Eugene Woodbury diaries, 1917-1919

The Eugene Woodbury diaries (1917-1919) details Woodbury's experience during World War I as a member in the American Expeditionary Forces, 4th Balloon company in France. Woodbury's diary begins on 1917 December 11 at 9:00 PM where the company leaves Long Island, New York from an aviation field. On the same page he adds, "The secrecy of troop movement before embarkation was very noticeable with us." The entries include his first experience with shell fire; details of a balloon going up in flames; aerial combat; and the movement of his company. The second diary begins on a cloudy Wednesday, 1918 October 16 where Woodbury and his fellow soldiers "were to get to the line in time to go over the top…" In other entries, he provides a detailed outline of their telephone system and a diagram of camp. As part of the observation unit, Woodbury often remarks on the weather at the beginning of each entry. Woodbury's descriptions are detailed with information about locations and names of individuals. In another entry in the second diary, he comments on their objectives, "Our idea was to establish another central in some fine dugouts on the west edge of the Bois de Forge about 800 meters south of Drillancourt." The final entry in the diary is dated 1919 February 23 where he briefly writes about social activities with "Farley." Laid in between the last page and the back cover of the diary is an entry for March 12 on an American Red Cross letterhead.