Log Cabin Memorial - Veterans 314th Infantry Regiment A.E.F.
314th Historical Documents
| May 18, 1917 |
After six weeks of debate, the U.S. Congress passes the Selective Service Act of 1917,
US Code, Title 50A, Chapter 14, SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT 40 Stat. 76 (1917)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 21, 1917 |
(click for full-size image) The Boys Who Marched Away - September 21, 1917(out of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania)Frank Ferris (#10 in the photo above) became a member of the 314th Infantry, Supply Company, primarily as a WagonerPeter F. Malloy (#34 in the photo above) became a member of the 314th Infantry, Company M |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1917 |
September 1917 - Arrived at Camp Meade (now Fort Meade)
1917 - Barracks 314th Infantry, Camp Meade, MD. Postcard |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 26, 1917 |
New York Times - Football Game at Camp Meade between 313th Infantry and 314th Infantry (314th wins!)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 29, 1917 |
Company K - 314th Infantry - Thanksgiving - Thursday November 29 1917 - Camp Meade, Maryland
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 1917 |
December 1917 - Troops from Camp Meade Cantonment March Before the Secretary of War
(Click to see web page) 
Or click here to see the entire 2 page article from the New York Times dated December 30, 1917 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1917 |
Company Drill - 314th Infantry - Camp Meade, Md.(View the back of the postcard) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1917 |
Colonel Thomas W. Darrah and Officers of the 314th Infantry |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1917 |
1917 - The Infantry Soldier's Hand Book
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Early 1918 |
Peter F. Malloy (314th Infantry, Company M) [left of photo] and Peter F. Corcoran [right of photo]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| April 1918 |
April 1918 - Troops from Camp March Before President Wilson
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1918 |
1918 - Actual Photo of the Log Cabin at Camp Meade.
The Officer is believed to be Thomas H. Stilwell, of the Regimental Staff. 
Click here to view the full-size 600 DPI scan (11.7 MegaBytes - 4890 pixels x 3450 pixels) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1918 |
Diaries of Frank S. Miller
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1918 |
Albert A. Lease - 1918 letters
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| February 1918 |
Bread and Sugar Ration Stamps in France (February 1918)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 1918 |
July 1918 - Completed training and sailed to France aboard the USS Leviathan
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 26, 1918 |
The Taking of Montfaucon by James M. Cain
Copyright 1929 by American Mercury, Inc. First published in 'The American Mercury'. 
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 1918 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
September 26, 1918
to November 11, 1918 |
To quote from page 4 of the deeply researched and highly recommended book
|
|
"Fought over a period of forty-seven days, from September 26 to November 11, 1918, the Meuse-Argonne
sucked in 1.2 million American soldiers, leaving 26,277 of them dead and 95,786 wounded. Almost all of these casualties came in a period of about three weeks of heavy fighting, and they amounted to about half of the total American casualties for the war. Twenty-two American infantry ddivisions participated in the battle, along with 840 airplanes and 324 tanks. About twenty-four hundred artillery pieces fired over four million shells, more than the Union army fired during the entire five years of the American Civil War. No single battle in American military history, before or since, even approaches the Meuse-Argonne in size and cost, and it was without question the country's most critical military contribution to the Allied cause in the First World War." |
December 20, 1918: WWI Officers Record Book - First Lieutenant - Chaplain
Click here to read more about the December 1918 - 79th Division Christmas card from Major General Kuhn
Two Newspaper Articles concerning Brest France and Saint-Aignan ("Camp Agony"), 1918 or 1919
Frank S. Miller - Company C (four page letter home)
Company M History (12 single-spaced typed pages)
March 1, 1919 - The Lorraine Banquet - Machine Gun Company, Rosenes France
May 15 1919 - Shipped home aboard the Princess Matokia.
May 26 1919 - Arrived at Hoboken, New Jersey
March 27, 1919 - Evening Public Ledger (Newspaper) - pages 1 and 2
May 29, 1919. (click here to view document)
A Meeting of the officers of the 314th Infantry was held at Camp Dix, N.J. May 29th, 1919
to further perfect the organization of the 314th Society "The Veterans of the 314th Infantry,"
which was formed on the Princess Matoika to perpetuate the spirit and pleasant associations of the regiment in the service.The committee on organization reported through the president, Major Mayo the following nomination for
officers to serve until the first convention or other assembly of the regiment.
Commander Major Harry C. Duncan Lieut. Commander Captain Harry Edwards Adjutant Captain William N. Way Personnel Adjutant Reg. Sgt. Major Raymond A. Blake Historian 2nd Lieut. Lorenzo F. Woodruff EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Captain John C. Weinman
Captain Raymond V. nicholson
1st Lieut. Benjamin Rau
1st Sgt. John H. Reed
Sgt. Joseph T. LabrumThese officers were unanimously elected.
The ??? of the regimental history, which Lt. Woodruff has ??? to insure its speedy publication, each officer, ???, contribute five dollars as a preliminary assessment, ??? to ??? at the discretion of the executive committee to ??? the ??? or any other activities of the association.
