This WWI poster comes from the collection of John Warren Smith. Smith’s uncle Boyce O. Smith was a solider in WWI and served in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany and took part in the St. Michael Offensive and Meuse-Argonne Offensive as part of the 5th regiment. He received this citation for his service. After being discharged, he returned to Huntsville and worked as a teacher until his death in 1933.
The poster reads :
Citation in the Order of the Army
5th Regiment of the Marines, American (Under the orders of Colonel Logan Feland)
“This regiment took a glorious part in the operations engaged in by the 4th (French) Army in Champagne, in October 1918. On October 3, 1918, it participated in the attack on the strongly intrenched German positions between Blanc Mont and the Medeah Farm, and pushing forward as far as St. Etienne-a-Arnes, made an advance of 6 kilometers. It took several thousand prisoners, captured cannon, machine guns and important war material. This attack combined with that of the French Divisions resulted in the evacuation of both banks of the Suippe, and of the Massif(high ground) of Notre-Dame-des-champs.”
Order No. 14.712 “D”-March 21, 1919
At General Headquarters
The Marshall
Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the East
Petain
View more of the John Warren Smith Papers, 1836-2009 : here
View Finding Aid for the John Warren Smith Papers, 1836-2009 : here
