Divisional Medical Service in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
BRIEFHISTORIES OF COMBAT DIVISIONS
(Regular Army. Insignia:A crimson figure 1 on a khaki shield)
The 1st Division was organized inJune, 1917, from troops of the Regular Army which, at that time, were muchscattered, most of them being in service on the Mexican border. All wereat peace strength and were raised to war strength by transfers from otherunits. The division was not concentrated until arrival in France. The organizationwas as follows:
1st Infantry Brigade:
16th and18th Infantry; 2d Machine Gun Battalion.
2d Infantry Brigade:
26th and28th Infantry; 3d Machine Gun Battalion.
1st Field Artillery Brigade:
6th and7th (light), 5th (heavy) Field Artillery; 1st Trench Mortar Battery.
1st Machine Gun Battalion.
1st Engineers.
2d Field Signal Battalion.
Trains:
1st SanitaryTrain (Field Hospitals Nos. 2, 3, 12, 13, and Ambulance Companies Nos.2, 3, 12, 13).
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The first troops sailed from Hobokenon June 13, 1917, and disembarked at St. Nazaire on June 26, 1917. Divisionheadquarters landed on June 27, 1917. The remainder of the troops followedin rapid succession, except the supply train, which did not arrive in Franceuntil May 6, 1918. The division (less Artillery) was sent to the Gondrecourtarea for training. For a similar purpose the Artillery brigade went toValdahon. En route from St. Nazaire to Gondrecourt, the 2d Battalion, 16thInfantry, participated in the Fourth of July parade in Paris, the firstpublic appearance of American troops in France.
Field Hospital No. 13 and AmbulanceCompany No. 13 arrived at St. Nazaire, with the division, on June 27, 1917.Headquarters field hospitals, headquarters ambulance sections, Field HospitalsNo. 2 and No. 12, and Ambulance Companies No. 2 and No. 12 arrived September26, 1917. Field Hospital No. 3 and Ambulance Company No. 3 arrived December29, 1917. While the division remained in the vicinity of St. Nazaire, allsick were cared for by a French military hospital, in that city. Latera part of this hospital was turned over to us and staffed by American medicalofficers, nurses, and enlisted men from Base Hospital No. 18 (Johns Hopkins),which had arrived in the same convoy with the 1st Division. On July 11,1917, Field Hospital No. 13 and Ambulance Company No. 13 (the only sanitarytrain units in France at that time) proceeded under their own transportationto the training area around Gondrecourt, arriving there July 15, 1917.The field hospital established a hospital in frame barracks at Gondrecourt,which was expanded by additional equipment, and designated Camp HospitalNo. 1. It provided permanent care for all sick, there being no hospital,except a small French one, to which it could evacuate. When, later (inSeptember, 1917), Base Hospital No. 18 was established at Bazoilles, CampHospital No. 1 evacuated all its serious sick and operative cases to thathospital. Field Hospital No. 13 was relieved by Field Hospital No. 12 onOctober 21. On November 7, Field Hospital No. 12 was relieved and a permanentpersonnel was assigned to Camp Hospital No. 1. On January 25, 1918, FieldHospital No. 3 took over the camp hospital and operated it until April3, 1918, when it was taken over by the Services of Supply. The trainingarea, consisting of 32 towns, was evacuated in turn by Ambulance CompanyNo. 13, stationed at La Neuville, and by Ambulance Company No. 12. stationedat Hevilliers; their evacuation included that to the base hospital. Theremainder of the sanitary train was located at Villiers le Sec, Hevilliers,and La Neuville.
Luneville Sector, October 21, 1917,to November 20, 1917.
On the night of November 29, thedivision was withdrawn from the line to the Gondrecourt area, where itcontinued its training until January 15, 1918.
Ansauville Sector, January 15 toApril 3, 1918.
Cantigny Sector, April 25 to June8, 1918.
Montdidier-Noyon operation, June9-13, 1918.
Cantigny Sector, June 14 to July7, 1918.
Aisne-Marne operation, July 18-23,1918.
The division, after its relief fromthe Soissons operation, was again moved eastward. On August 7, 1918, ittook over the quiet Saizerais sector, near Toul. Here it remained untilAugust 24, when it was withdrawn to Vaucouleurs, in preparation for a newoffensive. When the division moved into the Saizerais sector, on August7, 1918, the sanitary train was disposed of as follows:
Field Hospital No. 2 was stationedat Avrainville for contagious and venereal diseases. Field Hospital No.3, at Griscourt, functioned as triage. Field Hospital No. 12, at Roziers-en-Haye,was for surgical cases. Field Hospital No. 13, at Rogeville, took careof sick and skin diseases.
A dressing station was establishedby Ambulance Company No. 12 at Jezainville; United States Army AmbulanceService Section 649, assigned to the division, took station at Pont-a-Moussonand evacuated wounded from the front to the dressing station. Divisionalambulance companies evacuated from the dressing station to the triage andhospitals
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at Toul. During its stay in thissector, intensive efforts were made to free the division from lice andto overhaul all motor equipment. Field Hospital No. 2, heretofore animaldrawn; was motorized, thus rendering all these units equally mobile. Whenthe division moved to the vicinity of Vaucouleurs, most of the sanitarytrain was located at Pierrot. Field Hospital No. 12 was established atBurey-en-Vaux for the sick and Field Hospital No. 13, at Sauvigny, forskin and venereal diseases. All seriously sick were evacuated to Base HospitalNo. 66 at Neufchateau.
Here the division engaged in maneuvers,simulating those it expected to employ in the coming St. Mihiel operation.Field hospitals and dressing stations were actually established and movedin conformity with the general problem worked out by the division.
Ambulance company equipment was increasedby the addition of large quantities of dressings, litters, splints, andblankets, each ambulance now carrying 12 blankets, 6 to 8 litters, anda supply of leg and arm splints. Arrangements were made for replacing suppliesunloaded with patients. Dressing-station supplies were supplemented bysuch additional articles as antigas suits and gloves, sodium bicarbonate(for mustard gas), hot water bottles, shell-wound dressings in three sizes,issued to litter-bearer detachments, and additional tourniquets, furnishedto stations and bearers.
The Medical Department belt for enlistedmen was abandoned at this time and small pouches were issued in their stead.The former would not hold the larger dressings now required, nor did itpermit the wearer to carry a litter. Each field hospital now carried 70litters and 500 or more blankets.
After training and reequipment the1st Division moved to the St. Mihiel salient, and the entire sanitary trainwas assembled at Raulecourt.
St. Mihiel operation, September 12-13,1918.
Meusse-Argonne operation, September26 to November 11, 1918.
Army of Occupation.
Division headquarters embarked atBrest on August 25, 1919, and arrived at New York, September 5, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS
Col. Bailey K. Ashford, M. C., June8, 1917, to October 23, 1917.
Col. Herbert G. Shaw, M. C., October 24, 1917, to July 13, 1918.
Col. James I. Mabee, M. C., July14, 1918, to February 16, 1919.
Col. Perry L. Boyer, M. C., February17, 1919, to June 18, 1919.
Lieut. Col. Edwin B. Maynard, M.C., June 19, 1919, to August 27, 1919.
(Regular Army and Marines. Insignia:An Indian head on a white star background)
The 2d Division was organized inOctober, 1917, from troops of the Regular Army and the Marine Corps. Theorganization was as follows:
3d Infantry Brigade:
9th and23d Infantry; 5th Machine Gun Battalion.
4th Infantry Brigade:
5th and6th Marines; 6th Machine Gun Battalion.
2d Field Artillery Brigade:
12th and 15th (light), 17th (heavy)Field Artillery; 2d Trench Mortar Battery.
4th Machine Gun Battalion.
2d Engineers.
1st Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (2d Sanitary Train: Field-HospitalsNos. 1, 15, 16, 23, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 1, 15, 16, 23).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France June 27, 1917; the last, March, 15, 1918.
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For training purposes, the infantrywas sent to the Department of Haute Marne and division headquarters wasestablished at Bourmont. Upon arrival of the artillery, in December andJanuary, 1918, it was sent to Valdahon for instruction. During the lattermonth, all elements of the division were assembled in the vicinity of Bourmontfor final training.
On March 16 the division went intoa quiet portion of the line between Verdun and St. Mihiel--the Toulon--Troyonsectors. Here the troops were mingled with the French, and took part innumerous minor operations; on the night of April 13-14 the 9th Infantryrepulsed an unusually strong raid with complete success. The division remainedin this sector until May 13 when it moved to the vicinity of Chaumont-en-Vexin(Oise) for further training preparatory to relieving the 1st Division,near Montdidier. But on May 27 the Germans began their offensive betweenthe Aisne and the Marne, and the division was placed at the disposal ofthe French.
Field Hospital No. 15 and AmbulanceCompany No. 15 arrived at Brest December 20, 1917. Field Hospital No. 1and Ambulance Companies No. 1 and No. 23 arrived at St. Nazaire December22, 1917. Field Hospital No. 16 and Ambulance Company No. 16 disembarkedat Brest February 5, 1918. Field Hospitals Nos. 1, 15, and 23 were sentto Bourmont for training where Field Hospital No. 15 opened Camp HospitalNo. 3 for the divisional sick. It evacuated contagious cases to Neufchateauand special cases to Base Hospital No. 18, at Bazoilles. Later it alsoevacuated cases to the hospitals at Vittel-Contrexeville. Field HospitalNo. 16 (animal drawn), upon arrival in France, was sent to Blois, whereit remained until March 14, 1918.
The ambulance companies, with theexception of Ambulance Company No. 16, were stationed at Rozieres, wherethey underwent training and evacuated sick. Ambulance Company No. 16 wasat Blois, where it trained and performed fatigue and general duty. On March 16, the sanitary train arrived in the Toulon-Troyon sector.
Field Hospital No. 1 took stationat Fontaine Brillante, where the French operated a triage. Here they assistedin operating the French dressing station, until given barrack space forthe sick and wounded of the division. From here patients were evacuatedto the French hospitals in the rear.
Field Hospital No. 15 was locatedat Genicourt, where the personnel assisted the French in the operationof a triage until April 2, when this hospital was sent to Souilly to assistin a French evacuation hospital. Later, three wards were turned over toField Hospital No. 15 for divisional casualties. Evacuations from thishospital were made by hospital trains to base hospitals in the interior.
Field Hospital No. 23 took over aFrench triage at Ambly. The station had a capacity of 100 beds and goodoperating and sterilizing rooms. On April 10, the unit moved to FontaineRouton, where it worked in conjunction with a French mobile surgical unit.On April 26, it moved to Maujouy, where it took up similar duties.
Field Hospital No. 16 arrived inthis sector by rail from Blois, on March 13, and was sent to a French hospitalat Maujouy for duty and training. On April 10, one officer and 20 men ofthe unit were assigned to duty at a French hospital at Petit Monthairon.On April 26, it reopened the triage (formerly operated by Field HospitalNo. 23) at Ambly, which it operated until May 9.
Ambulance Company No. 1, was sentto Fontaine Brillante, from which place it furnished ambulance and litter-bearerservice for the left area of the sector. On March 31, the company movedto La Chiffoure, but continued the same service.
Ambulance Company No. 15, was locatedat Genicourt, whence it furnished ambulance and litter-bearer service forthat portion of the sector.
Ambulance Company No. 23 took stationat Troyon, and served the right area of the sector.
Ambulance Company No. 16 arrived in the sector on March 24, from Blois, and took station at Revigny. Themajority of its personnel was distributed among the other three companiesfor training and instruction. Details were also sent to French hospitalsat Dieue and Petit Monthairon. The animals and equipment of this companywere received the latter part of April.
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Medical supplies were handled bythe headquarters ambulance sector. Requisitions were filled by the divisionalmedical supply depot at Bourmont.
Evacuations, at first, were madethrough the French triage near the front at Genicourt, on the right, andat Fontaine Brillante, on the left. About April 1, divisional triages wereestablished at Ambly and Fontaine Brillante.
Patients were evacuated to the followinghospitals:
Seriouslywounded and all officers: French hospital at Petit Monthairon.
Wounded:French hospital, Maujoue.
Gassed:French hospital, near Rambluzin.
Infectious:French hospital, Benoite Vaux.
Sick: Toany division field hospital.
Evacuation:To French evacuation hospital at Souilly.
Aisne operation,May 31 to June 5, 1918.
Chateau-Thierry Sector, June to July9, 1918.
On July 9, after having spent 40days in action, which cost losses of 9,000 men, the division was relievedand moved to a reserve position along the line Montreuil-St. Aulde.
Aisne-Marne operation, July 18-25,1918.
The division was in training in theOrmoy-Villers area until July 28, when it moved to the vicinity of Nancy.On August 6 it relieved a French unit in the Marbache sector where it remaineduntil relieved by the 82d Division, on August 16.
It then moved to the Colombey-les-Bellesarea, where active preparation for the impending St. Mihiel operation wastaken up.
