What might have been the thoughts of the individual at the breaking of home-ties and during the long, tiresome railroad journey to Camp Meade, were buried deep in the heart, to be cherished as a future memory only. Personal griefs were hidden as those seven hundred young men in civilian clothes stepped from the train at Disney, grasped their suit case, box, or bundle, firmly and set out on the mile and a quarter hike through the camp--past divisional headquarters; perspiring freely under the heat of the setting sun. It was with an appearance of carelessness and humor they jaunted along, singing at times, "You're in the Army Now"--finally to breast the rise of the hill previous to "O" block, the descent thereof which was to mark the first stage of their transformation from civilian to soldier.
Descent of the hill lead down to a sandy square in front of a long building that housed regimental headquarters. After, what seemed like hours to the recruits lined-up, roll of the seven hundred was called, divisions made, and the first quota of Battery D was marched to 019.
Enlisted in the service of the United States Army, May 11th, 1917, and received commission as Major at the First Officers' Training Camp, Fort Niagara. N. Y. Was ordered to Camp Meade. Md., August 29th, 1917, and placed in command of the Second Battalion, 311th Field Artillery. Accompanied the outfit to France. On detached service with the Interallied Armistice Commission, Spa, Belgium, from November 20th, 1918, to February 1st, 1919. Was awarded the French Legion of Honor medal April 4th, 1919. Discharged February 26th, 1919. Got commission as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Field Artillery Reserve, August 6th, 1919.]
Iron-bound was the rule. You couldn't escape it. Every selected man who entered Camp Meade had to submit. Of course, the new recruits were given a dinner shortly after their arrival--but not without first taking a bath.
019, like all the other barracks of the cantonment, was a wooden structure, 150 x 50 feet, two stories in height. Half of the first floor housed the kitchen and dining hall while the remainder of the building was given over to sleeping quarters, with the exception of a corner set apart as the battery office and supply room--a most business-like place, from which the soldier usually steered shy, unless he wanted something, or had a kick to register about serving as K. P., or on some other official detail when he remembered having done a turn at the said detail just a few days previous.