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The division insignia is a crimson figure "1", on khaki background. Chosen because the numeral "1" represents the number of the division and many of its subsidiary organizations. Also, as proudly claimed, because it was the first division in France; first in sector; first to fire a shot at the Germans; first to attack; first to conduct a raid; first to be raided; first to capture prisoners; first to inflict casualties; first to suffer casualties; first to be cited singly in general orders; first in the number of the division, corps and army commanders and general staff officers produced from its personnel; last to leave war zone.
The first units left the United States June 14, 1917, and the last units arrived in France July 2, 1917. The division went into the Grondrecourt training area for training. It entered the line in the Sommerville sector, ten kilometers southeast of Nancy, for instructional purposes under French command October 21st, and withdrew the night of November 20, 1917. This sector was quiet. Entered the Ansauville section under tactical command of the French. This sector was approximately twenty kilometers northwest of Toul. Sector quiet with occasional active days. Division withdrew April 3d. The 1st Artillery Brigade was the only American artillery in action during this period. Entered the Cantigny section, five kilometers west of Montdidier, April 25th. The Cantigny operation was carried out the morning of May 28th, the division advancing the line three to six hundred yards on a twenty-two-hundred yard front. Division was relieved July 7, 1918. Entered the line the night of July 17, 1918, for the Soissons operation, approximately fifteen kilometers southwest of Soissons. The fighting was severe throughout the attack, especially July 20th and 21st. The division was relieved after having reached Berzy le Sec. Entered the Saizerais section on August 7th. The sector was quiet and the division was relieved August 24th.
St. Mihiel operation: Elements of the division commenced entering the sector of September 6th, completing the relief September 11th. Began an attack on September 12th in the Beaumont sector, twenty kilometers northwest of Toul. On September 13th the division was regrouped and held in reserve of the 4th Army Corps. The division had advanced its line fourteen kilometers in nineteen hours. In the operation east of the Argonne and west of the Meuse, the division moved into line October 1st and attacked in the Cheppy sector, one kilometer west of Varennes, continuing the attack until the night of October 11th, when it was relieved. The division had advanced approximately seven kilometers. On November 6th, elements of the division attacked in the area of Mouzon. At 2 p.m. orders were received to assemble the division and march to Sedan. The division attacked the heights south and southwest of Sedan on the morning of November 7th. At 2 p.m. the division was ordered to withdraw. Commenced its march to the Coblenz bridgehead from Abaucourt on November 17th. Marched through Lorraine and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Crossed the Rhine on December 13th. Occupied its area east of Rhine in the Coblenz bridgehead, December 14th.
General Pershing, almost without exception, picked out the 1st Division for the vital position, or post of honor, in most of his big engagements, for example, he put the 1st Division in the front line for seventy-two continuous days and nights, without divisional relief, at the battle of Picardy, when the Germans were driven through from St. Quentin to Montdidier. Again, at the second battle of the Marne, which began July 18, 1918, and was the turning point of the entire war, Pershing put the 1st Division practically directly at the hinge of this great door movement, at Soissons, only one French division being on the inside of it, and the 2d Soissons, only one French division being on the inside of it, and the 2d Division, containing the much advertised marines, were placed two whole divisions farther away from the hinge of our right. Again, it was the 1st Division that Pershing gave the post of honor, the inside position, just east of dangerous Mont Sec, when the St. Mihiel salient was closed.
The division captured 165 officers and 6,304 men, numerous machine guns, pieces of artillery of all calibers and a great quantity of supplies. Casualties 23,974, including 106 prisoners. The 1st Division made a total advance against resistance of fifty-one kilometers. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded to individuals of the division, 300.
The commanding generals of the division were as follows: Major General William L. Sibert, June 8, 1917 to December 12, 1917; Major General Robert L. Bullard, December 12, 1917 until he became a corps command. On March 15, 1919, Major General E. F. McGlachlin, Jr. was in command of the division.
The following units composed the division: the 16th, 18th, 26th, 28th Infantry Regiments; 5th, 6th, 7th Artillery Regiments; 1st Engineer Regiment and Train; 2d Field Signal Battalion; 3d, 4th, 5th Ambulance Companies and Field Hospital.
