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Known as the "Liberty Bell Division." Insignia is a blue liberty bell superimposed on a khaki square. Organized at Camp Devens, Mass., in Sept., .1917. The division was composed of National Army drafts from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The first units embarked for overseas on July 5, 1918, and the last units arrived in France on July 31, 1918. Upon arrival in France the division was designated as a depot division and ordered to the St. Aignan area. Here the division was broken up, training cadres were formed and the personnel used as replacements for combat divisions at the front. The special units, such as the Signal Battalion and Sanitary Troops, were sent forward as corps and army troops.
Commanding generals: Maj.Gen. H. F. Hodges,. Aug. 25 to Nov. 27, 1917; Brig. Gen. Wm. Wiegel, Nov. 27, 1917 to Feb. 13, 1918; Maj. Gen. H. F. Hodges, Feb.13 to Nov. 11,1918.
This division was composed of the following organizations: 15ast and 152nd Inf. Brigs.; 301st, 302nd, 303rd, 304th Inf. Regts.; 301st, 302d, 303d Machine Gun Bns.; 301st, 302d, 303d Fld. Arty. Regts.; 301st Trench Mortar Battery; 301st Engr. Regt. and Train; 301st Fld. Sig. Bn.; 301st Hqs. Train and M. P.; 301st Amm. Train; 301st Supply Train; 301st Sanitary Train (301st, 302d, 303d and 304th Field Hospitals and Amb. Cos.).
Named the "Metropolitan Division." Insignia, a gold Statue of Liberty on a truncated triangle of flag blue. Organized August 30th at Camp Upton. The majority were from New York City and the enlisted men were sent from New York City and Long Island, New York. On Oct. 10, 1917, many of the men were transferred to Camp Upton and Camp Greenwood, the vacancies caused thereby being filled by men from Camp Devens, Mass., and from Northern New York State. The division began leaving Camp Upton on March 28, 1918, and sailed from Boston, Portland (Maine), via Halifax and New York City. With the exception of the artillery, all units proceeded through Liverpool, across England and landed at Calais, France. The artillery sailed from New York in April and went direct to Brest, France.
The division moved immediately to a training area back of the British front near St. Omer and while being trained by the 39th British Division, was held in reserve to meet the anticipated German attack against the channel ports which never materialized. The artillery brigade on arrival moved to an American training area at Souges. On June 16, 1918, the division moved by train to the Baccarat sector. On July 12, 1918, the artillery brigade relieved the French artillery in the Baccarat sector. During the time spent in this sector the division held a broad frontage.
On Aug. 4th, the division moved to the Vesle sector in the neighborhood of Fismes, on Aug. 11th, entering the line. With French troops on both flanks and forming a part of the 6th French Army, the division commenced the attack of the German positions north of the River Vesle on Aug. 18th, crossing the Vesle on Sept. 5th, and advanced its left flank to the River Aisne. The division was relieved Sept. 15th, moving for two days rest to the region of Arcy-le-Poin Sart. Division began moving Sept. 17th by bus and marching to St. Menehould. On Sept. 21st, elements of the division moved into position in the Argonne trenches. By Sept. 25th the whole division was in position and on Sept. 26th attacked on the left of the 1st American Army in the Argonne forest. On Oct. 15th and 16th, the division was relieved and concentrated in the vicinity east of Cornay (1st Corps Reserve) where it was held in readiness for immediate use if required. During this time the division troops were employed in reorganizing the line of defense. On Oct. 25th, the division relieved a line division and continued in the attack until Nov. 12th, advancing from St. Juvin to the Meuse. Division was relieved Nov. 12th and moved to the vicinity of Les Vignettes on Nov. 21st, and thence proceeded on Nov. 30th to the 9th training area and established division headquarters at Chateau Villain.
The division captured from the enemy the following: 13 officers, 737 men, 44 pieces of artillery, 323 machine guns and numerous supplies. The 77th Division made a total advance against resistance of 71.5 kilometers. Battle deaths, 1,990; wounded, 9,966; prisoners of war, 404. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded 146.
Commanding general: Maj. Gen. J. Franklin Bell, Aug. 18, 1917 to May 18, 1918; Maj. Gen.
Geo. B. Duncan, May 18 to Aug. 24, 1918; Brig. Gen. Evan M. Johnson, Aug. 24 to Aug. 31,
1918; Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander, Aug. 31 to Nov. 11, 1918.
The units comprising the 77th Division were as follows: 153d, 154th Inf. Brigs., 305th, 306th,
307th, 308th Inf. Regts., 305th Machine Gun Bn., 152d Arty Brig., 304th, 305th, 306th Arty.
Regts., 302d Trench Mortar Battery, 304th Div. Machine Gun Bn., 302d Engr. Regt. And Train,
302d Fld. Sig. Bn., 302d Train Hqs. And M.P., 302d Supply Train, 302d Amm. Train, 302d
Sanitary Train (305th, 306th, 307th, 308th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals).
