The Delta of the Triple Elevens

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"O" block, in the plan of Camp Meade, was designated as the training
center of the 311th Field Artillery and barrack No. 19 was the shelter
selected for Battery D.

Barrack 019 was situated in a small glade of trees which fringed the
edge of the horse-shoe curve that the general plan of cantonment
construction assumed. The spurs of the great horse-shoe were at Disney
and Admiral. The blocks of regimental areas starting at Disney,
designated by A block, followed the horse-shoe, encircling at the base
hospital in alphabetical designation. "N" and "O" blocks nestled in a
glade of trees, partially sheltered from the Southern sun, just around
the bend in the curve of the road from the base-hospital. "Y" block
formed the other end of the spur at Admiral--while divisional
headquarters rested on the knoll in the center of the horse-shoe.

It was at "O" block the newly assigned officers established themselves
and made ready to receive the first influx of the selected personnel.
Blankets and cots and barrels and cans and kitchen utensils began to
arrive by the truck load and the officers in feverish haste divided
the blankets, put up as many cots as they could, and established some
semblance of order in the mess hall. They were pegging diligently at
their tasks when the first troop trains pulled in at Disney on
September 19th and unloaded the first detachment of future soldiers.

Scenes of home-leaving and farewells to the home-folks and loved ones,
which first transpired on September 19th, to be repeated with
similarity as subsequent quotas of recruits entrained for military
service, were of too sacred a nature to attempt an adequate
description.

What might have been the thoughts of the individual at the breaking of
home-ties and during the long, tiresome railroad journey to Camp
Meade, were buried deep in the heart, to be cherished as a future
memory only. Personal griefs were hidden as those seven hundred young
men in civilian clothes stepped from the train at Disney, grasped
their suit case, box, or bundle, firmly and set out on the mile and a
quarter hike through the camp--past divisional headquarters;
perspiring freely under the heat of the setting sun. It was with an
appearance of carelessness and humor they jaunted along, singing at
times, "You're in the Army Now"--finally to breast the rise of the
hill previous to "O" block, the descent thereof which was to mark the
first stage of their transformation from civilian to soldier.

Descent of the hill lead down to a sandy square in front of a long
building that housed regimental headquarters. After, what seemed like
hours to the recruits lined-up, roll of the seven hundred was called,
divisions made, and the first quota of Battery D was marched to 019.

[Illustration: *MAJOR DAVID A. REED*

ARMY RECORD.

Enlisted in the service of the United States Army, May 11th, 1917,
and received commission as Major at the First Officers' Training Camp,
Fort Niagara. N. Y. Was ordered to Camp Meade. Md., August 29th, 1917,
and placed in command of the Second Battalion, 311th Field Artillery.
Accompanied the outfit to France. On detached service with the
Interallied Armistice Commission, Spa, Belgium, from November 20th,
1918, to February 1st, 1919. Was awarded the French Legion of Honor
medal April 4th, 1919. Discharged February 26th, 1919. Got commission
as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Field Artillery Reserve, August 6th,
1919.]

CHAPTER IV.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

Iron-bound was the rule. You couldn't escape it. Every selected man
who entered Camp Meade had to submit. Of course, the new recruits were
given a dinner shortly after their arrival--but not without first
taking a bath.

019, like all the other barracks of the cantonment, was a wooden
structure, 150 x 50 feet, two stories in height. Half of the first
floor housed the kitchen and dining hall while the remainder of the
building was given over to sleeping quarters, with the exception of a
corner set apart as the battery office and supply room--a most
business-like place, from which the soldier usually steered shy,
unless he wanted something, or had a kick to register about serving as
K. P., or on some other official detail when he remembered having done
a turn at the said detail just a few days previous.

The rows of army cots and army blankets presented a different picture
to the new soldier at first appearance, in comparison to the snug bed
room, with its sheets and comfortables, that remained idle back home.
The first night's sleep, however, was none-the-less just, the same
Camp Meade cot furnishing the superlative to latter comparisons when a
plank in a barn of France felt good to weary bones.

Before rolling-in the first night every one was made acquainted with
reveille, but no one expected to be awakened in the middle of the
night by the bugle calling, "I Can't Get 'Em Up, etc., etc." Could it
be a mistake? No, indeed, it was 5:15 a. m., and the soldier was
summoned to roll-out and prepare for his first real day as a soldier.

