American and German dead are lying everywhere in terrible positions.

Still a bit weak from jaundice, Grant finally caught up again with SSU 647 on October 9, 1918. He found them outside the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, which was pretty much destroyed by the battle between the retreating Germans and the advancing Americans. In and around the town today you can visit memorials to soldiers from Pennsylvania and Missouri who died there.

Before the Great War, Varennes' most famous hour came in June 1791 when a fleeing King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette and their immediate family were captured trying to escape over the border into Belgium. It was said Louis was discovered because of his resemblance to his image on a coin.

From the moment he rejoined his unit, Grant was on the move until the Armistice was signed a month later. Suddenly, after four years of stalemate and war of attrition, armies were out of the trenches and on the move again. 



Varennes-en-Argonne, October 2008

Wednesday, October 9, 1918:

Left this morning in the staff car on top of a lot of luggage to find our section. Passed through many ruined villages and American traffic such as I have never seen before. About 11 o’clock we suddenly ran onto 647’s camp. Wow, what a relief! The boys never looked better. We fell on their necks and kissed them all. We are living in a tent just outside of Varennes[-en-Argonne] near the field hospital and cross roads jammed with traffic night and day.

Fritz tries for this corner with big stuff about twice a day. He has come uncomfortably close to our tent several times--once showering us with mud. It is typical October weather--continual rain and the mud is terrific. The Boche have only been out of here a few days and our boys are gradually pushing them out of the Argonne up onto the flats. Tanks are being used in the level places and French and American cavalry are waiting in large numbers to rush Fritz when we once get him in the open.

Tank being towed past ambulances

Our section is working night and day, every car and every man -- even the cooks. Our posts are continually changing being any place along the roads where the wounded can be dressed. The 82nd relieved the 28th yesterday and is now going forward with loses in considerable numbers. It is reported that they can only hold up a few days longer.

4 P.M. Titchner just came in and reported his car ruined by a shell. He was in the car when the first one punctured a tire and the radiator. He was in the ditch when the second blew his car to bits. Lucky, eh? No one hurt.



Thursday, October 10:

Al LaFleur had a close one last night. Was loading his car when a shell landed close, killing the man they were loading and only skinned Al’s knuckles. Not very lucky. 

Apremont

Took Henry Signor’s car this A.M. and with Sherman as an aide went to Apremont. Apremont has been in our hands two days. The dressing station is in an old mill which is the only whole building in town. The water run electric power wheel was running when the Americans took the town and electricians are afraid to stop it for fear the place will blow up. It is quiet up here now though several shells have come in pretty close. We make trips from here to Châtel[-Chéhéry] -- a town about 7 km up the road.

4:30 P.M. - The Americans are now trying to take Cornay and the noise is terrific. The 325th is trying to storm the place for the second time. Cornay is about 4 km beyond Châtel and a very important place because it is on the highest hill overlooking the Argonne and the plateau beyond. The Boche are resisting strongly. Châtel falls in the line of the counter-barrage and Rority just came in showing us where a piece of shell had cut across his leather coat going through two books which he had in his breast pockets. Close call! 

I have had no very close calls personally. The road between here and Châtel has not yet been cleared of dead and the trip up is gruesome to say the least. American and German dead are lying everywhere in terrible positions -- some without heads and some with half a body.