and ambulances, motor cars and light trucks carried them to the
various field hospitals several miles in rear of the fighting line.
These wounded men were a wonderful inspiration to all who saw them by the brave and cheerful
manner they exhibited, and seemingly their wounds caused only one regret and that was that they had to
go back to the hospital and leave their comrades to fight the enemy without them.
Warning had been received of a counterattack by the enemy on the night of the 12th, but the
attack failed to materialize. The following day, September 13th, the 1st Battalion advanced to a new
position south of Preny, and the 3rd Battalion took over the defense of the regiment along the new line
of resistance, substantially identical with the first day’s objective.
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