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165th Field Artillery Brigade

The route followed was an extremely interesting one. In the reclaimed towns of France our

troops were received with the greatest enthusiasm. Towns were decorated with flowers and greenery;

banners bore words of greeting; and at gatherings of all the citizenry, commanders were presented with

bouquets and f1owers. The Americans were acclaimed as deliverers. In the little town of Epiez the

town council changed the name of the principal Street to “Rue President Wilson,” and of another street

to “Rue General O’Neil,” in honor of the division commander.

The Division said good-by to France in the vicinity of Longwy, where there were still to be seen

evidences of the German artillery bombardment and incendiarism during the first days of the war in

1914. The first stop in Luxemburg was made in the densely populated, rich industrial region just across

the border from Longwy, where the contrast between the prosperous little neutral grand duchy,

untouched by war, and the devastated, battle-scarred regions of France was very marked. The most

curious sight to all the men was the appearance of the young Luxemburgers in civilian clothes. The

reception accorded the Division in the greater part of Luxemburg was very enthusiastic, despite the fact

that the people had already shouted themselves hoarse in welcoming the divisions which preceded the

90th through this area. As the German frontier was approached, however, the people were found to be

more like the Germans in custom and speech, and the former exuberance was replaced by an air of

The foremost troops of the Allies had crossed the German frontier on Sunday, December 1, but

the 90th Division did not reach this line until nearly a week later. The 180th Brigade crossed the

Moselle River over the bridge at Remich and entered German territory on December 6. On the

following day the 179th Brigade, less the 357th Infantry, crossed the Sauer River, the boundary line

between Luxemburg and Germany, at Wasserbillig. The 357th Infantry crossed at Grevenmacher.

There was little indication that this was the land of the enemy. However, advance billeting parties were

required to carry arms while engaged in their duties, and trucks were not allowed to move except in