🪖 WWI Soldier’s Diary (1917-1918): An Immigrant’s Journey from Minnesota to the Western Front
📌 Explore WWI diary extracts of Corporal Ludvig Gjenvick, a Norwegian immigrant turned U.S. soldier, as he records his journey from Camp Dodge to the battlefields of France. Learn about his struggles, victories, and return home, perfect for historians, genealogists, and educators.
📜 WWI Soldier's Diary Extracts (1917-1918): A First-Hand Account of War and Immigration
🪖 A Soldier’s Journey from Immigrant to American Patriot
This extraordinary diary of Corporal Ludvig Kristian Gjenvick, a Norwegian immigrant turned U.S. soldier, offers a vivid, firsthand account of World War I, his military service, and his journey from Minnesota to the battlefronts of France.
Ludvig Gjenvick’s story is particularly valuable for teachers, students, historians, and genealogists, as it provides a rare personal perspective on the war, the immigrant experience, and the everyday struggles and triumphs of soldiers in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).
🔹 This article is a treasure trove of historical insights, detailing life as an immigrant soldier, the war’s impact on soldiers and civilians, and the importance of first-hand military accounts.
Corporal Ludvig K. Gjenvick, Company C, 346th Infantry, 87th Division, National Army, American Expeditionary Force, 1918. Gjenvick-Gjønvick Family Archives Photograph. GGA Image ID # 184bb11ae8
A.E.F. Army Soldier Ludvig Gjenvick was a Norwegian immigrant who arrived in America in 1913. He lived and worked on a Minnesota farm until the Army drafted him in 1917. Upon entering the Army, Ludvig worked hard at learning English, became an American Citizen, and rose to Corporal's rank.
Below are excerpts from the readable portions of that diary that Corporal Gjenvick of the Allied Expeditionary Force in World War I, in English, translated from the original in Norwegian.
Sample Page from the Diary of Corporal Ludvig K. Gjenvick, National Army, 1918. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Archives. GGA Image ID # 18d8691562
September 1917
Corporal Ludvig Kristian Johansen GJENVICK 87th Division, 346th Infantry, Company "C" Mustered in Madison, Minnesota 20 September 1917 Departed from Madison, Minnesota 21 September 1917 and arrived at Camp Dodge 22 September 1917
[10 lines of illegible text]
NOTE: Corporal GJENVICK was transferred from Camp Dodge to Camp Pike and was a soldier of the 346th Infantry, Company C. He completed his training at Camp Pike and was sent to Camp Dix prior to deployment overseas. The diary continues below:
September 1918
... where we were treated to coffee and ice cream by the Red Cross.
Then we were loaded onto the steamship "Ceramic". Then we sailed from America on the morning of August 24th [1918], accompanied by 11 other ships, and anchored in Liverpool's harbor on September 4, 1918 at 10:30 following a safe journey. Then we disembarked from the ship on... the morning of September 5th, [1918] at 6 o'clock, and marched through the streets of Liverpool to the train station, where we were treated to coffee and cookies by the Red Cross.
Then we got onto the train and traveled across England to Winchester, and arrived there at 5 o'clock [17:00] in the afternoon. Then we marched 2½ miles to a rest camp that was called Morn hill, and arrived there at 7:30 [19:30] in the evening. Then we were there until September 8th [1918], from where we traveled to Southampton on Sunday morning, and arrived there at 2 o'clock [14:00] in the afternoon.
Read the Unit History for the 346th Infantry Company C and get the complete story.
Then we were loaded onto a boat again, and at 5 o'clock [17:00] in the afternoon, we left England for France, where we landed at Le Havre on the morning of September 9th [1918] at 1 o'clock [01:00] after a storm-filled night. Then we got off the ship on the morning of September 9th [1918] at 6 o'clock [06:00], and marched... 5 miles to a camp that was called Le Havre, where we stayed until September 11th [1918].
Then we left at 11 o'clock [23:00] at night and marched 3 miles to the train station in Le Havre, where we took the train and traveled in baggage cars to Laigle, where we stopped on September 12th [1918] at 1 o'clock [13:00] for coffee. Then we traveled on from there at 2 o'clock [14:00] in the afternoon, and stopped in (Mount Falles?) on September 13th [1918], where we got off. We were at the station for 1 hour, then we marched 8 miles to the little village of Salignac, where we stayed with a farmer.
On the morning of September 14th we were awakened by the farmer, who came and gave us a drink. Got an impression of the friendliness of the French people. France has been hit hard by the war.
The French people have sacrificed and given everything they had out of love for their homeland. There were no young men to be seen, only... women, children and old men. The children came up and shook our hands as we walked past, and welcomed us.
Then we departed on the morning of September 23rd [1918] at 7:30. We marched 14 miles in the howling rain to the town of Saintes, where we again took the train and traveled in baggage cars to Montoir, where we arrived on September 24th [1918] at 11 o'clock [11:00] in the morning.
We (lived?) around St. Nazaire, were out on convoys to Is-sur-Tille and to (Ecomay?). Then we finally moved to Camp (Gurthre?) and were there for 2 weeks. Then we moved to Camp 2. Were there for 2 days, then moved to Camp 1. [last line illegible] and were in camp for 2 days.