In the Marbache Sector the sanitarytrain took over various ambulance posts, dressing stations, and field hospitalsfrom the French Service de Santé; its units were located as follows:
Field Hospital No. 1 and AmbulanceCompany No. 23 were at Dieulouard, the other hospitals serving troops eastof the Moselle in a group of French hospital buildings at Millery withthe other ambulance companies in their vicinity. Here Field Hospital No.16 cared for the sick and Field Hospitals Nos. 15 and 23, formerly UnitNo. 3, which joined at this time, formed a group which cared for surgicalcases only. Because of the proximity of these formations to the front,no dressing stations were established, and the ambulances at night broughtthe wounded direct from the battalion posts. During the day, as the roadswere under direct enemy observation, patients had to be brought back toambulance heads by the litter-bearer squads assigned to the several battalions.The medical supply unit was located at Belleville, the railhead, and distributedsupplies by ambulance in advance of the field hospitals.
The wounded were evacuated to EvacuationHospital No. 1, at Sebastopol, a distance of 20 km. (12.4 miles) from thefield hospitals and the sick to the evacuation hospitals at Toul.
St. Mihiel operation, September 12-16,1918.
Meuse-Argonne operation, October1-10, and October 22 to November 11, 1918.
Army of Occupation.
The division headquarters sailedfrom Brest July 25, 1919, arriving at New York August 3, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Ralph S. Porter, M. C., November7, 1917, to December 7, 1917.
Col. Charles R. Marrow, M. C., December8, 1917, to July 19, 1918.
Col. John W. Hanner, M. C., July20, 1918, to September 22, 1918.
Lieut. Col. Richard Derby, M. C.,September 23, 1918, to January 7,1919.
Col. W. A. Powell, M. C., January18, 1919, to February 20, 1919.
Col. Orville G. Brown, M. C., March4, 1919, to June 18, 1919.
Col. Perry L. Boyer, M. C., June19, 1919, to August 8, 1919.
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(Regular Army. Insignia: Threewhite stripes superimposed diagonally on blue square)
The 3d Division was organized inNovember, 1917, at Camp Greene, N. C., from troops of the Regular Army,and by transfers from other units. The organization was as follows:
5th Infantry Brigade:
4th and7th Infantry; 8th Machine Gun Battalion.
6th Infantry Brigade:
30th and38th Infantry; 9th Machine Gun Battalion.
7th Machine Gun Battalion.
3d Field Artillery Brigade:
10th and76th (light), and 18th (heavy) Field Artillery; 3d Trench Mortar Battery.
6th Engineers.
5th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (3d Sanitary Train, consistingof Field Hospitals Nos. 5, 7, 26, 27, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 5, 7,26, 27).
The first unit to go overseas wasthe 6th Engineers, which was designated for early duty in France. It arrivedthere December 20, 1917. A detachment of the regiment serving with theBritish occupied active sectors and took part in the operation known asthe Somme defensive. Division headquarters arrived in France on April 4and the last unit May 12, 1918.
For training purposes the division(less artillery and engineers) was sent to the Chateauvillain area, theartillery going to Coetquidan for the same purpose. The artillery rejoinedthe division July 6, 1918, and was present with it in the Maine operation,and the Aisne-Marne operation, remaining with the division until September7, 1918, when it was detached for participation in the St. Mihiel operationwith the Fourth Corps. The artillery brigade rejoined the division September15, 1918, and from this time until the armistice served as divisional artilleryeither with the 3d or with some other division.
On May 27 the Germans began theiroffensive between the Aisne and the Marne, and the 3d Division was placedat the disposal of the French. Unfortunately the history of the sanitarytrain in the training sector is not available.
Aisne-Marne operation, July 18-30,1918.
Chateau-Thierry Sector, June 6 toJuly 14, 1918.
Champagne-Marne operation, July15-18, 1918.
Aisne-Marne operation, July 18-30,1918.
The division was relieved on July30 by the 32d Division, and assembled south of Chateau-Thierry. On August2 the 6th Brigade was dispatched to support of the French Third Army Corpsoperating toward the Vesle. It was relieved from this duty on August 10and rejoined the division, which had gone into rest area near Gondrecourt.
On September 4 the division proceededto the Vaucouleurs area preparatory to taking part in the St. Mihiel operation.In this operation it was in the reserve of the Fourth Army Corps.
After its relief from the Aisne-Marneoperation, the sanitary train moved to the vicinity of Bonet, where itresumed training and received replacements. Field Hospital No. 5 openeda scabies hospital at Demange on August 22. On September 4 the entire sanitarytrain proceeded to the St. Mihiel sector and located near Boucq, whereit remained in reserve during the St. Mihiel operation. After this action,the train moved to the Bois de la Cote, where it remained in camp untilthe beginning of the operation on September 26.
Meuse-Argonne, September 26 to November11, 1918.
Army of Occupation.
The division headquarters sailedfrom Brest on August 14 and arrived in New York August 23, 1919.
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DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. William R. Eastman, M. C., November24, 1917, to July 14, 1918.
Col. Frederick S. Wright, M. C.,July 35, 1918, to November 20, 1919.
(Regular Army. Insignia: A greenfour-leaved ivy about a green circle)
The 4th Division was organized inDecember, 1917, at Camp Greene, N. C., from units of the Regular Army.
The organization was as follows:
7th Infantry Brigade:
39th and47th Infantry; 11th Machine Gun Battalion.
8th Infantry Brigade:
58th and59th Infantry; 12th Machine Gun Battalion.
4th Field Artillery Brigade:
16th and77th (light), 13th (heavy) Field Artillery; 4th Trench Mortar Battery.
10th Machine Gun Battalion.
4th Engineers.
8th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (4th Sanitary Train consistedof Field Hospitals Nos. 19, 21, 28, 33, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 19,21, 28, 33).
The first unit to go overseas arrivedin France May 10, 1918, the last, June 8, 1918. The transport Moldavia,carrying Companies A and B of the 58th Infantry, was torpedoed and sunkon May 23; 56 men of the two companies were lost.
The division (less artillery) wasassigned to the American Second Army Corps, serving with the British, andwas concentrated at Samer (Pas de Calais) for training. The Artillery brigadewent to Camp de Souge near Bordeaux for the same purpose, and did not rejointhe division until the first week in August. Early in June, the divisionwas placed at the disposal of the French and moved to Meaux (Seine et Marne),where training was continued nearer the front. During the German offensiveof July 15 it was in reserve divided between the French Second and SeventhCorps between Soissons and Chateau-Thierry. Here it suffered its firstbattle casualties. While the division was in training with the British,casualties were cared for by British medical units.
The 4th Sanitary Train arrived inFrance in the early part of June, 1918, and joined the division at Meaux.On June 22 Field Hospital No. 33 established a hospital for the care ofsick at Chateau Montebise, which it operated until July 6. Field HospitalNo. 28 opened at Meaux on July 1. Ambulance companies arrived with no transportationand all casualties were evacuated by the French sanitary service.
Aisne-Marne operation, July 18 toAugust 6, 1918.
Vesle Sector, August 7-12, 1918.
On the night of August 11-12 thedivision was relieved by the 77th Division, and withdrew to the Boise deDole and the Foret de Nesles, the Artillery brigade remaining in actionuntil August 17. While in this sector, the sanitary train was billetedin Prez-sous-La-Fauche and Liffol-le-Petit. Field Hospital No. 33 openedin the latter station for care of the division sick. Intensive trainingschedules were resumed in preparation for the coming St. Mihiel operation.
St. Mihiel operation, September 14,1918.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to October 22, 1918.
Army of Occupation.
The division returned to the UnitedStates in July, 1919; headquarters sailed from finest July 24 and arrivedin New York July 31.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Robert L. Carswell, M. C., December9, 1917, to October 5, 1918.
Col. Paul Waterman, M. C., October6, 1918, to August 3, 1919.
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(Regular Army. Insignia: A reddiamond)
The 5th Division was organized atCamp Logan, Tex., December 1, 1917, from units of the Regular Army. Thesebeing at peace strength, the shortage was made up by assignment of NationalArmy men.
The following organizations composedthe division:
9th Infantry Brigade:
60th and61st Infantry; 14th Machine Gun Battalion.
10th Infantry Brigade:
6th and11th Infantry; 15th Machine Gun Battalion.
13th Machine Gun Battalion.
5th Artillery Brigade:
19th and20th (light), 21st (heavy) Field Artillery; 5th Trench Mortar Battery.
7th Engineers.
9th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (5th Sanitary Train, FieldHospitals Nos. 17, 25, 29, 30, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 17, 25, 29,30).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France March 20, 1918, the last June 19, Bar-sur-Aube was selected asthe training area for the infantry, while the artillery was sent to Valdahonfor a similar purpose.
On June 1 the division was placedat the disposal of the French Thirty-third Army Corps, then operating inthe Vosges. To this sector it was immediately moved. Here the troops weremingled with the French behind the lines for further training. June 14the division entered the line with combat units, half French. The sectorwas quiet, but the division suffered its first casualties June 14.
On July 15 the division was transferredto the quiet St. Die sector, and on July 19 the command of this sectorpassed to the Americans. The artillery joined the division July 28, afterhaving completed its training at Valdahon. In a local engagement of August17 the town of Frapelle and Hill 451 were taken and held against counterattacks.
The division was relieved by theFrench August 26, and repaired to Arches, south of Epinal, for rest andtraining. From this point it moved to the vicinity of Luneville, August28.
The 5th Sanitary Train did not arriveuntil June 20; but due to the urgent need of medical personnel and transportation,Field Hospital No. 161 and Ambulance Company No. 161, 41st (Depot) Division,were assigned to the 5th Division on May 11, 1918. These units opened CampHospital No. 42, at Bar-sur-Aube, for division sick. When the divisionmoved to the Anould sector, in the Vosges, on June 2, 1918, Field HospitalNo. 141 and Ambulance Company No. 141 were ordered to duty with FrenchEvacuation Hospital 2/29 at Fraize. On June 8 Field Hospital No. 163 andAmbulance Company No. 162, of the 41st Division, reported for duty. Thefield hospital was assigned to French Evacuation Hospital 2/8 at Gerardmerand the ambulance company performed evacuation. These organizations wererelieved from duty with the 5th Division during the latter part of Julyand early part of August.
Service in the Anould sector wasof peculiar interest because of the character of the terrain and the closeassociation with the French. The country was rugged, with but few roadsleading through the mountain passes. Though steep, these roads were good,and at certain points narrow-gauge railways were sometimes available forthe evacuations of wounded. As allied trenches were usually on the easternslope of the hills, roads leading to them were under direct enemy observationand frequently were shelled, especially during a raid from either side.These circumstances prohibited the near approach of ambulances to the advancestations and required that the wounded be removed from them by hand carriageor wheeled litter for a distance of from 3 to 5 km. (1.8 to 3.1 miles)over steep
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and winding trails. From one advancestation it was necessary that eight bearers carry a wounded man for fourhours before he could be placed on a vehicle. First aid was applied atbattalion stations located in front-line trenches, and the patients werethen taken by handcarriage or on wheeled litters through communicatingtrenches or over trails to the nearest point accessible by motor-cyclelitter or ambulance. Ambulance centers were maintained near the hospitals,from 5 to 8 km. (3 to 4.9 miles) from the front. Here approximately two-thirdsof the ambulances were parked, the others being posted at protected andaccessible points as near the lines as possible. When casualties occurred,notice was telephoned to the hospitals and an ambulance was sent forwardto the post which had been vacated by the ambulance sent to collect thecasualties in question. Thus there was kept up a circuit of vehicles andprompt service, compensating for inability to maintain a number of ambulancesat a forward post because of enemy airplane observation and direct fire.Animal-drawn transportation was not used in the American service in thissector. The use of wheeled litters and motor cycles for removal of thewounded in this rugged terrain is discussed in Chapter IV.
Small hospitals--practically postsfor rest and emergency treatment--were installed at protected points, andhere patients were retained until roads were passable or until, if seriouslywounded, they had recuperated sufficiently to continue the journey. Regimentalhospitals, where the less seriously sick and the slightly wounded werekept, were located at the base of the mountains. Back of these were theFrench evacuation hospitals where, under French command and instruction,our sanitary train personnel received training and rendered service. Theseunits were the following: Fraize, French Evacuation Hospital, 2/28, 7 km.(4.2 miles) from the front, frequently shelled and later evacuated; Gerardmer,French Evacuation Hospital 2/8, 15 km. (9 miles) from the front by road.Well situated in a large hotel; St. Die. Hôpital St. Charles, wellequipped and located in the city hospital building, 7 km. (4.2 miles) fromthe front and too near to be used in time of activity; Bruyeres, FrenchEvacuation Hospital 2/14, 25 km. (15 miles) from the front and thereforetoo distant for emergency work, though well equipped; Le Rudlin, AlpinAmbulance No. 305. Though frequently shelled, this unit was used for theimmediate treatment of serious cases.
