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

        Ever know that the good old 329th came home with a genuine Croix de Guerre man in its midst?  You probably didn't if you waited for LE CAPITAINE to advise you of it himself. He's so doggone modest that we couldn't even catch him wearing his decoration.  Someone tipped us off, however, and we tracked Captain Cadman to his lair in Camp D'Auvours and got the dope---all he'd give us anyways.

        You'll probably recall that Captain Paul F. Cadman joined us early in January, 1919, as 2nd Battalion Adjutant.  Nobody knew much about him, except that he handled French like a native and must have seen considerable service---beaucoup, as it turned out.  For he started in way back in March, 1917, with the French Army.  He served with them for 8 months in the T. M. U. 133 (heavy artillery) and saw action during that time at Verdun on through Soissons. He held the rank of ASPIRANT.

        On November 1, 1917, Uncle Sam claimed him and he joined the 2nd Division, U.S.A. immediately as a 2nd Lieutenant.  He was up front with the 2nd from February until the last of October, 1918; from the Troyon Sector to Voisdevelleau to the American attack south of Soissons, and from St. Mihel (he was in the famous St. Mihel drive) on to the Meuse-Argonne offensive.  He was made a First Lieutenant in February, 1918; and a Captain in July, taking added responsibilities as operations officer on the staff.  Verily he had been through the mill when Fritzie decided enough is too much. 

     Here is a translation of the order Marshall Petain put through in December, awarding the celebrated Cross of War to Captain Cadman:

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                         General Headquarters of

                         the French Armies of the

                                    East Staff

Order no. 12,569 "D" (Extract)

      Upon the approval of the General, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, the Marshall of France, Commander-in-Chief of the French Armies of the East, cites to the order of the Army Corps,

Captain Paul F. Cadman, of the 2nd Artillery Brigade:

         "During the attack on Blanc-Mount and during the days following he obtained important information on the situation of the enemy, and evidenced a remarkable devotion.  He served as an example to all those around him."

              At General Headquarters, 26 December, 1918,

                         The Marshall of France

         Commander-in-Chief of the French Armies of the East

                                      PETAIN

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