"Get dressed in ten minutes and line up outside in battery-front for
roll call," was the first order of the day. Then followed a few
precious moments for washing up in the Latrine, which was a large bath
house connected with the barrack.

Before the call, "Come and Get It" was sounded the more ambitious of
the recruits folded their blankets and tidied up their cots. When mess
call was sounded but few had to be called the second time.

The hour of 7:30 was set for the day's work to begin, the first
command of which was "Outside, and Police-Up." In the immediate
vicinity of the battery area there was always found a multitude of
cigarette butts, match stems, chewing gum wrappers, and what not, and
the place had to be cleaned up every morning. If Battery D had
saved all the "snips" and match stems they policed-up and placed them
end by each the Atlantic could have been spanned and the expense of
the Steamship Morvada probably saved.

The first few weeks of camp life were not strenuous in the line of
military routine. Detail was always the long-suit at Camp Meade.
During the first few days at camp if the new recruit was lucky enough
to be off detail work, the time was usually employed in filling out
qualification cards, identification cards; telling your family
history; making application for government insurance; subscribing to
Liberty bonds; telling what you would like to be in the army; where
you wanted your remains shipped; getting your finger-prints taken, and
also getting your first jab in the arm which gave the first insight
into a typhoid inoculation.

When a moment of ease presented itself during the life
examination--the supply sergeant got busy and started to hand out what
excess supplies he had and, in the matter of uniforms, of which there
was always an undercess, measurements were taken with all the
exactness and precision befitting a Fifth Avenue tailoring
establishment. Why measurements were ever taken has ever remained a
mystery, because almost every soldier can remember wearing his
civilian clothes thread-bare by the time the supply sergeant was able
to snatch up a few blouses and trousers at the quartermasters. And
these in turn were passed out to the nearest fits. It was a case of
line-up and await your turn to try and get a fit, but a mental fit
almost always ensued in the game of line-up for this and line-up for
that in the army.

After being enmeshed in such a coil of red tape all of one whole day,
5 o'clock sounded Retreat, when instruction was given on how to stand
at ease; how to assume the position of "parade-rest"; then, to snap
into attention.

Evening mess was always a joyful time, as was the evening, when the
soldier was free to visit the Y. M. C. A. and later the Liberty
Theatre, or partake of the many other welfare activities that
developed in the course of time. From the first day, however, 9:45 p.
m. was the appointed hour that called to quarters, and taps at 10
o'clock each night sounded the signal for lights out and everybody in
bunk.

The inoculations were three in number, coming at ten day intervals.
When it came time for the second "jab", the paper work was well under
way and the call was issued for instruction on the field of drill
to begin. Many a swollen arm caused gentle memories as part of each
day was gradually being given over to, first calesthenics, then to a
knowledge of the school of the soldier. The recruit was taught the
correct manner of salute, right and left face, about face, and double
time.

Newly designated sergeants and corporals were conscripted to the task
of squad supervision and many exasperating occasions arose when a
recruit got the wrong "foots" in place and was commanded to "change
the foots."

Meals for the first contingent of pioneer recruits ranged from rank to
worse, until the boys parted company with their French civilian cooks
and set up their own culinary department with Sergeant Joseph A.
Loughran, of Hazleton. Pa., in charge. August H. Genetti and Edward
Campbell, both of Hazleton. Pa.; George Musial, of Miners Mills, Pa.,
and Charles A. Trostel, of Scranton, Pa., were installed as the
pioneer cooks. By this mess change the soldiers who arrived in later
contingents were served more on the American plan of cooking.

On September 21st, 1917, came the second section of the selected
quotas, bringing more men to Battery D. Their reception varied little
from the first contingent's, with the exception that the first arrived
soldiers were on the ground to offer all kinds of advice--some of the
advice almost scaring the new men stiff.

The future contingents were greeted with a more completed camp,
because the construction work was continued many weeks after the
soldiers began to arrive. And, in passing, it might be recorded, that
the construction work continued long after the contractors finished
their contracts. Military-like it was done by "detail."

On October 4th and 5th more recruits arrived and then on November 2nd
another large contingent arrived and was assigned to Battery D. This
was the last selected quota to be received directly into the regiment,
for, thereafter, the Depot Brigade received all the newly selected
men.

