Past Post Commander Edward Grandpre wrote this account of his service in the army during World War I. I will add it here as I feel that it gives some insight and history of that Great War.
When about 22 years old, 1917, Edward Grandpre from Conde, SD enlisted in the armed forces of the US. He took his boot training in Camp Funston, near Fort Riley, Kansas, under the command of General Leonard Wood, who headed the 89th Division. He left Camp Funston in May 1918, arrived at Camp Mills, L.I., via Canada, was in Liverpool, England by June 19th. He went to a training area at V Esaiges, France; moved to the lines to relieve the 2nd Division, NW. of Toul, when they were relieved by the French Machine Gunners, September 10. He then moved to St. Mihel sector at Fluery opposite Mt. Sec. With the Rainbow Division on the left and the US Marines on the right, the 89th lunged forward on the 12th of September at 6.00 a.m. thus going over the top breaking a stalemate for four years between the French and German armies. They drove for three days and three nights, when they were relieved by the 37th Division. From this point the drive was into the Verdun Sector and we got ready for the big drive that would start
The night of September 11-12 was dismal, cold, and rainy. The trenches were filled with water and mud, and the roads slippery and congested with moving troops, guns, and supply trains. All seemed confusion and disorder. There was no thrill for the coming conflict, no pomp and circumstance whatever as the tired troops plowed their way through the mud to their allotted positions or huddled in their trenches vainly trying to keep dry and to snatch a little rest. But suddenly at 1 o'clock in the morning the roar of the unprecedented artillery preparation burst forth and continued with unbroken violence for four hours. On Sept. 12th, the division participated in the St. Mihiel offensive as the right division of the 4th American Corps and advanced to a depth of twenty-one kilometers including the captures of the towns of Beney, Essey, Boullionville, Pannes and Xammes.
On Oct. 7th, the division was relieved in the Pannes-Flirey-Limey sector by the 37th Division and was moved by bus to the Recicourt area and became part of the 1st Army Reserve. On Oct. 12th, the division moved forward in rear of the 32d Division as part of the 5th American Corps in the Argonne offensive and on Oct. 20th the division went into the line along the Sommerance-Romagne road just north of the Kreimhilde defense positions. The division attacked on November 1st and continued in the assault until the armistice was signed when it had crossed the Meuse north of Stenay.
On November 1st. While jumping over the top at this battle, Edward Grandpre was struck by bullets receiving four painful wounds and had to be carried from the battlefield to the Field Hospital, then to the Base Hospital No. 10 in southern France. About the 1st of February he was moved to Brest, France, and finally sailed home on the 4th arriving at New York on the 22nd of February. He then was sent to Camp Jackson, South Carolina; was discharged from the hospital on the 18th of March, and arrived home on the 22nd, 18 months from the day he left. Edward continued to reside in Conde, SD for several years and was a member of Donald A. Lewis Post 148, Conde, SD.
Edward carried some bullet fragments the rest of his life but was fully active and showed no signs of the injuries. He spent much of his life in Law Enforcement.
