Only a few days after Co. “L” settled in at the French village of Essey les Eaux General Pershing and France’s Prime Minister Clemenceau came by to inspect the newly arrived troops of the 332nd Infantry prior to selecting Colonel Walllace's regiment as the sole U.S. combat unit to serve on the Italian Front. Ralph's own Co. "L" was one of the units Pershing and Clemenceau inspected that day. [ Click here to read the Article about the selection of the 332nd Infantry for duty on the Italian Front ]
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Once all of the excitement of traveling to Italy and the ceremony upon arrival had died down and regular military life had resumed, the time in the new country for the men of the 332nd was fairly ordinary and uneventful. At least that's the way Ralph described in his letters. After the regiment had moved into camp at Valeggio, Ralph wrote:
“Italy 8-25 1918 Dear Sis, … I think I wrote you last just before we moved out of the town where we were quartered to this place where we are in a regular camp under canvas so I’ll not have a great deal to tell you.
“It has been almost two weeks since we moved out here and believe me it sure is a relief to get away from being cooped up in a stuffy old billet as most of them are. We have quite a camp here and by now things are fixed up pretty nice. We have the regular squad tents and as only six of us happened to be in this one, we have plenty of room and have it fixed up pretty nice. From the way they are fixing up everything it looks as if here is where we stay until it is all over. We have a Red Cross building and also a YMCA where they have almost everything a fellow wants [a small section at the end of this paragraph is blacked out with heavy pencil scribbling—it is not clear if Ralph did this or that his letter was censored].
“Nothing exciting has taken place since being here, about all we do is easy on with a regular drill schedule, with Sat afternoon and Sundays off. The drill is not at all hard, but the heat is something fierce. Such a thing as rain is unknown here and believe me winter an cold weather sure will be welcome. There is a river near here and a plunge in it certainly goes good. The water is great being quite warm and as clear as a crystal, one being able to see the bottom almost at any depth. …
“Now for a little more and then I’ll stop. As yet we are just as far from the front as ever, with no prospect of seeing it very soon. The whole bunch is much on the fence as to why we are down here and to what we are going to do in the future. Most likely the same as we have done in the past, that is nothing. …”
During the next couple of weeks the goings-on around “Camp Wallace” seemed to have become a bit less routine:
“Italy 9-8 1918 Dear Sis, Nothing much to write about this week. Made the trip to the trenches, as I told you, on schedule time. We had our evening mess enroute, arriving at destinations and relieved other battalion according to previous arrangements. We all had a most enjoyable time of it. We had just got located and comfortably settled to pass a quiet and pleasant night, but for some reason our plans failed for about the middle of the night it began to rain and with it the fun began. No attempt was made to keep dry, because we were all soaked to the skin right at the start and remained so until the next afternoon, when it stopped raining long enough for us to dry off, before being relieved. Many dropped on the ground where they stood and went to sleep, paying no attention to the rain whatever, others stood up against trees and a few pitched their pup tents. It sure was a great night and a fine looking bunch the next morning, but everyone was happy. Too many humorous incidents happened to mention, so I’ll say nothing about them except there were some dandies and to appreciate them, one had to be at the scene of action. We were relieved and arrive back in camp on time and I mean all were glad to get back to the squad tents and bunks. I guess that about finishes said trip, so I’ll go on with what happened during the rest of the past week. Nothing exciting happened at in fact we had a very quiet week.
“About all we did the whole week with the exception of yesterday and today was to go out to a place near here and practice grenade throwing from 7AM to 2PM and the day was done. Very easy schedule. Yesterday was devoted to equipment and quarters inspection in the AM and a ball game in the PM, the 2nd Batt coming out winners. This AM we had a regimental field meet, in which quite a number of close events were run off. Our battalion the 3rd took the lead by winning the 5 mile race and kept it up until the end coming out way ahead of the others. Nothing else doing to day. Had a good sleep right after mess and now we are enjoying a rain, snow, hail and wind storm. Thot the tent was going down and had to stop writing to help fix it up. Nothing new in the wind, lot of rumors going the rounds. Have no idea what we are going to do. …”
Ralph continued to play down the events he and the rest of the men had experienced even though there are records of much more that occurred while the 332nd Infantry was in camp at Valeggio — most likely, as "Top Sergeant" of Company "L," he was acting dutifully, intentionally being vague, appropriately omitting sensitive details and just writing about the routine and positive incidents:
“Italy 9-22 1918 Dearest Sis, Again it is time for me to write you, but what in the devil I’m going to write about I’m unable to say. So little has taken place during the las two weeks that it is hardly worth writing at all.
“During the early part of last week we paid another visit to the practice trenches but did not have near as much fun as the first time, as it didn’t rain. The latter part of the week was used up by training with the Italians. Very soft, more rest than work. As usual we had Sat and Sunday off, with the exception of attending a military funeral Sat P.M. [ he is referring to the funeral for the victims of the trench mortar training accident on September 13 – Right Click here to read about the accident ]
“The week just past amounted to almost nix in the way of news. We put in the week with the Italians again except Wednesday when we were on the rifle range.