Almost all of the recruits of the first few contingents, including the
delegation that arrived on November 2nd, came from Eastern
Pennsylvania, from the Hazleton, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre districts
of the Middle Anthracite Coal Fields. The delegation that arrived on
November 2nd was accompanied by St. Ann's Band, of Freeland, Pa. The
band remained in camp over the week-end, during which time a
number of concerts were rendered. The band was highly praised for its
interest and patriotism.

All the men originally assigned to Battery D were not to remain with
the organization throughout their military life. On October 15th,
1917, Battery D lost about half of its members in a quota of 500 of
the regiment who were transferred to Camp Gordon, Georgia. On November
5th, two hundred more were transferred from the regiment and on
February 5th, seventy-two left to join the Fifth Artillery Brigade at
Camp Leon Springs, Texas.

The latter part of May Battery D received a share of 931 recruits sent
to the regiment from the 14th Training Battalion of the 154th Depot
Brigade at Camp Meade. On July 2nd and 3rd, one hundred and fifty more
came to the regiment from the Depot Brigade; 540 from Camp Dix, N. J.,
and Camp Upton, N. Y.; fifty from the aviation fields of the South;
and a quota from the Quartermaster Corps in Florida.

Many of these did not remain long with the battery. In the latter part
of June and the beginning of July the battery was reduced to nearly
one-half and the March replacement draft to Camp Merritt took
thirty-two picked men from the regiment. This ended the transfers.
While in progress, the transfers rendered the regiment like unto a
Depot Brigade. Over four thousand men passed through the regiment,
five hundred of the number passing through Battery D.

CHAPTER V.

LEARNING TO BE A SOLDIER.

"Dress it up!"

And--

"Make it snappy!"

"One, two, three, four."

"Now you've got it!"

"That's good. Hold it!"

"Hep."

Battery D had lots of "pep" during the days of Camp Meade regime.

First Sergeant William C. Thompson, of Forest, Mississippi, kept
things lively for the first few months with his little whistle,
followed by the command, "Outside!"

Merrill C. Liebensberger, of Hazleton, Penna., served as the first
supply sergeant of the battery. David B. Koenig, also of Hazleton,
Penna., ranking first as corporal and later as sergeant, was kept busy
with office work, acting in the capacity of battery clerk. Lloyd E.
Brown, of East Richmond, Indiana, served as the first instrument
sergeant of the battery. John M. Harman, of Hazleton, Penna., was the
first signal-sergeant to be appointed.

It might be remarked in passing that Messrs. Thompson, Liebensberger,
and Harman were destined for leadership rank. Before the outfit sailed
for overseas all three had gained application to officers' training
schools, and were, in the course of time, commissioned as lieutenants.
Battery Clerk Koenig continued to serve the outfit in an efficient
manner throughout its sojourn in France. Instrument-Sergeant Brown
early in 1918 answered a call for volunteers to go to France with a
tank corps. While serving abroad he succumbed to an attack of
pneumonia and his body occupies a hero's resting place in foreign
soil.

A wonderful spirit was manifested in the affairs of Battery D despite
the fact that the constant transfer of men greatly hampered the work
of assembling and training a complete battery for active service in
France. Men who spent weeks in mastering the fundamentals of the
soldier regulations were taken from the organization, to be replaced
by civilians, whereby the training had to start from the
beginning. This caused many changes in plans, systems, and policies.
Rejections were also made for physical disabilities.

For the greater part of the Camp Meade history of the battery, the
organization lacked sufficient men to perform all the detail work.
Thus days and days passed without any military instruction being
imparted.

Instruction in army signalling by wigwag and semaphore was started
whenever a squad or two could be spared from the routine of detail.
Then followed instruction on folding horse blankets, of care of horses
and harness, and lessons in equitation, carried out on barrels and
logs.

Stables and corrals were in the course of construction. By the time
snow made its appearance in November horses were received, also more
detail.

First lessons in the duties of gun-crews and driving squads were also
attempted. Materiel was a minus quantity for a long time, wooden
imitations sufficing for guns until several 3.2's were procured for
the regiment. Later on the regiment was furnished with five 3-inch
U. S. field pieces. Training then assumed more definite form. For
weeks and weeks the gun crews trained without any prospects of ever
getting ammunition and firing actual salvos.

