The departure of the horses next day was the signal for much joy, and the battery heaved a sigh of relief when they had gone.
The resulting schedule shows good reason for their relief. Reveille was at 7. From 8 to 9 were calisthenics and some foot drill. At 10 the battery went out for foot drill or a road hike, carrying full packs. An hour’s athletics in the afternoon completed the day’s work. Baseball games were played with Battery F. A basketball team, under Lieutenant Kelly’s coaching, defeated all opponents, with the invincible line-up of the two Durling brothers, Dodge, Vavrinek and Lieutenant Kelly.
Friday morning, April 4, the battery marched to Gelsdorf, where the regiment assembled for the presentation of the “flammes de guerre”—red ribbons bearing the names and date of engagements in which the regiment participated—which were fastened on the regimental colors. The ribbons read as follows:
Luneville sector, Lorraine, France, February 21 to March 23.
Baccarat sector, Lorraine, France, March 31 to June 21.
Esperance-Souain sector, Champagne, France, July 4 to July 14.
Champagne-Marne defensive, France, July 15-19.
Aisne-Marne offensive, France, July 25 to August 11.
St. Mihiel offensive, France, September 12-16.
Essey and Pannes sector, Woevre, France, September 17-30.