This is a 12 page program booklet from the welcoming ceremonies for Uncle Jack Dillon's return from WWI. The date on the cover is Friday, May 2, 1919. The photo captions indicate that the USS Pontiac, pictured in the top photo, went out to greet the arriving battalion but they weren't there. The lower photo shows them arriving on the USS Texan. The next page gives the "Program of Welcome" for the 27th and 28th of April and the 2nd of May. "See the Smiles!" on the following page is a poem dedicated to the troops and, at the bottom, is listed the particular type of dance for each of the 10 songs to be played. The "History of the Battalion" tells of their role in WWI on two pages and the following page is the "Commendation" given to the battalion by E. Russel, Brigadier-General, C.S.O. Under "Personnel of the 407th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps, U.S.A." on the next pages, you will find our own Uncle Jack Dillon listed under Company E in both the original unit and the present unit. In the "Promotions in Rank" on the last page, you will see Uncle Jack listed as promoted to Sergeant. NOTE: The photos posted with the first pages at the bottom of the series, so read them from the bottom up!
This is a fascinating document, Mr. Weimer. I am not related to your family, but my great-granduncle was a member of the same battalion (Melvin Garman, misspelled as "Garmen" in the program). Would it be alright with you if I downloaded the program from your post here?
ReplyDelete