The well known "Lost Battalion" was a part of the 308th Infantry of this division.
Known as the "Lightning Division." Insignia, crimson semi-cfrcle with lightning flash in white. Organized about Aug. 25, 1917, at Camp Dix, New Jersey. The majority of the officers were from New York State and were trained at Madison Barracks. Enlisted personnel from northern New York State, New Jersey and Delaware. About the middle of Oct., 1917, the division began the gradual transfer of over 13,000 enlisted men, more or less trained, to other camps. On May 8, 1918, the division began movement overseas. The artillery brigade landed in France and proceeded to Brittany for training. The infantry units landed in England on June 4th and 5th, and crossed to Calais, three or four days later. The last units of the division arrived in France June 11, 1918.
Infantry units began training June 17, 1918, behind the Hazebrouck front in the British area. On July 19th, the division moved to an area east of St. Pol and trained there until Aug., 19th, when the infantry units moved to the Bourbonne-les Bains area. On Aug. 31st, the division began moving to the St. Mihiel front, arriving Sept. l0th. It remained in 1st Corps Reserve until Sept. 15th and 16th, when it relieved the 2nd and 5th Divisions. The artrncry brigade had meanwhile come up to this front and was supporting the 90th Division. The division occupied the Limey sector until Oct. 4th when it was relieved and rejoined by the artillery brigade, moved to the Argonne forest. The division relieved the 77th Division on Oct. 16th and continued in the line until Nov. 5th, advancing twenty-one kilometers. On Nov. 6th the division, less artillery brigade and ammunition train, moved back to the Argonne camps west of Varennes, then to Florent, Les Islettes and to the south of St. Menenhould. It entrained for the Semur training area-on Nov. 15th.
This division captured from the enemy, 9 officers, 392 men, several pieces of artillery, numerous machine guns and quantities of other military supplies. It made a total advance against resistance of twenty-one kilometers or about thirteen miles. Casualties, 813, of which 63 were prisoiners of war. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 95.
Commanding generals: Maj.-Gen. Chase W. Kennedy, Aug. 23 to Dec. 27, 1917; Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott, Dec. 28, 1917 to March 15, 1918; Brig.-Gen. Jas. T. Dean, March 16 to April 20, 1918; Maj. Gen. Jas H. McRae, April 20 to Nov.11, 1918.
The.units composing the division were as follows: 115th, 156th Inf. Brigs., 309th, 3l0th, 311th, 312th Inf. Regts., 308th, 309th Machine Gun Bns., 153d Arty. Brig., 307th, 308th, 309th Arty. Regts., 303d Trench Mortar Battery, 307th Div. Machine Gun Bn., 303d Engr. Regt. And Train, 303d Fld. Sig. Bn., 303d Train Hqs and M.P., 303d Supply Train, 303d Amm. Train, 303d Sanitary Train (309th, 310th, 311th, 312th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals).
Known as the "Liberty Division." Insignia, a gray Lorraine cross on a blue shield-shaped field, the whole outlined in gray. Organized Aug. 25, 1917, at Camp Meade, Md. The officers for the most part were from Pennsylvania and the selected men in the early increments were drawn from eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Beginning about this time large number of men were transferred to southern divisions and to special units throughout the United States. This continued until June, 1918. Approximately 80,000 men were trained in this division and only about 25,000 retained. The later increments came from New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and West Virginia. Commenced its overseas movement July 9, 1918, the majority embarking at Hoboken, and debarking at Brest. The 154th Fld. Arty. Brigade embarked at Philadelphia and debarked in England, proceeding from there to a training area in France. The last units arrived in France, Aug. 3, 1918. This artillery brigade joined the division after the armistice.
The division left Brest for the twelfth training area, but were diverted to the tenth training area around Prauthoy and Champlite. Left the training area for the Robert Espagne area by rail. Subsequently proceeding by bus on Sept. 16th relieved a division in sector 304 (Montfaucon).
The 79th Division under the 5th Corps made its first offensive in the Mense-Argonne drive, advancing through Haucourt and Malancourt. On Sept. 27th they passed through Montfaucon and on Sept. 29th through Nantillois. They were relieved in this sector on Sept. 30th and passed to the command of the 2nd Colonial French Corps., moving Oct. 8th to the Troyon sector (Frenes-en-Woevre-Doncourt). Were relieved in this sector Oct. 26, 1918. Entered the Grand Montagne Sector (right of Meuse) and participated in the second phase of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, under the 17th French Corps, advancing through Borne-du-Cornouiller (Hill 376) on Nov. 6th, and through Damvillers and Wavrille on Nov. 9th. Ville-devant-Chaumont was passed on Nov. 11th. The division remained in same location and also took over area from Meuse river to Eresnes-en-Woevre until Nov. 26th. Moved to Souilly area south of Verdun, Dec. 27th.
Casualties, 3,223. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded, 80.
Maj. Gen. Joseph E. Kuhn, U.S.A., commanded the division from Aug. 25, 1917.
