Actually, by the time the Fighting 69th was deployed to France, it had been assigned to the 42nd Infantry ("Rainbow") Division, and re-designated the 165th, in accordance with the system then in use for numbering regiments. (That is, regiments assigned to the divisions of the National Guard and the National Army--but not the Regular Divisions of the Army of the United States--were numbered in ascending order.)
SGT Kilmer is best know today for his poem "Trees", of course, but, while he did not survive the war to write the memoirs he had contracted for, a few poems did survive:
The PeacemakerReminiscent, perhaps, of Houseman's "Epitaph For An Army Of Mercenaries", but so what?
Upon his will he binds a radiant chain,
For Freedom’s sake he is no longer free.
It is his task, the slave of Liberty,
With his own blood to wipe away a stain.
That pain may cease, he yields his flesh to pain.
To banish war, he must a warrior be.
He dwells in Night, eternal Dawn to see,
And gladly dies, abundant life to gain.
What matters Death, if Freedom be not dead?
No flags are fair, if Freedom’s flag be furled.
Who fights for Freedom, goes with joyful tread
To meet the fires of Hell against him hurled,
And has for captain Him whose thorn-wreathed head
Smiles from the Cross upon a conquered world.
Me, I simply hope that we'll see a day again when it is expected that artists and intellectuals will serve their nation...
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