Ambrose WWI September 2019: Wednesday, October 9, 2019: Alvin York, Lost Battalion, Argonne

We awoke this morning to more rain. We were promised this would be a "light" day and we would get back to the hotel early so we could prepare for our check out tomorrow. The breakfast at this hotel is poor. Nothing warm or hot, including the coffee. Cold cuts, cold cereal, etc.

We picked up Jean-Paul again in Romagne and started by visiting the site of the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division. Seven Medals of Honor were awarded to men of this engagement. The rain was so heavy and the foot path so muddy and steep, that, while we were offered the opportunity to go down into the ravine where the battalion stood its ground, only a couple of people decided to try to go. They only made it down about 10 yards before calling off the excursion. There is an excellent A&E movie which does a good telling of the trials of this battalion. It is available on YouTube (The Lost Battalion).

Next we visited Chatel-Chéhéry where the legendary Sargent Alvin York performed his feats of heroism.

Next, on to the Chatillon Hill where the 42nd Rainbow Division made its debut in October 1918. General Douglas MacArthur was in command and the artillery was under the command of Harry S. Truman.

We then went up an old Roman road to visit some bunkers.

Then back to Romagne for lunch again at Jean-Paul's restaurant. This time I had the pate sandwich. Pretty good!

We were finished with Jean-Paul and our last stop of the day was at a German reserve camp, Camp Moreau. This is one of many such camps on the third "layer" of the Hindenburg line. The camp was about one kilometer behind the front line, but it had hot showers, electricity, barracks, stores, etc.