Thursday, January 3, 1918
Happiest day in my life. When I got up I found a letter on my bed telling me to report to the doctor for a physical examination for commission as a 2nd lieutenant. Took a bath, shaved and was examined by Dr. Clayton and Tope at 4:00 p.m. in their rooms. Passed like a top and now all I do is wait. It has to go to Pershing, then to Washington and back, then I shall be an officer in the great Army of America. Only five of us got them. So many disappointments but I’m so happy. Feel that I have made good over here. Pays $165 a month. All I have to do now is wait.

Friday, January 4, 1918
Very cold this morning. Fire went out. Got one paper out of 36 bags of mail. Played checkers all day.

Saturday, January 5, 1918
Got a laundry bag and pack of magazines today from Cecil. Nothing else in the mail for me though. Am short the box from home. Real cold today. Recommendations have all gone in now and I will be commissioned soon.

Sunday, January 6, 1918
My birthday. Am 28 today. Getting older all the time. Cold today. Took pictures all afternoon with Hub and CWS. Nothing new. Got box from Cecil. Had towels, butter, toothpicks, beans. Sure fine.

Monday, January 7, 1918
Rained all day long. Got up early at 9:00 a.m. Berry and Marshall came down from Souilly so got up early. Shaved, washed. Nothing unusual going on today. Rain turned to snow at 4:00 p.m. and it snowed six inches, though moderating. Real warm outside. Understand two regiments of artillery have arrived at Auzeville. 74 had a little accident on the hill at Autrecourt.

Tuesday, January 8, 1918
Rain turned to snow and it snowed constantly all day. Now lots more snow. The chinks have been fixing up the sides of the barracks all day to keep water from flowing in . Bombproof parlor on the hill going up in great style. They are about 25 feet under the ground now. No mail.

Wednesday, January 9, 1918
Slept cold last night, first time yet. Got up at 4:00 a.m., put on socks, pants and overcoat and back to bed.

Thursday, January 10, 1918
Snowed all night. Drifted some places a foot deep. Cold too. Slept fine. Beck and Ilette put snowballs on my eyes at 6:00 a.m. to wake me up. Then Ilette hit me in the eye with a snowball. I turned over his cot. No mail. Payday today. No news.

Friday, January 11, 1918
Paid today. Up at 10:00 a.m. Read Wilson’s message to Congress. Routine. No mail.
Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” speech to a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1918 was the most important of his presidency. It outlined his program for ending the war, which consisted of certain basic principles, such as freedom of the seas and open covenants, a variety of geographic arrangements carrying out the principle of self-determination, and most importantly to Wilson, the establishment of a League of Nations that would assure peace in the future.
The Fourteen Points constituted the only statement by any of the parties to the war of their actual objectives. As a result, these points became the basis for German surrender, and a central focus of discussion during negotiation of the Versailles peace treaty.

Saturday, January 12, 1918
Cold but sun shining and clear today. No mail. French lesson at 1:00 p.m. Worked for Doud in the afternoon after he had a bath and dental work done. No news yet about my commission. Expect it will be two months yet before it comes along. Played checkers all afternoon. Bed at 9:00 p.m. then laid awake and bulled with the bunch until 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 13, 1918
Went to work at 8:00 a.m. for Doud for a few days as Doud is having dental work done. Very warm.

Monday, January 14, 1918
Working first. Up early. Fire gone out. Shivered like a dog dressing. Had tooth filled at 8:25 a.m.

Tuesday, January 15, 1918
Up at 6:15 a.m. Gen. Pershing and staff on special train this morning. Leaving Sommeilles 8:48 a.m., picks up Gen. Pershing and party at Vaubecourt, leaving there 10:00 a.m. Goes to Souilly, thence to Fleury by auto and train. Returns here to pick them up. As luck would have it I lined this up before I told anyone about it. Then Maj. etc. almost drove me nuts about it. Like a bunch of kids. Think they never heard of a special before. Just learned the special did not have Pershing but Pétain and President Poncairé.

Wednesday, January 16, 1918
Rained all night. Track washed out from Froidos to Autrecourt. Detoured via Sommeilles. We are to be relieved tonight. Col. had talk with all of us today in officer’s mess hall about studying up on officer’s duties, etc. We must take an examination before a board. Col. made splendid talk to us about our duties as officers.

