A Special Contribution Courtesy of
Anthony G. Finan & Crimson Shamrock Press



Excerpted from:
All for Heaven, Hell or Hoboken: The World War I Diary and Letters of Clair M. Pfenning, Flash Ranger, Company D, 29th Engineers, AEF
Reprinted by permission of the Author and Publisher

Available from Crimson Shamrock Press, 8631 Grantwood Trails Ct., St. Louis MO for $17.95 + $4.00 shipping. Missouri residents must add $1.21 sales tax.



A TRIP OVER LAND ON THE FRENCH "PULLMAN"

From the Diary of Clair M. Pfennig



edited by



Anthony G. Finan



Traveling Across France


Pvt. Pfennig's War Service and Career

At the age of 26, Clair Pfennig was drafted into the National Army of the United States to fight in the World War. After basic training at the Washington DC Barracks, he was assigned to Company D, 29th Engineers. On July 9, 1918 Private Pfenning boarded a transport ship in Hoboken, New Jersey bound for Europe.

Upon arrival in France, Private Pfennig travelled by rail to the Lorraine district of France. In August, he attended advanced training schoolf for engineers at Fort St. Menge outside the town of Langres. There he received specialized instruction in flash ranging at the newly-created Flash and Sound Ranging School. . . [His unit] took up position at the front iin the Toul sector of the Lorraine, outside the town of Thiacourt. . . until the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.

After the war ended, his unit was one of the few chosen to travel into Luxembourg and Germany as an occupying force. . . Following a lengthy bout with influenza, Private Pfennig finally returned to the U.S. on March 11, 1919. He received his honorable discharge 11 days later.


Black Doughboys of the Segregated 92nd Division
Clair Pfennig's Unit Would Eventually Be Assigned to the Second Army with these Troops


When he returned home to Bristol [Connecticut], Clair Pfenning married Ruth E. Olson, the woman to whom he had proposed priot to his induction. . . [After a career as] a registered engineer and land surveyor in Connecticut...at the age of 81, Clair M. Pfennig died on August 22, 1973.


Pvt. Pfennig Discovers France

July 25

Bugle sounded at 1am
Reached R.R. Station 4am
Boarded trains at 5:30am
Pulled out at 6am








Boarded the "French Pullman" other words "French Freight Cars" sign on door said 8 Chevaux (about 1/2 the Am. Car Size) 40 Hommes so 42 of us piled. Had a slow day. Stoped once for coffee. Food issue was good. Slept on floor. Passed Rennes late at night

July 26

Moved on all day destination changed to Langres Station. Sidetracked for some time because of supplies to Chateau Thierry Drive. Passed Tours in P.M. Not much to see but fields. Passed Gun Factory at 7 P.M. "Krupp Factory of France"/ Left main line and moved all night. French coffee served at midnight and tried to sleep -- d___ d___ d___ -- Passed throu Bourges.

July 27

Traveled right along during morning. Reached Dijon at 11:30 Red Cross served coffee and cakes. Was best ever. Put in supply of eats left 1:30 P.M. in good spirits. Reached U.S. Camp Williams at 4:00 Side tracked and Red Cross again showed their colors. Was switched around [and] left 7 P.M. reached Langres at 11:30 P.M. Trucks carried us to [Longeau].

July 28

Reached Barracks with baggage at 3:30 A.M. Turned in at night on floor. Better than box cars. had little sleep, eat breakfast and visited the French village. All of stone -- manure piles in street. You judge the hospitality and money of a place by the size of the manure pile. Took shoes off first time in four days and washed hands and face. Not able to take bath or wash any thing. Feeling good but tired. Barracks used before by 165th Infantry of Rain Bow Division on arrival.

Gen Pershing Passed in auto at retreat.


Village Behind the Front - Note Manure Piles Near Houses


July 29

Was fair day. Good food but not enough. Inspection of rifles at 3:00 P.M. . . Light till 9:30 P.M.

Camp located on huge plataue 1200' A.S.L. [Above Sea Level] and on main truck line to front from Dijon. Prices high.

July 30

Clear warm day. Was day of rest. Had Company Bath at 2 P.M. in Canal of the Marne. First bath since the Toloa pumped salt water and first good change since left Wash. Barracks.

July 31

Clear [and] warm. Right to buy light wines granted at solidiers hours 10-1:30 [and] 5:00 - 9:00 Served in wine cellars by little beer maids

Saw the French style of Bull servicing Cow on Main St. of Langres.


Sources and thanks: The help of the author and his publisher is greatly appreciated. Their volume carefully follows the spellings and mispellings of Pvt. Pfennig. In some cases, I corrected some spellings especially on place names to help the reader. Glenn Hyatt and Ray Mentzer contributed the photos. MH

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