All these sanitary formations, inrear of the battalion aid stations--and even these if necessary--receivedFrench and American disabled alike.
From July 15 the division occupiedthe front east of St. Die, in the Vosges. Here, on August 17, about 2,500men, including Companies L, M, and C of the 6th Infantry, with troops fromother organizations, carried out a local attack which resulted in the captureof Frapelle and Hill 451. Resulting casualties numbered 418, but most ofthose due to gas occurred among troops in dugouts in the vicinity of theattacking troops.
The system of evacuation in the St.Die sector was similar to that described above. Ambulance centers werelocated at St. Die and Raon l'Etape, where in times of stress the vehiclesavailable were augmented by ambulances from Evacuation Hospital No. 2.Evacuations were made to Field Hospital No. 29 and to St. Charles Hospital(French), at St. Die, to Field Hospital No. 17 and Hôpital Mixte(French), at Raon-l'Etape, and for nontransportables to Evacuation HospitalNo. 2, Baccarat, and to Field Hospital No. 25 with French Evacuation Hospital2/14 (French), at Bruyeres. From the southern front of the sector disabledmen passed through the hospitals at St. Die, where Field Hospital No. 29received the sick and the gassed and Hôpital St. Charles operated;the seriously sick from the entire sector were sent to Bruyeres. Casualtiesfrom the northern part of the line were sent to Field Hospital No. 17,which transferred seriously wounded patients to the Hôpital Mixte,at Raon-l'Etape. All other battle casualties, including gassed, were sentto Evacuation Hospital No. 2, at Baccarat. At each of the French hospitalsFrench and American teams alternated in service.
During the Frapelle attack the regimentalaid station of the 6th Infantry was located at Dijon, with aid stationsat Nayemont, Chapelle Ste. Claire, Charmont, and Neuvillers. Seven medicalofficers and seventy-four enlisted men from the sanitary train were attachedto the 6th Infantry to reinforce its medical personnel. Six ambulances,with litter squads
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from Ambulance Companies No. 25 andNo. 29, were posted at the stations mentioned above, and the remainderwere held at the "alert" at St. Die, where Field Hospital No. 29 operatedthe triage.
No arrangements had been made atthis time for details of litter bearers from the line, and use of bandsmenproved unsatisfactory. As regimental personnel was fully engaged in renderingfirst aid, it was decided that it should not be employed for bearer service,yet during a general engagement the details to the regimental service,from ambulance companies which were already fully occupied, proved inadequate.
Of the 261 gas casualties in theFrapelle attack, more than 50 percent were so slightly affected that theirremoval to the rear was not necessary. The number mentioned included thosesuffering from gas fright, and also malingerers.
An information service was initiatedat this time, which was utilized and developed in subsequent engagements.It is described as follows in the medical history of the 5th Division:
Information was furnished to thedivision staff every hour during times of activity, and less frequently--dependingupon the character of action--as to the number and nature of casualtiesand the location from which they came. Such information was of value inconfirming reports received from other sources and in forming an estimateof the relative gravity of the military situation at various pointson the line, as well as the kind of shells and other means of warfare usedby the enemy.
Information was required from regimentalsurgeons and others. Reports were sent to the division surgeon of the progressof the attack, the number and kind of casualties, the number of cases receivedat the hospitals, the need for supplies and anticipated casualties.
This information enabled the divisionsurgeon in some instances to anticipate the needs of sanitary units atthe front. Knowledge that gas shells were being used in quantity was anindication for obtaining a supply of blankets and additional uniforms.Before the request for these articles was received at headquarters thesupplies were on their way to the front. Information regarding actual andanticipated casualties enabled officers at the triage and at other hospitalsto plan work and distribute patients so that each case could receive attentionat the earliest possible moment. * * *
Negative information was often ofgreat value. Report that activity had subsided and that few or no caseswere to be expected for a time was helpful in relieving the nervous strainof the hospital personnel and allowing at least a part of them to obtainmuch-needed rest. It was found of value not only for the hospitals butalso for ambulance company troops.
Reports received from medical sourceswere of value to the operations section, G-3. These included statementsconcerning the character of wounds and injuries, estimates of number ofwounded on the field, the presence of gas in certain areas, and generalphysical resistance of the men.
Information received through headquartersand transmitted to medical officers with the line included (a) prior tothe engagement, plans for the action, routes for evacuation, number ofambulances available, and other preparations; (b) information relatingto development in the military situation which required preparations onthe part of the medical officers.
Prior to the engagement there wasa conference of the medical officers of line troops, the commanding officersof ambulance and field hospital companies, and others concerned. A thoroughreconnaissance was made of the terrain not then occupied by the enemy.Locations for ambulance stations were selected and plans made from studyof maps for location of stations in the occupied area as soon as an advancewas made. It is interesting to note that these plans were executed withpractically no variation either as to location or as to time.
St. Mihiel operation, September 12-16.
From September 17-27 the division,minus the artillery, was stationed at Domevre-en-Haye, near Toul, for restand training. The artillery remained in the St. Mihiel sector until afterthe signing of the armistice, and formed a part of the Second Army. OnSeptember 27-28 the division moved to Pagny-sur-Meuse, west of Toul, andthere resumed training.
Meuse-Argonne operation, October5 to November 11, 1918.
Army of Occupation.
The division was relieved, May 10,1919, for return to this country, but its departure was delayed until July.Headquarters sailed from Brest July 13 and arrived at New York July 21.
983
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Robert H. Pierson, M. C., December3, 1917, to January 1, 1919.
Col. Carey J. Vaux, M. C., January 2, 1919, to June 4, 1919.
Lieut. Col. George C. Kieffer, M. C., June 5, 1919, to September 11,1919.
(Regular Army. Insignia: A six-pointedred star)
The 6th Division was organized atCamp McClellan, Ala., in November, 1917, from units of the Regular Army.These being at peace strength, the shortages were made up by assignmentof National Army men. Especially was this true of the 318th Engineers.Which was composed almost exclusively of the latter. The following organizationscomposed the division:
11th Infantry Brigade:
51st and52d Infantry; 17th Machine Gun Battalion.
12th Infantry Brigade:
53d and54th Infantry; 18th Machine Gun Battalion. 16th Machine Gun Battalion.
6th Field Artillery Brigade:
3d and78th (light), 11th (heavy), Field Artillery; 6th Trench Mortar Battery.
318th Engineers:
6th FieldSignal Battalion.
Trains(6th Sanitary Train; Field Hospitals Nos. 20, 37, 38, 40, and AmbulanceCompanies Nos. 20, 37, 38, 40).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France July 10; the last July 26, 1918. Many units landed first in Englandand Scotland and then crossed the Channel. While at Le Havre the artillerycame under fire from an enemy airplane and suffered the first casualtiesinflicted upon the division.
After training in the vicinity ofChateauvillain, the division, minus the artillery, departed August 27 forGerardmer, in the Vosges, which sector it occupied, under French command,until relieved October 11. During this period the sector was quiet, althoughenlivened with frequent raids and patrol combats. The divisional artilleryat this time was in training at Valdahon.
The sanitary train arrived in FranceJuly 22, 1918, and was sent to the training area of the division. Trainingwas immediately taken up under a training schedule issued by General Headquarters.Instruction was very intensive, but was carried out under considerabledifficulties due to lack of manuals and necessary equipment. Units werescattered over a wide area, and it was very difficult to collect the personnelof the various units, excepting that in the sanitary train, for collectiveinstruction. The sanitary train had no transportation. It received four-muleambulances shortly prior to departure from this area, but these could notbe taken along owing to lack of animals. Evacuation service was performedby Camp Hospital No. 9, and the divisional specialists were also assignedto this hospital for duty. While in this training area the health of thecommand was exceptionally good, with the exception of the occurrence ofdiarrhea.
When the division moved to the Gerardmersector, August 17, the sanitary train functioned for the first time, takingover the hospitals from the 35th Division; sites of two of these were changedalmost immediately after arrival. These hospitals were located as follows:Field Hospital No. 20 was at Gerardmer, functioning as a surgical and ageneral medical hospital, the surgical portion being in Hotel de Lac inconjunction with a French hospital, and the general medical in MaternelleHospital. Field Hospital No. 37 was located at Storkensohn, working inconnection with a French hospital. This hospital was in Bessonneau tents,and functioned as a surgical hospital for the southern
984
portion of the sector. Field HospitalNo. 38 was located in Kruth, in buildings formerly occupied by a Frenchhospital, the buildings having been turned over to it by a factory. Thishospital functioned as a general medical and gas hospital. Field HospitalNo. 40 was located at the same place in temporary wooden buildings andfunctioned as a skin, contagious disease, and venereal hospital. Thesehospitals acted as evacuation hospitals also, there being no evacuationhospital in the area. Evacuations were made to Base Hospital No. 23, atVittel, about 61 km. (36.6 miles) distant.
A surgical team was assigned to thedivision, September 11, 1918, and functioned with Field Hospital No. 37,at Storkensohn. X-ray outfits of the French were used at both surgicalhospitals. The mobile laboratory was assigned to work with Field HospitalNo. 38, and the divisional specialists were attached to the sanitary trainand visited all the division hospitals.
Evacuations in a sector of this characterwere carried on under many difficulties. All forms of transport were usedover the mountainous terrain, and included Sunbeam motorcycles, with sidelitters, mule litters, mule ambulances, G. M. C. ambulances, and Ford ambulances.Hand carry was in some places long and tedious, and in several localitiesas many as three or four relays had to be provided, necessitating sometimes16 men to transport one wounded man before he could be placed on mechanicaltransport. As the division had no ambulances regularly assigned to it,these were provided by attaching United States Army Ambulance Service SectionNo. 524 and Ambulance Company No. 162, giving a total of 32 ambulances.These ambulances were distributed pursuant to a scheme of distributionmade by the director of ambulance companies. There was considerable difficultyin the use of ambulances in this particular type of terrain, owing to theburning out of brake linings of both the Ford and the G. M. C.
The supply service, though also workingunder difficulties owing to lack of transportation, was, nevertheless,very efficient, medical department supplies being distributed through thedressing stations to the front-line organizations. The medical supply depotwas located at Gerardmer, with a branch depot at Kruth. The American RedCross rendered very valuable services, procuring and distributing theirown supplies. They established five advance comfort stations where theysupplied hot chocolate and doughnuts to the troops on the march. The AmericanRed Cross supply depot was located at the railhead at Cornimont.
The Meuse-Argonne operation beingunder way, the division, on October 27, was sent north to take its placein the line. Detraining near St. Menehould, south of the Argonne, a longand trying march due north was begun. Lack of transportation facilitiesforced the troops to drag their machine guns and other equipment by handthrough the forest and over roads which a retreating enemy had used everymeans at his command to make impassable. After a march of approximately50 km. (31 miles), divisional headquarters was established, November 6,at Stonne. At this time the division was a unit of the First Corps andin reserve.
On November 6, the left of the FirstCorps rested in the vicinity of Stonne. They began the turning movementeastward to the Meuse. As the left flank of the corps swung to the northeast,liaison with the French on the left was temporarily lost. Into this gapunits of the 6th Division were hurried, and what promised to be a dangeroussituation was thus saved.
The enemy at this time was in fullretreat; and the necessity for its services no longer existing, the 5thDivision was moved to the area northeast of Verdun. Before it could enterthe line in this sector the signing of the armistice ended the fighting.The 11th Field Artillery went into action with the 89th Division duringthe Meuse-Argonne operation.
Forty days were spent by the divisionin quiet sectors and none in active ones. Twelve prisoners were capturedand casualties totaling 576 were suffered. When the division arrived inthe Meuse-Argonne region, the sanitary train took station near Froidos.Due to shortage of ambulances in the corps, United States Army AmbulanceService Section No. 524 was detached from the division, leaving it only12 G. M. C. ambulances.
985
Eight were assigned to the divisionorganizations which evacuated their own patients to evacuation hospitalsin the vicinity. The sanitary train was without other transportation withthe exception of six mule ambulances, without animals, and two motor trucksfor its own supplies.
The sanitary train, while the divisionwas in the Meuse-Argonne operation, was moved from its first camp, nearFroidos, to the site of a former German hospital about 2 km. (1.2 miles)north of Apremont, where it was immobilized until the division was withdrawn.One field hospital function, taking care of a number of sick of the 6thDivision and of sick from other divisions. One dressing station was established.This was at Stonne, the farthest point north reached by the 6th Division.Here a number of refugees and wounded from other divisions were cared for.
Division headquarters was establishedat Aignay-le-Duc, November 30, 1918. On April 12, 1918, movement of thedivision to Germany was begun. Division headquarters was at Bad Bertrichon April 30. On May 6 the movement of the division was stopped, about 60percent of the personnel having arrived in Germany. On May 20 movementto Brest was begun. Division headquarters embarked on June 3, 1919, andarrived at New York on June 10.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Paul L. Freeman, M. C., December28, 1917, to May 12, 1919.
