WWI Memoir of C.R. Black

World War I Memories

from

My Diary --

C.R. Black

THE WEAVER My life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me.
I cannot choose the colors
he weaveth steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow,
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent
Ant the shuttle ceases to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the skillful weaver's hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

At Nielles France, July 19 1948 -- CR Black

When the United States entered the world's conflict in 1917, many young bloods were eager to participate in the excitement, or felt it their duty to follow the path of their illustrious forefathers by enlisting in Uncle Sam's new army for the duration of the war, then existing only on paper, but in plans in the greatest constructive minds in the country.

The executive ability later displayed in carrying out those plans and the results obtained give all Americans who had the opportunity to make a comparison with the same work by Europeans, more enthusiastic for Yankee progressiveness and ability than ever before.

After enlisting and being told all about the signal corps we hastened to bid home folks and friends a fond farewell, placed our business affairs in such shape that they would not suffer in the event of an immediate departure of us newly made soldiers, or rather new enlistees.

NOW THE STORY

On February the 13th at Lisbon North Dakota, together with twelve other Ransom County young men we enlisted and were sworn into the U.S. Army in the Signal Corps at the Ransom County Court House in the presence of County Auditor Chas. E. Best and witnessed by Dr. T.C. Patterson and another court house official. The unlucky number thirteen of us and the date thirteenth proved fairly lucky for us. When we answered roll call and signed on the dotted line we were: Halfton M Sagvold, Dan M Hookenson, Henry Hookenson and Edwin Ankerfelt of McLeod, North Dakota, Leo J. Billings and Curtis Armstrong of Lisbon, Francis McCann of Verona, Harvey Sole and Earl M Sannes of Enderlin, Clyde M Duty, Percy G. Carter, George Hoy, and myself of Sheldon, North Dakota.

After a brief talk given to us by Auditor Best and a handshake we took in the town so to speak until our train arrived which took us to Fargo. At our brief stop in Sheldon we stepped off to shake hands and bid goodbye to several friends.

Arriving in Fargo we were met by a Sgt. from the Fargo Recruiting office who took charge of us, took us to the office, issued us each our meal and sleeper tickets, and Earl Sannes was placed in charge of us. After eating supper and giving the town the last final going-over we went to the Great Northern Depot where we entrained and pulled out of Fargo shortly before Midnight for Minneapolis, arriving there the next day around noon.

Here we were joined by some sixty other enlistees from the northwest. Most of us took off down town to see the sights while others stayed close to the depot area. We were instructed to be back at the depot at 7 that evening. However, our train arrived some two hours late and when it did arrive we found out it was an 8-coach troop train and we were bound for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. "What have we done now?" several said. "That's where the Penetentary [sic] is". Well our trip to this place consumed two days and one night; we arrived there on the 17th.

At Forth Leavenworth

Fort Leavenworth was strictly an old military town, rows of big brick barracks three stories high and perhaps 50 years old. These were well furnished, modern and up-to-date, steam heat, hard wood floors, etc. Oh, boy, we thought, "This is going to be the life." Here we were kept busy for several days, taking shots for this and that, also vaccinated and it seemed that every Dr. you went to was armed with an epidermic needle ready to give you a shot for something or other. We were served very good eats at one of the several big brick mess halls; what we had was good but very little of it. This humdrum passed by after several days and finally we were called out to line up and get our uniforms. This turned out to be some great feature. We formed a line and passed through a building, the quartermaster's office and as we walked by a long counter where several men in uniforms stood, each one threw or handed you a piece of your olive drab duds; one a shirt, then another a trouser, one a pair of shoes, another a jacket and so on until you had your outfit. Then we were marched out and into a large one room building, turned loose and told to dress up. Well, you should have seen the fits and misfits, it sure was a darb. If you ever did any trading and swapping you did it here. There were some three hundred of us and we finally emerged dressed up in our first U.S. duds - what a sight. We were given sort of a barracks bad to pack our civilian clothes in to send "back home" and there were several fellows armed with pencil and paper taking your names and ones of whom you wanted them sent to. They charged each of us a "buck" and not only us but several others found out weeks later that our personals never did reach home. Some graft.

After a few days, we got our first try at "K.P.". Well we washed, scrubbed, and polished pots and kettles 'til they shined like a nigger's heel.

A few more shots, and by now our arms were just about air conditioned and did the old vaccination ever take ahold. We were lucky to be able to lift our arm, let alone use it.

Very early one morning about 3 a.m. the old bugle blew and we were ordered to dress in full regalia and get out in formation. This we did and stood until nearly 7 a.m. going through the process of splitting up. There were over 400 of us in line, a big old Irish Capt. held in his hand all our names in alphabetical order. He'd call out a name in "A", he'd step one pace forward and then he'd blat out some name in "B", forward he'd go. Then to "C" and so on until he reached the "Z" zone. Then over again. After he'd gone through the process several times he decided to quit and the result was, those that stepped forward were in one bunch and the balance left was in another.