No rain. The sun was up to greet me good morning. I made 2 thousand donuts and was finished at 12 o’clock. Was just ready to have lunch when who should come in but Ens. Libbie with girls to take my place. My heart was hurt, but like a good soldier I got ready. I bid goodbye to the boys and got in the Ford and were on our way to Clermont. Had a wild ride over the bad roads but arrived safe and heard that the train left St. Menehouhoed at 7:20. It was very doubtful if I could make it, but I tried. It was raining and we had a wild ride and got there just in time to be late. So we turned around and went back to Clermont. Made my bed on a German upholstered cot. Had a very uneasy time. Good night and pleasant dreams.
More Information
The following section provides historical context and is not part of the original diary entry.
Likely location: Cornay, Ardennes, France
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In January 1919, Margaret embarked on a remarkable motor tour through the former battlefields and into occupied Germany. She visited the devastated landscapes of Soissons, Reims, Verdun, and the Argonne before crossing into Luxembourg and Germany, reaching Koblenz where American forces were headquartered.
Research Links for Further Study
- U.S. Army Center of Military History. (n.d.). Occupation and demobilization, 1918–1923. U.S. Army.
- Regional History Institute. (n.d.). Coblenz — A real American city in Europe. In Stars and Stripes over the Rhine.
- Boissoneault, L. (2017, April 12). The women who fried donuts and dodged bombs on the front lines of WWI. Smithsonian Magazine.
Diary of a World War I Donut Girl 