Order of Battle - American Forces - World War I


26th - 30th Divisions

Twenty-Sixth Division (National Guard)

The division received the popular name of "Yankee Division." Its shoulder insignia is a blue monogram YD superimposed on a diamond of khaki. Organized August 22, 1917, in Boston, Mass. Units of this division were made up from the National Guard troops of the New England States (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Mass., Rhode Island, and Connecticut), together with a contingent of National Army troops from Camp Devens. The first units sailed for France, Sept. 7, 1917, and during Sept. And Oct., 1917, the division was transported to France, through both English and French ports. Division headquarters was established at Neufchateau, France, Oct. 31st. The division went into the line in the Chemin des Dames sector Feb. 6, 1918, was relieved from that sector March 18th, and moved to the La Reine sector northwest of Toul, entering the sector March 31st. The division left this sector June 28th and moved by rail to area east of Meaux. From July 5th to 18th, the division marched to support position behind line Torcy-Bois de Belleau-Vaux, northwest of Chateau-Thierry and took over the Pas Fini sector.

From July 18th to 25th it attacked, as a unit of the 1st Corps in the Aisne-Marne offensive (second Battle of the Marne), penetrating to a depth of seventeen kilometers. Was relieved July 25th and marched to an area in vicinity of La Ferte. It then moved by rail on Aug. 1st to 3d, to Chatillon training area. On Aug. 25th the division moved to area north of Bar-le-Duc and from there by marching to the Troyon sector where it entered the line. On Sept. 12th the division attacked in the St. Mihiel salient, penetrating as far as Vigneulles. On Oct. 8th, the division moved to consolidated vicinity of Vedun as army reserve. The division was engaged in operations north of Verdun from Oct. 18th to Nov. 11th. The division was relieved and proceeded to the eighth training area where headquarters was established at Montigny-le-Roi, Nov. 23d.

The following National Guard units were absorbed in forming division:

Maine: 2d Inf., 1st Regt. Heavy F.A., 1-13 Co., C.D.C.

New Hampshire: 1st Inf. M.G. Troop Cav. Btry. A, F.A., Co. B, S.C.; Fld Hosp. Co. No. 1 to 4th Cos. C.A.C.

Vermont: 1st Inf.

Massachusetts: 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th Inf.; Hqs. 2d Brig; 1st Sq. Cav.; 1st and 2nd Regts. F.A.; 1st Regt. Engrs.; Amb. Cos. 1 and 2; 1st F.S. Bn.; 1st to 12th Cos. C.A.C.

Rhode Island: 1st Sept. Sq. Cav.; 1st Bn. F.A., Amb. Co. No.1
Connecticut: 1st and 2nd Inf.; 1st Sq. Cav.; Btrys. E and F, F.A.; Amb. Co., No. 1, Fld. Hosp. No. 1

Division commanders: Brig. Gen. Peter E. Traub, Oct. 31 to Nov. 11, 1917; Maj. Gen. Clarence R. Edwards, Nov. 11, 1917 to Oct. 24, 1918; Brig. Gen. Frank E. Bamford, Oct. 24, 1918, and in command Nov. 11th>

The following units composed the division: 51st and 52d Inf. Brigs.; 101st, 102d, 103d, 104th Regts. Inf.; 102d, 103d Machine Gun Bns.; 51st Arty. Brig., 101st, 102nd, 103d Arty. Regts.; 101st Trench Mortar Btry; 101st Div. Machine Gun Bn.; 101st Engr. Regt. And Train; 101st Fld. Sig. Bn., 101st Train Hqs., and M.P.; 101st Supply Train; 101st Amm. Train; 101st Sanitary Train, 101st, 102d, 103d and 104th Amb. Cos., and Fld. Hosps.

This division captured from the enemy the following: 61 officers; 3,087 men; 16 pieces of artillery; 132 machine guns and numerous supplies. The division made a total advance against resistance of thirty-seven kilometers; 14,411 replacements were furnished this division. Battle deaths, 2,168, wounded 13,000; Prisoners of war, 451. Distinguished Service Cross awards, 229.

Twenty-seventh Division (National Guard)

Insignia, a black circle with a red border in which are the leters NYD in monogram, surrounded by the seven stars of the constellation Orion. Organized at Camp Wadsworth, S.C., in Sept. 1917. The New York National Guard as its nucleus, the following units being used: 1st, 2d, 3d, 7th, 12th, 14th, 23d, 71st and 74th N.Y. Inf., Squadron A, 1st N.Y. Cav.; 1st, 3d N.Y. Fld. Arty.; 22d N.Y. Engrs; 1st Bn. N.Y. Sig. Corps; N.Y. Amm. Train; N.Y. Supply Train; N.Y. Sanitary Train; N.Y. Hqs and M.P., 6th N.Y. Div. Hqs. Troop.

