Sidney D. Light's WWI Diary, Postcards & Letters, 329th Battery Book Accounts

        A certain writer on psycho-analysis is authority for the statement that "the world is a richer, better and happier place for its men of girth." Chaplain Sorensen isn’t a Fat "Un"—he only weighs 220 ringside---but the rest of the quotation belongs to him as much as to any big, good-natured chap that ever added his quota to the world’s aggregate of joy. He has worked unceasingly to make the army a better and a happier place for us fellows to be; and like all workers for the spiritual and intellectual side, he has builded {sic} better than he knew.

        We can remember the first time we met this big, blond Viking from out Montana way. It was on Christmas eve, 1917—our first in the army. Winter was abroad in the land; but things were fairly cozy in the lower room of the annex as we gathered around the furnace to wait for "the New Chaplain." We looked for a bearded patriarch or some sort of "preacher guy," but he didn’t come. Instead an athletic, wholesome sort of chap stamped in, shaking snow from his mackinaw. "Glad to know you, boys," and our "same to you" has carried all the way to hell and back.

        Chaplain Sorensen was once an advertising and display man in the Windy City. But he always favored the direct appeal more than the indirect, so he threw away his ad. books one day and took up theological work instead—something he could put his whole soul into. After finishing his course at the Theological Seminary of Grandview College, Des Moines, he hiked for the wilds of Montana and did school missionary work out there. The basketball and football he had played in college days make broncho busting compatible with making the rounds gently.     

   We neglected to state that the Chaplain was born in Grayling, Michigan, a Wolverine town that has been the scene of many military activities. Maybe that’s where he got his hunch for army work. Anyway, he applied for a commission as Chaplain in Omaha in the fall of 1917 and, after examination, was ordered to report to Custer immediately. We have always been glad that he had jitney fare enough to get him out as far as the 329th.

        His work with this regimen has been an inspiration to us all. He isn’t the conventional "Holy Joe." He doesn’t stand on ceremony. He keeps pegging along, rain or shine, and the things he finds to do—always thinking of somebody else—are a caution. He has always held Bible classes, no matter how discouraging the circumstances; in Cöetquidan he held services every Sunday in the "Y"; in Pont-a-Mousson he put the old shell-shocked church back in shape and held services there.

        On the boat coming over he dug up entertainment somehow. Afterwards he sat up into the wee sma’ hours of many nights helping censor the 6,000 letters that were written on shipboard. At Messace, when we were literally Robinson Crusoed for smokes, etc., he got hold of a motorcycle side-car from the National Lutheran Commission and carried canteen supplies to all the batteries. Want a book to read? Some writing paper? Pen and ink, etc.? See Chaplain Sorensen. Want seven dozen packages of helmets censored? See the Chaplain. Want to write a tender love note to your best girl , and don’t want the "Lute" to read it? See the Chaplain.  

      We’ll never forget his recreation room at Pont-a-Mousson—it was "Open House" to everyone. Wherever he went he got set somehow and brightened the corner where we were..

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The Chaplain’s Own Story

        Army regulations specify that the duties of the Chaplain shall be to hold religious worship, to take full charge of all educational work, visit hospitals and perform such other duties as his office will require.

        Regulations are very brief in stating what his duties are, but this does not in the least indicate that there is but little to do. It is, of course, very natural to consider the service of religious teaching as one of the foremost duties of a chaplain, and unless this be made a primary duty one is apt to conclude that there be a serious lacking in his service. When one accepts the responsibility of administering to the spiritual needs of men he is confronted with one of the greatest tasks with which one can be entrusted, and the performance of this duty requires great tact, especially in the army where so many men are grouped together—men of many minds and different ideas.

         In the early days at Camp Custer I was greatly assisted in my work by the Y.M.C.A. religious secretary, Mr. J. Gardner, of Hut No. 1269. My Gardner had already made some efforts in establishing Bible classes in the regiment and two small groups were already upon a good working basis, so in accordance with this plan I made my first talk in the recreation room in Battery A when nearly half the battery attended. I continued meeting small groups from each battery either in their recreation room or mess hall until I had canvassed the entire regiment, and was very favorably impressed with the spirit and co-operation accorded me. The regiment has always given splendid co-operation when called upon to do so.   

         After the ideal conditions of Camp Custer were left behind on July 18th, we met with other environments which were not nearly so comfortable. At Camp Mills our religious activities were all held in one of the big tents supplied by the Y.M.C.A. It is noteworthy that at this camp the largest attendance ever had at a communion service was witnessed. Several baptisms were performed at this place. The Chaplain now began to realize that the men placed more confidence in him and also that they had more need of him than during the days at Custer.

        While on board ship our services were held under great difficulty owing to space, but in spite of this and wind and rain, men gathered to hear the words of the Gospel read to them and to join in singing hymns of praise. It was a most impressive scene to gaze into the upturned faces as they listened.

         Amid the quaint surroundings of Messac, France, the Sunday morning services were held in a field surrounded by a hedge, with the band to furnish music, a bully beef box serving as a pulpit. Even the peasants gathered around, attracted, of course, by the music and songs. This was our first service in France. At Camp Cöetquidan we were given better conditions for our worship, the Y.M.C.A. having a very large auditorium well fitted for such use. The Chaplain was given many opportunities at this point to come into very close personal contact with the men of the regiment, for there were many needs to be met, questions to be answered, favors to be done.

       After leaving Camp Cöetquidan, we were forced to adjust ourselves to varying conditions which at most times were not at all ideal, but we made good use of whatever space was accorded us. In Rimaucourt and Humberville, a hostelry served as a recreation room and chapel, a harness room as office. As we drew nearer the front the battalions separated and the batteries were more scattered. 

       A Sunday service was held in Bouillionville in a Red Cross Canteen. The following Sunday, Nov. 10th, the ruined church which formerly had been used by the Germans was now serving our need. It is worth mentioning that at this service we were all forced to stand, the Germans having removed all benches, all other furnishings of the church, and in various ways used them to decorate the graves of their dead, who were buried in a German cemetery on the side of a hill near the edge of the village. The wooden bench ends were converted into headboards, the remainder of the bench being used for a similar purpose; but as the end of the benches made the most elaborate headboard they were used especially for those who had been honored with an iron cross. Evidently the Germans had no intention of ever leaving this area, for all manner of means were used in beautifying their billets and making them comfortable. The Chaplains’ writing room and postoffice in the rear room of the regimental headquarters was formally used by the Germans for the same purpose, as the sign, "Soldatenheim," over the door, indicated.