Many books have been written about World War 1. Two are of special interest to Griggs County people. "The Lost Battalion'! by Thomas M. Johnson and Fletcher Bratt was published in 1938. The Lost Battalion was the 308th Infantry, a unit of the 77th Division. It was a proud outfit, wearing the Statue of Liberty patch. It was engaged in four major World War I campaigns
Amiens in northern France with the British Army
Alsace-Lorraine
Chateau-Thierry and the Argonne forest
The American Legion Magazine ran a series of articles on American participation in World War 1. The issue of January of 1978 contained the story of the "Lost Battalion."
The Lost Battalion was penned up by the German forces in the Argonne forest and subjected to heavy machine gun and artillery fire for several days without food, blankets or ammunition, before finally rescued through the advance of the American forces.
“A World of Woe", was written by Edward Nelson, who was with a unit of the 77th Division. The Griggs men who served with Nelson were Thorvald Fuglestad of Broadview Township
CW. Michaelson of Bartley
Robert and Art Johnson of Romness and Sigurd Lima who met death while serving with the unit.
As this is written in January of 1982:
Thorvald Fuglestad resides on his farm in Broadview.
Carl W. Michaelson passed away Dec. 11, 1961. His widow, Esther Michaelson, and their son, John, have been long time residents of Bartley.
Arthur 0. Johnson passed away in Romness June 11, 1959. He had been Adjutant of the V.F.W. post in Cooperstown.
Robert Johnson moved to Spokane, Washington.
Sigurd Lima lost his life in the Argonne forest with the Lost Battalion.
In an article in the Sentinel - Courier of November 10, 1927 it was stated that another chapter had been written in the story of efforts to obtain information which would lead up to the solving of the mystery regarding the disappearance of Sigurd Lima.
Carl Michaelson and Sigurd Lima left Cooperstown for Camp Lewis, Wash., on May 24, 1918 and were both sent from that camp to Camp Kearney, California. At this camp they were separated. As a replacement overseas Mr. Michaelson again met Mr. Lima and they managed to become members of the same squad. They were assigned different duties with the Lost Battalion and separated. Mr. Michaelson later met two Minnesota men who had been with Mr. Lima when he was severely wounded.
In the November 10, 1927 issue of the Courier the addresses of the Minnesota men were furnished to Mr. Olaf Malde, then County Treasurer.
Since no actual evidence existed so far as to the certainty of his death, Mr. Lima's beneficiaries had been unable to collect government insurance or obtain any other compensation from the government.
Mr. Lima was one of only about twenty members of the A.E.F. of which the War Department had no records and which were being carried upon the rolls as missing. He was a relative of the late Peter Lima.
Sgt. Irving Berlin, one of America's all-time great songwriters, was the 77th Social Director.
Source: Cooperstown, North Dakota 1882-1982 Centennial Page 174