Col. James M. Phalen, M. C., May13, 1919, to June 30, 1919.
Lieut. Col. Howard K. White, M.C., July 1, 1919, to August 31, 1919.
Lieut. Col. Fletcher O. McFarland,M. C., September 1-10, 1919.
(Regular Army. Insignia: Two blacktriangles with their apexes touching in center of a red circle)
The 7th Division was organized January1, 1918, from troops of the Regular Army and by transfers from other units.For the purpose of training, organizations concentrated at Camp McArthur,Tex., in June, 1918, but the division was not completely assembled as aunit until arrival in France.
The organization was as follows:
135th Infantry Brigade:
55th and56th Infantry; 20th Machine Gun Battalion.
14th Infantry Brigade:
34th and64th Infantry; 21st Machine Gun Battalion.
7th Field Artillery Brigade:
79th and80th (light), and 8th (heavy) Field Artillery; 7th Trench Mortar Battery.
19th Machine Gun Battalion.
5th Engineers.
10th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (7th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 22, 34, 35, 36 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 22, 34, 35,36).
The first unit of the division togo overseas arrived in France August 6, 1918; the last September 3, 1918.
For training purposes the division(less artillery) was sent to the fifteenth training area, with headquartersat Ancy-le-Franc (Yonne). For a similar purpose the artillery brigade wassent to Camp Meucon (Morbihan). It never joined the division during operations.
The division, less artillery, departedon September 27 for the front, detraining in the vicinity of Toni. It becamereserve of the Fourth Corps, First Army. Headquarters was established successivelyat Gondreville, Villers-en-Haye, and Euvezin.
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The sanitary train arrived at Brest,France, August 25, 1918, and four days later proceeded to the trainingarea, arriving at Ancy-le-Franc September 1, 1918. The train arrived withoutany equipment, and as there were no hospital facilities in the area withthe exception of a 10-bed French hospital, seriously sick were shippedby train to Base Hospital No. 17, at Dijon. Those unable to stand transportationwere held at the overcrowded French hospital.
On September 20, 1918, Camp HospitalNo. 49 opened at Laignes and relieved the situation. Field Hospital No.22 assisted in the operation of this hospital while the division was inthis area.
Puvenelle Sector, October 10 to November11, 1918.
January 10, 1919, the division movedto the region north of Toul, with headquarters at Saizerais (Meurthe etMoselle), one regiment (34th Infantry) remaining in the devastated areafor guard and police duty.
In April the division moved to theColombey-les-Belles area, and then to the Le Mans Embarkation Center preparatoryto returning to the United States.
Headquarters embarked on June 12,1919, and arrived in New York on June 20, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEON3
Col. A. W. Williams, M. C., May 26,1918 to November 8, 1919
(National Guard. Insignia: Dark-bluemonogram YD on diamond-shaped field of olive drab)
The 26th Division was organized inAugust, 1917, at Boston, Mass., from National Guard troops of the New EnglandStates, supplemented by the small quota of National Army troops from CampDevens, Mass.
The organization was as follows:
51st Infantry Brigade:
101st and102d Infantry; 102d Machine Gun Battalion.
52d Infantry Brigade:
103d and104th Infantry; 103d Machine Gun Battalion.
101st Machine Gun Battalion.
51st Field Artillery Brigade:
101st and102d (light), 103d (heavy) Field Artillery; 101st Trench Mortar Battery.
101st Engineers.
101st Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (101st Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 101, 102, 103, 104, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 101, 102,103, 104).
The first unit to go overseas arrivedat St. Nazaire, France, on September 20, 1917. The last element arrivedon November 12, 1917.
The division (less artillery, engineers,and signal battalion) remained in a training area with headquarters atNeufchateau until February, 1918. For purposes of training, the artillerywas sent to Coetquidan. It, as well as all other elements, rejoined thedivision early in February and remained with it during all activities inwhich it participated.
The division proceeded to the vicinityof Soissons on February 6, 1918, where attached to the French EleventhCorps, its units went into line in the Chemin des Dames sector on February10. It was withdrawn March 21, and moved to the La Reine and Boucq sectornorthwest of Toul, relieving the American 1st Division and the French 10thColonial Division in line on April 3. From April 10-13 the division successfullyrepelled an attack by the enemy on the Bois Brule subsector at Apremont.This was the first engagement in which American troops took part in anynumber. On April 20-21 the
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division was involved in a defensiveoperation known as the "Seicheprey raid." This was an enemy attack in forceagainst the defenses of the town of Seicheprey. Although American losseswere heavy, the enemy was repulsed, and all ground taken by him was recapturedby counterattack. Minor operations of both an offensive and a defensivecharacter kept this sector active during the remainder of the division'sstay therein.
The sanitary train arrived in Francein September and October, 1917, and was sent to the Neufchateau trainingarea. Here the sections of the sanitary train were located in widely separatedtowns, the ambulance section at Liffol-leGrand and the field hospital sectionat Bazoilles-sur-Meuse.
Field Hospital No. 101 assisted inthe construction of the hospital center at Bazoilles and Field HospitalNo. 104 opened at Neufchateau for division sick. On December 7, 1917, FieldHospital No. 101 established a hospital at Liffol-le-Grand for the sickand Field Hospital No. 104 cared for contagious diseases only. Field HospitalNo. 103 was sent to Dijon, where it assisted in the construction of BaseHospital No. 17. Field Hospital No. 102 was sent in detachments to theoperating division hospitals and to line organizations. In the last weekof January, 1918, preparations were made for a move, and the hospitalsbeing operated by the field hospitals were turned over to Base HospitalNo. 66, at Neufchateau. The field hospital personnel was assembled andreorganized. On arrival in the Chemin-des-Dames sector, the sanitary trainwas subdivided among French medical personnel. Though line troops receivedvaluable training here, the medical Department had no opportunity to trainsatisfactorily its units by actual experience in their field duties, andthe French cared for almost all casualties. It made observations, however,in gas treatment, in operation of the triage, and in other details of fieldservice. As our troops had no base hospitals in this region, the Frenchpermitted us to transfer patients to the American Ambulance (later AmericanRed Cross Hospital No. 1), at Paris.
The field hospitals functioned asfollows: Field Hospital No. 101 went to Bois Roger; No. 102 to AmbulanceSt. Paul at Soissons for seriously wounded; No. 103 operated in a chateauat Muret et Crouttes; No. 104 assisted in a French evacuation hospitalat Vasseny. Detachments were also sent to various other French hospitals,including contagious, gas, venereal, skin, and psychoneurotic hospitals.
When the division entered the linesin the Toul sector, dressing stations were operated at Gironville and Liouville,on the left, and at Mandres-aux-Quatre-Tours and Bois de Rehanne, on theright. Ambulance companies were reinforced by United States Army AmbulanceService Section No. 647. Because of the long frontage of the Toul sector--18km. (10.8 miles)--two triages were established. That for the left of theline, operated by Field Hospital No. 104, was located successively at Aulnois-sous-Vertuzeyand at Abbaye Rongeval; while that on the right, operated by Field HospitalNo. 102, was located first at Menil-la-Tour and later, after June 2, ata point near Minorville. Wounded and gassed from the left sector were evacuatedto Mobile Hospital No. 39 near Aulnois-sous-Vertuzey, and from the rightsector to Evacuation Hospital No. 1 at Sebastopol, while contagious, venereal,and skin cases were sent to Field Hospital No. 103, at Toul. Divisionalsick and gassed who were fit for transportation were sent to Field HospitalNo. 101, at Caserne-la-Marche, in Toul. Before the division left this sectorthis hospital had expanded to a capacity of 900 beds and was amply equipped.
Chateau-Thierry Sector, July 10-14.
Champagne-Marne operation, July15-18.
Aisne-Marne operation, July 18 toAugust 3.
The division, on August 16, proceededto the Chatillon training area. The 101st Engineers remained in line underthe First Corps until August 3, and the artillery brigade until August4 supporting the 4th and 42d Divisions.
The sanitary train also entrainedfor the 12th Rest Area, in the vicinity of Chatillon-sur-Seine, where fieldhospitals were located at Villotte for divisional sick, severe cases beingsent to Base Hospital No. 15, at Chaumont. Mobile Surgical Unit No. 7,which now joined the division, was assigned to Field Hospital No. 3.
St. Mihiel operation, September 12-16.
988
On September 26, Field Hospital No.102 was moved to Ambly, and on the 28th all field hospitals except No.102 were set up at Chapelle and Ferme de les Palameix. This dispositionof field hospitals continued until the division left this sector. Whenthe division attacked, on September 26, 1918, Ambulance Company No. 101followed the infantry and established a dressing station at Sauix, withlitter bearers working well in advance. Ambulance Company No. 102 evacuatedthe wounded, running into Sauix and beyond, making connection with thelitter-bearer section. That night the field was cleared of wounded andthe dressing station was moved back to Hannonville.
Meuse-Argonne operation.
On November 14, 1918, the divisionproceeded to the 8th Training Area, with headquarters at Montigny-le-Roi.In January it moved to the Le Mans embarkation center, where it remaineduntil its return to the United States.
Division headquarters sailed fromBrest on March 27, 1919, and arrived at Boston April 4, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. James L. Bevans, M. C., August22, 1917, to June 24, 1918.
Col. Ralph S. Porter, M. C., June25 to November 23, 1918.
Maj. Fred. E. Jones, M. C., November27 to December 9, 1918.
Lieut. Col. Thomas L. Jenkins, M. C., December10, 1918, to February 4, 1919.
Col. John H. Allen, M. C., February5 to April 29, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: A red-borderedblack circle with the letters NYD in monogram and surrounded by seven starsplaced as in the constellation of Orion)
The 27th Division was organized inSeptember, 1917, at Camp Wadsworth, S. C., from National Guard troops ofNew York.
The organization was as follows:
53d Infantry Brigade:
105th and106th Infantry; 105th Machine Gun Battalion.
54th Infantry Brigade:
107th and108th Infantry; 106th Machine Gun Battalion.
52d Artillery Brigade:
104th and106th (light), 106th (heavy) Field Artillery; 102d Trench Mortar Battery.
104th Machine Gun Battalion.
102d Engineers.
102d Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (102d Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 105, 106, 107, 108, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 105, 106,107, 108).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France May 7, 1918; the last, July 12, 1918.
For training purposes, the division(less artillery) was attached to British units in the Department of theSomme until July 3, 1918. For the same purpose the Artillery brigade wentto Camp de Souge, where it remained until August 30, 1918. It never servedagain with the 27th Division, but participated in the Meuse-Argonne operation,September 26 to November 11, 1918.
The sanitary train did not rejointhe division until the latter part of July and August. While in the trainingarea all casualties were cared for by British field ambulances and casualtyclearing station.
Dickenbush Lake and Scharpenbergsectors, July 9 to August 30, 1918.
Ypres-Lys operation, August 31 toSeptember 2, 1918.
Somme operation, September 24 toOctober 20, 1918.
989
The division was withdrawn from lineOctober 21, and proceeded to the Corbie area, with headquarters at Corbie.On November 23 it moved to the Le Mans embarkation center preparatory toits return to the United States.
Division headquarters sailed fromBrest on February 26, and arrived at New York on March 6, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Lieut. Col. Edward H. Maloney, M.C., July 16, 1917, to August 22, 1918.
Col. Walter C. Montgomery, M. C.,August 23, 1918, to February 26, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: Redkeystone)
The 28th Division was organized inSeptember, 1917, at Camp Hancock, Ga., from National Guard troops of theState of Pennsylvania.
The organization was as follows:
55th Infantry Brigade:
109th and110th Infantry; 108th Machine Gun Battalion.
56th Infantry Brigade:
111th and112th Infantry; 109th Machine Gun Battalion.
107th Machine Gun Battalion.
53d Field Artillery Brigade:
107th and109th (light); 108th (heavy) Field Artillery. 103d Trench Mortar Battery.
103d Engineers.
103d Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (103d Sanitary Train; FieldHospitals Nos. 109, 110, 111, 112 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 109, 110,111, 112).
The first unit of the division togo overseas arrived in France May 14, 1918; the last, June 11, 1918.
For training purposes, the division(less artillery) was attached to the British 34th Division, south of St.Omer, where it remained until June 9. The division proceeded to the vicinityof Paris June 13, where it was attached to French troops for furthertraining. For the same purpose the Artillery brigade went to Camp Meucon.It rejoined the division in August, 1918, and remained with it until October,1918, when it passed to the reserve of the First Army Artillery. It laterparticipated with the 91st Division in the Ypres-Lys operation, October29 to November 11, 1918.
