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Show SEGDND DIVISION OF ; if fE RECORD Loses More Men, Captures ! More Germans Than Any O thereat nit. Former Salt Laker, Now a "Devil Dog," Sends Letter From France. Yhen General Pershing" -was requested by Marshal Foch to send the best American Ameri-can division to aid the French at Chateau Cha-teau Thierry, ho chose the Second division di-vision of the marines, writes Louis C. Brings, a Salt Lake man who is with that organization, and the. record reported by Kriggs of the division shows the American Ameri-can general did not err. The Second marines lost more men, captured more prisoners, took more cajmon, advanced further against the enemy, and received : more distinguished service crosses and citations for bravery than any other American organization. The letter of Private Brlggs follows: I have been receiving your paper for some time while over here, and have read a number of letters from Utah boys serving serv-ing in the American expeditionary forces, but I have seen nothing from the, marine corps. Now I know there are lots of Utah boys in the marine corps, but they all seeni backward about writing, so I am taking it upon myself to let you know there is one Utah marine over here, any-vav, any-vav, and also that lie never was so homesick home-sick iu his life. Joins IL S. Marines. I was a resident of Utah up until 1915, when I went to Minnesota, but when war was declared I dropped all "ties that bind" and entered the best branch of service Uncle Sam has, the United States marine corps. Arrived in France March 27, 1918, just In time to get some experience in a quiet sector around Verdun. We stayed there until May 15, when we were relieved by the French troops. On May 2S General Foch called for the best American division to assist the French around Chateau Thierry, and General Pershing calied for the Second division. Tou have all read about how we stood by Old Glory in Belleau Woods, so I need not go into details. I am proud to say, though, that I went through that battle and two others without a. scratch, until St. Mihiel, when, on September 14, Fritz got my number, but he didn't put me out entirely. On Marne River. On the morning of November 11 the Second division was on the farther side of the Meuse river, and still going forward for-ward when the armistice was declared. We are now holding down a nice, quiet sector on the P.hine, and have Neuwied as our division headquarters. We have the distinction of having casualties cas-ualties numbering 24,385, and this was about 10 per cent of the total casualties of the American expeditionary forces. We captured 12,026 prisoners, which was one-uuarter one-uuarter of the total number captured by the American expeditionary forces. We captured 343 cannon, or about one-quarter of all cannons captured by the American expeditionary forces. We advanced sixty kilometers against the enemy, or farther than any other division di-vision in the American expeditionary forces. We have had 646 distinguished service crosses awarded this division, which is 17 per cent of total distinguished service crosses in the American expeditionary expedi-tionary forces, or more than double any other American division was awarded. Our insignia is an Indian head on a white star, with background in colors and shapes varying according to unit. There has been nothing official given out in regards to our coming home soon, but all rumors point pretty strong towards to-wards June or July. Hoping you have not got tired reading this, I am, PVT. LOUIS. C BRIGGS, Marines, Second Division. |