Cubbage, Benjamin Cook

History of Section 529, Army Ambulance Service

Taken from: The History of the Army Ambulance Service, Appendix C: Service in Italy - accessed June 15, 2018 at http://www.ourstory.info/library/2-ww1/Smucker/usaac11.html

Recruited May 31 and June 1, 1917 at the Pennsylvania State College by Lt. W. J. Whitehouse, M.R.C., assisted by Dr. F. Kennedy of the College of Health Service. Fifty-five men, mostly under-graduates, were mustered in at the college Armory building on June 1, 1917. Pvt. John C. Herr took charge of the men and proceeded to the Concentration Camp, Allentown, Pa., on June 9th. As the number of men was well over the normal size of the ambulance units, they were divided into two sections, Numbers 29 and 30. They joined in the regular camp life, becoming a part of Major Metcalfe's Battalion.

On August 7th, they went to the encampment at Betzwood, Pa. and hiked around Valley Forge. Some of the men took part in the movie being made by Lobin Studios. Then came the march to Oakland Park, Martin's Creek, Wind Gap and Broadhead. On the return to Camp Crane, Section 529 was released to the President of the Pennsylvania State College to assist the Military Department at the college in the instruction of the cadet regiment. Living and eating at the Athletic Association boarding house was quite a welcome change from our stalls and mess hall at the camp. Their assignment lasted from November 19, 1917 to January 10, 1918. Following came the Liberty Loan jaunt into Lancaster and Bucks County for six days. Nothing more having been heard of Section 530 we must assume their remnants came over to 529 or went into other sections and thus dissolved.

The big date in the life of Section 529 was May 14, 1918, when the sections were picked for the Italian Contingent, and in the excitement 529 somehow got in the group. From then until arrival overseas and really until leaving the camp at Lido, section interests were sunk in contingent history, the preparation for work in Italy, learning some Italian and forgetting their French, the farewell to Allentown, life on the Giuseppe Verdi and the first two months on the beaches at the camp near Genoa. August 28, the Section under the command of Captain Edwin B. Lawyer, was ordered to Mantua, part in groups as guards to freight cars carrying government property. The rest of the Section drove the motor equipment north on September 6, in charge of Captain Shaffer.

On October 6, the entire section moved to Casello d'Asolo for duty with the 27th Army Corps, then a part of the 8th Italian Field Army. Their work was mostly in a defensive zone along the Piave River. They evacuated to hospitals at Caerona, Posmon and Altivole. Outposts were later at Bosco on the river below Montello.

During the great offensive beginning October 27, six ambulances worked with the 60th Div. with stations at Villa d'Villa, Brebano, Sedico, Landris and Ponto d'Muda. The other six ambulances were kept busy between dressing stations at Bosco, Caerona and Montebelluno, and later across the river with the 50th Div., through Col Sanmartino, Cambai, Miani and Follina. At this last point, the Section found an abandoned Austrian Hospital with 250 deserted patients which had to be evacuated to places where they could be given necessary medical attention. This followed the offensive victory at Vittorio-Veneto.

After the signing of the Armistice on Nov. 4, 1918, the Section accompanied the 27th Italian Army Corps, with the Section headquarters moved to Follina. Six cars worked out of Brebano and two at Lago. On December 8, the Army Corps headquarters having been transferred to the Fourth Italian Army, moved to Belluno. Three ambulances stayed there, and the three at Lago moved with the medical detachment with which they were working to Ponte Nella Alpi.

The Section received the citation of the Croce di Guerra on December 24, 1918. They continued evacuation work until ordered to Genoa where they embarked for home on the Italian Liner, Duca degli Abruzzi.

The Section 529 could have been called the Section of Athletes. Beck, O'Donnell, Cubbage and Wear, all played on the famous USAAC Football Team of 1917. Adam, Jester and Wear were on the Basketball Team. The Camp Crane Heavyweight Boxing Champion was Clarence Beck. Another boxer of note was Joe Cappellino.