I don’t like Fords

Monday, October 29, 1917:

Reveille sounded this A.M. at 5:45 and we dressed in the dark and cold. Roll call at 6 and breakfast at 6:30. I was assigned to a fatigue with Woodell (Norton-Harjes Section 60) and Anderson (Am. Paris Service). Those of us from the Norton-Harjes and American Field Service who are unattached to any particular section are known as casuals. At 7 o’clock fatigue bugle sounded. Woodell, Anderson and I were given two cars (Fords) and told to go up to the Chateau and paint cars. I ran one of the Fords and managed to get the car up there without smashing it and us. I don’t like Fords and hope we won’t have to use them at the front.

Washed Fords in icy water all morning. In the P.M. we painted two Fords. They were in excellent condition before we spoiled them. They were all new and shiny and we covered them over with an olive green, heavy paint.

The evening was ours to do as we liked. We hovered around the stove trying to keep warm for awhile and then I went to bed.

Tuesday, October 30:

Painted Fords all day. We slopped four more into condition.

Sat around the fire again this evening, too cold to write or read, and drank “pinard” punch with the boys. Pinard punch is wine heated up with lemons. It’s pretty good for warming purposes.

Rude Awakening

On Friday, October 26, 1917, Grant Willard, Allen "Happy" Ahlers and Eric Astlett returned to Paris from leave on the French Riviera--and entered a new life as soldiers in the U.S. Army. They reported to headquarters the following morning and immediately ran afoul of the American military bureaucracy. Report in an hour for transport to the Sandricourt training base! You can't be ready in an hour? Well, come back at 1430 hours for the transport. Returning at 1430 they were told to report Sunday morning at 1030.

The former Norton-Harjes boys were in for rude awakening when they reached their old base north of Paris. The quiet, picturesque farm at Sandricourt they had known only four months earlier had been transformed into a larger American military base. In the months to come, Grant and his comrades would come to know the routine and drudgery of army life.

Sunday, October 28, 1917:

This A.M. at 11:30 we (Eric, Hap and I) left for Sandricourt Base via Neuilly. We got our noon meal and left there at 2:30, arriving in Sandricourt about 5 o’clock. The place is far from being the old Sandricourt Base. Several hundred Ford Ambulances are parked in what used to be a beautiful green pasture in front of the courtyard. The old orchard now affords shelter for barracks and a YMCA tent. The yard was piled with packing cases and Packard trucks with many campaign-hatted soldiers walking around.

A bugle sounded and everybody lined up for mess. We were handed dishes and told to fall into line and report in the office after dinner. We ate soup, meat, potatoes and coffee. In the office we were given blankets and the order of the day and told to get to bed. We were put up in the attic with strangers. It was cold and dark. The heat furnished by a little stove at one end of the room passed out through holes in the roof without giving much comfort. But I slept and slept hard and was plenty warm in spite of the biting cold.

We danced to good American music and played American games.

Tuesday, October 23, 1917:

Slept all morning. Promenaded this P.M. did some shopping and took tea at Vogardes. This evening we were invited out to Broggiotti’s château. Mr. Broggiotti was born in Italy, but went to America when he was 3 years old, ran away from home and went to western U.S. where he became a rough rider on the western ranches. Later he took up singing and since has traveled all over the world. He married an Italian girl and now is the proud father of eight fine children--4 boys and four girls--and the owner of several beautiful châteaux. He and his wife both speak beautiful English. Two of the small boys speak French and Italian. The rest of the family speak English, French, Italian and German. We had a very nice time at their home. We danced to good American music and played American games. "An enjoyable time was had by all."

Wednesday, October 24:

Loafed around most all day. Took coffee this evening with Mr. Blake and Foster Guest, a young American aviator with the French Govt. We went to the beach and met more Americans. A Mrs. Brant was particularly nice to us and asked us to please look her up when we were in Nice again. She has two attractive daughters. We retired early. Tomorrow we leave.

Thursday, October 25:

Packed up and left Nice at 2:52 P.M. on a 1st Class officers’ train. Our hotel bill amounted to about 100 francs a piece including tips and extras. Not bad at all. We got excellent service.

