French Letter Regarding the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
This document is a letter from officials of the French city of Verdun to Frank Gerlach regarding Col. Gerlach's award of a medal for his service in Word War I. The document is found in the Frank Gerlach file.
Transcription
Transcription Notes
- Typographical errors, such as capitalization and spacing errors, have been corrected where appropriate.
- Given the age and condition of the document, certain names and segments have been rendered illegible.
- Suggestions have been given in brackets where appropriate.
- Empty brackets indicate that a segment is missing, however, no suggestion has been made; the notation [illegible] may also be used.
- The notation [sic] has been inserted where possible mistakes have been made.
- As with all names and old documents, misspellings and phonetic spellings are common. Please be advised that certain sounds and letters, such as "B" and "P", "M" and "N", "T" and "L", and "I" and "J" are frequently confused and adjust your search accordingly.
- As the original document is French, it is written in the French language; transcriptions of the original French version and an English translation have been provided below.
French Text
Ause Grands Chefs - Ause Officers - Ause Soldats - A T
- Héros connus et anonymes, vivants et morts, qui one triomphé de
l’avalanche de barbares et immortalisé son nom à travers le monde et pour
les siécles futurs, la Ville de Verdun, invoilée et debout sur ses ruines,
dédie cette médaille en témoignage de sa reconnaissance.
- Le nom de M Frank C. Gerlach, Colonel,
- 146th Infantry, 37th Division
- United States Army, A. E. F.
- est inscrit sur le Livre d’Or des “SOLDATS DE VERDUN”
- Meuse—Argonne Offensive 1918,
Le Président des A. C. de Verdun Le Président Le Maire de Verdun, [SEAL]
“On ne passe pas”, du “Livre d’Or”, Député de la Meuse CIVITAS VIRDVNVO
[illegible signature] [illegible signature] [illegible signature]
- [SEAL]
- On ne passe pas
- LE PRÉSIDENT
ASSOCIATION des ANCIENS COMBATTANTS
de l’ARROND de VERDUN
English Translation
To the Grand Leaders- To the Officers- To the Soldiers
- Heroes known and anonymous, alive and dead, who have triumphed over
the avalanche of barbarians and have immortalized their names unto the ends of the earth and for
centuries to come in the future, the city of Verdun, inviolate and awake out of our ruins,
dedicate this medal as testimony of your reconnaissance.
- The name of M (monsieur) Frank C. Gerlach, Colonel,
- 146th Infantry, 37th Division
- United States Army, A. E. F.
- it has been written on the guestbook “SOLDATS DE VERDUN” (soldiers of Verdun)
- Meuse—Argonne Offensive 1918,
The President of A. C. of Verdun The President The Mayor of Verdun, [SEAL(Latin)]
“On ne passe pas”, of "The Guestbook" Deputy of the Meuse CIVITAS VIRDVNVO (the city of Verdun)
(Not one shall pass)
[illegible signature] [illegible signature] [illegible signature]