WWI Soldier. During the First World War, a young man - a barber in peacetime - enlisted in the Iowa National Guard. Soon he found himself part of the 168th Infantry of the 42nd Division, the Rainbow Division.
In July of 1918, the 42nd was committed to battle against the Germans to reduce the Marne Salient. In spite of withering machine gun fire and heavy artillery bombardment, the 168th Infantry took their objective.
During the assault on Hill 212 on La Croix Rouge Farm, as the battle drew to an end, a messenger was needed to deliver an important word to one of the platoons. Private Martin A. Treptow grabbed the message and moved out under fire. As he reached the platoon leader, Treptow was shot down by a hail of bullets. Later, in policing up Treptow's personnel effects, a diary was found in the blood-stained blouse of this doughboy. Written in Treptow's own hands on the flyleaf under the heading, on December 31, 1917, he had written these words:
"The end of a long
Journey
Now bring on
Your Wars
1918 Revolution
America must win this war
Therefore I will work,
I will save,
I will sacrifice
I will endure
I will fight cheerfully and
do my utmost as if the
whole issue of the struggle
depended on me alone."
In July of 1918, the 42nd was committed to battle against the Germans to reduce the Marne Salient. In spite of withering machine gun fire and heavy artillery bombardment, the 168th Infantry took their objective.
During the assault on Hill 212 on La Croix Rouge Farm, as the battle drew to an end, a messenger was needed to deliver an important word to one of the platoons. Private Martin A. Treptow grabbed the message and moved out under fire. As he reached the platoon leader, Treptow was shot down by a hail of bullets. Later, in policing up Treptow's personnel effects, a diary was found in the blood-stained blouse of this doughboy. Written in Treptow's own hands on the flyleaf under the heading, on December 31, 1917, he had written these words:
"The end of a long
Journey
Now bring on
Your Wars
1918 Revolution
America must win this war
Therefore I will work,
I will save,
I will sacrifice
I will endure
I will fight cheerfully and
do my utmost as if the
whole issue of the struggle
depended on me alone."
WWI Soldier. During the First World War, a young man - a barber in peacetime - enlisted in the Iowa National Guard. Soon he found himself part of the 168th Infantry of the 42nd Division, the Rainbow Division.
In July of 1918, the 42nd was committed to battle against the Germans to reduce the Marne Salient. In spite of withering machine gun fire and heavy artillery bombardment, the 168th Infantry took their objective.
During the assault on Hill 212 on La Croix Rouge Farm, as the battle drew to an end, a messenger was needed to deliver an important word to one of the platoons. Private Martin A. Treptow grabbed the message and moved out under fire. As he reached the platoon leader, Treptow was shot down by a hail of bullets. Later, in policing up Treptow's personnel effects, a diary was found in the blood-stained blouse of this doughboy. Written in Treptow's own hands on the flyleaf under the heading, on December 31, 1917, he had written these words:
"The end of a long
Journey
Now bring on
Your Wars
1918 Revolution
America must win this war
Therefore I will work,
I will save,
I will sacrifice
I will endure
I will fight cheerfully and
do my utmost as if the
whole issue of the struggle
depended on me alone."
In July of 1918, the 42nd was committed to battle against the Germans to reduce the Marne Salient. In spite of withering machine gun fire and heavy artillery bombardment, the 168th Infantry took their objective.
During the assault on Hill 212 on La Croix Rouge Farm, as the battle drew to an end, a messenger was needed to deliver an important word to one of the platoons. Private Martin A. Treptow grabbed the message and moved out under fire. As he reached the platoon leader, Treptow was shot down by a hail of bullets. Later, in policing up Treptow's personnel effects, a diary was found in the blood-stained blouse of this doughboy. Written in Treptow's own hands on the flyleaf under the heading, on December 31, 1917, he had written these words:
"The end of a long
Journey
Now bring on
Your Wars
1918 Revolution
America must win this war
Therefore I will work,
I will save,
I will sacrifice
I will endure
I will fight cheerfully and
do my utmost as if the
whole issue of the struggle
depended on me alone."
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