The last elements of the state division — the th Infantry Regiment from Iowa — had reached France at the end of November. Douglas MacArthur. The largest elements were four regiments from Ohio, Iowa, Alabama and New York, which were organized in two brigades of two regiments and supporting units. By Christmas, the division's elements were located in a number of villages northeast of the city of Chaumont, about miles east of Paris. The men had hiked there from Vaucouleurs, where they had originally been deposited by train.
The th Infantry Regiment celebrated Christmas in the village of Grand. According to Army Sgt. The 69th was present, and some French soldier-violinists. On Christmas Day the men ate turkey, chicken, carrots, cranberries, mashed potatoes, bread pudding, nuts, figs and coffee.
The Army, wrote Cpl. Hugh S. The th didn't eat as well as the th on Christmas day, according to Thompson. John J. Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Force, just before Christmas.
On Christmas they enjoyed music from the regimental band and a good meal. It was miles from where the division's troops had celebrated Christmas to the town of Rolampont, where the Army's Seventh Training Area had been established.
Today, you can drive the route in an hour. In it took the soldiers four days to get there. Some of the men had no overcoats. They walked into a mountain snowstorm. In some places the snow was feet deep. Some marched almost barefoot, and there were bloody trails in the snow. Thompson recalled that the men in his unit were issued hobnailed boots: the soles were held by heavy nails. The problem, he said, was that the nails got cold and the men's feet froze.