Off to Monaco

Monday, October 22, 1917:

A very eventful day. Eric, Hap and myself left by train at 7 o’clock this morning for Monte Carlo. We traveled down the coast thru the most beautiful country I have ever seen. We were in Monte Carlo by 8:30. After taking pictures of the exterior we were shown through the Cassino -- the famous Monte Carlo Cassino where fortunes have been made and lost by a mere revolving wheel. The place opens at 9 o’clock for men in uniform who are not allowed to gamble and closes at 10 o’clock when the tables are opened. Our guide uncovered several of the tables for us and explained the games. It surely is a lavishly decorated place. We saw the theater where the Prince gives his famed concerts and even got into the Prince’s private box.

Then we went up to Monaco, went into the palace, the Prince’s garden and museum. We took many pictures and then took the train for Menton, the border town between France and Italy. We walked up to the border and across into Italy where we all sent postcards to our families. After doing Menton we returned to Monte Carlo, had tea at the Cafe de Paris beside the Cassino and then took the tram for Nice. It was indeed a glorious day and we are indeed thankful that we were fortunate enough to be down in this wonderful place during the war. We are making a very inexpensive trip and seeing much for our money.

They tell us there are many Americans in Nice who are anxious to entertain us all.

Happy Ahlers, Eric Astlett and Grant Willard set off for the French Riviera for nine splendid days of leave...

Saturday, October 20:

We put in a pretty good night in our compartment. I slept the best I have ever slept on a French train. The scenery all day has been beautiful. It is warm down here -- quite different from Paris atmosphere. The train is pretty well crowded with officers. Nice is a very popular place for permissionaires and one certainly doesn’t blame them. We are passing down the Mediterranean coast. The water is very blue, the shore line a dull grey except where a cliff juts straight up out of the water which appears a beautiful pink color. The foliage is heavy and green with many palm trees lining walks and roadways. Flowers are plentiful. On our left are the barren mountain tops looking down at us. These are not as beautiful in themselves as those we saw in Rupt-sur-Moselle, but they make the entire picture the most wonderful I have ever set eyes on. They make a perfect background for these little garden spots called villages.

Arrived at Nice about 3 P.M. The first person we recognized was Fraser on his way back to Paris. He reported Nice as being the best place in the world. The next person was Ralph Jacob who just came down a few days ago with Art (his brother) and Don Smith. They return to America soon. Ralph told us to go to the O’Connor Hotel, which we did. We reserved three rooms on the fourth floor overlooking the sea for 12 francs a day with meals. It is a beautiful hotel and, apparently, very popular. This is not the popular season in Nice we are told. January and February are their best months but nevertheless the hotel is well filled with officers and civilians of both sexes.

We have met a Mr. Blake who is living here in the interests of the Canadian Secret Service. He is a fine man and takes it upon himself to look after the young fellows who come down here as see to it that they meet the best people and see and do the best things. Admiral Moore (ex) of the U.S. is staying here with his sister. He is a spry old man of about 70 years who takes a great deal of pleasure in meeting Americans and telling his interesting stories. He knows Minnesota very well and like all people from Minneapolis. There is a Canadian Colonel here who is very nice and has gotten up a swimming club for tomorrow morning to meet at 9:30 with penalties for all tardiness. The club now has a membership of about 12. They tell us there are many Americans in Nice who are anxious to entertain us all.

Why can’t they listen to people who have had experience and know?

Save for a letter that Grant Willard wrote home on October 13, there is a two-week gap in his diary. He resumed writing on October 20 while on a further leave.
Just a few quick explanations: while in Paris Grant stopped by the offices of a firm called Fenwick Frères & Co. (Fenwick Brothers), importers of American machine tools. Grant may have had a connection with them through his job at the Wells-Dickey Trust Co. before the war, or through his father at the Mankato's First National Bank. In any event, Fenwick trusted Grant enough to lend him money.

The other explanation has to do with Grant's occasional references to "Allentown" in his diary and letters. Shortly after the United States entered World War I in April 1917, the War Department created the U.S. Army Ambulance Service (USAAS) to allay French fears of a serious disruption in the vital ambulance service on which they had come to depend, and to provide the same service to American troops in the field. New recruits to the USAAS got their military training at a camp outside Allentown, Pennsylvania, and was the source for Grant's sometimes disparaging remarks about men from "Allentown." Some of the AFS and Norton-Harjes drivers shared a sentiment that they were superior to the Allentown drivers because they had volunteered before (sometimes years before) war was declared by the Americans. But as you'll see, Grant misjudged these men.
Saturday, October 20, 1917:

This is the first opportunity I have had to catch up on this record. Many things have happened during the last two weeks and, writing at this time, many interesting details will be omitted, but I shall try to assimilate those most clear to me.