“After all scores had been counted and averaged, we found our Company stood high in the regt and also our battalion. Friday was an Italian holiday so we had nothing to do. Many of the men visited various town nearby. Nothing doing yesterday and today.
“Nothing new doing. Plenty of rumors as to what we’re going to do, but as yet we are still here, with not prospects of moving soon. Most everyone is having a good time and enjoying good health and fair grub. The weather is the best ever and quite warm which makes swimming still good. …”
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A few days after the Armistice of November 11th had gone into effect, Ralph wrote home about some of his experiences since the 332nd Infantry left its camp near Valeggio. This time his letter covered more events, was more descriptive and contained much more detail:
“Somewhere in Austria Nov. 15th, 1918 “Dearest Sis: - …. I’ll go back to the time l wrote last, also to the time we started in the fight and recount some of the most interesting events.
“I stopped writing about a week before we left Treviso account of doing much hiking and things being in a more or less unsettled condition as we were all expecting to have any time. It was just four weeks ago yesterday that we started hiking and I mean we sure did hike some too, and with a full pack on our backs. We hiked every day, with the exception of Sunday, until the next weds. No one could understand the reason for so much hiking as it seemed we were only taking a walk out in the country to eat dinner such as it was and then walk back to town. Nothing of special interest happened on these hikes only we put in two days of it in a steady downpour of rain everyone getting soaked to the skin.
“You remember I spoke in my other letter of not having gone thru an airraid. Well since then we have and I don’t think anyone of us will ever forget it. It happened on the night of Oct 22nd, right in the midst of our famous tour of the country around Treviso and just at the time when all needed rest badly. Most everyone was in bed and asleep enjoying good dreams, etc. when about 11:30P.M. it let loose and at intervals of an hour and a half, it kept up until daylight. The first sounds heard was some rifle shots, fired as a warning by the guard and then the siren let go and at the same time machine guns & anti-aircraft guns started to boom, all shooting at the hostile plane or planes, which ever it was. I only saw one myself, it being seen very easily, as they had it spotted with a searchlight of which there seemed to be hundreds. When I, as well as most everyone else, first woke up, we knew that it was an air raid and that the heavy shooting was from bombs being dropped from the planes and it seemed as if they were dropping all around us and most all expected the next one to hit the building but when we were fully awake and found out that it was anti-aircraft guns doing the shooting all jammed the windows and doors to see what was doing also to watch the searchlight work and the shells burst in the air all around.
“Believe me it sure was some night. The noise and excitement of the first raid would get quieted down and all back in bed again and about half asleep, when it would let loose again. As far as I know, no bombs were dropped at all hence no casualties.
“As I said before we continued our hikes until weds and on Thurs we packed our barracks bags etc. preparatory going to the front. We all expected to go most any time, as quite a number of British troops showed up at this time and it was strongly rumored that a big drive was to be pulled off, our outfit to take part in it. On Friday just three weeks ago, we made our packs up and hiked to a field where the rest of the regiment was formed everyone thinking we were on our way up there, but after standing around for about an hour, we were ordered back to our billets, to await the call, which was liable to come at any moment. Everyone was up on their toes and ready to do their part, also quite anxious to get to the front to see what it was like, but on Sat AM, our spirits dropped to almost zero, when we ordered out for another hike. Oh! Boy, most everyone was sore, but now, we know why we hiked so much and we have almost forgotten it. When we returned to our quarters that Sat eve it was rumored the big drive was to start that night and sure enough it did. At 11:30 PM the big show began in full swing. I nor none of the rest have ever been thru or seen an artillery barrage, but we were close enough to hear it and at that it seemed as if it was just outside.
“I can hardly describe it, as I have never heard anything like it before or since, except once, after we crossed the Piave river. The barrage was being put down by the Italians, while the English were building the pontoon bridge across the river. As I mentioned before it began at 11:30 Sat night and continued until 12:30 PM Sunday. Thirteen continuous hours of it, with out a let up. It sounded as if they had all be big guns in the world going, for it shook the building in which we were quartered and the windows rattled as if someone was shaking them. I bet the Austrians thot hell had broken loose that night.
“All day Sunday and Monday, we were all set and held in readiness to move up, on a minutes notice, but none came. Reports came back that they succeeded in crossing the river and was driving the enemy back. On Monday night 10-28-18 just after everyone had a good bed fixed and was prepared to get a good nights sleep, the call came. At 10:30 PM we were on our way up, most all thinking we would be in the thick of it by daylight. Well, we hiked all night and at daylight we were held up, at the river, where we remained until Thurs AM, account of the crossing being jammed with other troops and supplies going over. When we halted at the other side of the Piave, our troubles began. We bivouacked along the road and in fields nearby, everyone looking out for himself and flopping in the best place to be found, which was usually the hard, damp ground with a pile of straw or fodder, some times without. Just about at this time, we began to run short of rations and ever since then we have been in the same fix.
“On Thursday AM we started for the river and by the evening we were across and then we started in to chase the Hun. We hiked all day and to about 10 PM that night, having mess when we stopped. Again we flopped on the ground. Everyone turning in a soon as possible, to get all the sleep they could as all knew we had a lot of hard hiking ahead of us, as well as a lot of hardships.