Learning to be a soldier also developed into a process of going to
school. Men were assigned to attend specialty classes. Schools were
established for gunners, schools for snipers, schools for
non-commissioned officers. Here it might be stated that the first
non-coms envied the buck-privates when it came to attending
non-commissioned officers' school one night a week when all the bucks
were down enjoying the show at the Y hut or the Liberty Theatre.

Schools were started for all kinds of special and mechanical duty men;
schools to teach gas-defense; buzzer schools; telephone schools;
smoke-bomb and hand-grenade courses; and map-reading and sketching
schools. Sergeant Earl H. Schleppy, of Hazleton, Penna., who assisted
in the battery office work before he was appointed supply-sergeant,
developed extra lung capacity while the various schools were in
progress. It became his duty to assemble the diverse classes prior to
the start of instruction. He was kept busy yelling for the soldiers to
assemble for class work.

It soon developed in the minds of the men that war-time military life
was mostly drudgery with only the personal satisfaction of doing
one's duty. Hardships and drudgery, however, did not mar the
ambition of the soldier for recreation. Baltimore and Washington were
nearby and passes were in order every Saturday to visit these cities.

Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, during the first few months of camp
life, were off-periods for the soldiers, but later Wednesday afternoon
developed as an afternoon of sport and the men took keen interest in
the numerous athletic interests which were promoted.

On Tuesday, November 6th, a half-holiday was proclaimed and Election
Day observed throughout the camp. The soldiers who availed themselves
of the opportunity of marking the complicated soldier ballot that was
provided, cast the last vote, in many instances, until after their
official discharge.

Daily hikes were on the program in the beginning to develop a hardness
of muscle in the new soldiers. Lieut. Robert Campbell was in charge of
the majority of the daily hikes at the off-set. His hobby was to hike
a mile then jaunt a mile. When it came to long distant running Lieut.
Campbell was on the job. He made many a soldier sweat in the attempt
to drag along the hob-nailed field shoes on a run. Hikes later were
confined to Wednesday afternoon.

Battery D always put up a good showing in the numerous athletic
contests. On Saturday, November 10th, the Battery won the second
banner in the Inter-Battalion Meet; in celebration of which a parade
and demonstration was held on the afternoon of the victory day.

Music was not lost sight of. The boys of Battery D collected the sum
of $175 for the purchase of a piano for barrack 019. Phil Cusick, of
Parsons, Penna., was the one generally sought out to keep the ivories
busy. November 19th witnessed the first gathering together of the
regiment on the parade grounds for a big song fest under the
leadership of the divisional music director. Battery and battalion
song jubilees were conducted at intervals in the O block Y hut.

CHAPTER VI.

FLEETING HOURS OF LEAVE

Towering like a giant over the uniform type of barrack and buildings
at Camp Meade, stood a large observation tower, situated on what was
known as the "plaza," the site of divisional headquarters. A general
panorama from this tower was an inspiring sight. Radiating from the
plaza, extending for several miles in any direction the gaze was
focused, there appeared the vista of the barracks of the troops
together with the sectional Y. M. C. A.'s canteens, stables, corrals
and other supply and administration buildings; also the interposing,
spacious drill fields.

The beauty of this scene was enhanced by the mantle of snow that often
garbed it during the winter mouths. To see a city of 40,000 in such
uniformity as marked the cantonment construction; with its buildings
covered with snow; the large drill fields spread with a blanket of
snow; and, a snow storm raging--is a tonic for any lover of nature.

On the night of Wednesday, November 28th, the first snow greeted the
new soldiers at Camp Meade. The ground, robed in white, breathed the
spirit of the approaching holiday season. The coming of Thanksgiving
found discussion in 019 centered on the subject of passes to visit
"home."

On November 24th fifteen of D battery men were granted forty-eight
hour leaves and departed for their respective homes. All the officers
remained in camp and planned with the men to enjoy the holiday.

The Thanksgiving dinner enjoyed by Battery D was one never to be
forgotten in army life. Mess-Sergeant Al Loughran and the battery
cooks, ably championed by the K. P.'s, worked hard for the success of
the Thanksgiving battery dinner. Battalion and battery officers dined
with the men, the noon-mess being attendant by the following menu:

Oyster Cocktail
Snowed Potatoes Roast Turkey Turkey Filling
Cranberry Sauce Celery Peas
Oranges Apples Candy Cake Nuts
Bread Butter Coffee
Mince Pie
Cigarettes Cigars

Sweet dreams of this dinner often haunted the boys when
"bully-beef" was the mainstay day after day many times during the
sojourn in France.

