Letter from George A. Nugent to The Commanding Officer of the 342nd Field Artillery - September 5, 1918

Transcript

American Expeditionary Forces September 5, 1918. The Commanding Officer, 342nd Field Artillery; Sir:- As the first commander of the regiment, it seems fitting that I take this occasion, the first anniversary of its organization, to review briefly the history and accomplishments of the 342nd Field Artillery. On September the 5th, 1917, the regiment was organized at Camp Funston, Kansas. The first men reported for duty on September 6th, 1917. The barracks were not all finished and for the first month, the regiment was quartered in part of the infantry barracks. Clothing and other supplies were not abundant, arms and equipment were slow in arriving, and guns were not received for six months. While at the time the lack of artillery material seemed to be a draw back, in the end and under the peculiar conditions under which the regiment organized, it does not now so appear; for the reason that ample time was at hand to lay firm foundation in the fundamentals so necessary in the development of the well disciplined soldier. Therefore when the guns did arrive, a regiment of soldiers was ready to be transformed into a regiment of artillery men. The training of the past year has seemed irksome and hard at times but both officers and men have continued at the task with commendable enthusiasm and spirit, and now with the training period drawing to a close, the regiment is soon to be put to the supreme test which is the ambition of every soldier. Of the outcome I have no doubt. My only regret is that I will not be there to see and participate with the officers and men it has been my honor to command for the past year. In taking leave of the regiment I can only wish it every possible success and an early termination of the war and return home. But the war must end in a victory of the right sort and the attainment of the aims enunciated by the President in his speech at Mount Vernon on July 4th last. Their accomplishments means hard service, and through that service I shall follow the fortunes of the regiment with interest and be with it in spirit, well knowing that the esprit and promise of the training period of the 342nd F.A. will be maintained worthily so that in later years it will be an especial honor to have seen service with that regiment. Very sincerely yours, Geo. A. Nugent, Brigadier General, U.S.A.