By Franklin F. Holbrook and Livia Appel
The final weeks at Camp Cody were devoted largely to the instruction of the selective service men who had arrived during the course of the summer. The culmination of the entire training period may be said to have been reached in two field maneuvers on a large scale, in which all the troops of the division participated. Actual war conditions were simulated as closely as possible and the results attained proved extremely satisfactory. In addition, special exercises were held in anticipation of departure for service abroad in the near future. Each infantry organization went through two en-training and de-training exercises, under conditions approaching those in France as nearly as possible. A train was made up resembling the standard French military train, upon which each organization was required to load all animals and all property that would be carried in a move by rail in the theater of operations. One battalion, including men, animals, vehicles, and property, was completely loaded in seven and one-half minutes.
Finally their came a day of subdued excitement at division headquarters. A telegram in code was received and sent to the division intelligence officer for deciphering. Those who were ” in the know ” could scarcely conceal their elation. The long-awaited moving orders had at last arrived. Field Orders No. 1 dated August 14, 1918, and marked ” secret,” were issued from division headquarters, stating that ” the Division will proceed to Concentration camp at Port of Embarkation for completion of equipment and for training and organization prior to shipment over-seas.” The en-training, which occupied several days, proceeded smoothly and with the regularity of clockwork; the long trains were backed into the camp, where the loading took place. As they departed, every car window was jammed with men who were bidding Camp Cody anything but a tearful farewell. The immediate destination proved to be Camp Dix, New Jersey, where training was continued for several weeks more prior to embarkation. – Published by the Minnesota Historical Society – Saint Paul, 1928
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