by Maj. William Carraway
Historian, Georgia Army National Guard
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| First Sgt. Lucius G. Hughes, Company A 151st Machine Gun Battalion |
Four days
after arriving in Luxemburg, Burton wrote to Mrs. Bessie Aycock, wife of his former
company commander during the Mexican border mission.
Septfontaines Luxemburg
Nov 27, 1918
My dear Miss Bessie,
I feel very much ashamed for not
having written you, but it looks as if mama was the only one I could find time
to write while the war was on, but now, is it over or am I merely having a
glorious dream? Will I wake up after a while and find myself in the trenches
again? I can hardly grasp the fact that the war is over. It is too much of a
daze to take all at once.
We were in the lines when the war
stopped, and we couldn’t sleep for the quiet. The “Rainbow” was racing the 1st
Division for the heights of Sedan. You have probably read in the papers about
the last great push in the Argonne Forest. Well, we were in it.
The lucky seven from H Co were
in all the engagement that the Americans took part in. I don’t mean to be
bragging but that is a fact.
Ed (Sgt. Augustus Williamson) is mess
sergeant in this Co. Tom (Hensler) is off at some machine gun school as
instructor. Haley Moore and I are line sergeants. (Leonard B.) Chandler is a
corporal and (Waymen G.) Guthrie is a 1st Class private. A pretty good record.
Six non-comms out of seven.
I thought that Noria (New Mexico) was
a big battle but it wasn’t I was pretty scared there, but oh day, some of these
over here. Chateau Thierry – wow-.
But God was good and spared us thru.
Ed has been recommended for a D.S.C.
Distinguished Service Cross for bravery under fire ad well he deserves it too.
I have about learned to speak French.
I can speak enough to understand most anything they say and make them
understand most anything I say.
I spoke excellent French last winter.
The Frenchmen admitted it, it was so good that they couldn’t even understand
it.
Well, it looks as if another Xmas will
see me away from home, but I think that the next one won’t.
Please write me if you have the time.
Sincerely,
Gober
Sgt. R.G. Burton[ii]
While still
in Luxemburg, Burton wrote home to his father and related some of the exploits
that he could not previously share due to the censors.
Septfontaines Luxemburg
Nov 29, 1918
My dear papa,
As the censorship has been lifted so
will write to tell you what I have been doing since I left home and the U.S.
We sailed from New York on the 31st of
October and came in sight of land on the 12th of Nov. On the night of the 9 of
Nov, one of the ships in the convoy ran into us and we had quite a scare.
We landed at Brest France Nov. 17. We
then went in to training around Chaumont France at a little village called
Viller sur Suize.
We left Viller sur Suize and went into
the trenches in the Luneville sector. The exact place was a little place called
Ancerviller. The first time in we stayed 10 days. The scaredest 10 days of my
life. We stayed in this sector for four months.
From Lorraine we went into the sector
Champagnes, before Chalaus. Here, we helped to stop the great German offensive
of July 14. We stayed here from July 4 to the 18.
We moved from the Champagne to the
Marne Salient. Here we threw the famous Prussian Guards. It was here north of
Chateau Thierrey that I was wounded on July 31.
I stayed in the hospital about a month
and 1 days. I then went back to old A. Co. and it was like going home again
almost.
I came to them just after they had
started the drive in the Saint Mihiel Salient. So, I got into that also.
From here we went to the Argonne forest.
Thru there was tough going and the weather was bad.
From the Argonne we went into the (final)
drive, the one that ended the war. We were in the front line when the armistice
was signed.
I haven’t missed a single big fight
that the Americans have been in.
Christmas has come again, and I can’t
be at home which makes the third, but I think that next years’ Xmas. I think
that we will come home by March 1.
I certainly will be glad to come back
to the U.S.
Well, here’s hoping for you and all a
Merry X Mas. I hope to be with you for the next one.
Write me a letter soon.
Your Devt son,
Gober
Sgt. R.G. Burton
Co. A. 151 M. G. Bn.[iii]
On Dec. 1,
1918, the 151st MGB resumed the march and passed into Germany on December 3.
For the next six days marching to Boos, Germany, the Soldiers endured their
most difficult marching since their 70-mile march to Rolamport the previous
year.[iv]
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| Eisenach, Germany. The 151st MGB marched through Eisenach on Dec. 4, 918 on the way to occupation duty. Photo by Capt. Dan Nichols |
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| This is the only road from Bettenfeld to Neichen, Germany.
It was along this route that the 151st MGB experienced its hardest marching.
Photo by Capt. Dan Nichols |
The
battalion rested in Boos before resuming their march to the Rhine. They arrived
in the towns of Kripp and Bad Bodendorf five days before Christmas and received
new clothing and billets among the civilian population.
 |
On Dec. 15, 1918, the 151st MGB’s marching route took it
through Waldorf Germany. Photo by Capt. Dan Nichols
|
Writing home,
the day after Christmas, Gober related his experiences spending Christmas on
occupation duty.
Kripp Germany
December 26, 1918
My dear mother,
Well, it is the day after Xmas and all
is quiet along the Rhine tonight. I spent a very nice Xmas and enjoyed myself
lots better than I did last year.
Our mess (the Sgts) had quite a nice
diner. We had light wine as an appetizer, soup, chicken, chicken soup, dressing,
fried rabbit, potatoes, apple sauce, tapioca pudding, coffee and cigars. I
think that considering everything it was quite a nice dinner. We have our mess
in a pretty villa overlooking the Rhine. We have plates, cups, saucers, silver
knives forks and spoons that the lady that owns the house kindly lent to us. We
do not sleep here but down the street in another villa that is just as pretty
as the one in which we have our mess.
The man that lives where I am staying
is certainly nice to us. Last night he and his wife brought us in an Xmas tree
all lighted up with candles and decorated up with the things that go on a Xmas
tree. There are no children here, so he must have fixed just for us. There are
eight of us that sleep here. In former days he was an artist and his sketches
are on the walls. They are good too. Some of his paintings of the Rhine in
winter are great. He and his wife can’t seem to do enough for us.
There is a rumor out here that we
start for home on Jan 10 and that the Rainbow parades in Washington Feb 22. I
don’t hold out any false hopes, however. That is rumor.
To think that we will be over here so
very much longer. So little mother be patient and your war-boy will be home
before long a very peace-loving citizen of the United States of America.
The Y gave us an Xmas tree yesterday
and each of us got some smoking tobacco, chocolate and cookies. They were
certainly appreciated. Our Christmas boxes haven’t come in yet, but we are
expecting them every day. I had about as soon have a letter from home as the
box. When I have received the box, I will write Miss Griffin again and thank
her for this candy. I certainly do appreciate her sending it.
I have written all the children a card
wishing them the merriest of Xmas and the most prosperous of New Years.
Have you received the souvenirs I sent
home? I will have quite a collection. Save the letters and I will explain them
all when I get home. There are lots of things interesting that I can’t write
but can tell you all about.
I am looking for a long long letter.
My love to Ida and Toombs.
Your ever-devoted Son,
Gober[v]
 |
Post card sent home by Robert Gober Burton from Kripp
Germany Dec 21, 1918. Georgia Guard
archives
|
[iii]
Robert G. Burton to Mr. R. F. Burton. Nov. 29, 1918
[iv]
Peavy,
Arthur and Miller, White, The 151st
Machine Gun Battalion 42d (Rainbow) Division: A Battalion History and Citations
of the Rainbow August 13, 1917 to April 26, 1919. J. W. Burke Co., 1919,
21.
[v] Robert
G. Burton to Mrs. R. F. Burton. Dec. 26, 1918
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