Thursday, January 17, 1918
Work at 8:00 a.m. Harrison breaking in school at 9:00 a.m. Studying different paperwork at officer’s school for examination for commission.

Friday, January 18, 1918
Cold. Rained all day long. Cloudy. Attended school 9 to 11:00 a.m. and 2 until 4:00 p.m. Learned a little theory etc. Getting ready. Had some mail today from J.E. Agee, some tobacco etc. Also a letter from Mrs. MWC.

Saturday, January 19, 1918
School all day. Went to liquid fire and smoke bomb demonstration in the afternoon. Big argument over Roosevelt and Wilson until 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 20, 1918
Up at 6:30. Shaved, bathed, cleaned quarters. Wrote letters then school. Beautiful day, weather like Spring.

Monday, January 21, 1918
School from 9 till 11:00 a.m. then study till 2:00 p.m. Class 2 till 4:00 p.m. then study till late. Hard study but going to make a go of it. Folks at home expect me to come home with a commission. Sick today, should be in hospital.

Thursday, January 24, 1918
Cloudy, cold, drizzling rain. School at 9:00 a.m. Big arguments in barracks at 11:00 p.m. last night about the submarine etc. Hays and Ilette.

Friday, January 25, 1918
Class routine. Drills etc. Warm. Much air activity. Routine.

Saturday, January 26, 1918
Peace talks by Lloyd George and Wilson. Peace talk in air with lots of strife in Austria. All things look like the beginning of the end.

Sunday, January 27, 1918
Inspection at 11:00 a.m. No class. Had official photo taken. No action yet heard from on commissions. Routine. Wrote letters in the afternoon.

Monday, January 28, 1918
Package and mail. No letters from home. Seven from Cecil, also two packages. Also one from Myrtle with eats and tobacco. Class and drill all day. Routine.

Tuesday, January 29, 1918
Clear, cold, getting colder now again. Germans got the observation balloon again. Saw the observer jump in parachute. Nervy stunt. Class and liquid gas demonstration in the afternoon.

Wednesday, January 30, 1918
Class routine. Carload of Xmas boxes, and I received the one from Father. Cake sure good, butter stronger than here. Been on road almost three months.

Thursday, January 31, 1918
Clear, cold. Class all day. Routine.

Sunday, February 3, 1918
K. Hansen killed at Dugny this morning by shell exploding. Sad.
Clear, pretty. Lots of machines out today. Busy past two days. Class dismissed now and back to work. Waiting for our commissions now. Got some pancake flour yesterday and had batter cakes last night and this morning. Sure fine biz. All cut in on them. .

Monday, February 4, 1918
Beautiful day. Pancakes and bacon at 9:00 a.m. Lots of old mail today, dated last year, Dec. 15-16 etc.

Saturday, February 16, 1918
B45 derailed day before yesterday on Autrecourt hill. Just got her on. Had one clear track. Hook from Bar-le-Duc and Châlons reached here in five hours Everyone worked up over it in Paris etc. Coming German drive. Artillery is terrible past two days.

Sunday, March 17, 1918
Feb. 16th to March 17th – routine.

Monday, March 18, 1918
Moving American troops now to front. Moved two divisions. American regulars to Dugny. Fine looking chaps. Talked with officers. Germans started shelling Dugny soon as trains were due there and we had to unload at Lemmes. One boy badly wounded. Arrested spy at Ancemont, old lady signals Germans with clothes on line. Shelled track clear to Landrecourt tonight badly. Cut line and wires there, running only at night now with banked fires, no firebox doors open. Great life. No mail today.

Tuesday, March 19, 1918
Rained and cold today. Still shelling Dugny and Landrecourt badly. Killed bunch of French. Got cable orders from Washington promoting Kennedy. Horton, Sawtelle, Nash and Schultz made captains, others made 1st lieutenants. Looks like ours should show up now almost anytime.

Wednesday, March 20, 1918
Clear, fine day. Artillery very heavy on front all day long. Sent eight trains of mounted guns yesterday. Handled five hospital trains back to base. Saw three American wounded.

Thursday, March 21, 1918
Took bath. Looks like something has started. Artillery constant past two days.