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| | SERGT. WILLARD E. HARRIS
Decker, Mich.
Harris was one of the initial recruits of the outfit, arriving at Camp Custer the second day the camp opened up.
On November 11, 1917, he received the rank of Corporal and was Senior Non-Com at the first formal guard mount held by the 328th. In describing it himself he says: “It was all queer to me then and I dressed the Guard on the Officer of the Day instead of the Sergt.-Major.”
He was later transferred to Headquarters Company of the 328th F. A., and on this day it will be remembered that our Battery shot up Apple Tree Hill. Harris thinks this was the most narrow escape he had in the service, being telephone operator on this hill.
He was transferred from Headquarters Company, 328th F. A., to Headquarters Detachment, 160th F. A. Brigade, on June 1, 1918, and sailed with the 85th Division School Detachment, July 22nd, on the S. S. Canopic. This ship was an English one used to transport emigrants, and the crew informed the men there were twice as many bunks for transporting soldiers.
Harris experienced his first realization of war the day before landing in Liverpool when they witnessed Boche subs, but two of them were put out of existence by the destroyers in the convoy.
He attended Telephone School at Coetquidan, and was appointed Brigade Telephone Sergeant September 21, 1918.
While at the front his duties were mainly to maintain communication between headquarters and the several regiments.
He returned to America with Headquarters troops, receiving his discharge April 23, 1919. |