Description: Histories Of Regiments And Separate Organizations of The 2nd Division From dates of organization to June 1, 1919.
france (7888) germany (4376) ww1 (197) great war (80) world war 1 (56) soissons (41) chateau thierry (7) belleau wood (2) st. mihiel (1) blanc mont (1)
Corporal Thygesen and Williams and I were up at the observatory. We had six hour shifts and Corporal Thygesen went on at midnight, and left Williams and I in the dugout. We both went to bed and were asleep when the first thing I knew I woke up and heard them yelling "allez Boche". Corporal Williams was already up and the Germans had us covered with a gun. They told us to put our shoes on. Part of the Germans lead the way, then came Williams and I, and then the other Germans followed. There were four of them
"Private Mountain is to be highly commended for his conduct. Having been over-powered and captured by a superior number of enemies and marched towards their lines, he being unarmed, he refused to accept conditions as they were and did his utmost to escape and give the alarm, with great courage and presence of mind. For this reason, I request that the proper steps be taken immediately for him to receive suitable recognition of this in the shape of mention in orders and decoration. I respectfully suggest that
"One thing I want to say, I am proud of the fact that I am a member of the 2nd Engineers, the only Engineers Regiment in France that has the honor of having their colors decorated with the Croix de Gerre [sic], a French decoration and in recognition of the good work of done by the 2nd Engineers."