ARTHUR MICHAEL MOHAN

Page 3 of 5

On 3 March 1918, an unidentified newspaper - perhaps a Woburn paper - printed a letter Archie sent to his brother Tom.[1]

ARCHIE MOHAN TAKES PART IN RAID

In a letter to his brother, Arthur Mohan gives a detailed account of his experiences during the early days at the front, and he declares that though some were at first afraid, they now like the fighting. The letter follows:

Somewhere in France
March 3, 1918
Dear brother Tom

Just a few lines to let you know I am in good health and hope you and the rest of the family are the same. Excuse me for not writing as we were in the first line and did not have a chance to write. I hope you have received that handkerchief and picture of me by now. I also sent a handkerchief to George Driscoll. I couldn't find any of those cards he was asking for.

Well about our tour on the line. It was sure some excitement and believe me my knees were knocking together more than once and there wasn't a man over here that wasn't afraid at first. We pulled off a raid on the Germans and it was one of the most successful raids pulled off in this section in two years. We captured a few German prisoners. We can't tell how many. The Boche tried a few raids on us, but our company was on the job and we beat them back. Course there were a few casualties on both sides, but we sure did give Fritz hell. He generally starts his hell agoing early in the morning but he never caught us asleep. I suppose you will hear about us being on the line before you get this letter. One of the most exciting parts of our tour was stringing barbed wire out in No-Man's land and you sure do have to be quiet at night as noise certainly travels at night. We don't be a great many yards from the Hun's first line when we are stringing wire.

I got your box with the gloves and tobacco when I was in the second line and this sure did come in handy as the weather is quite cold around this part of France. One thing that cheered us up while we were on the line was our mail. We got our mail every day. I got a letter from Red also and I was glad to hear from him as I didn't think he would ever arrive in Woburn. He said they were having a grand time at the house, the night he was there.

Carl Peterson from Montvale Ave. is around this section also. I was talking to Charlie Mahoney and he said he was talking to him. He is with the Field Artillery. We expect to be back in the line again soon, but it won't be so hard on us, as we know what to expect, as we have been there once before. We were fed first rate while we were on the line. That is one of the hardest things in this war, getting the grub up to you. When the Boches see anything that looks like material going up to the line, they start the 4th of July celebrations agoing.

Well, Tom, I will close now and if you don't hear from me as often as you have, you will know I am in the line and it is impossible to write. Good-bye from Archie.

 Give my best regards to Ma, Pa, John, Helen and the girls.

 Priv. Arthur Mohan
G Co., 101st U. S. Inf.,
American Exp. Forces, France

The 15 November 1918, the Boston Globe reported on the following battle:[2]

"On the morning of Oct 2, 1918, a large raiding party composed of troops of the 101st Infantry, under the command of Capt. Arthur A. Hansen, 101st Infantry, executed a particularly dangerous raid on the Bois de Warville. They accomplished their dangerous mission, clearing the woods of snipers and enemy parties which has been causing serious casualties within our lines, returning with 49 prisoners and with but three casualties. The division commander congratulates Capt Hansen on his leadership and his prompt carrying out of his mission, and makes special mention of the following named officers and men for their participation in this action."

One hundred fifty three members of the 101st Infantry are listed, including Private Arthur Mohan, Co G.

Given the fact that Arthur was one of the soldiers who strung wire in No Man's Land, a very dangerous job, and that he was awarded a "divisional citation for meritorious conduct as a runner during a raid into enemy's lines at Bois de Warville" on 2 October 1918, it isn't hard to believe that Arthur continued to take risks in doing his part to defeat the enemy.[3] It was probably during this battle on October 2 that Arthur was seriously wounded. He died 23 October 1918 of wounds received in action.[4]

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20 November 1918, Boston Globe:[5]

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[1] "Archie Mohan Takes Part in Raid," unknown newspaper, undated; digital image of clipping received from Woburn Historical Society, Woburn, Massachusetts by email 9 November 2020.  [requested source information, awaiting reply]

[2] "Gallantry of the 101st", The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 15 Nov 1918, p 4, col 6; image, Newspapers (www.newspapers.com : accessed 9 Aug 2020). Private Arthur Mohan, listed 22nd from bottom.

[3] Eben Putnam, ed., "The Gold Star Record of Massachusetts," (Boston: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1929), vol 2, p. 380, Arthur Michael Mohan; Internet Archive (https://archive.org : accessed 11 Oct 2020), image  380 of 720.

[4] War department, "Card Register of Burials of Deceased American Soldiers, 1917-1922," Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985, RG 92, National Archives, College Park, Maryland; card for Arthur M. Mohan; National Archives Catalog (catalog.archives.gov/id/109086358 : accessed 9 June 2020), Results 66 of 104, images 102 and 103 of 1752.

[5] "Young Woburn Boy Killed," The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 20 Nov 1918, p 4, col 5; image, Newspapers (www.newspapers.com : accessed 21 Jun 2020). Private Arthur M. Mohan.