The sanitary train arrived at Liverpool,England, on May 31, 1918, and was sent to Fays-Billot, in the vicinityof Langres, France, for training. Here it remained until July 6, 1918,when it rejoined the division in the vicinity of Chateau-Thierry.
Chateau-Thierry Sector, July 7-14,1918.
Champagne-Marne operation, July15-18, 1918.
Aisne-Marne operation, July 18 toAugust 6, 1918.
Fismes sector, August 7-17, 1918.
Oise-Aisne operation, August 18to September 7, 1918.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to October 10, 1918.
Upon its relief from the Meuse-Argonneoperation the division proceeded to the Thiaucourt sector, Toul, whichit held from October 16 to November 11, 1918.
Field Hospital No. 109 operated atBouillonville, but the number of patients admitted was very small. On October30 it moved to Nonsard, where it opened a triage in a large barn, operatinghere until the armistice.
Field Hospital No. 110 on October17 took over the tentage of Field Hospital No. 146 of the 37th Divisionat Bernecourt. Here it functioned for two days, moving to Essey-et-Maizerais,where it erected and operated a tent hospital until the armistice.
990
Field Hospital No. 111 establishedin a French hospital near Minorville on October 18, and on the 23d movedto Bernecourt. On the 30th it moved to Buxerulles.
Field Hospital No. 112 establishedat Essey-et-Maizerais on October 18, but as the work was very light itclosed on November 1, 1918.
After the armistice the divisionremained in the Thiaucourt sector until January 9, 1919, when it movedsouth of Toni, with headquarters at Colombey-les-Belles, remaining thereuntil the latter part of March, when it moved to the Le Mans embarkationcenter preparatory to returning to the United States.
Division headquarters sailed fromSt. Nazaire April 20, 1919, and arrived at Newport News May 1, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEON3
Col. William J. Crookston, M. C.,May 22, 1917, to April 18, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: A circlebisected by two half circles, reversed and joined; one-half of circle blue,other half gray)
The 29th Division was organized atCamp McClellan, Ala., under authority of a War Department order dated July26, 1917. It was originally composed of National Guard units from the Districtof Columbia and the States of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.Later, however, the Delaware troops were withdrawn and organized into pioneerinfantry units.
The following organizations composedthe division:
57th Infantry Brigade:
113th,114th Infantry; 111th Machine Gun Battalion.
58th Infantry Brigade:
115th,116th Infantry; 112th Machine Gun Battalion.
54th Field Artillery Brigade:
110th,111th (light), and 112th (heavy) Field Artillery; 110th Trench Mortar Battery.
110th Machine Gun Battalion.
104th Engineers.
104th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (104th Sanitary Train FieldHospitals Nos. 113, 114, 115, 116, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 113, 114,115, 116).
The first element of the divisionarrived in France June 8, 1918, and the last, July 22, 1918. Many of theunits landed in England and then crossed the Channel.
Within a few days after its arrivalin France the division proceeded to the 10th Training Area and establishedheadquarters at Prauthoy (Haute Marne). After two weeks' training, orderswere received to move to upper Alsace for the purpose of taking over aquiet sector of the front. From the 17th to 25th of July the division wasstationed near Belfort under command of the French Fortieth Corps.
Occupation of the center sector,upper Alsace, began on the 25th of July and was completed on August 7,at which time command of the sector passed from the French to the Americans.
On September 23 the division waswithdrawn to the vicinity of Belfort and ordered to the Robert Espagnetraining area. After leaving Belfort the division was assigned to the AmericanFirst Army and ordered to the area in which the Meuse-Argonne operationwas soon to be launched. Division headquarters was established at Conde,September 24. From this point the division moved north, with headquarterssuccessively at St. Andre and Blercourt. On October 1 the division wasplaced in reserve of the French Seventeenth Corps, with headquarters atthe citadel of Verdun.
The sanitary train did not join thedivision while in the training area, and all sick were cared for by CampHospital No. 10. The train rejoined the division in the center
991
sector on July 25, 1918, and functionedas follows: Field Hospital No. 113 at Romagny, for gassed cases, most ofits equipment being furnished by the French; Field Hospital No. 114 atReppe; Field Hospital No. 115 at Montreux Jeune, for medical, contagious,and venereal cases. This unit operated a small infirmary at Retzwillerfor the treatment of skin cases and emergency gas. Field Hospital No. 116was stationed at Chevannes-les-Grandes, for surgical cases. The medicalsupply dump was at Fontaine.
From the field hospitals, cases thatrequired evacuation were sent to French hospitals, there being no Americanevacuation or base hospitals in the sector.
Ambulance Companies No. 113 and No.114 took station at Traubach-la-Haute., where the former established a dressingstation. While in this sector, the sanitary troops received their mostimportant training. Each field hospital received and treated patients.Two medical officers and three enlisted men were sent from each field hospitalto French hospitals for a course of instruction in the French methods ofhandling wounded. Details were also sent to the schools for gas defenseat Chaumont and Langres and to the motor transport school.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to November 11, 1918.
After the signing of the armisticethe division was removed to a rest area, with division headquarters atBourbonne-les-Bains. The movement to the embarkation center for returnto this country began April 11, and on the 14th, headquarters was establishedat Ballon, near Le Mans. Division headquarters sailed May 6 and arrivedat Newport News May 19.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Craig R. Snyder, M. C., August24, 1917, to January 30, 1918.
Col. John B. Huggins, M. C., January31, 1918, to October 19, 1918.
Col. Arthur M. Allen, M. C., November18, 1918, to December 28,1918.
Col. John B. Huggins, M. C., December29, 1918, to May 31, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: Monogram"OH" containing Roman numeral XXX, all in blue on maroon field)
The 30th Division was organized inOctober, 1917 at Camp Sevier, S. C., from National Guard troops of Tennesseeand North and South Carolina.
The organization was as follows:2
59th Infantry Brigade:
117th and118th Infantry; 114th Machine Gun Battalion.
60th Infantry Brigade:
119th and120th Infantry; 115th Machine Gun Battalion, 113th Machine Gun Battalion.
55th Artillery Brigade:
113th,114th (light), 115th (heavy) Field Artillery; 105th Trench Mortar Battery.
105th Engineers.
105th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (105th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 117, 118, 119, 120 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 117, 118,119, 120).
The first unit of the division togo overseas arrived in France May 14, 1918; the last, June 24, 1918.
For training purposes, the division(less artillery) was attached to British units in the Eperlecques area(Pas-de-Calais), where it remained until July 4, 1918. For the same purposethe artillery brigade went to Coetquidan. It never served again with the30th Division, but participated in the St. Mihiel operation, September12 to 16, 1918, and in the Meuse-Argonne operation, September 26 to October8, 1918. It was also in line
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in the Toul sector August 23 to September11, 1918, and in the Woevre sector October 11 to November 8, 1918.2
The 105th Sanitary Train upon arrivalin France was detached from the division and did not rejoin it again untilAugust 1, 1918, when Field Hospitals No. 118 and No. 119 and AmbulanceCompanies No. 118 and No. 119 reported. The remainder of the sanitary traindid not join until after the armistice. While in the training area casualtieswere evacuated and cared for by British medical organizations.
Canal Sector, Belgium, July 16 toAugust 30, 1918.
Ypres-Lys operation, Belgium, August31 to September 2, 1918.
Somme operation, September 24 toOctober 20, 1918.
The division was withdrawn October20 and proceeded to the vicinity of Amiens, where it remained until November 24, when it was ordered to the Le Mans embarkation center preparatory toreturn to the United States.
Division headquarters sailed fromSt. Nazaire March 18, 1919, and arrived at Charleston, S. C., on April2, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS
Col. Arthur M. Whaley, M. C., August25, 1917, to November 25, 1918.
Maj. Philip Norris, M. C., November26, 1918, to December 9, 1918.
Maj. Henry Norris, M. C., December10, 1918, to February 15, 1919.
Lieut. Col. Jerome L. Morgan. M.C., February 22, 1919, to April 15, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: A redarrow piercing a line)
The 32d Division was organized atCamp McArthur, Tex., under authority of a War Department order dated July18, 1917. It was composed of National Guard troops from the States of Michigan
and Wisconsin.
The following organizations composedthe division:
63d Infantry Brigade:
125th and126th Infantry; 120th Machine Gun Battalion.
64th Infantry Brigade:
127th and128th Infantry; 121st Machine Gun Battalion.
57th Field Artillery Brigade:
119th,120th (light), 121st (heavy) Field Artillery; 107th Trench Mortar Battery.
119th Machine Gun Battalion.
107th Engineers.
107th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (107th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 125, 126, 127, 128, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 125, 126,127, 128).
The 147th Field Artillery of the41st Division was attached to the 57th Field Artillery Brigade and servedwith it throughout its activities.
The first unit of the division arrivedin France February 6, 1918, and the last, March 14, 1918. The first casualtieswere suffered when the transport Tuscania, carrying the 107th SanitaryTrain, was torpedoed and sunk February 5, 15 men of this organization beinglost.
Division headquarters was establishedat Prauthoy, Haute Marne, on February 24. The 32d Division was originallydesignated as a replacement division and as such sent many of its membersto other organizations. However, the German offensive of March 21 and theresulting necessity for additional American troops forced a change in theseplans. Replacements were furnished it, and the division assembled in the10th Training Area preparatory to taking the field as a combat unit. Afterfour weeks spent in this area, the division was ordered to the quiet Haute-AlsaceSector. The movement to this sector
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began May 15, and on the 16th, headquarterswas established at La Chapelle. On the 18th, the French troops in the sectorwere relieved and the division for the first time took over front-linetrenches, which were held until July 21.
The sanitary train arrived in Francein the latter part of February and early part of March, 1918, and joinedthe division in the 10th Training Area. Casualties were cared for by CampHospital No. 10, which was operated by Field Hospital No. 127, assistedby details from other field hospitals. All serious cases were evacuatedto Base Hospital No. 17, Dijon. On its arrival in the Haute-Alsace sector,the sanitary train was very intimately associated with the medical serviceof the French Army. Each field hospital was sent to operate in connectionwith a French ambulance. Field Hospital No. 125 went to Valdieu, and onJune 27 opened a hospital at Chavannes-les-Grands. Field Hospital No. 126operated with a French ambulance at Romagny, but after July 1, functionedalone for the care of gassed and sick.
Field Hospital No. 127 was sent toLauw, Alsace, where it operated a hospital in conjunction with a Frenchambulance. On June 26, a part of this unit opened a hospital at Masseveaux,Alsace.
Field Hospital No.128 operated ahospital with a French ambulance at Bellemagny, Alsace, to June 11, andfrom June 26 assisted in a French evacuation hospital at La Chapelle. Therebeing no American evacuation hospitals in the sector all evacuations fromthe division were made through French evacuation hospitals.
Aisne-Marne operation, July 30 toAugust 6, 1918.
Oise-Aisne operation, August 28to September 2, 1918.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to November 11, 1918.
Army of Occupation.
Division headquarters sailed fromBrest, April 27, 1919, and arrived at New York, May 5.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Perry L. Boyer, M. C., August 25, 1917, to November 4, 1917.
Col. Gilbert R. Seaman, M. C., November5-21, 1917.
Col. Paul C. Hutton, M. C., November22, 1917, to March 10, 1918.
Col. Gilbert R. Seaman, M. C., March11, 1917, to October 21, 1918.
Lieut. Col. James R. Scott, M. C.,October 22, 1918, to January 27, 1919.
Major Louis A. Moore, M. C., February 1, 1919, to March 15, 1919.
Lieut. Col. James R. Scott, M. C.,March 16, 1919, to May, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: A yellowcross on a black circle)
The 33d Division was organized atCamp Logan, Tex., in July, 1917, from National Guard troops of Illinois.The organization was as follows:
65th Infantry Brigade:
129th and130th Infantry; 123d Machine Gun Battalion.
66th Infantry Brigade:
131st and132d Infantry; 124th Machine Gun Battalion.
58th Field Artillery Brigade:
122d, 124th(light), and 123d (heavy) Field Artillery; 108th Trench Mortar Battery.
122d Machine Gun Battalion.
108th Engineers.
108th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (108th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 129, 130, 131, 132 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 129, 130,131, 132).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France May 18, 1918; the last, June 15, 1918.
994
For the purpose of training, thedivision (less artillery) was sent to the Huppy area near Abbeville, whereit began instruction with the British. On June 8, it moved to the Eu area,and on June 20-21 advanced into the Amiens sector, where certain unitsparticipated in several active operations. On July 4, two companies ofthe 131st Infantry and two companies of the 132d Infantry took part inthe attack of the Australians on Hamel. In the Somme offensive, the 131stInfantry played a prominent part in the attack on Chipilly Ridge and GrèssaireWood.
On August 23, the division was transferredto the area of the First American Army in the Toul sector and was concentratedin the vicinity of Tronville-en-Barrois. On Sepember 5, it began its movementto the Verdun sector, where it relieved the French 120th Division and theright regiment of the French 57th Division on the nights of September 7,8, and 9.
