[This is the final installment in the effort to transcribe Clyde's military career diary augmented with his letters to his Aunt Nell - Miss Nellie B. Sergent, 503 West 121st St., New York, NY. There are 68 installments - please review from the beginning to get a full appreciation of this young man's service.]

Letter to Aunt Nell -

Le Mans, F.

10 April 1919

Dear Aunt Nell -

Well - here's April 10th and the big rumor is that we will entrain the 13th for St. Nazaire sure! Everything points to a very early movement, anyhow, as the final inspection of the troops is being carried out today and there's no reason why we can't shove off touts de suite!

Now - the only question is - "What is the shipping situation at St. Nazaire?" "How long will we have to wait there for our turn for a ship to transport us?" It would seem that we can expect to stay there anywheres from 3 hours to a week or 10 days. It is more than likely that we'll either land at Newport News or in Chesapeake Bay - as all St. Nazaire ships are small ones of about 2000 troops capacity.

I hear our mail is stopped tomorrow - so - if such is the case I'll probably have no further chance to write until I reach the states - but shall drop you a line if I do get an opportunity.

Last Sunday I had a picture taken of the 20 scouts of my Intelligence Section who had continuous service - and ordered a copy of said picture sent to you - as I am also in it - and - I believe you'll agree when you see it - it is a very decent picture of me. You might note that ever private 1st cl., Corporal & Sergeant there, as well as the Lieutenant have been decorated once or more times for certain deeds. Some have D.S.C.'s, some Croix de Guerre, etc.

[ The Distinguished Service Cross is the United States Army's second highest military decoration for soldiers who display extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations, but which do not meet the criteria for the Medal of Honor. ...

The Croix de Guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World War I. The Croix de Guerre was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.]

By the way, I have a surprise for you in the way of a supposed posthumous decoration of mine - when on special duty with the French last year. They secured my name & rank - but - as the Bn. I was with was advancing - the Commander didn't think I had survived the stunt - so cited me posthumously! However - the French authority just learned that I was still alive - and I rec'd notice yesterday that if I would call it the "Mission Francaise" in town - I would find a Croix de Guerre awaiting me there.

So - although I didn't do enough to earn our American medals - I was lucky enough to receive a Belgian ribbon, British citation and French medal - so - I'm pretty well pleased! T'is a funny thing indeed how the unexpected always happens in this war.

The lone raid that I conducted, with a repeating shot gun, on the French sector, was only a lucky accident and I'd never mentioned it as there were only two other Yanks with that Bn. at the time and one is now somewhere's in the A. of O. [Area of Operations] and the other's dead - but - now that I have my decoration & citation I feel competent & authorized to tell about it. So - will have to tell you the details when I reach the states.

Let me know when the picture reaches you. It's about 10 x 25 inches and will be mailed from Washington, I presume.

Wlii close, as ever -

With much love, / Clyde

More diary entries -

April 11, 1919, Frid. Fair.

Steen Sorenson back - came about 1 a.m.. Helped him get set. Chaplain went to town. I loafed & read. Sat by fire all evening. Bed early.

April 12, 1919, Sat. Rain.

Went for a bath early. All field and staff ordered to report for venereal inspection; Colonel, Majors and all Regt'l & Bn. staff officers. Everybody OK. Sent to town for shoes. Played cards & loafed rest of day.

April 13, 1919, Sun. Fair. Some rain.

Slept late. Good meals. Rec'd letters from Mother, G.S,, Elsie Mac. - Biltmore, Daisy (?), Louise, Allen, Jenley(?). Ans'd some. Capt. Whitehill's Bro. rec'd his comm. Loafed, smoked & wrote all day. Warmer.

April 14, 1919, Mon.

Loafed most of day. Rain. Busy getting ready to move - went to R.T.O. [Railway Transport Officer] with Steen to arrange for train. Got a new pr. russet shoes. Went to 108th F.A. [Field Artillery] show in evening. Back - some 3 star Cognac awaiting me. I wanted to wrap stovepipe around Steen's neck, heard the Col's (?), etc. Pretty wild!!

April 15, 1919, Tues.

Up early. Rolled my bedding roll & got baggage out. Loafed rest of a.m. Went over to train at 1:00 with Steen. Got cars marked. Rain. Loaded - cocoa from Y - moved at 16:25 hrs. In a compartment with Lt. Bradner of Co. B. Slept fine - good iron rations - good trip.

[The so-called ‘iron ration’ is the dry ration, consisting of bread or biscuit, rice, groats or barley, salt, and bacon fat.]

Letter to Aunt Nell -

Lt. Bliss

1st Bn. - I.O. 112 Inf.

