stacked, and impromptu cake walks and
fox trots staged with grotesque abandon.

No one ventured into No Man's Land, that was strictly forbidden; but all
over the rear approaches jubilation reigned supreme.

Groups quickly formed, excitedly discussing it all, "What's the big
idea?" "Has Jerry quit for good?" "How do you get that way?" Some burst
into song: "I Don't Want to Go Home."

Suddenly a glorious sound came floating up the rear ravine; it was the
Regimental band of the 7th Engineers, playing Sousa's "Stars and Stripes
Forever!"

Oh, how it thrilled and touched our very depth of soul! Its melody burst
upon our unaccustomed ears with something, at least, of the joy the
shepherds felt, when Angels brought them "Good tidings" at Bethlehem!

Out of all this trance of joy, however, stern Duty soon called us. Many
a silent body, our own and the enemy's, lay unburied along the front. On
requisition at Headquarters, two companies from a Pioneer Infantry
Regiment were assigned to us, co-ordinating with our regular Burial
Details. Near and far we combed hills and plains for bodies, penetrating
trenches, dugouts, and ruins. Six days of untiring effort, brought
reward of warmly commending words from our Division Commander.

At Mass the following Sunday in the old ruined Church of St. Sebastian
at Euvezin, the subject was recalled of those days of old when the
Galilean Sea was tempest tossed. Then in the boat rose the Master who
said to the storm, "Peace! Be still! And there came a great calm." Even
so, had that same Divine Power now spoken along our torn battle front;
and "May the Peace and Calm that now has come reign on forever!"

That afternoon an artillery Regimental band gave a concert. Illustrative
of the mental breadth and generous nature marking the real American boy,
in its repertoire was to be observed Strouse's "Blue Danube Waltz!"

It was during one of these eventful days word reached us from across No
Man's Land that old men, women and children in the town of Gorz, across
the German border, were entirely without food, and dying of starvation.

Our forces were marking time in the positions the close of hostilities
found them occupying, and, as the time for moving forward with the Army
of Occupation was indefinite, we decided to go forward at once with food
supplies for the starving inhabitants.

This aid work was to be entirely informal and on our own initiative, no
military provision having been made for