Captured Details From Yard Longs

[Brig]

I do find it interesting that those WWI Marines trained for about a year before entering combat and the legend of their effectiveness was attributed to superior marksmanship. Yet less than 2% in the photo wear (sharpshooter) badges. Perhaps there was no supply of them.

Level of qualification resulted in a cash bonus on the monthly salary depending on level of qual, I think it was $2 for MM, $3 for SS, and $5 for Ex. My guess is you could go unqualified, otherwise MM wouldn't have had a bonus

 

I use to be well versed in the program when I worked on the Ranges at Parris Island, but it's been over 5 years

[12A54]

In George Clark's book it says that the total percentage of qualified riflemen in 1918 was 67% and in 1919 83%. (More details on p.385.)

[Brig]

Speaking of yard longs, anyone know where to get a large enough frame for a 2-yard-long? This thing is freaking huge

[warguy]

Brig, doubt you will find one used. Pictureframes.com has served me well. Wait for one of their sales. You can order frames to fit, mats, plexiglass, etc. If you get in on one one of their sales, it is much cheaper than having it done. You just assemble it all yourself. I think they offer specials to new customers ordering for the first time. I have ben happy with their products. Sometimes on bigger items like you are talking, it is cheaper to wait for them to offer free shipping. They do this periodically. Kevin

[Brig]

Yeah, sale seems the best, I can't imagine a 6'6" long frame being cheap

[Salvage Sailor]

Detail: Hawaiian Division MP's 1930 - Armbands, white faced leggings, one standing collar holdout

 

The MP at the top is prevailing from on high, "send me back to the Infantry! I need a beer!"

[bertmedals]

One of the yard-long pictures I have is of E Company, 314^th Infantry Regiment after it returned from France in 1919. It clearly shows two soldiers wearing the DSC and Croix de Guerre. E/324^th Inf had 4 soldiers who were decorated with the DSC. Three of the four were also decorated with the Croix de Guerre.

· SGT Edward W. Monahan (DSC and CdG). He was wounded in the face during the action for which he was awarded the DSC;

· CPL John Chyko (DSC and CdG);

· PVT John J. Auber (DSC). He lost a hand and forearm during the action for which he was awarded the DSC; and

· PVT Calvin J. Cressman (DSC and CdG). He was wounded 5 times during the action for which he was awarded the DSC.

 

By deduction, I believe SGT Monahan and CPL Chyko are pictured in this yard-long.

 

It seems reasonable that PVTs Auber and Cressman had likely been evacuated due to their wounds and are not in the picture. Additionally, PVT Auber is not known to have received the Croix de Guerre and both soldiers in the picture are wearing one. Also, one of the soldiers with a DSC and CdG is wearing sergeant stripes and a wound stripe which conforms to what I know about SGT Monahan. The other soldier with a DSC and CdG is not wearing a wound stripe and to the best of my knowledge CPL Chyko was the only one of the four who was not wounded during the war. Also, the way this soldier’s uniform lays makes it nearly impossible to determine if he is wearing corporal stripes, but he is wearing a whistle which is a give-away that he had NCO status.

 

First picture is of the inscription on the photo. The next two pictures are of who I believe to be SGT Monahan and then CPL Chyko.

 

Thanks for looking.

Dennis

 

 

[bertmedals]

SGT Edward W. Monahan

 

 

[bertmedals]

CPL John Chyko

 

 

[12A54]

Great detail and research.

[Jayhawker353]

Here is a capture from a panoramic of 67^th Company 1^st Battalion 5^th Marines Coblenz in Spring 1919. The Lieutenant on the left is the only Marine in the whole photo wearing ribbons. You can see the company mascot, a small monkey on the arm of the kneeling Corporal. All are wearing a 2ID SSI (red square for 1/5.)

 

 

 

 

 

Love WWI yard longs and have seen a lot of mascots and gimmicks, but never a monkey.

[bertmedals]

Referring back to the E/314th Inf yard long photo I need to insert two things. First, here is a corrected copy of the narrative since I fat-fingered the first one:

FIRST -- REVISED COPY:

One of the yard-long pictures I have is of E Company, 314^th Infantry Regiment after it returned from France in February 1919. It clearly shows two soldiers wearing the DSC and Croix de Guerre. E/314^th Inf had 4 soldiers who were decorated with the DSC. Three of the four were also decorated with the Croix de Guerre.

· SGT Edward W. Monahan (DSC and CdG). He was wounded in the face during the action for which he was awarded the DSC;

· CPL John Chyko (DSC and CdG);

· PVT John J. Auber (DSC). He lost a hand and forearm during the action for which he was awarded the DSC; and

· PVT Calvin J. Cressman (DSC and CdG). He was wounded 5 times during the action for which he was awarded the DSC.

