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PAGE THREE     
THE BRIDGEHEAD SENTINEL    
SEPTEMBER, 1943

Pertaining to the Book "Preserve, Protect and Defend", there are only about 60 copies left ,and suggest that if you desire one to place your order as soon as you can. The testimonials below are well worth consideration, and the book is excellent to read and for reference. Place your order on back of enclosed card, and it will receive prompt attention. 

"Every liberty-loving patriot should adorn his library with this great document of patriotism."-Walter S. Steele. 

"A tribute to an immortal document. A real contribution to the American people . . . it is invaluable."-National Republic. 

"Mr. Agrafiotis has succeeded in compiling in this volume one of the most strikingly representative collections of comment on the Constitution of the United States yet assembled in one book . . . as a convenient book for reading and for general reference on its subject, it can hardly be surpassed."-New Hampshire State Teachers Association Magazine. 

"You have rendered a signal service to the country."-Gen. Charles P. Summerall, President the Citadel College. 

" 'The Nashua (N. H.) Literary Club at its meeting this season selected two books which the members have found to be of the great value in the understanding of the making, framing and working of the Constitution. The books are Bulwark of the Republic by Burton Hendrick and Preserve, Protect and Defend by Chris J. Agrafiotis'."-Nashua (N. H.) Telegraph. 

"In his research the author has culled the most vital opinions of the chief executives regarding the document which they swore to 'preserve, protect and defend' . . . It is an excellent book to read and to keep for reference."-Manchester Union. 


Quite a number of our men of the Old First Division have returned to the service and the list below have been reported as "Took On Again", and may good luck be with them always:

Major Ross A. Boas, Captain Engineers; Lieut. H. F. Holley, 75 M. P. Bn.; Colonel Perry L. Parr, Air Support Command; Major Oliver Holden, formerly 16th Inf.; Lieut. John H. Caron, formerly 16th Inf., now A. C.; John W. Joseph, duty with Roosevelt in England; John J. Farmer, Battery "C", F. A. Bn., Camp Meade, Md.

Ray Shehan, no record; Col. Clifford L. Burnham, School of Military Government, Charlotte, Va.; Gen. P. D. Glassford, Pro-Marshal; Col. William F. Harrell, Hq. 2nd Service Command; John L. Ames, Jr., Hq. E. D. C., Governors' Island, N. Y.; Girard W. Eves, no record; James C. Goode, U. S. Marines; Lieut. Robert Jones, no record; Capt. M. Frick, A. P. O., 511 12th Evac. Hosp., care P. M. N. Y. City, N. Y.; Maj. Gen. Harry H. Johnson, Commanding 2nd Cavalry Div., Fort Clark, Texas.


First Division Gets Action In Tunisia

(Contributed by New England Branch)
The crack U. S. First Division, a hard bitten outfit of thousands of regulars whose predecessors fired the first American shot against the Germans in World War I, is in action on the Tunisian front, it may now be disclosed. There are only six draftees in the outfit. Two other top American outfits also are up there-composed of many National Guard and Selective Service units from the Middle West who trained in northern Ireland, thinking they were going to invade western Europe, and the First Armored Division, one of the pioneer outfits of American mechanized warfare. 

The First was one of America's top divisions of World War I. A captured German colonel said that when he saw it forge ahead in the second Meuse-Argonne offensive, he knew that all was lost. It is being led by Major General Terry de la M. Allen, called "The Wild Man" by his brother officers.

It may not be disclosed where the divisions are operating, but its a safe bet that the First will do just as well in Tunisia as it did in France.

Then, with men in it from every state, the District of Columbia and six territories and possessions, the colors of its combatant units were decorated by the French Government with a Fourragere. General Pershing honored it by keeping it in the army of occupation in Germany until August, 1919, so that he might personally return with it to America.

The First here is known as "The First Team." Early in this campaign General Allen said, "Pretty soon we are going to put the first team into the game, and then watch out.”

Allen, one of the Army's leading polo players, is called the "Wild Man" because he likes a good fight and is willing to lead his men anywhere. He was wounded three times in the last war. Allen was born April 1, 1888, the son of an Army Captain, at Fort Douglas, Utah, and was graduated from the U. S. Military Academy in 1911.

The First was groomed for its present job in January, 1941. Its various units were scattered over New York, Delaware, New Jersey and Vermont. They were gathered together at Fort Devens, Mass., their regular strength raised, and they became one of the first combat outfits ready for overseas duty.

The Famous First Division in World War I, was the first unit of the AEF to reach France, the first unit to get into action in the front lines, and was one of the first two units to advance into German territory. The other was the Second Division.

The First was also the first unit to attack, capture and hold a strong German position-Cantigny-in April, 1917, and was the first to be cited in General Orders by the Commander-in-Chief on the field of battle. When it was sent to France, it was commanded by Major General William L. Sibert and included a large number of New Yorkers among its approximately 30,000 men.

During its battles overseas the First Division had five-sixths of its men listed as casualties. The dead alone numbered 209 officers and 4,690 enlisted men.

 s a result of its exploits the division was awarded six battle streamers, each streamer representing a victorious operation. These were for Montididier-Noyon, Aisne - M a r n e, St. Michiel, Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine, and Picardy (including the capture of Cantigny). The division captured 6,661 prisoners, including 165 enemy officers. In November, 1929, some 3,000 surviving members of the First Division Association held a three-day reunion at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn.          By C. R. CUNNINGHAM (U.P.)

General Patton Praises First Division For Great Performances

America's famous First Division was congratulated today by Lieut. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., for "A truly great performance" in the battle of El Guetar.

"Now that the battle of El Guetar has been won accept for yourself and for the officers and men of your magnificent Division my sincere congratulations and heartfelt thanks for your truly great performance," Patton said in a commendation relayed to the troops by the Division Commander.

"For 22 days you have never faltered in this relentless battle. Over country whose rugged difficulty baggars description and against a veteran enemy cunningly disposed you have pressed on. Undeterred by cold, by lack of sleep and by continued losses, you have conquered. Your valorious [[valorous]] exploits have brought undying fame to soldiers of the United States. You have met and defeated the toughest units in the German Army with great credit to yourselves, to your divsion and to your country. I attribute your success to loyalty and the ocoperation [[cooperation]] of every man in the division, to your cheerful discipline under great hardships, and to your determination to get the job done.

"The German Army has learned to fear this Division.

"I wish to extend my personal congratulations and my sincere personal thanks to every individual of this Division for your successful execution of a difficult mission.

"Nothing in hell must delay or stop the First Division." 
   

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