Donald
Anthony Fusia's World War I Journal
Transcribed
by Ed Fusia Jr and Tom Fusia Jr
Don
enlisted July
28,1917, while attending medical school at the University of Pittsburgh.
He was first sent to training camp in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania from July
- December, 1917. Then to Camp Greene, Charlotte, NC, from December 1917
to May, 1918 where he was assigned to the the 4th Infantry Division. He shipped out to France, May 6, 1918 and served in the Medical
Detachment of the 10th Machine Gun Battalion. After the war the 4th
Division was part of the occupation army in Germany and later he attended
the University of Montpellier medical school in France. He returned
home and was discharged July 30,1919 at Fort Dix, NJ. His
journal picks up soon after he arrived in boot camp in Gettysburg.
[The beginning section of his journal is damaged and
unreadable]
had a chunk of bread
and
bologna, the name for breakfast.
Aug 2 - Arrived at
Gettysburg
and was one of thirteen chosen to go with the camp hospital.
We pitched tent and fixed bunks for the night.
Aug 3 - Didnt have much to do other than policing around
the grounds.
Aug 4 After policing around one of the wards we drilled
for about ten minutes. Meals
were poor due to the lack of accommodations.
Over three hundred were fed wherever they were being
accommodated.
Aug 5 This being Sunday, it was my day off and we did
but little work. We took a
walk around town.
Aug 6 After policing we were thoroughly
and were
given a lecture on first aid.
Aug 7 Policing around the recruiting office.
Aug 8 Was asked to go to the TB Examination Ward where
I clerked for Dr West.
Aug 19 Had a small fight with a Jew by the name of
Julius Cauffman, a yellow cur.
Aug 22 - Anxiously awaiting a letter from those I
considered friends at home. Especially one letter from Bill Rachin to
whom I loaned $10.00 while he was in
Gettysburg
with Joe. Like a cheat and a black guard heard nothing from him.
Sept. 2, 1917 - Sunday
went to
York
to visit the Heilachers (sp) Had dinner and besides a very pleasant auto
ride and the pleasure of sitting beside Addie. Altho engaged I could see
that she still liked me. It seemed that someone told her that I was
engaged and that lead to her engagement. While in
York
I called on Elenor Hyatt.
Sept.
3, 1917 - Went to Emmitsburg in the evening and saw Chic Sellers and
Sammy Annan.
Brief
review of our trip across the
Atlantic
With the 12th M.G.Bn M.D. Batt. Commander Maj. Garber, Med.
Det. Com. Lt. L.F. Boyd.
Left America from N. Y. harbor
May 6, 1918
. SS Aquitania.
Trip was rather quite (sp). No sub.m. sighted.
Landed at
Liverpool
, E. May 15. Boarded a train immediately after landing and arrived at
Dover
about 4 A. M. May 16. Spent one day and night in
Dover
.
Dover
is characterized by its old buildings and narrow streets. Was impressed
with the number of old women frequenting the bars along with men
or alone.
Left
Dover
May 17, & crossed the channel to Calais FR an English and
American rest camp.
In
Calais
I had a wonderful time frequenting the saloons and attempting to have a
jolly good time with the French girls. Became somewhat acquainted with
Mad.
Hilda Roosen & Jennie Roosen, promising them a card from our next
camp.
Left
Calais
and traveled south towards our training camp. Part of the way we rode on
a train, but part of it by foot. The days being hot, without the least
bit of breeze blowing made hiking rather cumbersome & difficult. We
walked for five hrs, in full pace. Several of the men fell out. Night of
the 19 we camped by the roadside & slept in our pup tents. During
the night about
10:00 P.M. Jerry
sent his aeroplanes. Several bombs were dropped, with death dealing
crash. One of our men Sgt. Gehr Co. B killed ___ from our camp.
Morning of May 20
Transferred to 10th M.G.Bn
May 9, 1918
14 ___
St. Jean Ourley
Took to the trenches
July 18, 1918 Left the trenches
July 24, 1918
Rest in a town by name of Vir( c )
ley
Briefs:
1st night in
trenches, we had one slightly injured by flying piece of shell
2nd night, couple
of cases of gas
3rd little
activity
4th caught in a
barrage fire in the center of wheat field, results, 1 killed, 1
seriously injured, death followed soon. 6 slightly
wounded.
Aug 5, 1918
Kept on the move for 3 days finally
arrived at a town ------ which was recently occupied evacuated by the
boche. Took positions back of an old wall. In the course of digging in
we were received by the enemies artillery. No damage done, although
shells came pretty close. In the early morning of Aug 5 it rained and
dig outs were well wet, with the _____ such is the life of a soldier.
Aug - we were relieved from the line
Relieved
Aug. 11, 1918
went back 8 K. and encamped in a woods back of fire
Aug. 12 - Jerry dropped a bomb at the
edge of the wood we were encamped
Aug 14 - I was recommended for 1st
LT.M.C.
