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Known as the "Sunset Division." Insignia, a setting sun in gold on red background, over blue stripe. Organized at Camp Greene, N.C., September, 1917. The division was composed of National Guard troops from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. (2d Ida. Inf.; F.H. Co. No. 1; 2nd Mont. Inf.; 3d Ore. Inf.; Sep. Squadron Ore. Cav.; Sep. Bn. Ore. Engrs.; Batteries A and B, Ore. Fld Arty.; 2d Wash. Inf.; 1st Squadron Wash. Cav.; M. G. Troop, Wash. Cav.; 1st Bn. Wash. Fld. Arty.; 1st Bn. Wash. Sign Corps; Wash. F. H. Co. No. 1; 3d Wyo. Inf.) The division remained in training at Camp Greene until October, 1917. On October 18, 1917, the first units embarked for overseas and the last units arrived in France on December 7, 1917.
Upon arrival in France the division was designated as the 1st Depot Division and ordered to the St. Aignan training area. The division was then broken up and formed into training cadres for the instruction of replacements for combat divisions at the front. The 66th Artillery Brigade was left intact and after a period of training was attached to the 1st Corps on July 1, 1918, as Corps Artillery. This brigade served as Corps and Army Artillery throughout its service in France and was engaged in active operations in the Marne-Aisne, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensive.
The 41st Division while serving as the 1st Depot Division from Jan. 1, 1918, to Dec. 31, 1918, forwarded from its area 263,395 replacements and casuals.
Commanding generals: Maj. Gen. Hunter Liggett, Aug. 16, 1917, to Jan. 17, 1918 (on D.S.); Brig. Gen. Henry Jervey, Sept. 19 to Dec. 6, 1917; Brig. Gen. Geo. LeR. Irwin, Dec. 6, 1917, to Jan. 9, 1918; Brig. Gen. Richard Coulter Jan. 23 to Feb. 14, 1918; Brig. Gen. Robert Alexander, Feb. 14 to Aug. 10, 1918; Brig. Gen. Wm. S. Scott, Aug. 10 to Oct. 24, 1918; Maj. Gen. John E. McMahon, Oct. 24 to Nov. 7, 1918; Brig. Gen. Eli Cole, Nov. 7 to Nov. 11, 1918.
The following organizations composed the division: 81st and 82nd Inf. Brigs., 66th Fld Arty. Brig., 161st, 162nd, 163d, and 164th Inf. Regts., 146th, 147th, 148th Machine Gun Bns., 146th, 147th and 148th Fld. Arty. Regts., 116th Trench Mortar Battery, 116th Engr. Regt. And Train, 116th Fld. Sig. Bn., 116th Hqs. Train and M.P. 116th Amm. Train, 116th Supply Train, 116th Sanitary Train (161st, 162nd, 163rd, and 164th Field Hospitals and Amb. Cos.)
Known as the "Rainbow Division." Insignia, a rainbow on black field. Organized August 5, 1917. It was completely assembled at Camp Mills by September 13th. Composed of National Guard Units, coming from every section of the United States. The following states were represented: New York (69th Inf.), Iowa (3d Inf.), Wisconsin (Cos. E., F and G, 2nd Inf.) Indiana (1st. F.A.), Maryland (3rd and 4th Cos. C.A.C.), Kansas (1st Amm. Tr.), Oklahoma (Amb. Co. No. 1), District of Columbia (F. H. Co. No. 1), Ohio (4th Inf.), California (1st Bn. Engrs.), New Jersey (Amb.Co. No. 1), Michigan (1st Amb. Co.), Nebraska (F. H. Co. No. 1), Colorado (F. H. Co. No. 1), Oregon (F. H. Co. No. 1), Alabama (4th Inf.), Georgia (Cos. B, C, and F, 2nd Inf.), Louisiana (1st Sep. Troop Cav.), South Carolina (1st Bn. Engrs.), North Carolina (Eng. Train), Texas (Supply Train), Virginia (1st and 2nd Cos. C.A.C.), Tennessee (Amb. Co. No. 1), Missouri (1st Bn. Sig. Corps).
On October 18, 1917, the division embarked for France. Division headquarters landed at St. Nazaire, November 1st. Debarkation complete December 7th. Debarked at St. Nazaire, Brest and Liverpool. Troops were assembled in the Vaucoulers training area. Division marched to La Fauche area beginning December 12th, thence to Rolampont area where it remained until February, 1918. Moved to vicinity of Luneville where they trained serving in the line with corresponding French units. The division area, but orders were revoked and it was relived the 128th French Division in the Baccarat sector. It was relieved on June 21st and moved by rail to Camp de Chalons, and while preparing to go into more extensive training, news of impending German attack caused the division to be thrown into second position, also portions of the intermediate and outposts, under the 21st French Army Corps.
On July 15, 1918, the German attack against this corps was broken and the division was withdrawn by July 18th, moved by train and camion, and on July 25th it took over the front of the 1st United States Army Corps for a distance of fifteen kilometers. Relieved August 3d, and moved by rail and marching to Bourmont area where it went into intensive training, moving to the St. Mihiel salient August 30th, where it delivered the attack from the south, being the center division, of the 4th Corps, and advancing nineteen kilometers during two days' attack, September 12th and 13th. On October 1st, the division was relieved, moving to the Bois de Montfaucon on Octber 6th as reserve of the Fifth Army Corps. It relieved one of the line divisions north of Fleville-Exermont on October 13th in the Argonne, and attacking, advancing two kilometers. Division was relieved October 31st. The division again advanced to support the attack of November 1st, relieving a line division and advanced nineteen kilometers in two days to the Meuse river and the heights south of Sedan. On November 10th, the division withdrew and moved to Brandeville region, becoming a part of the Army of Occupation. On December 15th it moved to the Kreis of Ahrweiler, division headquarters being established at Ahrweiler, Germany.
Battle deaths 2,713; wounded 13,292; prisoners captured by enemy, 102. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 205.
The battles engaged in by the 42nd Division entitling organizations to silver bands on their regimental color stffs were: (1) Luneville sector, Lorraine, February 21 to March 23, 1918; (2) Baccarat sector, Lorraine, March 31 to June 21, 1918; (3) Esperance-Souain sector, Champagne, July 4 to July 17, 1918; (4) Champagne-Marne defensive, July 15 to 17, 1918; (5) Aisne-Marne offensive, July 25 to August 3, 1918; (6) Aisne-Marne offensive July 25 to August 11, 1918; (7) St. Mihiel offensive, September 12 to 16, 1918; (8) Essey and Pannes sector, Woevre, September 17 to 30, 1918; (9) Meuse-Argonne offensive, October 12 to 31, 1918; (10) Meuse-Argonne, October 7 to November 1, 1918; (11) Meuse-Argonne offensive, November 5 to 10, 1918; (12) Meuse-Argonne offensive November 5 to 9, 1918.
The commanding generals: Major General William A. Mann, September, 1917 to December 14, 1917; Major General Charles T. Menoher, December 14, 1917 to November 7, 1918; Major General Charles D. Rhodes, November 7, 1918 to November 11, 1918.
The units comprising the division were as follows: 83d and 84th Inf. Brigs., 165th, 166th, 167th, 168th Inf. Regts., 150th, 151st Machine Gun Bns., 67th Art. Brig., 149th, 150th, 151st Art. Regts., 117th Regt. Trench Mortar Battery, 149th Div. Machine Gun Bn., 117th Eng. Regt., and Train, 117th Field Sig. Bn., 117th Train Hq. And M.P., 117th Supply Train, 117th Amm. Train, 117th Sanitary Train, (165th, 166th, 167th, 168th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals).