The sanitary train arrived in FranceJune 20, 1918. One-half of the train (Field Hospitals No. 129 and No. 130and Ambulance Companies No. 129 and No. 130 and four camp infirmaries)proceeded to Molliens-aux-Bois for training under the British, while FieldHospitals No. 131 and No. 132, and Ambulance Companies No. 131 and No.132 were sent to a training area in southern France.
In order that the Medical Departmentof the division might employ British equipment, it was necessary so toorganize the sanitary train that its elements would function in a mannersimilar to those of corresponding units in the British Army--the fieldambulances. This was effected by combining two ambulance companies andtwo field hospitals. One ambulance company and one field hospital thenconstituted a provisional field ambulance. The two units thus formed werenumbered 129 and 130, and both were equipped with British medical matériel.
Provisional Field Ambulance No. 129went into training at Famehon, operating in conjunction with Field AmbulanceNo. 42 (British). On July 18 it moved to Allonville, with the 65th Brigade,where it was attached to the Australian Third Corps, and performed evacuationservice from forward areas.
Provisional Field Ambulance No. 130went into training at Pierregot, performing regular ambulance service forthe 66th Brigade while in the British sector and also serving British troopslocated near it. Detachments were sent forward frequently to the main dressingstations, advance dressing stations, and bearer posts for the purpose ofinstruction. Provisional Ambulance Company No. 130 operated with the 66thBrigade and the British in front of Vadencourt, Henencourt, and Montigny.In the attack on Chipilly Ridge and Grèssaire Wood, eight casualtiesoccurred in the Medical Department detachment of the 131st Infantry.
When the sanitary train arrived inthe Toul sector British equipment was retained with the exception of thetransport, which was returned to the British. Field Hospitals No. 131 andNo. 132 rejoined the division on August 31, but the remaining two ambulancecompanies (No. 131 and No. 132) did not join until October, and United StatesArmy Ambulance Service Section No. 600 was assigned to the division toreplace them.
The sanitary train was located atMenil-sur-Sauix and Field Hospital No. 129 established a sick collectingpoint at Tronville. When the division moved to the Verdun sector, the sanitarytrain was disposed as follows: Field Hospital No. 131, at Glorieux, triage; Field Hospital No. 130, gas cases, at Souhesmes; Ambulance company No.129 established an advanced dressing station at La Claire. The remainderof the sanitary train took station at Sivry-la-Perche, where Field HospitalNo. 132 opened a divisional sick collecting station.
From the field hospitals casualtieswere evacuated to Evacuation Hospitals No. 6 and No. 7, at Souilly.
On September 16 the sanitary trainmoved to Thierville and Glorieux and preparations were made for the comingoperation.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to October 23
Troyon sector, October 26 to November11, 1918.
995
On December 8, 1918 the divisioncommenced an advance which carried its leading brigades across the Moselleinto Rhenish Germany. During this movement it was attached to the armyof occupation, but upon the revocation of this disposition, on December15, it was withdrawn west of that river and established in the northernpart of Luxemburg, with headquarters located at Diekirch. There it remaineduntil the latter part of April, 1919, when the movement to Le Mans wasbegun preparatory to returning to the United States. Division headquarterssailed from Brest on May 9, and arrived at Hoboken on May 17, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. L. M. Hathaway, M. C., August 23, 1917, to January 6, 1919.
Col. Harry D. Orr, M. C., January7, 1919, to May 18, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: SantaFe cross within two circles of varying colors, the outer one divided intofour arcs)
The 35th Division was organized atCamp Doniphan, Fort Sill, Okla., in September, 1917, from National Guardunits of Missouri and Kansas.
The organization was as follows:
69th Infantry Brigade:
137th and138th Infantry; 129th Machine Gun Battalion.
70th Infantry Brigade:
139th and140th Infantry; 130th Machine Gun Battalion.
60th Field Artillery Brigade:
128th,129th (light), 130th (heavy) Field Artillery; 110th Trench Mortar Battery.
128th Machine Gun Battalion.
110th Engineers.
110th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (110th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 137, 138, 139, 140 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 137, 138,139, 140).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France May 11, 1918; the last, June 8, 1918.
For training purposes, the division(less artillery) was sent to the vicinity of Eu (Somme), where it remaineduntil June 8, 1918. It moved to the vicinity of Epinal on June 11, andon June 30 it moved to the Vosges, where it was brigaded with the Frenchin line in the Gerardmer sector. Command of the sector passed to the commandinggeneral, 35th Division, on July 27. The Artillery brigade trained at CampCoetquidan. It rejoined the division in the Vosges, August 14.
On August 31, the division was relievedby units of the American 6th Division, and French 131st Division, and proceededto the Foret de Haye, west of Nancy, for concentration preparatory to theSt. Mihiel operation, in which it was in the reserve of the First Army.
On September 15, the division wasplaced under the tactical control of the French Second Army, and movedto the Naives-devant-Bar area, with headquarters established at Passavant-en-Argonne,on September 18. On September 19, it moved to the Vraincourt--Auzevillearea, with headquarters at Autrecourt. On September 23, it relieved theFrench 73d Division, in the line in the Grange-la-Comte sector.
The sanitary train did not join thedivision until June 12. Practically no medical equipment had been broughtfrom the United States except the personal equipment of officers and enlistedmen. Battalions were supplied with British equipment and three Britishfield ambulances. Nos. 96, 97, and 98, were assigned to the division astraining units as well as to care for division casualties. When the divisionarrived in the vicinity, of Epinal, the sanitary train rejoined it andwas billeted at Eloyes. The train arrived with but little equipment, andno transportation was available for the first 36 hours.
996
Ten large 3-ton trucks were assignedto the train, eight of which were used to collect and evacuate the sickand injured. Within a week after its arrival in this sector, 42 trucksand 12 motor ambulances were received.
Field Hospital No. 137 establishedin tents and buildings at Eloyes for sick and contagious cases.
Field Hospital No. 140 and AmbulanceCompany No. 140 were stationed at La Racine for the hospitalization andevacuation of the 69th Brigade and 110th Engineers. Field Hospital No.136 and Ambulance Company No. 136 were at Le Menu, to cover the 70th Brigadeand Machine Gun Battalion.
Field Hospital No. 139 and AmbulanceCompany No. 139 were held in reserve. Ambulance Company No. 137, with headquartersat Eloyes, operated as an evacuation ambulance company.
When the division began to filterin with French troops in the Vosges, Field Hospital No. 139 took over asection of a French hospital at Bussang and Ambulance Company No. 140 establishedin part at Ranspach. On June 20, United States Army Ambulance Section No.606 reported for duty with the sanitary train and was assigned to Ranspachfor evacuation from battalions in the line to the field hospital at Bussang.
On June 28 Field Hospital No. 138relieved No. 139 at Bussang, the latter moving to Ninth, where it operateda hospital for contagious diseases. A section of Field Hospital No. 137established a hospital for surgical and gas cases at Storkensohn. FieldHospital No. 140 operated at Urbes for medical and venereal cases. Themedical supply depot was also at the latter place. A section of Field HospitalNo. 137 remained at Eloyes to care for seriously sick at that point.
Ambulance Company No. 138 moved upto Bussang, and the remainder of the ambulance companies established theirheadquarters at Ranspach.
Motor ambulance stations were establishedat Larchey, Dreh, Kruth, Haag, Wagram, and Moosch. Ambulance Company No.140 operated its animal-drawn ambulances from Thann and Mittlach. The dressingsections of Ambulance Companies No. 139 and No. 140 were operating in connectionwith Alpine ambulances at Larchey and Wagram. Dressing station sectionswere also operating at Haag and Wagram. On July 1 the section of FieldHospital No. 137, operating at Eloyes, was closed and consolidated at Storkensohn.Sections from Ambulance Companies Nos. 137, 139, and 140 also occupiedparts of the Alpine ambulances at Mittlach, Larchey, and Nonette. Thesethree principal dressing stations served the front line and were the farthestpoints to which ambulances could be sent. From the battalion aid stationsto these dressing stations it was necessary to transport the patients byhand, pack mule, or wheeled litter.
The Alpine ambulances were permanentsector installations, with a small personnel from the French medical department.They were absolutely shell-proof and were practically entirely underground;each was equipped for the treatment of the gassed and had its wards, operatingrooms, etc., as well as quarters for the personnel.
On July 20 the dressing station atNonette was given up. Ambulance Company No. 137 established a dressingstation at Ventron. At this time Ambulance Company No. 139 operated thestation at Mittlach and Ambulance Company No. 138 at Larchey. The transportsection of the latter operated as an evacuation ambulance company.
United States Army Ambulance ServiceSection No. 606 was relieved from duty with the division and a part ofsection No. 642 was assigned.
On August 10 units of the sanitarytrain were located as follows: Field Hospital No. 137, operating in threesections, at Storkensohn, with Surgical Unit No. 13, for surgical cases,at Kruth for surgical and gassed cases, and at Dreh for gas and nontransportablewounded.
Field Hospital No. 138, at Bussang,functioned as an evacuation hospital; No. 139, at Le Menil, for contagious;No. 140, at Ventron, for medical, venereal, and skin cases. Ambulance CompanyNo. 137 operated dressing stations at Larchey and performed evacuation in that sector. Ambulance Company No. 138, at Bussang, evacuated to basehospitals. Ambulance Company No. 139, at Ventron, evacuated the reservearea. Ambulance Company No. 140 operated a dressing station at Mittlach,evacuating that sector.
997
The problem of evacuation of thewounded from the front in the mountains back to the field hospitals presentedat all times almost every imaginable difficulty. The character of the terrainrendered any plan of uniform evacuation impossible. On account of the differencein the lateral elevation of most of the trenches, it was necessary foreach of the battalions to establish from two to four aid stations, and,in addition, there were always one or two Medical Department men operatinga small aid station with each company in line.
From the front-line trenches it wasalways necessary to carry the wounded back by hand; in most instances noteven a litter could be used, the men being transported on the backs ofthe litter bearers. Litter bearers ordinarily worked in squads of four,the litter being carried on the shoulders of the four men. Occasionallyit was possible to use a wheel litter, where the paths were not too roughand not too steep.
From battalion aid stations to thedressing station it was occasionally possible to send up narrow double-deckedFrench litter ambulances carrying two patients recumbent. This ambulance,however, was unsatisfactory because of its weight and unwieldiness, andalso because on the steep paths it always required two mules. The packcarrier, or cacolet, was tried out, but was soon abandoned because of thepain that transportation by it gave the wounded man. In spite of all thedifficulties and the long distances, no patient was ever received at thesurgical hospital later than 12 hours after his injury.
When, on August 31, the divisionwas relieved in the Gerardmer sector, the relief of the Medical Departmentwas carried out in conformity with the following orders:
D.S. 35TH DIVISION,
August 31st, 1918.
Secret.
FIELD MEDICAL ORDERNo. 8
1. In compliance with orders,headquarters, 35th Division and 33d French Corps, the sanitary units ofthe 6th Division will relieve the sanitary units of the 35th Division.This relief will be completed before midnight of September 1, 1918. Therelief will be made, unit for unit, in the present location of the sanitaryunits of the 35th Division.
2. The commanding officer,110th Sanitary Train, will continue to clear the field hospitals of the35th Division into the Base at Vittel, with all available transportation,until midnight September 1, 1918.
3. As soon as the relief ofunits of the 35th Division is complete, each unit will move to its newbilleting area. The billeting areas designated for the sanitary train,September 2, 1918, are Barrey Seroux and Arrents de Carcieux.Unit billeting officers should be sent 24 hours ahead of the movement oftheir unit. The relief and movement of the units of the sanitary trainof the 35th Division must be completed before 6 p. m., September 2, 1918.
4. The commanding officer,110th Sanitary Train, will arrange to cover movement of troops with ambulancesand to collect sick and injured from the new billeting areas. Evacuationto be made to the hospitals at Gerardmer or to the French Ambulanceat Fraize.
5. The surgical team, lessthe three female nurses and the X-ray unit with personnel, will accompanyField Hospital No. 137. The three female nurses will be sent to Vittel,to remain there until the division arrives in its new area.
6. Intransportable cases ofsick and injured will be taken over by the field hospitals of the 6th Division.
7. Every field hospital, ambulancecompany, and regimental or battalion unit will be completely equipped withmedical supplies. Shell dressings on the basis of 700 to each field hospitalwill be taken. Each field hospital will take its allotment of ward tentsand other necessary tentage.
8. The medical supply depotwill cut its supplies down to two truck loads after supplying the unitsof the 35th Division. All surplus supplies from hospitals, ambulance companies,and medical supply depot will be turned over to the 6th Division. Red Crossand French beds, together with all French equipment and all surplus Americanequipment now held in the 35th Division, will be turned over to the correspondingunits of the 6th Division on informal receipt.