On Friday, October 5, I called on Agnes [Nicholson] at her pension and took dinner with her there. We had an interesting talk and I’m sure she will help me out when she gets back to America. She said she would do her darnedest to get Dot over here and would explain my enlisting in a way which would make Dot proud of me. God bless her if she does! She left for Bordeaux on the next day so I didn’t have the opportunity of sending anything, but messages back by her. All souvenirs from the front are too bulky and I had no time to purchase some little remembrance. I’m sorry for it and tried to get down to Bordeaux before she sailed, but couldn’t get my "ordre de mouvement" soon enough. I sincerely hope the Rochambeau had an easy journey.

Got a room at the [Hotel] Silvia with Hap Ahlers and we were having much fun together when our money ran out. We formed a corporation and pooled our capital. I called on Mr. Fenwick and was advanced 250 francs. This carried Happie and I through.

Took Miss Mullen to dinner once and once to hear Mignon at the Opéra Comique and she took me to dinner twice and had us up for two teas, at one of which she served coffee. Took lunch one afternoon with M. André Gotie of Fenwick Frères and toured the city with him. He is a fine Frenchman having spent several months in America.
The blow came when Mr. Havemeyer told us our section was being relieved in two days by an Allentown section. This all happened on Friday, October 12. We had a hurried meeting and concluded that as long as all of the five who had signed on with the new work were then on permissions that it was up to some of us to return and look after our belongings. So Hap Ahlers, Johnny and myself asked Mr. Havemeyer for an ordre de mouvement so that we could catch the 12 o’clock train for Toul. He told us to go to rue Pinel -- it was then 10:45. We were told there that we couldn’t get an ordre without papers from 7, rue François. After we had argued and argued and accomplished nothing, Mr. Kemp appeared. We told him our story and got our ordre almost immediately -- 11:15. Could we make the 12 o’clock? Yes, we picked Johnnie up at the Silvia and pushed a taxi to the depot at top speed leaving our rooms still engaged and everything we owned strewn all around. We thought we would return on the following day with the section. We reached Toul at 7 that evening, managed to run on to a man who could speak English who called up our headquarters at Trondes and I talked with the Chief on the phone. He sent a car right in for us so that by 10 P.M. we were in camp. It surely seemed good to see all the boys again.
On Saturday, October 13, the Allentown boys came and our section with the exception of Zac Jordan, Bill Sloan, Rappley, Bartlett, Clark, Johnny, Hap, Chief and myself took the morning train into Paris. It was hard to see them go and the Chief almost broke down. Embusqué [company pet] was never the same dog again, he missed the boys so. We nine stayed until Tuesday A.M., October 16, with the new crowd helping them get started in their new work and instructing them on the Fiat car.

They are fine fellows, all college men and all from the southern States. They have at their head a doctor of the boys own choice which was exceedingly fortunate. They were long on discipline which is to their advantage. It was our weak spot. We acted out of respect to our Chief. They act because it has been ordered to do so. Our kitchen was remodeled and much improved. Our attic was swept and shined like a parlor. Everything was systematic and performed to the command of the bugle. How different! They needed help from us, however. They were ignorant about the cars and the work at the front, of course. Their equipment was far too light. And right here I would like to launch a severe criticism of the U.S. War Department. It is ridiculous that these boys should be sent out for winter work at the front with one blanket, one pair of shoes, two pair of heavy underwear, no gloves, regulation winter army coat with no lining and no fur collar, no cots and no helmets. It’s absurd and criminal. There is absolutely no excuse for it. They have had ample opportunity to find out what this work really means at the front and there are many of us who could tell them if they didn’t have opportunity of experiencing it themselves. It’s exasperating to say the least. We left them our helmets, gas masks, fur coats and as many warm clothes as we could spare in the way of underwear, sweaters and shirts and gloves. They weren’t even allowed to carry sweaters in their equipment. They most all had them due to the kindness of their Lieutenant. But all of this extra clothing is so important in this work and yet it is all prohibited by the American Army. Why can’t they listen to people who have had experience and know?