Major Harry C. Duncan So. Highland Ave., Merion, Pa. Captain Harry Edwards 3038 Longshore St. Philadelphia, Pa. Captain William N. Way 5522 Greenway Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. Reg. Sgt. Major Raymond A. Blake Wm. Penn P.O. Spring Meadows, Philadelphia, Pa. 2nd Lieut. Lorenzo F. Woodruff Montgomery, Ala. Captain John C. Weinmann 637 N. 12th St. Philadelphia, Pa. Captain Raymond V. Nicholson 11 West Upsal St, Philadelphia, Pa. 1st Lt. Benjamin Rau Woodbourne, Pa. 1st Sgt. John H. Reed 328 Chestnut St. Sunbury, Pa. Sgt. Joseph W. Labian 2454 Cedar St. Philadelphia, Pa. End of May, 1919 End of May 1919 - Discharged at Camp Dix, New Jersey
June 3, 1919 June 3 1919 Danville Morning News Newspaper Article
June 8, 1919 June 8, 1919 (Sunday) - New York Times article
HISTORY OF THE 79TH; Division Captured, Among Other Posts,
Crown Prince's Bomb-Proof Cellar Observatory at Montfaucon Over the Top!
Hospitals Bombarded. Crown Prince's Lookout. Regiment Reinforced.[Transcribed text of the New York Times June 8, 1919 article above]
May 7, 1920 314th Infantry Smoker - Hotel Walton - Philadelphia PA - Friday May 7, 1920
(Transcribed Text Below)
"314th Infantry" Smoker
and a damn good time
Hotel Walton, Friday, May 7, 2910
Philadelphia, PA
Write the place and date on your cuff so you won't forget it
Old Boy we're counting on you and every other member of the old gang
who lives in or near Philadelphia to be on hand.
We're starting to load the old CAMION for a big time fhis SEPTEMBER
so you better get on with us at the start, May 7, 1920 8 P.M.
O. K., R. V. Nicholson - E. P. Schroyer, Committee Chairman.
P.S. -- Don't forget that there are'nt any Buck Privates or Officers any more
They're all MISTERS now.
1921 1921 - "Under The Lorraine Cross: An Account of the Experiences of Infantryman
who Fought with The Lorraine Cross Division In France during the World War" by Arthur H. JoelAugust 20, 1922 Newspaper Article: Camp Meade Log Cabin Moved to Valley Forge
dated August 20, 1922
Camp Meade Log Cabin Moved to Valley Forge
Former Officers' Quarters and Assembly Room of 314th Infantry Transferred Despite OppositionOn a knoll overlooking the Schuylkill at Valley Forge is a log cabin that was originally built to provide an officers' club and assembly room quarters for the 314th Infantry, 79th Division, while that unit was still under training at Camp Meade. Bringing the cabin from Camp Meade to Valley Forge was no easy matter as every one in authority, from the President of the United States down, seemed to oppose the transfer.
However, the Pennsylvania Historical Society approved of it from the outset. After all, this cabin has a much wider significance than its builders, many of whom were killed in action. ever thought it would have, because it will speaks to future generations of the resourcefulness of the American soldier. To realize this it is necessary to know something about the cabin's history.
It was built "without material," as the saying goes. All the hardware came from salvaged automobiles and abandoned farm machinery. The spikes were hammered out of horseshoes. Every log and every stone has been moved from Camp Meade, and the cabin will be finished and ready for dedication as a restored structure on September 26, 1922.
Major Thomas H. Stilwell had charge of the construction in the first place, and now he is chairman of the reconstruction committee. Thus he will be in position to keep the reconstructed building true to its original in every detail. In this task he is being assisted by some of the original builders, among them being Sergeant Oscar H. Kraft, of Scranton Pa., and Arthur P. Snooks, Of Richfield, Pa., both of whom did the iron work, and Corporal John Rowe, of Shamokin, Pa., who was the foreman carpenter back in the Camp Meade days, but his assistant, Corporal Russell Baker, also of Shamokin, was one of the large number in this regiment killed in action. Sergeant Major L. S. Krajeski is one of the surviving builders.
However, the placing of the structure at Valley Forge is not to commemorate those Who built it, but the regiment's 364 dead. As far as can be learned it is the only monument of its kind in America in commemoration of service men.
It takes up a place not far from Dr. Burk's chapel, and measures 30 by 50 feet, with an alcove and fireplace, 8 by 20 feet. Every one of the 364 names will be perpetuated in bronze, and thus the cabin will be prepared for its further purpose of serving as a museum. Various trophies of the late war will be on view and added to from time to time.
Survivors of the 314th have formed an association, simply known as "Veterans," with the name of the regiment. It stands alone as an organization, the membership being confined to this one regiment, which was used as a lead-off in the Argonne fighting, in front of Mont Faucon, and the date of dedication, September 26, is the anniversary date of the 314th's first going over the top. It is celebrated each year with a reunion and banquet. This year the dedication of the cabin will be the important feature of the reunion.
