Capt. Perry E. Hall, of Springfield, N. J., was assigned to the command of D Battery when Capt. Smith was ordered to Paris. First Lieut. Frank J. Hamilton, who had been associated with the battery at Camp Meade, was reassigned to the organization from Headquarters Company of the regiment, during the early part of March, 1919.
Private Stuart E. Prutzman, of Palmerton, Penna., left the outfit at Benoite Vaux to attend a French university. Private William E. Bachman, of Hazleton, Penna., was a successful applicant to the A. E. F. University that was established at Beaune.
The daily sick call of the battery was exceptionally large at Benoite Vaux. Colds and cooties played havoc with the boys for several weeks.
Another passing incident connected with the life at Benoite Vaux was the Divisional Maneuvres that were planned with great enthusiasm but which materialized rather humorously. The battery in general did not enjoy this drama. The maneuvres were conducted with guidon-bearers representing the batteries for the benefit of the Field Officers, who consumed much paper and speech in issuing a multitude of orders to guide the movements of the guidon-bearers as the latter represented the entire regiment, assuming various strategic formations on a well planned field of bloodless battle.
Lieut. Yeager, before being detached from the battery, and Cpl. Thomas J. Brennan, of Pottsville, Penna., were candidates for the divisional foot ball team that played at Souilly with a number of other divisional elevens. Philip J. Cusick, of Parsons, Penna., the battery's favorite pianist, was selected to make a tour with the regimental minstrel show that was put on to tour the circuit of A. E. F. playhouses. Cusick was recalled to the battery the latter part of February when he received notice of his early discharge from the army on account of the death of his father.
The sickness that laid its hand heavily on the men of the battery at Benoite Vaux also affected the horses. The rain that fell almost daily, kept the mud knee-deep and the roads slushy. The well members of the battery toiled hard to complete the stables and save the horses from cruel exposure to the weather. The stables were completed in February and were in use long enough for an order to be issued to clean them out by way of demonstration, then the battery was ordered to proceed to another billeting district. It was announced about this time that the 311th regiment was to sail for home in June.
The siege of sickness claimed in death two of Battery D's men, who had been admitted to the base hospital at Commercy.
Private Patrick J. Dooling, of Metuchen, N. J., died on March 6, 1919, with Broncho-pneumonia. He was buried in the Post Cemetery at Commercy.
Corporal Guy W. Mortimer, of Pottsville, Penna., died on March 8th and was buried in the same cemetery as Private Dooling.
In March regimental post schools were opened near Souilly. A number of Battery D men were admitted to the various courses. The boys had been at school for only one week when they were ordered back to the outfit, which was then moving towards Commercy.