Charles Pearson Hutchins
Corporal
C Company - 24th Engineers Regiment
Engineers in France
Nestled in the lush green hedgerows of the gorgeous Normandy countryside was Pontanazon Barracks to which the fresh doughboys of C Company, 24th Engineers Regiment had been assigned. The Napoleonic era barracks had changed very little since its construction, with the company being led up to the 2nd story to find a very narrow and white-washed bunk area (1). These so-called beds were mere plywood that was raised a few inches from the floor giving the antiquated facility a somewhat rustic look (1). Charles Hutchins and the other men were delighted to have a laugh as many began imitating chicken noises, mocking the state of their new living conditions (1). Fortunately for the grey-eyed Minnesotan, they left only 3 days later, being hauled across France by train (1).
Though having only arrived in country a handful of days before in March of 1918, C Company was put right to work upon their arrival in Is-Sur-Tille, France (1). The quiet community behind the front becoming home to a major U.S. Army Engineers Depot with Charles being assigned here to help construct large warehouses and great lengths of rail (1). The pace of their movement seemed a bit surreal, with the 30-year-old who just volunteered in December of 1917, now working in France some 3-months later (1). Yet the skilled mechanic needed no introduction to specialty work, he and the others taking it up with ease, a reflection of the regiment only having accepted those with technical expertise (1). In four months the depot was ready for use and the tired engineers were ordered to move out yet again (1). |
Concrete Defenses
Bugles from the camp band and a large group of personnel lining the street gave C Company a grand farewell, far better than what they had received well leaving Camp Dix, New Jersey in the dead of night months earlier (1). Charles would detrain with the company in Liverdun, which was just on the outskirts of the frontlines (1). Again the engineers set out to work, this time constructing a large concrete factory, which they had operating in some 3 months thanks to their skill and work ethic (1). They would immediately take over operation of it, Charles helping to create a variety of defensive works that would be used to reinforce the trenches (1). Pillboxes and all other assortments of concrete structures were created by C Company and no doubt helped save American lives (1).
Though working in a factory, their time was not without excitement, German airplanes frequently attempting to bomb them and the town (1). The doughboys would become quite familiar with the local mine shaft, which was used as an air raid shelter by a multitude of civilians, French soldiers, and Americans alike (1). All were very glad when the raids finally came to an end following the Armistice being signed in November (1). Charles looked forward to returning home but would instead be posted with the company to another part of France and then Luxembourg, eventually winding up working on “dipping tanks for horses” in Woinville at their Veterinary hospital (2). This would be his final assignment as a Corporal, though he chose not to return to Minneapolis and his job there at Bristol Motor Corporation, heading for sunny Stockton, California instead to work as a merchant, perhaps having felt he’d done enough labor during the war.
Sources:
(1) Headquarters Army Concrete Factory Liverdun (Meurthe-et-MOSELLE) December 10, 1918. NARA: 649608, 1999, https://www.fold3.com/image/272048368
(2) American Expeditionary Forces Company "C" 24th Engineers January 5th 1919. NARA: 649608, 1999, https://www.fold3.com/image/271937082
(1) Headquarters Army Concrete Factory Liverdun (Meurthe-et-MOSELLE) December 10, 1918. NARA: 649608, 1999, https://www.fold3.com/image/272048368
(2) American Expeditionary Forces Company "C" 24th Engineers January 5th 1919. NARA: 649608, 1999, https://www.fold3.com/image/271937082