After the dinner officers and battery members adjourned to the second
floor of the barrack where battery talent furnished an entertainment,
consisting of instrumental and vocal numbers and winding up with
several good boxing bouts. Barney McCaffery, of Hazleton, Penna., a
professional pugilist, was the pride of the battery in the ring.

Corporal Frank McCabe, of Parsons, Penna., was one of the real
comedians of the battery. His character impersonations enlivened many
an evening in 019. Every member of the outfit was deeply grieved when
Corporal McCabe was admitted to the base-hospital the latter part of
January, suffering with heart trouble. On January 24th at 8:20 p. m.,
Corporal McCabe died. This first casualty of the battery struck a note
of sympathetic appeal among the battery members. A guard of honor from
the battery accompanied the body to Parsons where interment was made
with military honors.

After Thanksgiving Battery D settled down to an intensive schedule of
instruction. Days of rain, snow, and zero weather followed, making the
routine very disagreeable at times, but never acting as a demoralizer.
Days that could not be devoted to out-door work were used to advantage
for the schedule of lecture periods during which the officers
conducted black board drills to visualize many of the problems
connected with artillery work.

On December 6th, 1917, a series of regimental practice marches were
instituted, first on foot, then on mount. The first mounted marches,
however, were rather sore-ending affairs, as were the first lessons in
equitation. Saddles and bridles were lacking as equipment for many
weeks after the receipt of the horses. Mounted drill, riding
bare-back, with nothing but a halter chain as a bridle, was the
initiatory degree of Battery D's equitation.

Barrack 0103, about half the size and situated in the rear of 019, was
completed on December 19th, when a portion of Battery D men were
quartered in the new structure, thereby relieving the congestion in
019.

Christmas and New Year's of 1917 furnished another controversy on the
question of holiday furloughs. On Saturday, December 15th, inspection
was called off and forty men were detailed to bring more horses
from the Remount station for use in the battery. The detail completed
its task faithfully, the men being happy in the thought that,
according to instructions, they had, the night previous, made
application for Christmas passes. Gloom greeted the end of the day's
horse convoy. Announcement was made that all Christmas pass orders had
been rescinded in the camp.

The gloom was not shattered until December 20th, when announcement was
made at retreat formation that half of the battery would be allowed
Christmas passes and the other half would be given furloughs over New
Year's Day. The loudest yell that ever greeted the "dismissed" command
at the close of retreat, rent the atmosphere at that time.

More disappointments were in store for the boys before their dreams of
a furlough home were realized. Saturday, December 22nd, was decreed a
day of martial review at Camp Meade. Secretary of War Newton D. Baker
visited the cantonment that day and the review was staged in his
honor. Battery D formed with the regiment on the battery street in
front of 019 at 1:20 o'clock on the afternoon of the review. The
ground was muddy and slushy. The regiment stood in formation until
3:15 o'clock when the march to pass the reviewing stand started. At
4:30 o'clock the review formation was dismissed and the boys dashed
back to 019 to get ready to leave on their Christmas furloughs.

It was a happy bunch that left 019 at 5:15 p. m. that day, under the
direction of Lieut. Berkley Courtney, bound for the railroad station
and home. An hour later the same bunch were seen trudging back to 019.
Their happiness had suddenly taken wing. A mix-up in train schedules
left them stranded in camp for the night, while the hours of their
passes slowly ticked on, to be lost to their enjoyment.

The "get-away" was successfully effected the next morning, Sunday,
December 23rd, when the same contingent marched to Disney, reaching
the railroad yard at 7:30 o'clock, where they were doomed to wait
until 9:15 a. m. until the train left for Baltimore.

More favorable train connections fell to the lot of the New Year's
sojourners to the land of "home."

CHAPTER VII.

WELL GROOMED BY DETAIL.

"This is some job."

And the opinion was unanimous when stable detail at Camp Meade was in
question, especially during the winter of 1917-18, which the Baltimore
weather bureau recorded as the coldest in 101 years. Stable detail at
first consisted of five "buck" privates, whose duty it was to take
care of "Kaiser," "Hay-Belly," and all the other battery horses for a
period of three days.

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