Bodies being prepared for burial after the WWI battle of Bois d’Ormont.
Last month I posted an ironic and funny story of how a teacher I work with told me about her grandfather’s experience in World War I. She had given me a rather large family photo album containing information and pictures pertaining to her grandfather, Captain William Redden, and his time in the army. The irony of the whole situation was that the regiment he served in was identical to the one my friend is writing a book about, and which I just read an excerpt of a few days before. It was just one of those things that get us history buffs excited. Any way, I had to put it on my blog because of how astonished I was, and she thanked me for it and said she would share it with her family members. Sure enough, tonight I received a message posted to the wall of this blog’s Facebook Page, from one of Capt. Reddan’s other granddaughters, Lynn. I thought I would share it with you all here:
Greg, my sister told me about your encounter at school with regard to our grandfather’s experiences in World War One, and I’ve read your blog on my grandfather Captain William J. Reddan, author of “Other Men’s Lives”. We are only here because our grandfather survived the Battle of Bois d’ Ormont—fought on 10/18/1918. He was ordered to take over 200 men into battle and returned with only 13. My father, his youngest son, was born 10 years after he came home from the war. The part you mentioned about his refusing to shake the governor’s hand occurred on page 397 of “Other Men’s Lives” when he saw the sickening “hero’s welcome” and welcoming parade which we still do one hundred years later (for killing people?) and here I quote grandfather after being introduced to the governor of NJ: “The Governor complimented the regiment on its work in France and remarked ‘It was hard going, captain. The enemy put up a strong resistance’.”
Grandfather replied “The enemy in front of us put up a good fight and we knew it, but they were not nearly as dangerous as the enemy in rear of us, in our own organization”. My grandfather gave all he had in World War One (ironically then called the War to End All Wars). And by the time World War Two came around, he saw his oldest son, Bill, then his next oldest, Doug, go off to fight and when his third son, Corr (born with a hearing disorder) was (finally) accepted to go abroad (that’s now three sons fighting “the good fight”), he had a heart attack in July of 1944 and died immediately on the beach of Manasquan. His 4th son, my father, Joseph, would also later serve in that war. There are only a few “Other Men’s Lives” around. Thanks for your blog.
I really appreciate the note, because it kind of brings the story full circle. The relative I know, Kimberly, had told me how the Captain died in the summer of 1944, which actually occurred right after the D-Day Invasion (June 6), which you could say marked the beginning of the long road towards the end of World War II. This was a man who had survived the First World War, and then was able to witness most of the second, even though upon the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, many proclaimed it would be the “War to End All Wars”—no nation on the planet would be foolish enough to wage war again after so many millions had died. Oh, how wrong they were, and how we still have not learned since.
It is also ironic the quote that Lynn posts from the book, in which the Governor told Reddan , “It was hard going”, to which he responds that it was only made that way because of the people in command. This is a stark comparison to a scene in Gods and Generals, at the end of the battle of Fredericksburg during the Civil War, in which countless waves of Union troops were sent in to their deaths, attacking a heavily entrenched Confederate position behind a stone wall. As Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and his 20th Maine regiment are retreating after the battle, with heads hung low, Major General Joseph Hooker rides along side him and says, “We had a hard chance, Colonel. I’m glad to see you out of there.” Chamberlain answers back, looking the general right in the eyes with great bravado, “It was chance, General. Not much intelligent design there…we were handed in piecemeal on toasting forks.” I guess you could say history does repeat itself after all, though in many different forms.
where did you get that photo? Bois d’ Ormont is a particularly tough battle to find data on. I have my grandfather’s combat helmet sitting above my desk. 100 years old and tough as nails. One other note is that grandfather signed a copy of his book, inserting a personal note to each of the 13 survivors. 2 summers ago, Kim and I went to look at a nursing home for our dad which was located 10 minutes from my home. I asked the social director of the home the ages of the residents and she said “40 to 109″. So I immediately asked if the 109 year old man was a WW One veteran and she said “yes”. She said he was a POW in France and was only 16 when he entered the military. So I went home to grandfather’s book “Other Men’s Lives” and he has a list in the back of the book of all who served with him. and right there was this man’s name which was Alfred Littlfield. Someone who had served under Captain Reddan in 1918 lived 10 minutes from me. Before I could arrange to talk to the man he passed away.
Got the pictures from BING image search. I will ask some of my contacts in the field if they have any others, or know of any. I’ll try to print some out and give them to Ms. Reddan when I’m at the school Wednesday. My printer isn’t great, so if the quality is good, I’ll give it a shot.
And that’s just an amazing story about that survivor. It’s really why we get interested in this subject so much, because of the little things like that. I’m trying to find some more info on Bois d’Ormont and even I’m having some difficulty.
Hi,
My Grand Uncle PFC Antonio Naccarella (Father’s Uncle) died at Bois D’Ormont on the 12 of October 1918. He was part of the 29th Division 114th Infantry Regiment Company B which was headed by Captain Reddan. I managed to get a copy of Other Men’s Lives sent to me in Australia. Definitely a very passionate telling of the futility of war.
If you do find some more info on Bois D’Ormont please let me know.
Ironic you mention D-Day. It was the 29th Division “Blue and Grey” which were one of the first who landed on Omaha Beach.
I read with great interest the above blogs and comments Capt. William Reddan and Company “B”. I have just recently read of his company’s annihilation in the Bois d’Ormont as described in To Conquer Hell. My grandfather participated in Meuse-Argonne also. He spoke very little of what he experienced, but he spoke about a day trying to capture a German machine gun position. Over 200 began and he was one of only 13 who returned. He always considered 13 to be his lucky number after that. We do not know for sure what division or battlion he was in (it seems to be different in every record we have), but his story sounds very familiar to the story of your grandfather’s company. The only discrepancy is that my grandfather was from North Dakota and not New Jersey. Lynn, you indicated in your comments that in the copy of your grandfather’s Other Men’s Lives that he lists the names of those he fought with. Can you check the names and see if my grandfather is there? His name is Willie (or William or Bill) Sadler. Thank you very much. Neal Sadler
I will pass this on to my colleague who has the book as well as some info on the Company. Will let you know if anything turns up.
Greg
There was no Sadler in Company B 114th infantry. Though there was a W E Sadler PVT 1st Class in Company L 115th Infantry in the 29th Division.
Cheers
Rob
Thank you for your assistance. We have found out that he was in Company “B” of the 23rd Infantry of the Second Division. Do you know if there are detailed accounts of the Meuse Argonne Battle for each regiment? I have looked a little online and have found some general accounts, but nothing very specific.
Thanks,
Neal