9. The bath at Kruth,with one Foden lorry, will be left with the 6th Division as sector equipment.One Foden lorry will accompany the division.
10. In compliance with telegraphicorders, 7th American Army Corps, Ambulance Company No. 162 will reportfor duty to the 6th Division as soon as the 35th Division moves.
998
HDQRS., MACKTARY,
August 31, 1918.
Secret
Field Orders, No. 60.
1. In accordance with secretorders, hdqrs. 35th Division, the sanitary train of the 6th Division willrelieve the units of this command. Relief will be effected before midnight,September 1, 1918. The relief wi1l be made unit for unit in the presentlocations of units of this train.
(a) In order toavoid unnecessary transportation, units will, when possible, make an exchangeof equipment.
(b) Red Crossbeds and mattresses, French equipment, and all surplus American equipmentwill be turned over to the units of the 6th Sanitary Train, on informalmemorandum receipt.
2. Lieut. Charles L. Mosley,140th Field Hospital, will have command of the truck train and will beresponsible for the observance of the movement schedule of this organization.
(a) Lieut.Vehrs, 137th Field Hospital, will report to Lieut. Mosley for temporaryduty.
(b) Alltrucks in possession of organizations of this train, with drivers (twodays ration), wil1 report before 9 a.m., September 1, 1918, as follows:From organizations east of Ventron, to Lieut. Mosley at Kruth; from organizationswest of Kruth, to Lieut. Vehrs at Ventron.
3. (a) Ambulance Company 138will continue to evacuate field hospitals until midnight Sept. 1, 1917,to the American base at Vittel. This company will cover movement of thetroops of this division and the billeting areas (as per attached schedule),evacuating the sick and injured to the field hospital, 6th Division, atGerardmer or to the Alpine ambulance station at Fraize. Location of regimental and battalion infirmaries will be reported to these hdqrs. Thefour Ford ambulances now with A. C. 137, with personnel and one day's rations,will report to the C. O., A. C. 138, for duty, on relief from present stations.This company, less transportation section, will clear Ventron at 1 p.m.,Sept. 2, 1918, for Barbey Seroux, movement to be made by trucks via Cornimont,Vagney, and Gerardmer. On completion of movement of the division, transportationwill take station with company.
(b) A. C.137 will rendezvous at Hillside dressing station, on being relieved. Theywill proceed at 4 a.m., Sept. 2, 1918, for Barbey Seroux, marching to Kruth,and from this place to destination by trucks. The equipment of this companywill be transported to Kruth by Ambulance Company 140 in time to be loadedon trucks at 5:30 a.m., Sept. 2, 1918.
(c) A. C.139 wi1l clear Le Collet at 1 p.m., Sept. 2, 1918, for Barbey Seroux, movementto be made on trucks via Gerardmer.
(d) A. C.140, less transportation section, will proceed to Barbey Seroux at 5 a.m.,Sept. 2, 1918, movement to be made by trucks via Cornimont, Vagney, andGerardmer road. The transportation section will transport its own and theequipment of A. C. 137 from dressing stations to Kruth. Upon completionof this duty it will proceed via Wildenstein, Le Collet, and Gerardmerto company hdqrs., at Barbey Seroux.
4. (a) F. H. 139 will closeat Le Menu at 10 a.m., Sept. 1, 1918, moving by truck to Arrents de Carcieux,via Cornimont, Vagney, and Gerardmer.
(b) F. H.140 will clear Ventron at 10 a.m., Sept. 1, 1918, moving by truck via Coralmont,Vagney, and Gerardmer to Arrents de Carcieux.
(c) F. H.137 will clear Kruth at 3 p.m., Sept. 1, 1918, proceeding to Arrents deCarcieux by trucks.
(d) F. H.138 will clear Gerardmer at 2 p.m., Sept. 1, 1918, proceeding to Arrentsde Carcieux by trucks.
(e) The162d A. C. will maintain its present stations for the time being. Uponmovement of this command it will stand relieved from duty with this division,and in compliance with telegraphic orders, 7th American Army Corps willreport to the 6th Division for duty.
5. Trucks returning to Kruth forthe 137th F. H. will travel via Gerardmer, Le Collet, and Wildenstein.
(a) Allpatients in the hospital at the time of closing will be transferred tothe relieving units.
6. By direction of the division surgeon,the surgical team, less three female nurses, will accompany F. H. 137.
(a) Thefemale nurses will proceed to Vittel, remaining there until the divisionarrives at its new area.
(b)The C.O., A. C. 138, will arrange for the transportation necessary for compliancewith (a).
7. The X-ray unit and personnel willaccompany F. H. 137.
8. The division laboratory will movewith F. H. 139.
999
9. The medical supply depotwill close at Gerardmer and Kruth at 1 p.m., Sept. 2,1918, and move toBarbey Seroux. Two truckloads of assorted supplies will be taken. Shelldressings, on the basis of 700 to each field hospital, will be taken. Fieldhospitals, ambulance companies, regimental and battalion infirmaries willbe fully equipped with medical supplies. The remaining supplies will beturned over to the M. S. O. (medical supply officer) 6th division.
9½. The train supplyofficer will make necessary arrangements for the supply of the units ofthis command in compliance with Orders No. 80, division hdqrs., August30th, 1918.
10. All unit commanders willmake careful inspections of quarters and billets occupied by the personnelof their command, to see that they are properly policed and that no equipmentis left. The billeting distribution lists will be properly closed.
11. Division orders relating to marchdiscipline and aerial observation will be strictly complied with. The seniorofficer of the troops moving will be responsible for the proper disciplineof his command. Men will not ride on top of trucks nor on the sides.
12. Field hospitals will not openat new locations.
13. The personnel officer will havecharge of billeting arrangements of all units of this command.
14. Train headquarters will closeat Gerardmer at 2 p.m., Sept. 2, and open at same hour and date at BarbeySeroux. Lieut. Mosley will furnish two trucks to train hdqrs. for thismovement.
During the St. Mihiel operation,September 12-16, the division was in reserve, and Field Hospital No. 137was established at Les Cinq Tranchees on the Nancy-Toul road. to act asa triage and to care for emergency cases; seriously sick and injured menwere evacuated to the Justice Groupe at Toul.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to November 8, 1918.
The division proceeded to the St.Mihiel area, with headquarters at Commercy. On March 9, 1919, it movedto Montfort (Sarthe), remaining until April 5, when it proceeded to St.Nazaire preparatory to returning to the United States.
Division headquarters sailed fromSt. Nazaire on April 8, 1919, and arrived at Newport News, Va., April 20,1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Wilson T. Davidson, M. C., September,1917, to April 9, 1918.
Col. Raymond L. Turck, M. C., April10, 1918, to January 8, 1919.
Lieut. Col. Carl Phillips, M. C.,January 9, 1919, to April, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: Anarrowhead with the letter "T" superimposed)
The 36th Division was organized atCamp Bowie, Fort Worth, Tex., under authority of a War Department orderdated July 18, 1917. It was composed of National Guard troops from theStates of Texas and Oklahoma. Just prior to embarking, the division wasbrought up to war strength by the addition of several thousand NationalArmy men from the two States mentioned.
Its composition was as follows:
71st Infantry Brigade:
141st and142d Infantry; 132d Machine Gun Battalion.
72d Infantry Brigade:
143d and144th Infantry; 133d Machine Gun Battalion.
131st Machine Gun Battalion.
61st Field Artillery Brigade:
131st,132d (light), and 133d (heavy) Field Artillery; 111th Trench Mortar Battery.
111th Engineers.
111th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (111th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 141, 142, 143, 144 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 141, 142,143, 144).
The first units of the division arrivedin France May 31, 1918, and the last August 2, 1918.
1000
Immediately upon arrival all units,with the exception of the artillery, were sent to the Thirteenth trainingarea in the vicinity of Bar-sur-Aube, where division headquarters was establishedon July 27. The 61st Field Artillery Brigade was detached and sent to Coetquidan,an Artillery training camp in Brittany, where it remained throughout theperiod of hostilities.
The division was stationed at Bar-sur-Aubeuntil September 26, at which time it moved by rail to the area betweenEpernay and Chalons and established headquarters at Pocancy, Departmentof the Maine. Here it remained 10 days, as a reserve of the French groupof armies of the center, attached to the French Fifth Army for purposesof supply.
To the north, only a short distance,the Meuse-Argonne operation was under way. The American attack betweenthe Argonne and the Meuse was being aided by the French Fourth Army inthe Champagne just to the west. In the latter sector the enemy stubbornlyresisted every attack, and on October 3 the 36th Division was transferredto the French Fourth Army, with which the American 2d Division was alreadyserving.
On the night of October 4 units ofthe division began moving from the Pocancy area to the vicinity of Suippesand Somme-Suippes.
The sanitary train arrived in FranceJuly 31, 1918, and joined the division at Bar-sur-Aube on August 24. Herethe train underwent training, and Field Hospital No. 141 established atemporary hospital for class C men and Field Hospital No. 143 opened forskin and venereal cases. All other casualties were cared for by Camp HospitalNo. 42, at Bar-sur-Aube.
On September 27 the train proceededto Plivot, Marne, where Field Hospital No. 143 established a skin and venerealhospital and Field Hospital No. 141 opened a convalescent hospital at Aulnay.Here the train received 29 additional G. M. C. ambulances, 24 large trucks,and 1 motor cycle. On October 4 United States Army Ambulance Service SectionNo. 586 reported for service with the division.
Meuse-Argonne operation, October7-26, 1918.
The division was then assembled inthe Suippes-Somme-Suippes area and from this point moved to the Triaucourtarea and established headquarters at Conde-en-Barrois. Here it remaineduntil the signing of the armistice as a unit of the American First Army.
Shortly after the conclusion of hostilitiesthe division moved to the 16th Training Area, around Tonnerre, and establishedheadquarters at Cheney. Here it remained until April 26, 1919, when thefirst element started for a port of embarkation for return to this country.
Division headquarters sailed fromBrest May 23 and arrived at New York, June 4.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Raymond F. Metcalf, M. C., September3, 1917, to December 6, 1918.
Lieut. Col. John J. O'Reilly, M.C., December 7, 1918, to May, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: A redcircle with a white border)
The 37th Division was organized atCamp Sheridan, Ala., under authority of a War Department order dated July18, 1917. It was composed of National Guard troops from the State of Ohio,supplemented by National Army men.
Its composition was as follows:
73d Infantry Brigade:
145th and146th Infantry; 135th Machine Gun Battalion.
74th Infantry Brigade:
147th and148th Infantry; 136th Machine Gun Battalion.
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62d Field Artillery Brigade:
134th and135th (light), 136th (heavy) Field Artillery; 112th Trench Mortar Battery.
134th Machine Gun Battalion.
112th Engineers.
112th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (112th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 145, 146, 147, 148, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 145, 146,147, 148).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France June 18, 1918, and the last July 21, 1918. All elements, withthe exception of the artillery, were immediately dispatched to the Bourmont(Haute-Marne) area for preliminary training. For the same purpose the artillerywas sent to Camp de Souge, near Bordeaux. It never rejoined the divisionduring the period of hostilities, but participated in the Meuse-Argonneoperation, serving successively with the American Fourth Corps, AmericanSecond Army, French Second Colonial Army Corps, and the French SeventeenthArmy Corps.
The division remained in the Bourmontarea until the latter part of July, at which time it entrained for thequiet Baccarat sector, in the Vosges. On August 4 front-line trenches wereoccupied for the first time. The division was relieved in this sector September16.
From Baccarat it moved to the areaaround the town of Robert-Espagne, and after a rest of four days proceededto Recicourt, Department of the Meuse. Two days later the first elementsof the division moved north to join in the Meuse-Argonne operation, soonto be launched; division headquarters was established at Verrieres-en-HesseFarm, 4 km. (2.4 miles) south of Avocourt.
The sanitary train joined the divisionin the Bourmont training area and moved with it to the Baccarat sector.Here the ambulance triage was established at Merviller, with advance dressingstations at Vaxainville, Ste. Pole, and Pexonne, from which points "cabstands," or ambulance posts, were established in various towns, ambulancesfor these stands being sent out by the nearest ambulance company. Thesefour ambulance dressing stations were maintained by each ambulance companyin turn so each became familiar with the duties of a triage and dressingstation.
The field hospitals did not receivebattle casualties; these were sent direct from the triage to EvacuationHospital No. 2, at Baccarat.
The field hospitals functioned asfollows: Field Hospital No. 145 was established in the woods between Mervillerand Brouville for skin and venereal diseases, except scabies; No. 146 onthe Meurthe, near Baccarat. This hospital had excellent bathing facilitiesfor the treatment of skin diseases; No. 147 was established in semipermanentbarracks in the chateau grounds at Baccarat and cared for all minor andemergency surgical work. No. 148 occupied permanent barracks near Baccaratand cared for all cases not included in the foregoing classification.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to October 3, 1918.