The division embarked for overseas at Newport News, Va., the first units sailing on May 8th, and the last arriving in France, July 7, 1918. It was ordered to a training area and later entered the line with the British units opposite Mt. Kemmel. On Aug. 20th a moved was made to the Dickebush sector, Belgium, which was occupied next day. On Aug. 31st the division was a front-line division in the attack on Vierstandt Ridge, the 30th Division on its left - 34th British Division on its right. As part of the 2d Corps (U.S.) 4th British Army, the division was in action near Bony, Sept. 24th to Oct. 1st. On Oct. 12th it again entered the line in the St. Soupiet sector crossing the Seille River in the attack on Jonc de Mer Ridge.

Maj. Gen. John O'Ryan, N.Y. National Guard, commanded the division from its organization until mustered out.

The division captured from the enemy the following: 2,358 prisoners and advanceed eleven kilometers against resistance. During active operations it suffered the following loses: Killed, 1,791; wounded, 9.427; prisoners three officers and 225 men. One hundred and thirty-nine Distinguished Service Crosses awarded.

The following organizations composed the division: 105th, 106th, 107th, 108th, Regts. Inf.; 104th, 105th, 106th Machine Gun Bns.; 104th, 105th, 106th Fld. Arty. Regts.; 102d Trench Mortar Battery; 102d Engrs.; 102d Fld. Sig. Bn.; 102d Hqs Train and M.P., 102d Amm. Train; 102d Supply Train; 102d Engr. Train; 102d Sanitary Train (105th, 106th, 107th, 108th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals).

Twenty-eighth Division (National Guard)

28th division PatchKnown as the "Keystone Division." Insignia, a red keystone. Organized from units of the Pennsylvania National Guard at Camp Hancock, Ga., August 5, 1917. The majority of the officers and enlisted men were from the State of Pennsylvania. On November 15th the division was reorganized to conform to the new Tables of Organization.

The division commenced leaving the States April 21, 1918, moving through Camp Upton. It landed at Calais May 18th and trained with the British in the vicinity of Nielles les Blequin for about two weeks. It then moved to Gonesse where it trained with the French for another two weeks' period, and then moved to a sector near the Marne.

On July 1, 1918, two platoons of the 11th Infantry took part in an attack on hill 204. On July 16th part of the infantry entered the line on the Marne River and the entire division was in sector on the Ourcq river by July 27, 1918.

The division was relieved on the night of July 30th-31st, and from then to August 6th was in rest in the vicinity of Jaulgonne on the Marne. On the night of August 6th-7th, it again entered the line on the Vesle river, the sector extending from about Courlandon on the east to Fismes on the west. Here it remained actively engaged until Sept. 8th, when it was relieved by a French division.

Upon relief of the division, it moved to a position south of the Argonne forest, and on Sept. 20th took part of the sector extending from Boureuilles on the east to Cote 285 on the west. It was one of the attacking divisions in the offensive of Sept. 26th, pushing as far as Chatel Chehery, where it was relieved on Oct. 9th. It then moved by bus to an area northeast of Commercy.

On Oct. 16th it took over a sector near Thiaucourt extending from northeast to Jaulny on the east to the southern end of Etany de Lachaussee on the west. It held this sector until the signing of the armistice and then went to the divisional training area.

To include May 15, 1919, the division's casualties were 2,531 battle deaths, and 13,746 wounded. Seven hundred and twenty-six individuals of this division were taken prisoners by the enemy.

Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 58.

Commanding generals: Maj. Gen. C. M. Clement to Dec. 11, 1917; Maj. Gen. Chas. H. Muir, Dec. 15, 1917, to Oct. 24, 1918; Maj. Gen. Wm. H. Hay, Oct. 24 to Nov. 11, 1918.

The units composing the division were as follows: 55th and 56th Inf. Brigs., 109th, 110th, 11th, 112th Inf. Regts.; 108th and 109th Machine Gun Bns.; 53d Arty. Brig.; 107th and 108th and 109th Arty. Regts.; 103d Trench Mortar Battery; 107th Div. Machine Gun Bn.; 103d Engr. Regt. And Train; 103d Fld. Sig. Bn.; 103d Train Hqs. and M.P.; 103d Supply Train; 103d Amm. Train; 103d Sanitary Train; 109th, 110th, 11th, 112th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals.

Twenty-ninth Division ( National Guard)

Known as the "Blue and Gray Division." Insignia, the Korean symbol of good luck, a circle bisected by two half circles, reversed and joined; one-half of the circle is blue, and the other gray. Composed of National Guards of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia.

Mobilized and trained at Camp McClellan under Major-General Wm. S. Haan, headquarters arrived overseas June 27, 1918. Activities of the division included the center sector of Haute Alsace and the Grand Montagne sector, north of Verdun. The division captured 2,187 officers and men, 21 pieces of artillery and 250 machine guns. After the armistice the division was stationed for some time at Bourbonne les Bain. It returned home and was demobilized in June, 1919.