Sept 11 - Started back for the front
Sept 12 - Activities started
Reserve at St Michiel salient
Sept 25 - Over the top north of
Verdun. Pierced the enemy lines for 10K.
[Note: He was wounded by poison gas on
September 27 and was treated in the field hospital from the 27th to the
30th. Then returned to duty.]
Oct. 19, 1918 - Relieved from
Verdun
front, back to rest at Euville, close to commerce
Oct. 29 - Given a seven day leave at
Monto-Dore
All along the line French were out to cheer
us yelling "guere fine!" Could it be possible that I in the wave of good
cheer I cheered also, but alas we arrived at Eurville where our
battalion was located in the morning of Nov. 10 just in time to move
into the front with them. The boche were undecided about the armistice
so we were called ___ on to strike in case they didnt.
Nov. 11, 1918 - Held in great suspense pending the
cessation of hostilities. At
11:00
A. M. silence predominated.
Not a gun was fired. Could it be possible.
Hostilities suspended. Its all most incredible. Oh! Joy. What happiness.
I should go mad with joy. Oh great God thou art good. Thou art noble.
Help me to follow the path of righteousness and do thou will. Bless all
the noble heroes who gave
Thou will be done on earth as in heaven.
Amen
Nov. 12 - Woods waiting for orders to
move back
Nov. 13 - Back
to Eurville
Nov.21 - Left Eurville in pursuit of
the German Konville.
Nov.22 - went
to Jarnry
Nov.30 - went
to
Metz
Dec.2 - moved
to
Dec.3 - Went to Schorder
Dec.4 - Moved to Altmuth
Dec.5
Dec.6 Very
Dec 7 Moved to Horelcheld (?)
Dec 8
Dec 9 Moved to Hasselbackh
Dec 10
Riesnetsburg
Vernerburg
Dec 15 Moved to Adenau a rather larger town.
Arrived here about 10:00 AM but couldnt find billets due to
conflicting orders. We
finally located in the courthouse.
Adenau to Bad Betrich This is a beautiful little town of
possibly a thousand inhabitants. Thousands
of tourists from all over the world visit this for its beauty and
situation.
Dec 21 From Bad Betrich I was sent to Kempus in charge
of the Bs sanitation. Kempus
is a village inhabited by farmers. The
sanitary conditions of this place were anything but good.
At this place I spent my Xmas.
I cant say that it was a pleasant or merry one but never the
less I lived through with additional knowledge.
With my little knowledge of German, I learned from the lady with
whom I was staying that their Xmas was spent almost the same as ours.
But later I found out different.
I was out late Xmas eve, or late from the standpoint of lateness
as it is here, to bed at six and up at six.
The children were usually put to bed soon after their supper
which consisted of bread and butter
I returned to the house about 8:00 PM that night.
I was surprised to find that the children were making merry
around many platters of cookies, apples and the like besides baby dolls,
drums and horns and the likes. Right
there and then I discovered the difference.
Well I thought since the children were making happy, Ill sit
around and watch. So I sat
but I did not long before I started to feel very uncomfortable.
A bell rang outside and the children started to get excited.
They flocked around the table and started to sing and play.
Then the door opened and a tornado struck.
There on the floor lay all sorts of things.
Now here is the difference between ours and
the Germans. They believe
in giving the presents Xmas eve and on Xmas or Krichmachtogen (?),the
Xmas tree.
After the children had received all that was
coming to them which was because they were sent to bed and preparations
were made to decorate the tree. To
do
I believe they called
each of their relations
(The rest is damaged
and unreadable)
List of Correspondence
Mr J A Greer
1240 Swissvale Ave
Wilkinsburg
,
Pa
Mrs
Jos A Greer
1622 Swissvalw Ave
3rd
Apt
Wilkinsburg
,
Pa
Miss
Klara McDonald
1201 Swissvale Ave
Wilkinsburg
,
Pa
Miss
Mabel P Ferguson
1205 Franklin Ave
Wilkinsburg
,
Pa
Elmar
Fusca
Fourth Street
Braddock
,
Pa
Miss
Elizabeth Fusia
676
Fourth Avenue
Braddock
Pa
Mr
Phillip Hench
5524 Kentucky Ave
Pittsburgh
Pa
Miss
Elizabeth Lehr
Haddonfield
New
Jersey
Miss
Aileen Larson
Lewisburg
Pa
c/o
Womens College
CCline
Lossolles
LTurne
Franque
POC
Retrilcen
133 Wyoming St
Johnstown
Pa
Miss
Carrie Muller
Highland
Falls
New York
Dick
Jones
San Antonio
Texas
Kelly Field
Aviation
Sector
Madam
Gabriel Lecolle
11
Rue Gambetta
Ligny,
Leine Atharne
Madam
Herbert
12
Place de la Cometerre 12
Troyes
dube
Paul
Craigo
1510 Elm St
Wilkinsburg
Pa
M.
Farillaians Anton
68
R. A. P.
29
Ballerie Sp 102
Wm.
E. Betts
156
...
|
The Fusia and Fuscà
Families
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