Suspense Ends; Veterans Rush to Loved Arms. Forbes Field Is Scene of Release of Emotion Long Held in Abeyance. Eighteenth Is Greeted. n. p., [7 May 1919].
Forbes Field was consecrated today by one of the most emotional incidents woven into the city's fiber when the members of the famous "Old Eighteenth" marched into the ball grounds, stacked arms and--for the first time in many weary months of war--were at liberty to fly to the arms of their mothers, fathers, sweethearts and other relatives.
This episode was the climax of a day replete with climaxes. Since their arrival early in the morning the regiment had been under orders. On the march from the East Liberty station to the Mosque, at breakfast and up to exactly 11 o'clock this forenoon, discipline had held the soldiers in leash.
But when the long-expected order came, the soldiers scarcely knew how to behave themselves. Wandering as in a daze, they approached the grandstands where their relatives sat and only the frantic cries from the stands to the soldiers kept them from getting lost.
Happy Reunions.
The Engineers reached the Mosque at 9:55 o'clock and shortly afterward filed into the building. They were taken to the dining room in the basement and a breakfast was served them by co-eds from the University of Pittsburgh.After eating, the soldiers were allowed to mingle with relatives and friends. The lower floor of the Mosque was jammed with people, while others who could not get into the building stood outside in the rain, some under umbrellas, others without, but all unmindful of the downpour.
Every man in uniform was surrounded by relatives and friends, many of the boys being in the embraces of mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts. Dads and brothers, too, were on hand, patting the boys in khaki on their backs.
Many touching scenes were enacted at this stage of the greeting, as many of the relatives had not seen the soldiers for nearly two years. Even before the ropes were let down, many of the relatives rushed through the cordon of officers and reached dear ones in uniform. Military discipline failed to hold several [...]
Relatives Waiting.
Relatives and friends of the regiment were admitted to the grounds before the soldiers arrived. They had already taken their places in compartments labeled with numbers of the companies, in order that they could be easily found. Promptly after breakfast the regiment was scheduled to march to the field and be given over to the home folks, but a sudden interruption was made in the program.The men were taken to the Eighteenth armory to "wash up."
That task took over an hour. Meanwhile, the crowd was ignorant of the change in program. Thousands flocked to the streets bordering on the field and waited. Extra police were necessary to keep the press back to the curb. Policemen were battered with queries as to when the regiment would arrive. Some ventured to assert that it already was inside.
The crowd fidgeted and waited. A group of automobiles came up with the mayor's welcome committee and were admitted to the field. This made the crowd more impatient than before. Again the police were almost overcome. And finally, just before the regiment came, Brigadier General Albert J. Logan, once the regiment's commander, told the crowd to go around to another gate and be admitted. But many refused even this, preferring to wait until their eyes beheld the regiment.
Then Come Greetings.
At length it hove into view. Led by its famous band, 22 members of which have been gassed while acting as litter-bearers, the regiment marched in column of fours through a gate into the grounds. Winding along the stands, the unit marched until the first end almost touched the rear of the column. Then came the order to halt. The men stacked their arms and stood at rest. Suddenly came the order for dismissal. A great cheer rose from the stands. Slowly the soldiers made their way to the stands. The scene there a moment later was a medley of olive-drab and civilian garb, featured by kissing, hugging and fervent shaking of hands.There were many of the regiment who did not enter the stands. Half of the regiment does not belong to Pittsburgh. These strolled idly about the green diamond and tried to conceal any disappointment they may have felt.
"Hard lines, buddy!" sympathized a bystander.
"Yep!" sighed a soldier with two wound stripes and a deep gash over his right eye, "but that's the way she goes. I'm from Johnstown."
Quiet [was] the keynote of the arrival of the regiment at the plateau-like spot where the men detrained, near the East Liberty station. It was early, and the city had not yet waked up completely. There was also a hint of rain and an occasional flurry of raindrops to deter a crowd. Moreover, the coming of the soldiers had been heralded so long only to be postponed, that the actual arrival was in the nature of a surprise.
When the first train drew in at 5:49 o'clock, nothing but calm awaited it. At 6:07 o'clock the second section pulled alongside. And at 6:30 the third train arrived. Scarcely till then did the city realize that the famous fighting unit which had covered itself with glory and won distinguished service crosses innumerable finally had come home.
Not until the last section arrived did the detraining begin. Then the men came out. To those who did not get to the doors in the first rush, the emptying of the cars seemed to be slow. In a few minutes, however, all the soldiers were on the platforms.
Tables stretched between the trains were filled with edibles and an orderly rush was made for them. While the soldiers ate a snack before breakfast at the Mosque, coffee was served them by Red Cross workers.
The stay at the station ended at 7:30 o'clock when the soldiers formed in column of squads for the march to the Mosque.
Led by the band of 32 pieces, 22 members of which were gassed while playing in France, the soldiers left the detraining point and headed toward the East Liberty business district.
The soldiers were preceded by the mounted squad and motorcycle policemen, who cleared the way. Behind them came Colonel E. C. Shannon, commander of the regiment, and three rows of staff officers.
Few people lined the street until the soldiers reached the business section of East Liberty, where the sidewalks seemed too small to hold the crowd. Cheering and clapping hands, thousands extended greetings. Here and there, a mother was seen wiping away a tear, caused by the joy of seeing her boy back home. Again there were tears for some boy who was not in the line.
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