The Delta of the Triple Elevens

[Transcriber's notes: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected (e.g. gunnner for gunner), recurrent misspelling of the author haven't (e.g. Montlucon for Montlucon, canvass for canvases, incidently for incidentally, paraphanelia for paraphernalia, calesthenics for calisthenic, etc...).

Chapter III: The word "by" has been changed to "from" (partially sheltered from the Southern sun). Chapter XVII: The spelling of Sommbernont has been changed to Sombernon. Chapter XX: The word casual has been changed to casualty (sent him home as a casualty). Chapter XXV: It is not clear if the printed word is trained or roamed (where he last trained/roamed).

Definitions: Cootie: Noun US: a head-louse (Macquarie Online Dictionnary - Book of slang).]

THE DELTA OF THE TRIPLE ELEVENS

THE HISTORY OF

BATTERY D, 311th FIELD ARTILLERY UNITED STATES ARMY, AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

[Illustration]

By

WILLIAM ELMER BACHMAN

Standard-Sentinel Print Hazleton, Pa. 1920

COPYRIGHT 1920

BY

WILLIAM ELMER BACHMAN

[Illustration: GROUP PHOTO OF BATTERY D. 311th F. A. Taken at Benoite Vaux, France, March 14, 1919. Reproduced from the Official Photo taken by the Photographic Section of the Signal Corps, U. S. A.]

To The memory of our pals whom we buried in France This Book Is Dedicated

[Illustration: WILLIAM E. BACHMAN

ARMY RECORD.

Inducted into service at Hazleton, Penna., November 1st, 1917. Sent to Camp Meade, Md., November 2nd, 1917, and assigned as Private to Battery D, 311th Field Artillery. Received rank of Private First Class, February 4th, 1918. Placed on detached service, May 18th, 1918, and assigned as Battery Clerk, First Provisional Battery, Fourth Officers' Training School, Camp Meade. Rejoined Battery D June 27th, 1918, and accompanied outfit to France. Assigned to attend Camouflage School at Camp La Courtine, September 30th, 1918, and qualified as artillery camouflager. On October 3rd, 1918, was registered, through Major A. L. James. Jr., Chief G-2-D, G. H. Q., A. E. F., with the American Press Section, 10 Rue St. Anne, Paris, which registration carried grant to write for publication in the United States. Remained with battery until March 7th, 1919, when selected to attend the A. E. F. University, at Beaune, Cote D'Or. Rejoined battery at St. Nazaire May 1st, 1919. Discharged at Camp Dix, N. J., June 4th, 1919.]

FOREWORD.

"You're in the Army now."

"So this is France!"

Oft I heard these phrases repeated as more and more the realization dawned, first at Camp Meade, Md., and later overseas, that war seemed mostly drudgery with only the personal satisfaction of doing one's duty and that Sunny France was rainy most of the time.

The memory of Battery D, 311th U. S. F. A., will never fade in utter oblivion in the minds of its members. 'Tis a strange fancy of nature, however, gradually to forget many of the associations and circumstances of sombre hue as the silver linings appear in our respective clouds of life in greater radiance as each day finds us drifting farther from ties of camp life.

Soldiers, who once enjoyed the comradeship of camp life, where they made many acquaintances and mayhap friends, are now scattered in all walks of civilian life. While their minds are yet alive with facts and figures, time always effaces concrete absorptions. The time will come when a printed record of Battery D will be a joyous reminder.

With these facts in mind I have endeavored to set forth a history of the events of the battery and the names and addresses of those who belonged.