St Mihiel Offensive - 12 October 2010

Our day begins at the breakfast table. We map out our strategy for the first day of our assault. We will begin our journey in the village of Flirey where we begin by looking for the vestiges of a railroad bridge. We encounter an old French farmer and speak with him at length but our search for the bridge is fruitless. But not to be discouraged. We head for Gas Hollow where the walking begins. Our plan is to drop off Marlene, John and Mary at the beginning of each portion of the tour and Paul will drive to the destination and proceed to walk backwards where hopefully he will meet them a little more than half of the way to the destination. The destination is the bombed out church where Paul parks the car and makes his way over a hill where he sees the three musketeers marching up a long and gradual slope. All four then visit the old church and break for lunch.

Lunch is taken in a small hotel where we find fantastic vegetable soup and homemade bread. John also encounters two gentlemen at lunch and engages them in conversation. They are amazed and thrilled by our exploits. We then visit the new church and let our lunch settle in.

Then we make preparations for the second phase of our assault. Beginning where we left off, Paul drives to a location where he is told to go. He parks the car, begins his journey across a farm field and sees the three Magi a great distance away. They disappear behind a woods and appear to be making their way around the woods. So Paul marches around the woods well expecting to see them as they appear on the other side of the wooded area. But alas, it is not to be. So for approximately an hour he traverses back and forth waiting for the three to appear on either side on in the middle of the woods.

What he does not find until later is that they decided to walk further north where they spot a road that parallels another wooded area. They can see Paul but he can't see them because he is not looking in that direction since his concentration is on the woods. After a time he does hear Marlene and heads back to the parked car. Upon arrival he encounters a farmer who he attempts to engage in conversation. With hand waving and limited French, Paul is able to help the farmer identify the trio at a great distance away. The farmer is most kind but he evidently wants to know what is happening in his field. He drives off to meet John, Marlene and Mary.

John has seen the encounter and assumes the approaching vehicle is being driven by an authority set on arresting them for collecting memorabilia. The memorabilia is quickly dispoed of and the farmer arrives. The conversation ensues and friendship is established. The farmer is impressed and leaves just after Paul arrives. The loot is retrieved and the three set off in yet another direction, the Robert Mesnil Farm. John locates a place for Paul to park the car and Paul heads off in the black Ford Modelo (sp), a brand new model becomming dirtier with each portion of the assault.

Paul heads past The Ansoncourt Farm and ends his journey at the Robert Mesnil farm. The four travellers are reunited. John wants to march on. He issues an order to head for Euvezin. The meeting point is on the outskirts in a farm field. The four again meet and John again issues further orders to proceed to the town of Euvezin. Marlene and Paul head off in the car for the village and Mary and John hoof it towards the village. The four again reunite and the journey for the second day of the St Mihiel assault ends.

The four head for Jaulny and enjoy hors d'ouevres with a bit of wine. On the way back to town we stop for provisions in Bouillonville ... cheese, crackers, wine and wonder of wonders ... a small pizza wagon outside provides us with a couple of pizzas to enjoy back at the camp. Our day ends with a fire provided by Anna and we discuss plans for the next day. Marlene arranges with Anna to provide us with a meal tomorrow evening.