Insignia, an Indian head on star background and shield with colors varying according to unit. Division was organized from elements of the Regular Army and Marines in France during the last three months of 1917. After a period of training with the division headquarters at Bourmont, Haute-Marne, from October 26, 1917, to March 16, 1918, the division entered the Verdun and Toul sectors with headquarters at Sommedieu. Constant patrolling and several enemy raids repulsed. On May 31st moved in to the Chateau-Thierry sector, passing from the 7th A. C. French to the 21st A. C. French as reserve. Went forward about June 1, 1918, to meet a strong enemy attack which had developed on the line west of Chateau-Thierry. The attack of June 3d and 4th was halted June 4th on the line west of Chateau-Thierry and the division advanced two kilometers in the neighborhood of Vaux and in the Belleau Woods, between June 6th and July 1st. The relief of the division was completed July 9th. On July 16th the division entred the sector south of Soissons and attacked on the morning of the 18th and again on the morning of the 19th, advancing a total distance of eleven kilometers after severe fighting. On July 20th the division moved into reserve position and left the sector. On August 9th the division entered the Marbach sector. This was a quiet sector. Relieved August 24th. Entered the line on the St. Mihiel salient, September 9th, withdrawing September 16th, after having advanced approximately nine kilometers. Entered the front line of the Blanc Mont sector near Somme Py under the French. Relieved October 27th. Entered Meuse-Argonne sector on October 30th and attacked November 1st, advancing to the Meuse. Relieved after declaration of armistice. The division had made an advance of twenty-nine kilometers. Formed part of Army of Occupation.
Some of the units of the division, as a part of the 1st Division, left the United States in June, 1917. The division captured 228 officers, 11,738 men, 343 pieces of artillery, 1,350 machine guns and made a total advance of sixty kilometers against resistance.
The units composing the division were the 9th and 23rd Inf., 5th and 6th Marine Corps regiments, 12th and 15th and 17th Art. Regts., 4th, 5th and 6th Machine Gun Bns., 2d Trench Mortar Battery, 1st Fld. Sig. Bn., 2nd Eng. Regt. And Train, 1st, 15th, 16th and 23d Amb. Cos. And Field Hospital (composing 2nd Sanitary Train).
Commanding generals: Brig. Gen. Charles A. Doyon, U.S. Marine Corps to Oct. 24, 1917; Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy, Oct 15, 1917, to July 19, 1918; Brig. Gen. James Harbord, July 20 to Aug. 2, 1918; and Maj. Gen. John A. LeJeune Aug. 3 to Nov. 11, 1918.
The division insignia consists of three white stripes which stand for the three operations in which the 3d Division took part, the Marne, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. The blue stands for the loyalty of those who placed their lives on the altar of self-sacrifice in defense of American ideals of liberty and democracy. The division is known as the Marne Division.
The division was organized on November 21, 1917, at Camp Greene, Charlotte, N.C. The first units sailed from the United States on April 4, 1918, and the last units arrived in France, May 30, 1918. The division went into the Chateau Villain training area. Part of the division entered the line at Chateau-Thierry and Hill 204, May 31st. The entire division entered the Chateau-Thierry sector in June. On July 15th they met the Germans who crossed the Marne. On July 21st the division attacked across the Marne east of Chateau-Thierry and advanced to the Ourcq, where it was relieved on July 29th. On September 10th the 3d Division entered the St. Mihiel sector and formed a part of the 4th Corps Reserve in the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient. Was relieved September 14th. The division entered the line September 30th in the Argonne offensive, relieving a line division and fought continuously until October 27th, when it was relieved north of Montfaucon. On November 14th the division entered the line on the right of the 3d American Army and marched to the Rhine via Conflans and Saarburg, where it occupied the Kreis of Mayon.
Battle casualties 16,356. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded to individuals of division, 233.
Commanding generals: Major-General Joseph T. Dickman, November 28, 1917 to February 26, 1918; Brigadier General James A. Irons, February 27 to March 18, 1918; Major General Joseph T. Dickman, April 12 to August 31, 1918; Major General Beaumont B. Buck, August 31 to October 17, 1918; Brigadier General Preston Brown, October 17 to November 11, 1918.
The division is known as the "Ivy Division," its shoulder insignia is a green four-leaved ivy, about a circle, in cross shape, superimposed upon a square olive drab diamond.
Organized at Camp Greene, Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 10, 1917. Began leaving Camp Green April 18, 1918, by way of Camp Merritt and Camp Mills. Overseas movement began May 1, 1918. By June 3d, all organizations, except artillery, were in the Samer area for training with the British. The artillery trained at Camp de Souge. On June 9, 1918, the division moved to the Meaux and vicinity and on June 15th moved to LaFerte, being at the disposal of the 164th French Infantry Division. Units of the division participated in the fighting around Haute-Vesnes, Courchamps, Chevillon, St. Gengoulph and Sommelans until Junly 22d, when the division was made reserve. Some of the infantry units were detached and put into the fighting with another American division.
