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Exhibition Echoes of the Great War: American Experiences of World War I

Echoes of the Great War: American Experiences of World War I

Norvel Preston Clotfelter

Norvel Preston Clotfelter. Company A, 344th Machine Gun Battalion, 90th Division. Diary, November 4, 1918. Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress (148.00.00)
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Norvel Preston Clotfelter

Norvel Clotfelter described in detail the constant shelling and gas attacks the veteran experienced in the Argonne Forest. On November 5, 1918, he wrote: "Felt pretty sick. Had no time to fix place to sleep so slept in mud last night. Went for chow AM. So sick coming back went to see the doctor. He gave me some medicine and got me off duty. Lay in dry shed with Bn. runners PM. and night. Had high fever and chills in the evening. Slept none. Rained nearly all night. Engineers threw bridge across Meuse night before last. 3 or 4 squads of our men were left there to guard it last night. Were shot up."