Five Questions for Lucie Aubert, of the Yonne Historical Association 

Remembering the Doughboys of Yonne, France 

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission

During the course of World War I, the entire nation of France was affected by the arrival of the two million American men and women serving with the American Expeditionary Force. These people not only manned the front lines of the war -- but, very importantly, they also built & operated hospitals, railway lines, roads, training facilities, port facilities, headquarters areas, and many other activities -- some of which remain to this day. Despite the hundred years that has passed, the impacts of these efforts are not forgotten. One place where the memories remain alive is in the Yonne Valley, to the southeast of Paris. Named after the river Yonne, it is one of the eight constituent departments of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and was the site of the AEF's 16th Training Region. The Doughboys who trained there are well remembered. We were very lucky to speak to one of the leaders of the historical efforts in the region, Lucie Aubert. In addition to their various commemorative efforts, Lucie and her friends have created a website that tells the story of every single one of the 175 American service member who lost their lives in the Yonne, one hundred years ago.

This is remarkable vision. Tell us about your organization, and your activities to tell the story of the American Doughboys 100 years ago.

Lucie Aubert, with the flags of the U.S. and of the Yonne Region of FranceWe are a non-profit organization since the March 9, 2019 named Yonne Doughboys. We commemorate and make known the American presence in the department of Yonne (France) during World War 1 we also pay tribute to the 175 Americans who died here. We do this with a website and memorial page for each soldier which contain personal data, military data and pictures (graves and when we have it a portrait).

You have incredible depth to your remembrance -- with stories on every single Sammy who passed away in Yonne. Tell us about your research, and how you got started. Who helped you, who have been your partners?

All start with my WW1 collection and each time I had an item, I tried to discover the story and more specifically the story of the man who had it. That’s why I wanted to know more about the US soldiers who were in my “state”. I asked the city of Tonnerre (city which hosted the 16th training area) and the archivist told me she had a list of soldiers which were buried in the city’s cemetery. I tried to know more about it and that’s the beginning of an incredible adventure. It was the November 30, 2017.

I found other lists in Yonne’s archives and I had the number of deaths with a document from American Battle Commission Monument which told me that we had 175 soldiers. I found a lot of them but few are not on my listing, 45, all buried in Saint Mihiel cemetery. I made a lot of research in France but found nothing. I asked a researcher in NARA to help me. As a student without money, I made a deal with him, we helped each other in our respective researches. Thank to him I had Access to all the documents I needed to have all the soldiers and even an unknown soldier.

The Tonnerre’s archivist and members of a French forum in AEF (http://aefcollections.forumactif.org) helped me. We started with the soldiers who died in Tonnerre (so 58 persons) and after I searched information for the 117 others, alone.

After years of research, 174 soldiers have a story and I am still trying to find information on the only unknown soldier we have, a soldier from the 18th infantry, company I.

So why we are a non-profit organization now? Because in France, when you are alone you have less chance to be heard and projects are often rejected. So, I create with my brother this organization (we need to be two people to create an association in France) but I am still alone for research.

General Pershing awarding medals to soldiers who served at the Yonne Valley. Since some months, I found families of soldiers and some of them did not know where their ancestor died and when. To thank me for knowing these information 100 years after, they send pictures of their ancestor and more details. Each time, I was really touched to help family to know and even more to see face of soldiers after years of work.

Why is this story important? Why does it matter to you, and to the people of Yonne?

For me, it is important to make known the US presence in Yonne and especially those who died because they gave their life for us and each of us need to respect them.

They were only names on a list and now they are people. We need to make more than a website to pay a tribute and I will do my best to erect a monument in Yonne for this. A lot of Yonne’s people don’t really know that US soldiers were in their department and this organization need to repair it!

What message would you like to pass to the people in America about this?

We want to spread to people in America that French people don’t forget what their ancestors made for us. We want to share what we know and set soldiers’ story in stone. If they have information, picture or whatever of Yonne’s soldiers, we will be really happy to add it in our website or collect it to preserve it.

How can we get more information about your efforts, and activities?

You can find Yonne Doughboys on Facebook (Yonne’s Doughboys) and on an incredible website full of information: https://yonne-doughboys.jimdo.com

Group photo of one of the units stationed in the Yonne.

News article that tells of visit by President Wilson's daughter: "Miss Margaret Wilson, continuing her visits to the American troops, arrived at Tonnerre. She gave a first concert for the soldiers of the 36th Division, whose staff is in Tonnerre. A second concert will be given Friday. Miss Willson is accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. David, Lieut. Colonel Higgins, Assistant to General Wright, Commander 1st Corps, and Major Newman. Miss Wilson, by her grace and simplicity, conquered the sympathies of all those who approached her."

 Photo of one of the training areas of the Yonne Valley. This area was designated by the AEF as the 16th Training District during the war.