“Contrary to our expectations, we didn’t move until the noon the next day and when we got started again, we all figured on an all night hike, but again we were fooled and before evening we pulled in a field for the night. Most everyone by this time was of the opinion that we were not trying to catch the enemy, but they all, as well as myself, changed our minds about 1130 AM Sat, when were called out and told to get ready to hike a 2:30 AM and also that we would go into the front line 3 PM the next afternoon. We got started on time and hiked to almost daylight hitting almost every kind of road. Just before daylight we came to another river where the bridge had been blown up and had to cross on a roughly constructed bridge made from the ruins of the other. We halted about daybreak and part of the outfit was sent out as an advance guard and flank patrols. About this time we heard heavy cannon, machine gun and rifle fire, just a short distance ahead and in the midst of it all two unusually loud explosions, which we found out later, was caused by the blowing up of two bridges across another river. The firing did not last long and in a short while we were on our way, after having a breakfast of corn-beef and hard tack, as we left our rolling kitchens at our last stop. We were delayed quite a while at the next River, which was the Meduna, as the crossing was rather difficult, for no bridge had been constructed and we had and we had to scramble across in single file on the timbers of the old bridge. After everyone was across, we again took up the march and didn’t stop until 4 PM that afternoon. You remember we were supposed to catch up with the Austrians at 3 PM, but when we reached the designated spot, the bird had flown. We stopped there for the night and believe me we were all glad of it, for most everyone was pretty well all in and hungry too. We got to sleep for 14 hours that night and I believe every single man went the limit.
“We continued our program on Sunday and by evening we reached the Tagliamento river, where the enemy was expected to make a stand. We stopped and had lunch of emergency rations, as our kitchens had not yet caught up with us. We could hear miscellaneous firing all along the river and we figured on crossing the river just after dark and having a little fight, but such did not happen. Some of the snipers and two platoons, waded across, as the bridge at this point, was a wooden structure and was burning, being set on fire by the enemy, but did not succeed in stirring up a fight. At daybreak our second battalion started across at the bridge, and was met with resistance from the enemy and quite a little firing took place, both by trench mortars, machine guns and rifled. The whole thing didn’t last long, as they succeeded in crossing the river and the enemy beat it on the run. Our battalion and the first started for the river shortly afterwards, but we were stopped just as we reached there, being informed that an armistice had been signed up and all fighting on this front stopped. As luck would have it, we stopped right by a fine field and went into camp there, our kitchens arriving at the same time and say, believe me there was some cheering done, mostly account of the kitchens coming up, as the last we seen of them was Sat morning and it was Monday afternoon then.
“No doubt you wonder what we all seen on our way thru the country where the enemy had just left. Eh? Well, we sure seen enough. All along the way we saw articles of all descriptions that had been thrown away, such as ammunition, helmets, guns, knives, bayonets etc. In some places trucks, wagons and big guns that had run off the road, the enemy not having time to stopped and take them along. At various places where fights had taken place we saw most everything, dead horses and soldiers, mostly Austrians lying around. In some places we saw where horses had been killed by the Huns and their meat used for food. From the looks of things and the prisoners taken the enemy was pretty hard up for everything but guns and ammunitions. There is a good deal more to tell, but I haven’t the time as it would take too long, right now, but perhaps it won’t be many more moons before I’ll be able to tell my whole story from start to finish.
“I’ll now account for things we have done since the fighting has stopped down here. The day after the armistice was signed we moved back to Valvasone a town nearby and went into billets expecting to move back to Treviso, but the next day we got orders to go forward, crossing the Tagliamento river in the afternoon and hiking all night until 4 AM last Thurs. 17 hours hike in all. We stopped and rested until 10 AM the next day and again went on hiking to late that afternoon reaching a town named Louvaria. We billeted there that night and continued our hike Friday crossing the Tower river and went into camp on this or the eastern side. We did not expect to stay there long, but it was Tuesday AM this week before we moved. Sat afternoon we all marched down to the river and took a bath. Can you imagine taking a bath in an river on the 9th of Nov? The water was quite chilly but everyone stood it OK. I only washed me feet, head and hands as I took a bath in an irrigation ditch on the Thurs before. We pulled stakes Tuesday noon and pushed on crossing into Austria that afternoon and reaching the town of Cormons by evening, where we camped for the night. Day before yesterday we moved to this place, formerly an Austrian hospital about two miles from Cormons and her we have been since. There is no telling where we go from here but according to rumors we may go most anywhere, but home, even at that I don’t think it will be such a long time and we will be on our way. We have had things pretty hard during the last few weeks, but such was to be expected when in the field, but the outlook seems to be brighter, at least we all hope so.
“Well I guess I said enough for this time, perhaps too much, but that the chance I have stood it pretty well and am feeling good, except for a cold, which most all have. Am pretty well located here, four of us have a room with a stove in it, also iron cots with a lot of hay to sleep on, which is a luxury right now. Our feed is pretty good, but we all could stand more of it. Give my best to all and write soon. Will be glad to hear from you all and also to get those papers you are sending. Goodbye. Love Ralph”
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