Hard work is still ahead to make the log cabin all that is expected of it in the way of becoming an attraction for all visitors to Valley Forge.
John G. Smedley, treasurer of the "Veterans" of the 314th Infantry, has his headquarters at No. 518 Lafayette Building, this city, and is looking for the kind of help most needed now, for the building itself has been put up, but the expense of maintenance and equipment still needs attention. The president of the Veterans' Association is Raymond V. Nicholson.
The 314th's overseas commander was Colonel William H. Oury, still in active service with the 14th Infantry at Panama. He was one of the few colonels to get the D. S. M.
September 30, 1922 September 30, 1922 314th Cabin Dedication
1920's 
314th Infantry Log Cabin - Valley Forge, PA
Real Photo Postcard, Circa 1920's. Azo Stamp Box.
(View the back of the postcard)1929 The Taking of Montfaucon by James M. Cain
by permission of Harold Ober Associates Incorporated. i
Copyright 1929 by American Mercury, Inc. First published in 'The American Mercury'.Novelist James M. Cain, author of The Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity, was a member of Headquarters Troop, 79th Division. Through his account, the reader can easily imagine how it must have been during the opening days of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Cain tries to deliver his message during the night of September 26, 1918 but fails. While the outcome of the battle is an American success, Cain is disappointed with his failure. On part of Cain's journey, Ross Shepler- Horseshoer 79th HQ Troop, accompanies Cain and would earn an award for Gallantry in Action and Meritorious Services for his part.
1935 Reunion Booklet - September 1935
1936 Veterans 314th Infantry - 1936 Financial Statement
September, 24-26, 1937 September 24-25-26, 1937 Nineteenth Annual Reunion
1939 July 23, 1939 Dedicatory Service of Memorial Window - The Post Chapel - Fort George G. Meade
1944 1944 Reunion - Memorial Booklet - 79th Division Summary of Operations in the World War - Prepared by the American Battle Monuments Commission
1948 1948 Reunion - Memorial Booklet and Directory
1949 Souvenir Fountain Pen From Reunion of 314th Infantry, September 23 - 25, 1949 in Williamsport, PA
The pen is a Penman brand lever-fill fountain pen made by K. L. & M. Co. some time between 1940-44.
Available in both black (above) and brown (below):
1950 Souvenir Mechanical Pencil from Reunion of 314th Infantry, 1950 in Lewistown, PA
1952 1952 Membership Card -- Notable for the effort the soldiers of the 314th expended to meet each and every year
June 14, 1959 June 14, 1959 Philadelphia Inquirer Newspaper Article
August 7, 1962 August 7, 1962 The Danville News Newspaper Article
1968 1968 Reunion of the Veterans of the 314th Infantry
Frank Ferris is seated, second from right.1969 1969 Reunion of the Veterans of the 314th Infantry - at the Log Cabin Memorial
(click for full-size image)1971 The 1971 314th News
1989 21 gun salute over Gen Rosebrough's (sp?) grave (outside the 314th log cabin memorial).
Ray-Jude Paski is the Doughboy in the middle of the line of soldiers in the foreground.
2003 2003 Memorial Day Service - Descendants and Friends of the 314th infantry
May 20, 2004 Philadelphia Inquirer article May 20, 2004 "WWI Memorial Faces Uncertain Future"
2005 2005 Memorial Day Service - Descendants and Friends of the 314th infantry
2007 2007 Memorial Day Service - Descendants and Friends of the 314th infantry
THE VOLUNTEER
What are you doing out here my boy;
Out here in the slime and foam?
You are lost, though the night be clear, my boy,
And you.re miles and miles from home.
But he spake no word,
Though my voice was heard
By the sentinel and his mate
Just held his face
To the trigger- place
And stared in the eyes of Fate.
Why do you stay out here, my boy?
Or is it you.ve lost your way?
But little you seem to care, my boy,
As fast to the gun you stay.
Then in star- shell light
I saw through the night,
( My head bowed in reverence.)
He was not khaki- clad
But a peasant lad.
Dead. And a child of France.
I carried him back to soft earth, this boy,
And laid him away to rest
In the land that had claimed by birth, this boy,
And nestled him close to her breast.
A mere slip of a lad
Who willing had
Invaded our lines for the chance
To stand with the rest
And give his best
For the sake of his .Patria.- France.
By 1st Lt. Joseph R. Cushing
Company G 314th Infantry
79th Division AEF
From the book DOUGHBOY DITTIES- 1927
|
Irwin Rentz at Jallais France
(click for full-size image)
(This view inside the cabin is from 1924 based on postmark on back of postcard)
Memorial to the Dead of the 314th Infantry and the 79th Division, Erected at Camp Meade, Md., 1917-1918, by the men f the 314th Infantry,
many of whom were killed in action, Dedicated at Valley Forge, Pa., September 30th, 1922.
This Log Cabin Memorial - Veterans 314th Infantry Regiment A.E.F. www.314th.org web page ( www.314th.org ) at 173.12.39.201 last modified: January 24, 2010