On Palm Sunday, April 13th [1919], we stood inspection before General Pershing, and then on Monday, April 14th [1919], we boarded the ship "Princess Matoika" for America, and sailed on April 16, 1919 from St. Nazaire.
After a safe journey, we landed in Newport News, Virginia on Sunday, April 27, 1919, and then went to Camp Stuart.
On the "Ceramic", we had 8 millions worth of (?) with us over the ocean. On the night of August 31, 1918 we were on the Atlantic Ocean, and in thick fog so that no one could see. 5 blasts of the ship's horn were given, and with great alarm all men went on deck, but fortunately they were (only a message?)
Learn More About This Remarkable Man
🇳🇴 From Norway to America: The Inspiring Journey of Immigrant Ludvig Kristian Gjønvik
📌 Explore the remarkable immigration story of Ludvig Kristian Gjønvik, a Norwegian immigrant who overcame orphanhood, financial struggles, and war to build a new life in America. Perfect for historians, genealogists, educators, and students exploring early 20th-century immigration.
✍️ Key Themes in the Diary
📅 Enlistment and Training (1917-1918)
✔ Drafted in September 1917 from Madison, Minnesota, Ludvig was quickly sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa, and later transferred to Camp Pike and Camp Dix.
✔ He worked hard to learn English, gained American citizenship, and rose to the rank of Corporal before being sent overseas.
✔ His diary captures the emotional and physical preparation for war, a perspective often missing in historical narratives.
🔹 This section is invaluable for genealogists tracing immigrant soldiers’ early military experiences and for students studying how the U.S. prepared troops for WWI.
🛳️ Crossing the Atlantic & Arrival in France (August-September 1918)
✔ Ludvig departed on the SS Ceramic on August 24, 1918, as part of a convoy of 12 ships bound for Liverpool, England.
✔ After landing in Liverpool on September 4, 1918, he and his fellow soldiers traveled by train to Winchester, then Southampton, before crossing the English Channel to Le Havre, France.
✔ The Red Cross provided coffee, cookies, and moral support at multiple stops along the way—highlighting the role of humanitarian organizations in assisting soldiers.
🔹 For military historians, this section provides an accurate timeline of troop movements and the logistics of deploying U.S. forces to the Western Front.
🚂 Travel Through France & Encounters with the French People (September 1918)
✔ Ludvig describes how they traveled in baggage cars across France, making stops at Laigle, Mount Falles, and Salignac.
✔ He vividly recalls how French civilians, particularly women, children, and the elderly, welcomed American soldiers and expressed gratitude.
✔ "There were no young men to be seen," he writes, reminding us of the devastating losses France suffered during the war.
🔹 This account is particularly valuable for social historians studying wartime civilian life and the impact of the war on French communities.
🪖 Life in the American Expeditionary Forces (September 1918 - April 1919)
✔ Ludvig’s unit was stationed around St. Nazaire, where they participated in convoys to supply front-line troops.
✔ The soldiers endured harsh weather, long marches, and grueling conditions, as detailed in his march through rain and mud to Saintes.
✔ His diary notes moving between multiple camps before finally arriving at Camp 1, where they awaited further deployment.
🔹 For researchers interested in the logistics of the AEF, this section provides a boots-on-the-ground view of the movements and living conditions of American troops in France.
⚔️ The War’s End & Journey Back to America (April 1919)
✔ On Palm Sunday, April 13, 1919, General John J. Pershing inspected Ludvig’s unit, a significant moment for soldiers preparing for the war’s conclusion.
✔ On April 14, 1919, Ludvig boarded the SS Princess Matoika, setting sail from St. Nazaire, France, on April 16.
✔ After 11 days at sea, he landed in Newport News, Virginia, on April 27, 1919, marking the end of his wartime service.
🔹 This return journey highlights the structured demobilization of U.S. troops and the transition back to civilian life—critical for military and social historians studying the postwar period.
📸 Noteworthy Images from This Page
📷 Photograph of Corporal Ludvig K. Gjenvick (1918)
An iconic image of an immigrant soldier who became an American patriot.
📷 Sample Page from the Soldier’s Diary (1918)
A rare, handwritten wartime account offering direct insight into a soldier’s experience.
📷 WWI Certificate of Immigration (1918)
A document proving Ludvig gained U.S. citizenship while serving in the military—a testament to how the war helped immigrants integrate into American society.
📌 Why This Diary Matters for Historians, Teachers, and Genealogists
📚 For Teachers & Students
✔ Engaging primary source material – A first-hand account of WWI through an immigrant soldier’s eyes.
✔ Cross-disciplinary teaching – This diary combines history, language learning, and social studies.
✔ Lesson in perseverance – Ludvig’s journey from an orphaned immigrant to a decorated soldier is an inspiring American story.
🕵️ For Genealogists & Family Historians
✔ Valuable reference for tracing military ancestors, especially those who immigrated to America before WWI.
✔ First-person accounts are rare – This diary provides detailed records of movements, dates, and military service, essential for reconstructing family history.
📖 For Military Historians & Researchers
✔ Detailed account of the American Expeditionary Forces troop movements and logistics.
✔ Personal perspective on the war’s impact – A unique contrast to traditional military reports.
✔ Cultural integration of immigrant soldiers – A great resource for studying how WWI accelerated the Americanization of immigrants.