Well, on October 16 we left the boys in much better spirits and with a little better knowledge of their requirements and came to Paris. Hap and I again roomed together at the Mont Thabor as the Silvia was full. Our time was spent in getting our discharge from the American Red Cross and reporting to American headquarters for our new work. Everything is in a mess. No one seems to know what is to be expected of him. Our Chief was refused a commission which is a rotten shame and a disgrace to the U.S. management. They couldn’t find a better man in the world for this work. He is a natural leader of boys such as we are. On Friday when we called we were asked if we would like a permission before we went into the new work. Of course we did so we were given 9 days in which to do as we liked. After a short consultation we (Eric, Hap and myself) decided to go to Nice. Johnny was all for getting a job and Fraze was already in Nice. We got our ordre de mouvement at the American headquarters, rushed over to rue Pinel and got them activated. By 5:30 P.M. we had all arrangements made for going on the 8:05 express - 2nd class.

Cleaned up and went over to call on Miss Mullen

Section Sixty-One's chief asked Grant and others if they wanted to go on extended permission [leave]. The men had had no time off since arriving at the front in August, and were worn out from two months of heavy duty. Grant prepared to stay on leave until "my money runs out."

Map drawn by Grant in his diary of the location of the Hotel Silvia.

Thursday, October 4, 1917:

Left camp this A.M. at 6:30 with Geo. Sherer, Rap, Art. Jac, and Al with Geo. at the wheel for Bar-le-Duc. Nothing happened en route except we locked hubs with a general’s cart and almost tipped him over in our haste to make the 10:17 out of Bar.

Ate breakfast at the English canteen, ham and eggs, coffee and toast, and Al and I boarded the train.

Reached Paris about 2:30 after an excellent dinner on the train for 8 francs a piece. Got a room at the Silvia hotel, cleaned up and went over to call on Miss Mullen. I wanted to get hold of Agnes Nicholson and by using Miss Mullen’s telephone and her ingenuity we learned that Agnes was still in Paris.

From the edge of these woods we look over into Boche land.

Tuesday, October 2, 1917:

Sommedieue 2008

1 P.M. - Still here at Bergerac. Haven’t yet received a call. Slept like a log all night. Dreamed of home because I read a letter from Mother just before going to bed. It was so real that I had to think several minutes after I woke up in order to locate myself.

Startling news! The Chief just drove up in the staff car and excitedly announced that Sommedieue had been shelled and that the section had orders to move out immediately. The division is also moving. The section moves to Marquenterre, our most advanced post. Somewhat of a joke, moving up within 2 kilom of the Boche trenches in order to get away from shell fire. The Chief ordered us to stay on duty until relieved. Soon our cars were passing and each one stopped to give its version of the shell fire. 22 shells were sent in and the town was pretty well blown up. None of the boys were touched, though a shell had uprooted a tree in the next yard to ours and deposited half of it on our eating tables and the other half clear over our house into the road in front. Our Captain in the town was cut above the eye slightly and one dog was killed. Outside of these casualties the only damage done was to property.

Was relieved at 6 P.M. and went to our new barracks at Marquenterre. We are quartered in wooden shacks, surrounded by heavy woods and many abris. Our cars are scattered and heavily camouflaged. We have instructions to use no lights whatsoever and not to leave the barracks except when necessary. From the edge of these woods we look over into Boche land. The Frenchmen up here are afraid we are going to draw shell fire.

The pajamas never came, much to my regret.

Without ever having heard from the folks at home about the advisability of joining the army, Grant wrote to his father to explain his actions.