The division made a total advance against resistance of seven kilometers and captured 2,187 officers and men, 21 pieces of artillery and 250 machine guns. Battle deaths, 940, wounded, 5,219; prisoners of war, 67. Four thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven replacements were required by this division. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 150.

Maj.Gen. Charles G. Morton commanded the division.

The following units composed the division: 29th Div. Hqs. Troop and Detachment, 57th Inf. Big. (113th and 114th Inf. Regts and 111th M.G. Bn.), the 58th Inf. Brig. (115th and 116th Inf. Regts. And 112th M.G. Bn.) The 54th Arty. Brig. (110th, 111th and 112th Regts of Arty., 104th T. M. Battery, 104th Amm. Train) the 110th Machine Gun Bn., the 104th Fld Sig. Bn., the 104th Engr. Regt. And Train, the 10th Train Hqs and M.P., the 104th Supply Train, the 104th Sanitary Train (113th, 114th, 115th and 116th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals).

Thirtieth Division (National Guard)

30th Division PatchInsignia, a monogram in blue of the letters "O" and "H", standing for "Old Hickory," the nickname of Andrew Jackson. The cross bar of the "H" contains the triple "XXX," the Roman numerals for thirty. The whole is on a maroon background. Organized at Camp Sevier, S.C., in October, 1917. This division was formerly the old 9th National Guard Division (1st, 2d and 3d Tenn. Inf.; 1st Tenn. F.A.; Tp.D, Tenn. Cav.; 1st Tenn. Field Hospital; 1st, 2nd and 3d N.C. Inf.; 1st N.C.F.A.; 1st Sq. N.C. Cav.; 1st N.C. Engrs; Co. A, N.C. Sig. Corps; N.C. Supply Train; 1st N.C. Field Hospital; 1st N.C. Amb. Co.; 1st and 2d S.C. Inf.; Co. A, S.C. Sig. Corps; 1st S.C. Field Hospital; Troop A, S.C. Cav.). In addition to the above the division was augmented by draft men from North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota.

First units sailed for overseas on May 7, 1918, and the last units landed at Calais, France, on June 24, 1918. The division was ordered to the Eperlecques training area (Pas-de-Calais) and remained there until July 4th, when it was ordered into Belgium under command of the 2d British Corps and placed in support of the 33d and 49th British divisions. Division headquarters was located at Watou and it was here that this division received its first training in the line. On Aug. 17th the division took over the Canal sector extending from the southern outskirts of Ypres to Voormezelle and from Aug. 31st to Sept. 1st engaged in the battle before Mt. Kemmel. The division was then withdrawn and placed in reserve until Sept. 17th, when it was again sent into the line with division headquarters at Herissart. On Sept. 22d the division was placed under command of the 4th British Army and took over the Beaurevoir sector the following day. Participated in the battle of Bellincourt Sept. 29th- 30th, which resulted in the breaking of the Hindenburg line. On Oct. 4th the division took over the line near Montbrehain where it attacked on four successive days making an advance of over 17,000 yards. On Oct. 17th participated in the Battle of La Selle river, and remained in the attack until Oct. 20th. The division was withdrawn to the Heilly training area immediately after the battle, where it was located at the signing of the armistice. On Nov. 24th the division was ordered to the Le Mans area preparatory to returning to the United States. The Divisional Artillery was not present for operations with the division, but was in active operations in the Toul sector, St. Mihiel offensive, Meuse-Argonne offensive and the Woevre sector.

This division captured from the enemy the following; 3,848 prisoners, 81 pieces of artillery and 426 machine guns. It made a total advance of twenty-nine and a half kilometers against resistence. Battle deaths, 1,652; wounded 9,429; number taken prisoners, 6 officers and 71 men. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 177.

Commanding generals: Maj.Gen. John F. Morrison, from organization to Nov. 20, 1917; Maj. Gen. C. P. Townsley, Nov. 20 to Dec. 17, 1917; Maj. Gen. Geo. W. Read, April 27 to Aug. 10, 1918; Maj. Gen. Edw. M. Lewis, Aug. 10 to Nov. 11, 1918.

The units composing the division were as follows: 59th, 60th Inf. Brigs., 117th, 118th, 119th, 120th Inf. Regts., 114th, 115th Machine Gun Bns., 55th Arty. Brig., 113th, 114th, 115th, Arty. Regts., 105th Trench Mortar Battery, 113th Div. Machine Gun Bn., 105th Engr. Regt. And Train, 105th Fld. Sig. Bn., 105th Train Hqs. And M.P., 105th Supply Train, 105th Amm. Train, 105th Sanitary Train (117th, 118th, 119th, 120th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals).

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