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| | SERGT. WALTER SCHMUCK
Serial No. 2,026,603
1706 Genessee Ave., Saginaw, Mich.
Inducted at Camp Custer, September 7, 1917, one of the initial recruits of the Battery.
Received the rank of Corporal December 7, 1917, and while at Camp Coetquidan, France, was promoted to Sergeant October 1, 1918.
Before his entry into the army Schmuck was an expert electrician in the employ of the Saginaw Electric Co., so after completing his course at the Liaison School at Camp Coetquidan, he was made our Signal Sergeant. All linemen, telephone operators and other specialists of the Battery Commanders’ Detail were under his supervision.
His thoroughness was marked by the way his connections were made for communication. When Walt was given a mission he himself, and also saw that his detail, left nothing incomplete.
While at our second gun position, at Montauville, he was stricken with trench fever and our Captain thought it best to send him on leave to Aix Les Bain, as much as his services would be missed at this time.
While on the march he was always stationed at the head of the column of unmounted men of the Combat Train with Sergt. Young. When it seemed as though we could not go another mile Schmuck’s humor, mixed with song, was contagious and soon passed along the line to the last straggler, giving them more pep for the balance of the hike.
While at Pont-a-Mousson our Supply Sergeant was granted leave to Aix Les Bain, and it was left to him to pick a substitute. Walt was chosen because of his thoroughness, and the records went on without an error.
He was of an inventive nature and showed marked skill in making unique souvenirs from the metallic remnants of the battlefields that he salvaged. These he shared with his buddies.
During our stay at Les Forges he, with our Supply Sergeant, must have had a keen sense of smelling, as they noted the savor of French cooking comiing from Montmirail, a distance of five kilometers. Each night they would leave after retreat, hike this distance by way of the railroad and spend the balance of the evening over jambon, poulet, pommes de tene frites, café, etc., a l’cafe Bouffard. It was with pleasure they tell of being entertained by the proprietor’s little daughter, Madeline, and her playmates, singing l’Rouge, Blanc and Blu (Red, White and Blue)
“B. C. Detail Follow Me,” is a one-act comedy written by Sergt. Schmuck for this book. It will be found on page 103.
As Sophie Glutz (his sister) described him in one of her letters to our Supply Sergeant, “That tall, lean sergeant with reddish hair and a twinkle in his eye,” so shall we always think of our comrade ever ready to make mountains look like mole hills. |