France – Oct. 2, 1917

Dear Dad:-

Last Wednesday the American recruiting officer came around and asked us point blank if we were going to stay in this service under the American Govt. It was our last chance with any hope of staying in a location similar to our present one – in other words, it was our last chance to stay on with the Red Cross work in France under the command of the French army. If our decision was delayed we would probably serve with the American army with the Allentown boys should we decide to stay in the Red Cross work. There are several reasons why we should desire to stay under the French Govt. even as enlisted American privates which reasons I don’t care to go into here. Five out of our section enlisted for the “duration of the present emergency” and I was one. I have been examined and sworn in together with Allen Ahlers, Eric Astlett, Stuart Fraser and Johnny Taylor and our Chief (Bullard). It’s more of an individual matter than anything else. Listen while I tell you why I made my decision: I wanted to come home like everything just merely for the sake of being home. I wanted to see and be with you all again and out of this mess over here. On the other hand I know I would never be satisfied in the States when there is a job for my Govt. on this side, right here and now. Of course, I would be doing something if I returned to help us win this war but it wouldn’t be my bit because here I am on the scene of action, trained and experienced in a department for which trained and experienced men are in demand. I have no more to take me home than millions of other fellows have. I could go into no other department without added cost to the Govt. and then at the risk of being of less value than in my present capacity which work I like. Dorothy wants me and I want Dorothy but how could this want be fixed up by my return? We wouldn’t be separated. Of course, we would be closer and the same risk which is bound to cause worry wouldn’t be present but are these things to be taken into consideration when deciding a question like this? I have tried to be fair all around and my decision was the result. I am now receiving private’s pay in the American army but am still attached to the French Govt. We expect to be taken over in a couple of weeks. What will become of us, I don’t know but in all probability we who have signed on will be collected in a body somewhere and sections on the French plan (20 cars and 40 men) will be formed from the old men with enough Allentown men to complete as many sections as they can make of us. The French Govt. asks for 20 sections so I should think that we, who have already worked with them, would continue to do so. I sincerely hope so and nothing would please me better than to be attached to our present division.

I hope this plan meets with your approval, Dad, and am sure it will when you know conditions as we know them on this side. I expect to have a permission [leave] of a week or so in a few days which will be the last one I will get for a year. Coming home for a visit is quite out of the question.

Don Smith, Fred Wheeler, Rus Stair, Henry Kingman and the two Jacob boys, whom I have played around with more than other, are undecided as to what they will do. I think most of them will return to the States and take a chance on getting what they want. I’m not enough of a gambler for that.

What my address will be I don’t know. Continue sending my mail as previously until notified to the contrary. I have received none of the packages you sent me outside of newspapers. The pajamas never came, much to my regret. Your money has been very ample. I still have your last shipment of 500 francs untouched. After one becomes accustomed to the food over here there is little need for his spending money except for souvenirs of various kinds. It is quite a favorite stunt to have the various trophies of war made up into some useful article by the poilus, some of whom are ex-jewelers and very clever. For a small sum they do very nice work. I had a couple of vases made out of two brass shells which I picked up at Verdun. They are quite pretty. Another stunt is having aluminum rings made with a Boche button for a seal. I hope I may get some of these things home to you.

It doesn’t seem possible to me that this war can hang on much longer. I predict that a year from now will see peace once more. I don’t imagine I know as much about recent current topics as you do in the States. We hear very little out here. But it doesn’t seem possible that Russia’s present trouble can continue long without a decided move on the part of Japan. With America, England, France and Russia or Japan and Italy all fighting together after a severe winter which is bound to be harder on Germany than any of the other countries I can’t see how they are going to face another spring drive. They are too weak to launch an effective drive themselves even now. While the Americans won’t be worth much at first it won’t be long before they will be as good as the Canadians and everybody knows over here that the Canadian troops are as much feared by the Boche as any troops.

The American troops on this side are very busy but I do wish they were training on a quiet front in actual trenches instead of so far behind the lines. It would be much better for them and much better for the French troops who are beginning to get impatient. The Frenchman thinks that 3 mos. is enough to train any man to be a soldier not realizing that we hadn’t even a foundation on which to start, and seeing so many Americans on this side for so long naturally makes them wonder whether we are over here just for fun or to fight.

I am writing this letter in the front seat of my car at one of our posts. Things are very quiet here today. We have been here now for 18 hours and haven’t yet received a wounded man. The country around here is beautiful, particularly now that the trees have started to turn. It is very hilly and the hills are very heavily wooded with hard woods – mostly maple. It’s a pleasure to come up here on duty because it is so beautiful. I imagine I am home on some kind of a camping party where holes in the ground take the place of tents and the banging of batteries the blasting in some nearby iron mine. It takes a pretty good imagination sometimes but last night it worked so well that I dreamed all night of home. Everything was so real that it took me several seconds to realize that I was still in France when I woke up. Everything was just as I had left it. You all looked and acted the same. Rev. Castles was also there because there’s a little French brancardier out here who reminds me of Mr. Castles.

I hope you will not disapprove of my decision. I acted in the best way I knew. I wish that Dorothy were over here so that I could see her on my permissions.

Much love,Grant.