Exhibit J - Extract from Army Commander’s Report of First Army Operations - 1919

[Exhibit J]

Headquarters First Army A.E.F.,
Office of the Chief of Staff,

April 16, 1919.

From : Chief of Staff, First Army, American E. F.

To : Heads of all General Staff Sections, Services and Departments.

The undersigned takes great pleasure in transmitting to you the following extract from the Army Commander’s report of the operations of the First Army.

“The Staff of the First Army had a new, difficult and complex task. Never before in our history has an Army of the size of the First Army been so quickly organized and so efficiently managed.

“The two large and rapid concentrations, the detailed plans for the numerous attacks in the two operations, and the supply and evacuation problem therein involved, would have been most difficult even with an experienced staff. The First Army staff met all of these problems with complete success. The successful organization and functioning of the First Army Staff made possible the successes achieved by the First Army. Too much credit can not be given to the officers and soldiers of this energetic and efficient staff for their intelligent, painstaking and untiring efforts and persistent energy during the whole campaign.

The undersigned desires to add to the foregoing his personal thanks to all members of the First Army Staff for their hearty cooperation in all the work that we have carried out together. Will you please see that a copy of the foregoing is furnished to all members of your Section, Service or Department.

H. A. Drum,
Chief of Staff.
office of the chief signal officer

April 18, 1919.

Official Copy furnished Operator Adele L. Hoppock. The Chief Signal Officer of the First Army desires to add his personal thanks to you and to the other members of his staff and office force, for your part in the successfully completed task of “Signals, First Army”.

Parker Hitt,
Colonel, Signal Corps.

"[Exhibit J]: Affidavit of Gertrude Hoppock: Extract from Army Commander’s Report of First Army Operations, 16 April 1919," in Recognition for Purposes of VA Benefits, Hearing before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Unted States Senate, Ninety-Fifth Congress, First Session on S. 247, S. 1414, S. 129, and Related Bills. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 25 May 1977. p. 366.