28th Div

April 19, 1919

Dear Aunt Nell : -

We are entraining at 16.25 hours today for St. Nazaire. Our 111th Infantry has all departed and day after tomorrow will see the last of the 112th en route. That will finish the movement of the 56th Brigade (ours) to the coast. It is understood that we will have a very short wait their for ships! Here's hoping.

Have you seen Miss Macintyre? Her brother was a great pal o'mine and I had told her of you that she might learn to know some one who knew me before I returned from France, etc.

Am feeling fine - happy beyond words to know I am sailing soon.

Will see you soon,

Love, / Clyde

Diary entries -

April 16, 1919, Wed.

In St. Nazaire about 4:30 a.m. Unloaded. Maj. Graff in charge of HQ Co., Supply, M.G., A,B,C, Co.'s. Marched around bay & sea wall - harbor full of small ships - some liners in dock. Up to camp, clean up - physical exams - good mess. Fair. Went to #1 camp after lunch - changed my francs for $104.95. Bed early.

April 17, 1919, Thursday

Up 9 a.m. Shaved, bathed, had chocolate  & cakes. Steen, Lt. Ge(?) & I went down to the shore - strolled along the beach getting shells - back for rotten 2 franc lunch. No news of sailing yet. 111th is going. Loafed & read all p.m. Over to see Major Graff in evening. No dope [no news].

Last letter to Aunt Nell before returning to U.S.

St. Nazaire

April 17, 1919

Dear Aunt Nell:

We are waiting here in the camp at St. Nazaire - and as a fellow officer is leaving on a ship tomorrow - and we are likely to have to wait a few days, I am mailing this - or giving it to him to mail so you can figure that I will be in the States in from 1 to 4 days after you receive this letter.

We had all our final inspections and are simply waiting for our turn at a ship.

Rumor just reached me through Capt. Robinson, Regt'l Intelligence Officer that it is possible that all Field & Staff officers will leave very shortly - possibly tomorrow.

Field officers, of course are the Colonel, Lieut. Colonel & Majors. Then the Staff is Adjutants, Intelligence Officers, Operations officers, etc.

Will mail you a special delivery or telegraph you when I land letting you know, if possible - when I shall reach the city.

The weather is fine here - we stroll along the beach and seawall daily - loafing in the sand, getting beach souvenirs and dreaming in the shade as we study the harbor and the Atlantic beyond. Truly - this is a more beautiful harbor, even than Brest.

With love, as ever

With much love, / Clyde

Diary entries -

April 18, 1919, Friday

Up 8. Good bkfst. Strolled along the shore - met a mademoiselle - got all mud - back - cleaned up. Over to see Capt. Coe. I am appointed Personnel Adjt. of 1st Bn. for voyage. Read most of p.m. Bed early, called over to regt'l for some 1st Bn. work as Major & Dixon were out. Fell later & broke 1 of the Major's bottles. Back to find my bed all screwed up. Sleep about 11:30.

April 19, 1919, Sat.

Up 6:45. Washed & fed early. Over to Regt'l with baggage. Checked up all paperwork & statistical records - luncheon at 11:30 - started the Bn. on hike for docks - then the Major & I got a car down. Stepped off French soil about 2:30 p.m. Have a compartment (class A cabin) with Lt. McBride of Co. A & Lt. Glenn of Div H.Q. (#301) Good sgl. bed, electric light & fan, everything OK. Had a talk by ship's Captain - smoked on deck & went to bed about 9:00. Cool night.

 April 20, 1919, Sun. Easter

Up 6:45. Are sailing out of the St. Nazaire harbor. Saw last of French soil about 9:00 a.m. Good meals. By Belle Isle 10 a.m. Am assigned to watch in troop compartments M2 - M3. Very good weather. Nice salt bath.

[ ... USS Mercury (ID-3012) was a United States Navy transport ship during World War I. She was formerly the Norddeutscher Lloyd liner SS Barbarossa built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, Germany, in 1897, and operated by the North German Lloyd Line.

At the outset of World War I the ship was interned by the United States and, when that country entered the conflict in 1917, was seized and converted to a troop transport. After decommissioning by the U.S. Navy, the ship was turned over to the Army Transport Service and then to the U.S. Shipping Board. She was sold for scrapping in February 1924. ...]

April 21, 1919, Mon.

Up before 5. Early bkfst. On duty from 8 - 12. Had Insp. by Commander. Clocks set back each day in. Duty again from 8 p.m. until midnight. Bed 12:30 - rotten sleep.

April 22, 1919, Tues. Cloudy.

Mild sea. Took a bath & nap - on duty from 12 - 4 p.m. - on again from midnight until 4 in the morning. Movies in evening. Saw Anita Steward in The Million Bid - an old timer.

