|
PRIVATE
SAMUEL J. REICHARD appears to have been born Samuel J. Reichert, in
Austria-Hungary in June of 1897. He was the son of Jacob and Catherine Reichert of 1133
Louis Street in Camden NJ. The Reicherts had come to America from
Austria-Hungary in 1912. Samuel J. Reichard was a member of the 3rd
Infantry Regiment, New Jersey National Guard, and left Camden for Camp
Edge, Sea Girt NJ on July 25, 1917.
Private
Reichard went overseas as a member of Company G, 114th Infantry
Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. This
unit was part of the attack on German positions near Verdun on October
8, 1918. On October 12, 1918,
Private Reichard was attempting the capture of a German
machine gun position in Bois de'Ormont, near Verdun, France, when he was
reported missing. He was thought initially to been taken prisoner, but
it later developed that he had been killed in action.
The
29th Infantry Division's account record has the following account for
October 12 1918:
The
114th Infantry, 29th Division was attached to the 18th French Division,
moved from its bivouac in the Cotee des Roches into position in the
Ravin de Coassinvaux on the night of the 11th-12th October preparatory
to an attack upon the Bois d'Ormont, which the Division had been ordered
to make at 0700hrs on the 12th. In conjunction with the 66th French
Infantry, the 114th moved to attack at the hour designated.
The objective of the 114th was the enemy line between Bois d'Ormont and
Bois d'Moirey. The enemy has established a very strong dug in concrete
line of machine guns. The French artillery unit providing preparatory
fire had a severe shortage of artillery ammunition. The small amount
that was actually fired was placed to far behind the enemy lines*. The
artillery had very little effect on the enemy machine gun line and
caused very little damage. The 1st Company of the 111th Machine Gun
Battalion began its advance on Bois d'Ormont to support the 114th
advance but was forced to pull back after only five minutes due to the
heavy German Artillery. After just five minutes eleven 111th men were
killed.
The 114th eventually made it into Bois d'Ormont but the cost was very
high. Six officers and 112 enlisted men were killed, twelve officers and
800 enlisted men were wounded in the engagement.
On
October 12, 1918 the Bois d'Ormont was conquered at the cost of
118 casualties. Private Reichard and several other Camden County men
were of that number.
Samuel
J. Reichard was survived by his parents, Jacob and Catherine Reichert, a
brother, Adolph Reichert, a sister, Matilda Reichert Rausch,
brother-in-law John Rausch, and neice Matilda Rausch, all of the
Louis Street address.
|
