Identified WWI Grouping of 1SG Herman J. Bergasse "The Lost Battalion"
Item #: WR556
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This is a small grouping identified to First Sergeant Herman J. Bergasse of Company A, 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division from World War I. Bergasse was born on 14 June, 1891 in New York City, New York. First Sergeant Bergasse was drafted on 21 September, 1917 in New York City at the age of 26 years old. Prior to being drafted into the Army, Bergasse had spent five years in the US Navy as a quartermaster. He was working as a butcher at the time of his induction. He joined A company of the 308th Infantry Regiment at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York after his induction into the Army. He was made a cook on 15 October, 1917 and promoted to Mess Sergeant on 1 March, 1918. On 6 April, 1918, Bergasse boarded the SS Lapland with the rest of A company and sailed for France, arriving on 19 April, 1918. Upon arrival, the entire 77th Infantry Division was placed under British command, and trained with the British Army until June, 1918. Completing their additional training, the 308th was moved to the front to the town of Badonviller, in the Baccarat Sector. Between early June and early September the regiment suffered the loss of nearly 1/3 of it's personnel. These losses were made up of replacements mostly from the American West, quite a contrast to the original members of the all New York City region. The regiment was involved in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, where it gained fame as "The Lost Battalion". The first and second battalions of the regiment, along with one company of the 307th Infantry Regiment and tow companies of the 306th machine gun battalion, penetrated a gap in the German lines and achieved their intended objective of the Charlevaux Mills area. From 2 October until 7 October the nearly 600 man force was cut off from the Allied forces, completely surrounded by the Germans in the area. By the time the "Lost Battalion" was relieved, nearly 400 were killed or wounded. First Sergeant Bergasse was one of the survivors. Bergasse was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action near Binarville, France on 28 September, 1918. He assumed command of the company when his commander was wounded, and led an attack on an enemy machine gun emplacement, silencing two of the guns. 1SG Bergasse survived the war, and remained in Europe as part of the Army of Occupation until 18 April, 1919. He then boarded the SS America, headed for the New York harbor once again. The ship departed Brest, France on 19 April, 1919 and arrived in New York harbor on 22 April, 1919. First Sergeant Herman J Bergasse was honorably discharged from the US Army on 9 May, 1919 at Camp Mills, New York. This grouping is made up of his Model 1917 winter service coat and trousers, Model 1917 helmet, and a Model 1917 Dismounted Cartridge belt. The 1917 tunic is of a high quality wool material. It features the four pocket design with epaulets. The five button coat has the rimmed US eagle buttons, with six smaller buttons of the same type for the pockets and epaulets. The left sleeve has a 77th Division patch, discharge strip and two bullion overseas strips sewn on it, indicating 12 months of overseas service. The right sleeve has the chevrons of a First Sergeant sewn on it. The crossed rifles of the infantry branch of service and a US disk adorn the collar. Bergasse printed his name and unit on the right side lining of the tunic, "H.J. BERGASSE/A/308" and his initials HJB in the collar. A makers label is still hanging on by a thread on the inside of the lining on the bottom right side. The is from Alfred, Decker & Cohn clothing company located in Chicago, Illinois. The date of March 21, 1918 is visible on the tag, but the rest is hard to make out. A small brass medallion is pinned on the right top pocket flap. It is round and has a five point star with the letters US in the center. I believe it is an honorable discharge badge from the WWI period. The trousers are unmarked, with the exception of the letters H.S.P. inked into the waist band. The trousers are in good condition, but show honest wear, just as the tunic has. There are a couple of moth holes, and one hole in the right leg reinforcement. The lacings from the pants legs are both still present. All the buttons are present, and each is stamped US ARMY. The 1917 American made helmet is complete with liner and chinstrap. The liner is ink stamped in two places on the inside and ink marked in one place. The two ink stamps are the makers mark, MADE BY/PROGRESSIVE KNITTING WORKS/B'KLYN N.Y. 7 1/4, and an inspectors stamp QMD DEPT /INSPT'D C. P. The ink mark is Bergasse's initials, HJB. The 77th Division's LAdy Liberty is painted on the front of the helmet on a blue background. The chin strap and liner are complete, and the heat stamp for the helmet is ZC205. The cartridge belt is inh very good condition, and is made by L.C.C. & Company. All three pieces are correctly stamped and dated 9-18. The belt exhibits minimal wear with no staining. I believe that it was probably worn by First Sergeant Bergasse at parades and ceremonies after he returned home to New York. This is a great collection of items belonging to a young man from New York that served his country during WWI, and survived some of the most savage fighting of that war. If you collect WWI memorabilia, especially 77th Division, this recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross should be your center piece!
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