=================

[ ... A Million Bid - 1914. The story concerns a mercenary and managing mother and her daughter, Agnes. The young lady loves a youthful doctor, but a match is frustrated by the mother, who seeks to marry the daughter to the highest bidder. The mother's extravagance ruins the father, who, being in ill health, succumbs to heart failure. With poverty staring them in the face, the mother takes Agnes abroad, finally forcing her into a marriage with an Australian millionaire. To do so, the mother intercepts all letters between Agnes and the young doctor, with the result that each feels that the other has ceased to care. The millionaire and his young wife, while on their honeymoon on his yacht, are shipwrecked. He is dealt a terrible blow on the head, and it completely destroys his memory. The young wife is saved and returns to America, while her husband is picked up by a French fisherman. His memory gone, he does not recall his previous existence in America. Agnes and the doctor renew their love affair and finally marry, excellent proof having been furnished that her former husband had drowned in the shipwreck. There is no opposition to the marriage now, as the mother also had perished in the catastrophe. Five years later, the young doctor has become a famous brain specialist. To him, Agnes' former husband comes for an operation in the hope of restoring his lost memory. The two men, never having met, fail to learn they are both married to the same woman. She discovers it, however, and with her happiness at stake, does not tell her surgeon-husband the truth, but attempts to dissuade him from operating on her first husband, fearful that the operation will prove successful and her first husband regain his lost memory and recognize her as his wife. The humanity in the surgeon surmounts his wife's pleas, but the patient fails to withstand the operation and Agnes' happiness is assured, despite the terrible situations which confronted her.

—Moving Picture World synopsis

Anita Stewart (born Anna Marie Stewart; February 7, 1895 – May 4, 1961) was an American actress and film producer of the early silent film era. Stewart began her acting career in 1911 at the age of 16 while still attending Erasmus Hall High School Stewart’s brother-in-law, director Ralph Ince at Vitagraph film studios, married to Lucille Lee, arranged for the teen-aged Stuart to appear as a juvenile extra at their New York City studio location.

Stewart was one of the earliest film actresses to achieve public recognition in the nascent medium of motion pictures and achieved a great deal of acclaim early in her acting career. Within a year of joining Vitagraph, Stewart was playing lead roles, notably as the child-like Olympia in The Wood Violet (1912).

When Vitagraph publicity personnel accidentally published Stewart’s name as “Anita Stewart” rather the hitherto “Anna M. Stewart”, and she adopted it as her professional name. By 1914, with the release of the melodramatic romance A Million Bid (1914), in which she played the long-suffering Agnes Belgradin, Stewart was elevated to a veritable screen icon. ...]

============= back to diary entries -

April 23, 1919, Wed. Cloudy.

Off duty at 4 a.m. Back to bed after breakfast. On duty again from 4 - 6 p.m. Saw some good movies in the evening - bed 10. Passed a ship about 8 p.m. going opposite way. Have made about 1100 miles at noon. News and orders by wireless daily.

April 24, 1919, Thur. Cloudy.

On duty from 4 a.m. - 8. Mess some job - 3000 odd men. Loafed on deck after bkfst. - took a bath, shaved, went to barber shop, sent clothes to tailor. Read all day. On duty from 6 - 8 p.m. Very mild sea. Movies in evening. Beautiful sea in afternoon.

April 25, 1919, Frid. Cloudy. Some rain.

Sea quite rough today. Quite a few men sick. On duty 8 - 12 noon today. OK. On again 8 - 12 p.m. Quite a bit of rain. Movies in evening.

April 26, 1919, Sat. Beautiful day.

Duty 12 - 4 p.m. (Church service on board.) Wrote some arrival cards, mailed on ship. Movies in evening. Beautiful sunset.

April 27, 1919, Sun.

A week at sea. Nice day - mild sea. Duty till 4 a.m. Slept all forenoon. Duty 4 - 6 p.m. Bed early. Warmer.

April 28, 1919, Mon. Partly cloudy.

Sea very mild. Ship's making better time. Duty 4 - 8 a.m. & 6 - 8 p.m. To barber shop & read & loafed all day. Orders came this p.m. for this ship to port at "Philly" on Thursday. Beautiful red sunset.

April 29, 1919, Tues.

Duty 8 - 12 p.m. Beautiful day. Quite a scandal about officers's trunks being broken. Some sailors arrested. Loafed, read & smoked all p.m. Bed at midnight.

April 30, 1919, Wed.

On board deck early. Reached breakwater at daylight. Pocahontas just ahead of us. Beautiful day. Up river - met by Gov. of Pa. & many tugs and yachts to meet us. Slowly steamed up river with perfect bedlam of screaming whistles - out to Camp Dix. Set foot on U.S. soil at 4:08 p.m. Bn. located in Dix - the Major - Dixon & I went down to Wrightstown, N.J. to S.A. hotel. Had our first meal in the U.S. at 10 p.m. 3 of us in one room - good sleep. Sure does seem good to be home!