 

By deduction, I believe SGT Monahan and CPL Chyko are pictured in this yard-long.

 

It seems reasonable that PVTs Auber and Cressman had likely been evacuated due to their wounds and are not in the picture. Additionally, PVT Auber is not known to have received the Croix de Guerre and both soldiers in the picture are wearing one. Also, one of the soldiers with a DSC and CdG is wearing sergeant stripes and a wound stripe which conforms to what I know about SGT Monahan. The other soldier with a DSC and CdG does not appear to be wearing a wound stripe and to the best of my knowledge CPL Chyko was the only one of the four who was not wounded during the war. Also, the way this soldier’s uniform lays makes it nearly impossible to determine if he is wearing corporal stripes, but he is wearing a whistle which is a give-away that he had NCO status.

 

SECOND, below is a refined version of the photo of who I believe to be CPL Chyko. I circled a spot on his right sleeve that could be a wound chevron -- some of you may have noticed it. It shows up when photographed but is barely discernible under a powerful magnifier -- go figure. If a wound stripe, one could also make the argument that it is upside down. I'm sure the first sergeant he is sitting next to would have been none too happy with that!

 

[12thengr]

Native American soldier; Returned from France. April 1919; 361st Inf. Reg. Possibly from the Dakotas or Montana.

[mysteriousoozlefinch]

First off, the 100% on topic things. Unfortunately my scanner has pretty poor resolution so most of these are fuzzy and a lot of detail visible in person is lost. They're from two scanned yard longs I have of Co. K, 133rd Infantry, Iowa National Guard, from Le Mars, IA at summer camp in Minnesota. It's entirely possible that these men were some of the 20 officers and 202 men from the 133rd Infantry that were called out in 1933 to deal with civil unrest in Plymouth County resulting from activities of the Farmers' Holiday Association.

 

The more sepia toned ones were taken in 1937 and the black/white in 1940.

 

Company guidon, and a few guys who didn't get the memo about not standing in the background, both wearing cartridge belts.

 

Company cook at left, and a Company Supply Sergeant at the right next to a Corporal with a whistle on his pocket. Two officers up front have their M1921 officer's belts worn Sam Browne style and three worn with suspenders rigged for field wear.

 

Tent is stamped "IOWA" over "NG" in the circle. Two cooks this time, plus the two men in shirts and colored overseas caps. Left has a readable "MINN." on it and the right "CAMP". I'd thought they might be American Legion initially but they may just be some sort of unit gear.

 

Other end of the photo; you can see whistle chains on the First Sergeant, Sergeant far right, fourth from right, and sixth from right.

 

Title, and a cameo from the photographer.

 

 

Next, things I'm not sure but are on the same theme, i.e. group photos, and have some interesting features.

 

NCOs from Co. D, 103rd Infantry of the Maine National Guard in 1927. Front row L to R is a Sergeant and three Corporals, back row appears to be all Corporals, all with their sidearms.

 

 

Howitzer platoon of Co. H, 103rd Infantry, Lewiston, ME in 1939 posed around their M1916 37mm guns on wheeled carriages for transport.

[38Driver]

Not technically a yard-long, but of similar look. This photo of the USS Mississippi Ship's Dance from 11/25/35 fell out of a 1934-35 cruise book I got.

 

Kind of fun to look at the folks close up.

 

Some of the brass blown up below the complete photo

 

 

[38Driver]

Far right on the photo showing the only Marine visible, and a high ranking enlisted sailor. I'm sure some of the Navy fans can identify the ranks.

 

Second photo showing a young sailor and his gal. Not sure how he made the front row

 

Lastly what I assume is one of the brass and his family

 

[12A54]

Interesting that a few of the officers appear to be wearing small ribbons on their lapels (rather than miniature medals). And the Marine's marksmanship badge looks like an Army one?

[swmdo]

phpjCteojPM.jpg Native American soldier; Returned from France. April 1919; 361st Inf. Reg. Possibly from the Dakotas or Montana.

Nice to see that!

[blackhawkdown]

I love yard longs too. Just to look into those faces in 1919 after the armistice you can really see the weary and haunted looks on their faces. Here is a yard long from 89th Division, 354th, Company D. There was one Medal of Honor recipient, Arthur J Forest also decorated with the Croix de Guerre. there were also 2 Distinguished Service Cross winners. Here are some close ups of the group. Arthur J Forest is on the left arrow. He has some kind of ribbon, I can't make it out and he seems to be the only one with one. The fellow on the right has the most pained haunted face I can remember seeing on a yard long.

[blackhawkdown]

Here is the rest of the group

Two

[blackhawkdown]

Rest of group three

[blackhawkdown]

Rest of group four

[blackhawkdown]

Rest of group five

[blackhawkdown]

Rest of group six

[blackhawkdown]

Rest of group seven