The division went into the front line August 3d, advancing to the Vesle, and was relieved on night of August 11th, and on August 19th was withdrawn to the Reynel training area, and on September 1st all units were moved to Vavincourt for further training. On September 7th, troops of the 59th Infantry went into the line the Toul sector southeast of Verdun. The 59th Infantry was relieved September 15th and the entire division moved to woods near Lennes on night September 19th-20th. The division, as part of 3d Corps, attacked on the first day in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, September 26th, advancing six and a half kilometers the first day, and continued in this offensive until October 19th, when it was relieved while holding Bois de la Cote Lemont, and Bois de Brieulles. On October 20th the division was assigned to the 2nd Army; started to move to Vignot and Lucey areas on October 21st. On November 4th the division was assigned again to the 1st Army and started moving to Blercourt, November 6th, but was reassigned to the 2d Army on November 8th. The division returned to Void November 9th, attached to the 4th Corps. After signing of the armistice, the division concentrated around Bourcq November 13th and the Artillery Brigade, which had been kept in action almost continuously along the Meuse, rejoined the division November 14th. Began its march into Germany November 20th, under the 3d Army and on December 16th the division was occupying the Kreises of Adenau and Cochem, Province of the Rhine, as its permanent area of occupation.
Battle casaulties 12,948. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 66.
Commanding generals: Major-General George H. Cameron, December 10, 1917 to August 24, 1918; Brigadier-General Benjamin W. Poore, August 24 to August 31, 1918; Major-General John L. Hines, August 31 to October 17, 1918; Major General George H. Cameron, October 17 to October 24, 1918; Brigadier General Benjamin W. Poore, October 24 to November 7, 1918; Major General Mark L. Hersey, November 7 to November 11, 1918.
Shoulder insignia, a red diamond. The division was organized at Camp Logan, Texas in latter part of May, 1917. The first organization to leave for overseas, entrained for Camp Merritt about the first of March. Division headquarters arrived at Havre, France, May 1, 1918. Sent to the Bar-sur-Aube area for training; June 1st moved by rail to the Vosges. Entered the Colmar sector in conjunction with the 21st Division (French) and remained there until July 16th. The division then moved by bus to the St. Die sector, and on the 23d of August, moved by bus and road to the St. Mihiel sector. In the St. Mihiel operation this division was a part of the 1st Army Corps and was placed in the line northeast of Regnieville-en-Haye with the 2nd Division on their left and the 90th Division on their right. The division continued in the St. Mihiel offensive until September 16th when it moved by road and bus to the Argonne front and went into the attack on October 12th east of Montfaucon. The division continued in the attack until October 22d when it was relieved by the 90th Division, and was withdrawn to the vicinity of Malancourt. On October 27th the division was again brought into the attack southwest of Brieulles, crossed the Meuse river and took Dun-sur-Meuse and continued the attack until November 11th, when it had reached a position just south of Marville. On November 13th the division was moved back to the vicinity of Murvaux and on November 20th to Lion-Devant-Dun. When the 3d Army was formed this division constituted a part of the command and was marched to the vicinity of Longwy where it was placed in charge of the lines of communication, taking over the control of the territory in its area. On December 8th the division marched to vicinity of Remich, Luxembourg and upon arrival there was placed under command of the 2d Army.
The division was made up from the 6th, 11th, 60th and 61st Regular Army Infantry Regiments. (The 60th and 61st Infantry were organized from the old 7th Infantry). The 19th and 20th Field Artillery, organized from the old 7th Field Artillery; the 21st Field Artillery, organized from the old 3d Field Artillery; the 7th Engineering Regiment organized from Companies E and F of the 1st Engineers and the 9th Field Signal Battalion organized from personnel of the Signal Corps of the Regular Army. The 13th, 14th and 15th Machine Gun Battalions; 5th Trench Mortar Battery; 5th Headquarters Trains and Military Police; 5th Ammunition Train; 5th Sanitary Train were organized from Regular Army and National Army drafts.
The division captured from the enemy the following: 2,405 prisoners, ninety-eight pieces of artillery, 802 machine guns and made a total advance of twenty-nine kilometers against resistance. Battle losses: killed, 1908, wounded, 7,975, prisoners of war, ninety-eight men. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 163.
Major General James E. McMahon, U.S.A. commanded this division from December 13, 1917 until October 24, 1918; Major-General Hanson E. Ely from October 24 to November 11th.