History Of The 74th Company

The 74th Company was formed on July 18, 1917 at Quantico, Virginia, as "A" Company of the First Battalion of the Sixth Regiment, with Captain A. B. Miller as commanding officer, and "Smoke" Gallagher as first sergeant. On July 19 the company started training in modern warfare and finished on September 15, when they left for New York, and embarked for overseas on September 16, 1917. The company disembarked as St. Nazaire, France, October 6, 1917.

From October 7 until January 2,1918 the company was in training at St Nazaire, doing construction work and guard duty. Entraining at St. Nazaire and going by rail to Germainvlllers, we went into a more intensive period of training which lasted from January 8 until March 15 and which was to prepare us for our first "hitch" in the trenches. Arriving in Somme-Dieu [sic Sommedieue], France on the 18th, we laid in reserve until the 1st of April when we relieved the French in the trenches in the Toulon Sector, near Verdun. Here the company received its first experience in trench warfare, and afler ten days witbdrew to Camp Fontaine St. Robert. On April 13 while in reserve, a surprise gas bombardment from the enemy was thrown over in which 28 men died from gas wounds, and practically the entire company was evacuated to the hospitals, where they laid between life and death lor months. On May 5 at Somme-Dieu the company was reorganized with replacements from the Second Replacement Battalion, and on the 11th left lor Ontrepont. From the 11th until the 30th the new men trained at Ontrepont and Petite Serans. On Decoration Day orders were received to entrain and the company moved in camions to Montriel [sic] where we stopped, and moved forward on foot to Paris Farm.

On June 1st the company moved back to Montriel where the battalion formed, and from there moved forward to a position just outside of Lucy le Bocage. There a skirmish line was formed, and we advanced through the lines of the French to meet the enemy. Here we held and dug in. On Monday, the 10th we went "over the top" and from then until the 17th we advanced to better positions. We remained in the sector of Bois de Belleau until July 16, when we were loaded in camions and started for Soissons. Here on July 19 we struck the enemy a hard blow and suffered many casualties. We were relieved on the night of the 19th, and hiked to the sector near Pont-à-Mousson. The company, being replaced, did a short "hitch" in the trenches, and were then relieved to move near Toul.

On September 12th, the company played an important part In the first all-American drive on the St. Mihiel Salient. Advancing past the town of Thiacourt and beyond to the right of Jaulny, we stopped. Here we held, repulsed a counter-attack, and on the night of September 16 were relieved. Then we withdrew to the woods near Minorville for a short rest, and on the 21st left for Lay St. Remy. On the 27th we entrained near Toul, rode two days, and detrained at Francois-le-ville.

From here we proceeded to Chepy, near Chalons-sur-Marne, and on the 30th were enroute in camions to the Champagne front. On the 1st of October we went into the trenches, and on the morning of the 3rd went "over the lop" again, penetrated the boche lines, captured Blanc Mont ridge, and for the next week were continually under fire. Several counter-attacks were suppressed, and a steady advance was made until the night of the 9th, when the 36th Division relieved us. After a short rest at Camp Bouy, from the 15th to the 20th, we entered the Champagne Sector for the second time, in reserve. Before going into the lines, however, we were recalled, and leaving the Champagne on the 24th, proeeded to Exermont on the Meuse-Argonne front.

After being in reserve for five days, we moved up to Sommerance, and on the morning of November 1, with a heavy rolling barrage, we "jumped off" leading the attack, Here we advanced with our division for ten consecutive days, and 11 o'clock November 11th found the men of the 74th Company, tired, but still eager to push on. And so, from June 1st, when the Marines achieved their first victory in the World War, unlil the whistle blew on November 11th, we see that the 74th Company was an active participant in every major engagement.

After a week's rest in the woods near Beaumont, the company started on their 340 kilometer march, to the Rhine. Passing through the following towns: La Ferte, France on the 74th [sic]; Brauvanne, Belgium the 18th: Arlon, Belgium; Everlange, Luxemburg on the 21st; Nieder Schnieder, Luxemburg; Biegelbach Luxemburg; Moestroff, Luxemburg; and crossing the Gennan Border, into the town of Neuerath on December 1st; then Pronsfeld, Flerengen, Bernsdorf, Leudersdorf, Schuld, Neuenahr, Namedy; and Andernach, then crossing the Rhine on the 13th, we billeted in Ober Hammerstein, and later passed o [sic] Honningen am Rhine where we have been stationed.

Of course, as you read over this little history you see we have not mentioned the hardships which the soldier must undergo to perform his duty, and as you know, duty means sacrifice. Although our long stay on the Rhine has been, perhaps, a little tedious, It takes only a glance over our Honor Roll to remind us that we have still a duty to perform, that those who have made the supreme sacrifice may rest in peace, knowing that we, shall "carry on".