May 1, 1919, Thur.

Up at 8. Went up to camp Dix after bkfst. Got assigned to officers' quarters. Went back to town for our baggage with (?)Duane. Lunch in town - back in taxi. All settled down in room with Capt. Ladd. Bed after a good bath. Rain.

Last letter found to Aunt Nell -

The American Red Cross Transport Service

Mercury (Ship)

Camp Dix

May 1st 1919

Dear Aunt Nell: -

We arrived in the port at Philadelphia on May 1st, and were then sent to camp Dix at New Jersey.

I expect to be mustered out - "demobilized entirely" - by May ___? - and will either drop you a note in advance or phone when I arrive in the city - so - if you are not at home - I'll call on some other people I've got to see first and try you again.

My stay must be very abbreviated and I shall not spend a minute more than necessary in N.Y. - as I am planning on keeping all my stories and pictures, souvenirs, etc. for your amusement when you visit me this summer at El Refugio.

Clyde

P.S. Inasmuch as the Division is to be concentrated at Dix for the big Div'l parade - please write at once - addressing me -

Lieut. Clyde G. Bliss

H.Q. 1st Bn. 112th Inf. 28th Div.

Camp Dix, N.J. 

and will write you from camp when definite news comes of the parade and our consequent mustering out almost immediately after.

Anyhow - will write when I'm settled at Dix - Wrightstown, N.J.

With much love / Clyde

More diary entries -

May 2, 1919, Frid. Beautiful day.

Had my meals at Hostess House Y.W.C.A.

[Photographs may be viewed at - https://compass.fivecolleges.edu/object/smith:494313Smith 

College Special Collections - World War I: Hostess houses, New Jersey, Sophia Smith Collection of Women's History, MS 00324, Smith College Special Collections, Northampton, Massachusetts.]

Drew my April pay $147. + -had a Regt'l review in a.m. and evening parade at 4 p.m. Expect we'll be mustered out tomorrow or Sunday. No mail. (In room with Ladd) - fine officers quarters. Loafed most of day. Bed early.

May 3, 1919, Sat. Fair. Warm.

Over to Hostess House for meals. No dope on mustering out yet. Letter from Aunt Nell. Evening parade at 4 p.m. Loafed. Bed early. Too much noise about - asleep after 1 a.m.

May 4, 1919, Sun. Hot sun - sand blowing.

Slept 'till 11 a.m. Bathed & dressed - went to luncheon at casual officers' mess - met a fine Navy officer. Back - Steen & I played cards - sat on the North steps all p.m. Officer's meeting at 5 p.m. Men have begun to go through the demobilization process. No dope on the officers yet except - possibly Wed. or Thur.

May 5, 1919, Mon. Hot as hell.

Up 8. Meals at Hostess House. Inspected barracks & done a bit of staff work. Thunder storm in evening. Men are all out of Regt'l officers' command now. No sure dope on officers yet. Many are taking a leave - then going to come back to be discharged.

May 6, 1919, Tues. 

Finished getting regt. out in a.m. All over camp with my papers - got my final pay & discharge at 4:10 p.m. Took my bedding roll to Camp Dix P.R.R. [Pennsylvania Railroad] Frt. Sta. and shipped it home - taxi to Wrightstown - car to Trenton, N.J. Staid in hotel at Trenton - saw a movie - bed at 11 p.m.

May 7, 1919, Wed. FREE!

From Trenton to NY. Saw Randall, Miss & Mr. MacIntyre, U.L. & D. (?). Up to Aunt Nells - met the Whitings - bed at 12:00.

May 8, 1919, Thurs.

Up 7:30 - train to Peekskill - out to Uncle Bill's in p.m. Everything OK between her & I - same or better.

May 9, 1919, Frid. Rain.

Loafed all day. Anna & I agree on most all our problems - took a walk for an hour or two in the evening.

May 10, 1919, Sat. at Peekskill

Engaged !

Out to Uncle Bills.

Bought Diamond.

May 11, 1919, Sun. 

Peekskill

Home

May 12, 1919, Mon.

Peekskill

Left for up state

Arrived at Allen Hokes

May 13, 1919, Tues.

Arrived at Mount Vision & Home

May 14, 1919, Wed.

To El Refugio

June 11, 1919, Wednesday

Married

Back to El Refugio

Clyde & Anna

Afterword -

Unbeknownst to either Clyde or Anna at the time, the exposure to toxic gas on August 14, 1918 would slowly take its toll on Clyde. On May 30, 1924, Clyde died after a long, debilitating and progressive lung disease, ending with Tuberculosis which was contracted during his numerous hospitalizations and convalescences in sanatoriums in vain attempts to provide palliative care for his damaged lungs.

Clyde's headstone in cemetery in Mt. Vision, Otsego County, NY