This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSG Jerry Dennis
to remember
Ferneau, Forest, Pvt.
If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Last Address Hunnewell
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Discharged from Army on Oct 11, 1919 at Presidio Bank, CA;
Other Comments:
Name: Ferneau, Forest J
Rank: Private
MOS: Musician
Home of Record: Hunnewell, OK
DOB: Mar 7, 1891
POB: Hunnewell, OK
NOK: Mr. and mrs. J. L. Ferneau, Hunnewell, OK
DOE: Active Duty: Apr 2, 1914
POE: Active Duty: Sand Point, ID
DOS: Active Duty: Jun 30, 1919
POS: Active Duty: Fort D.A. Russell, WY
Remarks: With 146th Field Artillery Band. In service five (5) years on duty on Mexican Border; Sailed overseas in January 1917; Service in Aisne, Marne, Champagne, Meuse-Argonne and St. Mihiel Sectors: With Army of Occuspation after signing of Armistice, in Coblenz, Germany.
Source: "Honor Roll and Service Record, p. 45" published by Blackwell Job Printing Company, Blackwell, OK, in 1920.
World War I/Champagne-Marne Campaign
From Month/Year
July / 1918
To Month/Year
July / 1918
Description Champagne-Marne, 15 - 18 July 1918. In the four great offensives from 21 March to 13 June 1918 the Germans gained considerable ground, but failed to achieve a decisive advantage at any point on the front. Furthermore, success was bought at a price in manpower and material which they could ill afford. Their more then 600,000 casualties were irreplaceable, whereas the Allied loss of some 800,000 men was soon more than compensated for by new American units arriving at the front in ever-mounting numbers. By July 1918 Allied troops outnumbered German on the Western Front. Other factors also contributed to the decline of German morale, notably the pinch of the blockade and the effectiveness of the Allied propaganda, which was distributed widely by air at the front and in German cities behind the lines. But Ludendorff refused to consider peace negotiations, and planned two more offensives for July which he hoped would bring victory. The first of the new drives was designed to capture Rheims, to make more secure the supply of the Merge salient, and to draw in Allied reserves. The second and larger offensive, destined never to be launched, would strike once again at the British in Flanders.
When the two-pronged German assault on either side of Rheims began on 15 July the Allies were prepared for it. Plans for the attack had leaked out of Berlin, and Allied airplanes had detected the unusual activity behind the enemy front. Foch had time to draw up reserves, and Petain, the French commander, skillfully deployed his troops in defense-in-depth tactics. Consequently the German drive east of Rheims fell far short of its objective. The attack west of the city succeeded in pushing across the Marne near Chateau-Thierry, but was checked there by French and American units. Among the A.E.F. units involved in this action were the 3d, 26th, 28th, and 42d Divisions, the 369th Infantry, and supporting elements (in all about 85,000 Americans). It was here that the 38th Infantry of the 3d Division gained its motto, "Rock of the Marne."
By 17 July the Champagne-Marne offensive had petered out and the initiative passed to the Allies. The German people had built up great hopes for the success of this Friedensturm (peace offensive); its failure was a tremendous psychological blow to the whole nation.
Marne near Chateau-Thierry. Among the A.E.F. units involved were the 3d, 26th, 28th, and 42d Divisions, and the 369th Infantry(in all about 85,000 Americans). It was here that the 38th Infantry of the 3d Division gained its motto, "Rock of the Marne.
