April 29, 1918 - Don Martin reports on awarding of war medals to 104th New England Regiment

Don Martin diary entry for Monday, April 29, 1918: 

Went to Chaumont and another place 25 miles from there to see first of the draft men to arrive in France. Got much good material for story. Cabled 600 words to New York. Also heard for first time that soldiers are calling themselves Buddies. Cabled short story about it and sent longer story to Paris. I drew this story out of some of the privates and Gregg [St. Louis World] and [F. J.] Taylor [United Press] jumped at it of course. Maybe this is the name by which American soldiers are to be known. They don’t like “Sammies” or “Amexes.” Got back at 5 p.m. Dinner at club.

     Don Martin's story (below) about  calling Americans 'Buddies' seems to have been instrumental in its general adoption.

Germans meeting set backs in big offensive. Looks as if French have stopped them. If Germans fail now their defeat is inevitable.

Weather clear part of the day – then rain

       Don Martin's glowing story of the French awarding war medals to the 104th New England Regiment, which he witnessed on Sunday April 28, was dated Monday and  published in the New York Herald on Tuesday, April 30, 1918.

FRENCH PIN WAR MEDALS ON 122 PERSHING BATTLE HEROES; CITE A REGIMENT FOR VALOR

Band Blares Forth “Stars Spangled Banner” and “Marseillaise” to Grim Accompaniment of German Guns Four Miles Away as Tribute is Paid to 104^th Massachusetts

MAGNIFICIENT SPECTACLE IS WITNESSES BY MANY AMERICANS OF OTHER COMMANDS

Many Commissioned Officers Win Croix de Guerre and General in Presentation Commends Each Man Individually for Coolness Under His “Baptism of Fire”

By DON MARTIN

[Special cable to the Herald]

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, Monday

           With German guns thundering four miles away as a grim accompaniment to the strains of the “Stars Spangled Banner” and the “Marseillaise,” played by the regimental bands, the 104^th (New England) regiment was cited for bravery as a unit by the French army general in command of the division in which it has been serving.

           This magnificent spectacle was staged on a plateau overlooking the valleys of Eastern France. The full regiment, each member every inch a soldier, was drawn up for the ceremonies. It was a thrilling picture, witnessed by hundreds of other American soldiers engaged in that sector and many French civilians from a nearby village.

           One hundred and twenty-two members of the regiment, including many commissioned officers, received the Croix de Guerre for signal valor. Accompanying the presentation of the medals was a splendid personal tribute, delivered to each man by the French commander.

           Addressing the entire regiment, the general commended the members for their valiant defense of positions assigned to them, for their ideals of which he said was born their magnificent fighting spirit, and for their oft displayed evidence of determination to make democracy supreme throughout the world.

            The ceremonies began under a drab sky, but soon the sun burst forth and streamed across the French and American colors as they were borne proudly and triumphantly past the French and American officers.

104th Infantry 
(National Archives photo no. 111-SC-7643, France, February 1918)

         Don Martin wrote his story about "Buddies" on Monday night, April 29, and dated it Tuesday. It was published in the New York Herald on Wednesday, May 1, 1918.

GOODBY, “SAMMIES!” AMERICANS IN FRANCE NOW ARE ‘BUDDIES’

Newest of General Pershing’s Forces 
Bring Over Familiar American Slang Sobriquet
—They Like It and So Do the French and English

By DON MARTIN

[Special cable to the Herald]

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, Tuesday

           Not the “Amexes” or “Sammies,” but “Buddies.”

           That’s the new sobriquet for the members of the American National Army in France. While the entire allied world has been hunting around for a suitable name for Uncle Sam’s Liberty forces the men fresh from America took the task upon themselves and “Buddies” is the result. 

          No more euphonic emblem of fraternity, good will and downright devotion could have been seized upon, in the opinion of the latest recruits to General Pershing’s forces, who soon will be in the thick of the Flanders fight.

          From east to west, from north to south, “Buddies” is the accepted brand of comradeship. It means “pal,” “comrade”—a sure-fire pledge “Buddie” will share his last “makings,” his rations and risk his life for the company mate he honors with the familiar American slang term.

          French and British soldiers already have begun to apply the word in salutation when they meet with their American comrades in arms. The British “Tommy” likes the tang of it, the French poilus find it an effective and easy designation and Anglo-British forces are predicting to-day the word will become familiar throughout France. 

           It is safe to say the American forces will take to it with alacrity. “Amexes” and “Sammies” were distasteful to the men.