“Before you received this note you may have seen something on the paper that will make you proud and I’m sure very proud, and later will give you more details. At present I cannot. But watch for my name amongst those cited for I certainly put it over. It’s a great story and in the Stars and Stripes and American magazines and
newspapers will make keen reading for the American public. Our boys are wonders and for Heavens sake got enough them here, for we now have the drop on Fritz. Mark my words a year from today Uncle Sam will be a mighty ferocious gent. Since my last note to you I have been in the trenches twice and in a very active sector. One occasion take charge of a company and counter attack. Another minute with 40 men take a defensive position and hold until the last man kicked out. Oh I tell you at times my name was almost on the obituary column.”

Letter of June 4th, 1918 from
1st Lt. Daniel J. Birmingham, 28th Inf., Co. M

Courtesy of the
Colonel Robert R. McCormick Research Center

Above: French flamethrowers were assigned to the First Division so that German dugouts could be easily checked for and cleared of any remaining enemy soldiers. Signal Corps Photograph courtesy of the Colonel Robert R. McCormick Center.