France: Two Perspectives

Percy B. Christianson arrived in Brest, France, after thirteen days on a ship from the U.S. He describes first seeing land and all 3000 Marines on his ship were cheering at the sight. Then, silence fell as everyone contemplated what their futures would be in France; whether they would be going home or dying there in battle. Breaking the silence, everyone broke out into song ("The Yanks are Coming"). Christianson's brigade never ended up seeing battle because the Armistice was signed before they had reached the front.

On the morning of November 9, 1918, we awoke to see the shores of France. This was a sensation and memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life. We all crowded to positions on ship board, to get the best position possible to see this new land. [...] Cheers and cap waving burst out from all the Marines on board. It was not a cheer of happiness to see the shores of France. The love of life and the desire to reach a destination had been accomplished. We had been at sea for thirteen days in waters that were supposedly infested with German Submarines. If there had been any intent to sink our ship Henderson, our own U.S. Submarines and the GOOD LORD must have gotten us safely across the Atlantic ocean. Silence, now fell over all who looked, dreamed and wondered. Was this to be the land of life or death. Was this the beginning or the end. How long now, before we lay wounded or perhaps dead, like our comrades before us. Some one in the silence, broke it and said, "Oh, what the hell. We are here now. Lets break it up and get some singing going!" "The Yanks are Coming", broke out, first by a few, and then every Marine on board ship sang out. I often wonder to this day, how the French populace of Brest thought about the singing. They must have heard it. Here are thousands of American soldiers singing as they prepare to embark and face the quick move to the front lines of battle. [...]

Citation: 
Percy B. Christianson Papers. Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, Minnesota. P2371

In comparison to Percy Christianson's joyous arrival in France, Victor Johnson describes the horrors of travelling through Verdun. On his journey to Brieulles sur Meuse, Johnson saw many dead Germans awaiting burial, and a sign that read "KEEP DEAD MEN OFF THE ROAD!". He commented, "Doesn't that sound encouraging". Brieulles sur Meuse was a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in Northeastern France. When he arrived there, Johnson writes that the Germans had left only five hours ago. He and the other men were put to work in clearing out the barricades the Germans had built in attempts to keep the Americans out.

Nov. 9th 1918.
Last night a few of us boys slept in a pile of barrack bags under a canvas tarp as we didn’t like the idea of packing up again in the morning. So we slept in heavy marching order (shoes + all) and just about froze stiff. We left Chippy at noon today by truck. On our way we passed through the Bellow Woods where they had some stiff fighting and it sure showed signs of it to. [sic] The roads were all shelled and truck riding was some rough. Along the road we saw a lot of dead Germans who had not been buried yet. Also signs which read as follows. KEEP DEAD MEN OFF THE ROAD! Doesn’t that sound encouraging [?] We arrived at Brieulles sur Meuse at 2.00 pm. A distance of 35 Kilos. This place the Germans left about five hours before we got here and now we are inbetween (sic) the Infantry + the Artillery. When we got there we had to build a kitchen in the old depot- and clear out a baracade (sic) of concret (sic) blocks which the Germans had built across the road to hinder the advance of the Americans who didn’t come that way at all. The rest of the afternoon was put in getting a place ready to sleep in to night (sic). The front line is now one on each side of the Meuse river which acts as no mans land. The machine guns are spitting out there messengers from Hell. We never know when they might turn them a little to the left. That would mean that we’d have to hunt our hole.



Citation: Victor O. Johnson Diary. Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, Minnesota. P1987