A STORY
of
THE 305th MACHINE GUN BATTALION
77th DIVISION
A.E.F.
By
HENRY W. SMITH
FOREWORD
THE intervening
years since the World War have seen numerous histories
published setting forth the record of the American
divisions that took part in the struggle - including our
own, the 77th. We of the 305th Machine Gun Battalion,
which was an integral part of that famous Division, feel,
however, that some word should be set down as a fitting
memorial to the spirit of our old Battalion in the war
and to give us something of a tangible nature that we may
pass on to future members of our own families if nothing
more. This is not intended to be an accurate,
chronological history of the 305th Machine Gun Battalion,
as data of that nature is a matter of record and is no
doubt available to seekers of detail. Our story is more
of a personal record, a human interest story, as told by
members of the various companies comprising the
Battalion. In general knowing practically nothing of
things military at the outset the Battalion was molded
into a fighting organization with an esprit de corps
unsurpassed.
Chapter
1. WeAre Born
2. We Set Sail
3. France At Last
4. 40 and 8 and Billets
5. La
Panne
6.
Lorraine
7. We
Take Positions in the Line
8. We
Leave Lorraine
9. On
to the Vesle
10. We
Relieve the Fourth Division
11. The
Vesle River
12. A
Royal reception and A Short Rest
13.
Advance to the Aisne and Some Rumors
14.
Again on the Move
15.
The Argonne
16.
Rough Going
17. In
the Open at Last
18.
The Beginning of the End
19. We
Leave the Front For the Last Time
20.
Gillancourt
21.
Precigne - We See General Pershing
22.
Home- The Battalion Passes Into History
23.
The Medical Detachment
Archives- From
Information provided to us.
Company A
Company
B
The
Diary of Clement J. Burger- 305th machine Gun Battalion
-Company B