On October 1 the division was relievedon a line just south of Cierges and retired to Pagny-sur-Meuse.
After a brief rest it was transportedto the St. Mihiel region, and headquarters was established at Euvezin.In this area the division took over a line extending from the Bols de Hailbot,along the northern edge of the Bois de la Montagne and Bois de Charey,to the southern edge of the Etang de Lachaussee. Although the sector wasnormally quiet, the division was subjected to a heavy and continuous bombardmentfrom the moment it entered. It was relieved in this sector on October 15,and again moved to Pagny-sur-Meuse.
In this sector the sanitary traintook over the positions occupied by the 89th Division. Two field hospitalsand a triage were established at Bernecourt; one field hospital at Bouillonvilleand the remaining hospital took care of the sick of the division in a Frenchhospital near Noviant. The ambulance companies established dressing stationsat Pagny,
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Thiaucourt, and Jaulny. The regimentalstations were located near Jaulny, Beney, and Xammes. This sector was veryactive, with considerable artillery fire, a preponderance of gas shells,and many casualties.
Ypres-Lys operation, October 31,to November 11, 1918.
After the signing of the armisticethe division started moving east; but just before reaching Brussels orderswere received to turn back, and, on December 7, headquarters was locatedat Hondschoote, France. Detachments of the division, however, participatedin the entry of King Albert into Brussels.
From Hondschoote the 37th Divisionmoved to Wormhoudt and thence to Le Mans to embark for this country. Divisionheadquarters sailed on March 15 and arrived at New York March 23, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Lieut. Col. James A. Hall, M. C.,September, 1917, to August 28, 1918.
Col. John C. Darby, M. C., August29, 1918, to September 6, 1918.
Col. Louis Brechemin, Jr., M. C.,September 7, 1918, to February 8, 1919.
Col. John C. Darby, M. C., February9, 1919, to March, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: Particoloredquadrant representing part of a rainbow)
The 42d Division was organized inAugust, 1917, at Camp Mills, N. Y. Its personnel was composed of NationalGuard troops from 26 States and the District of Columbia. Individual enlistmentsand later replacements brought into the organization representatives ofpractically every State in the Union, thus making this division a trulycomposite, all-American unit.
The organization was as follows:
83d Infantry Brigade:
165th and166th Infantry; 150th Machine Gun Battalion.
84th Infantry Brigade:
167th and168th Infantry; 151st Machine Gun Battalion.
149th Machine Gun Battalion.
67th Field Artillery Brigade:
149th and151st (light), 150th (heavy) Field Artillery; 117th Trench Mortar Battery.
117th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (Sanitary Train 117: Field Hospitals Nos. 165, 166, 167, 168, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 165,166, 167, 168).
The first unit of the division togo overseas arrived in France November 1, 1917; the last December3, 1917.
For training purposes, the division(less artillery) was sent to the Vauouleurs area and then to the Rimaucourtand Rolampont areas successively. For the same purpose the Artillerybrigade went to Coetquidan, rejoining the division in the Rolampont areathe middle of February. With the exception of three short periods,when it supported the 4th, 32d, and 2d Divisions, successively, the Artillerybrigade served continuously with the 42d Division throughout operations.
To complete its training the divisionwas attached to the French Seventh Army Corps in the Luneville Sector, February21, 1918, and its units participated in raids of major and minor importanceand in the routine of trench warfare. On March 31 the division tookover the Baccarat Sector, relieving the French 128th Division in line.
The sanitary train arrived with thedivision at the Vauouleurs area in the early part of November, 1917, withthe exception of Field Hospital No. 166, which joined December 24, 1917. Here the train underwent extensive training. For the first two weeksthe division had no ambulances, and infirmaries were established in everyvillage where
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troops were billeted. On November11 Field Hospital No. 168 opened for division sick at Mauvages. When thedivision moved to the Rolampont area, in December, 1917, Field HospitalNo. 165 established a camp hospital at Langres.
In the Luneville sector the fieldhospitals were so disposed as to be of most assistance to the French medicalservice, under whom the train served coincident with the move to this sector.Motor equipment was issued for three field hospitals and animal-drawn transportationfor Field Hospital No. 168.
Field Hospital No. 166 established,on February 25, 1918, at Luneville; Field Hospital No. 167 was held inreserve at the latter place, but furnished details to assist Field HospitalNo. 166. The animal-drawn Ambulance Company No. 168, at Baccarat, was splitup and details were assigned to various French hospitals. Field HospitalNo. 165 remained at Langres. The ambulance companies received 36 new G.M. C. ambulances. Dressing stations were not established in this sector,but numerous ambulance posts were maintained. In addition to these posts,tours of the entire area were made each day by other ambulances for thepurpose of collecting such sick and wounded as had accumulated during thepreceding 24 hours. Ambulance posts were changed every two days, thus givingthe entire personnel an opportunity to familiarize itself with the locationsand roads as well as with conditions as they existed at the front.
When, on March 31, the division relievedthe French 128th Division in the Baccarat sector, it took over the lineas a tactical unit on a frontage of about 15 km. (9 miles). Ambulance postswere established at Migneville, Reherrey, Montigny, St. Maurice, Badonviller,Village Negre, Pexonne, Celles Wood, Vacqueville, Neufmaisons, and Merviller,with company reserves at Bertrichamps. Tactically the sector was dividedinto halves, with Neufmaisons and Merviller as the controlling centersor frontal points, each having access to the front by at least three roads.Dressing stations were established at Montigny, at a sawmill near St. Maurice,and at Pexonne. A relay and regulating station, which also performed someservice as a dressing station, was located at Merviller. Animal-drawn ambulanceswere stationed at Azerailles, Glonville, Neufmaisons, Brouville, and Deneuvre,while to meet emergencies four motor ambulances were posted at Baccarat,two of them at French Evacuation Hospital 2 1/2 and two at Hospital No.226. An emergency group was formed consisting of 1 officer, 24 men, and3 ambulances. The group, whose personnel was changed daily, was postedat Bertrichamps and was available for immediate service in the event ofany emergency at the front. When an emergency developed, the dressing stationpart of the area affected moved forward to reinforce the aid station involved,taking over the station and sending forward such of its personnel as wereneeded near or in the lines. As a result of this practice, seriously woundedreached the hospitals within three or four hours; frequently in less time.
The field hospital section was orderedto this sector shortly after April 23. Field Hospital No. 65 receivedseriously and nontransportable wounded at Baccarat until Evacuation HospitalNo. 2 began to receive patients from the division. French Hospital No.226 received the sick, Field Hospital No. 68 operated at the French hospitals"mixte" and "temporaire." and took entire charge of French Evacuation HospitalNo. 2 ½. All of these formations were at Baccarat. Thepersonnel of Field Hospitals No. 165 and No. 168 was supplemented by 20female nurses. A hospital for skin cases and a camp for venereal caseswere operated by Field Hospitals No. 166 and No. 167, respectively.
Champagne Sector, Champagne-Marnedefensive, June 21 to July 17.
On June 21, the division was withdrawnand proceeded to east of Reims, where it took part in the Champagne-Marneoperation.
Champagne-Marne operation July 15-17,1918.
Aisne-Marne operation, July 25 toAugust 3, 1918.
St. Mihiel operation, September12-16, 1918.
After the St. Mihiel operation thedivision remained in front-line position in the Essey and Pannes sectoruntil September 30, when it was withdrawn and moved to the region southof Verdun, and became part of the reserve of the First Army.
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Meuse-Argonne operation, October1 to November 11, 1918.
Army of Occupation.
Division headquarters sailed fromBrest on April 7, 1919, and arrived at New York on April 26, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Jay W. Grissinger, M. C., August14, 1917, to June 30, 1918.
Col. David S. Fairchild, Jr., M.C., July 1, 1918, to May, 1919.
(National Army. Insignia: Facsimileof Statue of Liberty in gold against a blue sky)
The 77th Division was organized inAugust, 1917, at Camp Upton, N. Y. It was composed of National Armydrafted men, the majority being from New York State, and from the metropolitandistrict in particular. The minority were drawn from all sections of thecountry. The organization was as follows:
153d Infantry Brigade:
305th and306th Infantry; 305th Machine Gun Battalion.
154th Infantry Brigade:
307th and308th Infantry; 306th Machine Gun Battalion.
152d Field Artillery Brigade:
304th,305th (light), 306th (heavy) Field Artillery; 302d Trench Mortar Battery.
304th Machine Gun Battalion.
302d Engineers.
302d Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (302 Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 305, 306, 307, 308 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 305, 306,307, 308).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France April 12, 1918; the last May 12, 1918.
For purposes of training, the division(less artillery) was attached to the 39th British Division in the vicinityof Eperlecques (Pas-de-Calais). For the same purposes the Artillery brigadewas sent to Camp de Souge near Bordeaux. It rejoined the division in theBaccarat sector July 12, and remained with it throughout combat operations.On June 11 the division proceeded by train to the Vosges, and on June 21entered the line in the Baccarat Sector, brigaded with the French. On August 4, it was relieved in line by the 37th Division, and marched to Le Charme,where it entrained August 6 for the Chateau-Thierry area.
In the Baccarat Sector, as in theBritish training area, regimental medical detachments received continualinstruction, according to a very thorough schedule, in all duties incidentto their service. The ambulance companies operated individually towarda central point designated as the triage, and the field hospitals wereassigned to care for the several classes of cases received--Field Hospital,No. 305, skin and contagious cases; No. 306, general medical; No. 307,surgical; and No. 308, venereal. In more active sectors venereal caseswere kept with their organizations. Special efforts were made to assignmedical officers according to their qualifications. One of the most importantdevelopments in this sector was the organization of the triage, but thiswas not fully perfected until the division moved to its sector on the Vesle.
Vesle Sector, August 12-17, 1918.
Oise-Aisne operation, August 18to September 16, 1918.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to November 11, 1918.
After the armistice the divisionwas sent to the 9th Training Area, with headquarters established at Chateauvillain.Here it remained until it returned to the United States. Headquarters sailedfrom Brest on April 17 and arrived at New York April 25, 1919.
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DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Charles R. Reynolds, M. C.,August 26, 1917, to August 5, 1918.
Col. Robert W. Kerr, M. C., August7, 1918, to January 23, 1919.
Col. O. G. Brown, M. C., January24, 1919, to March 3, 1919.
Lieut. Col. David B. Downing, M.C., March 4, 1919 to April, 1919.
(National Army. Insignia: A lightningflash in white diagonally across a red semicircle)
The 78th Division was organized in August, 1917, at Camp Dix, N. J., from National Army men of New York, NewJersey, and Delaware, later supplemented by men from the New England Statesand Illinois. The organization was as follows:
155th Infantry Brigade:
309th and310th Infantry; 308th Machine Gun Battalion.
156th Infantry Brigade:
311th and312th Infantry; 309th Machine Gun Battalion.
153d Field Artillery Brigade:
307th,308th (light), 309th (heavy) Field Artillery; 303d Trench Mortar Battery.
307th Machine Gun Battalion.
303d Engineers.
303d Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (303d Sanitary Train; FieldHospitals Nos. 309, 310, 311, 312, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 309, 310,311, 312).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France May 18, 1918; the last June 12, 1918. Upon arrival the division(less artillery) was assigned to the Second Army Corps, then operatingwith the British in Flanders. Training was begun in the area around Nielles-les-Blequin,near the Ypres front. For the same purpose the Artillery brigade was sentto Camp Meucon, in Brittany. It left Camp Meucon on August 17 and marchedto the Toul sector, where it relieved the 1st Field Artillery Brigade,on August 28-29. It supported the 90th Division in the St. Mihiel operation,and rejoined the 78th Division October 4.
On July 18, the division moved tothe Arms area, with headquarters established at Roellecourt. On August20, it left the British sector and moved to the 11th Training Area, withheadquarters at Bourbonne-les-Bains (Haute-Marne). While here the divisionwas placed in the reserve of the First Army Corps, and a march north preparatoryto the concentration for the St. Mihiel operation began.
The sanitary train arrived in FranceJune 16, 1918, and while at Le Havre half of the train (Ambulance CompaniesNo. 309 and No. 310 and Field Hospitals No. 309 and No. 310) were detachedand sent to an American training sector. They rejoined the division inSeptember and October, 1918. On arrival in the British training sectorAmbulance Companies No. 311 and No. 312 and Field Hospitals No. 311 andNo. 312 were combined, forming Field Ambulances No. 311 and No. 312. Thesewere equipped and made to conform with the British field ambulance.
Field Ambulance No. 311 took stationat Bournonville and Field Ambulance No. 312 at Vieil-Moutier, where theytook care of the division sick. Serious cases were evacuated to a basehospital near Boulogne. July 19 the field ambulances were separated intofield hospitals and ambulance companies, the former moving to Buneville,where they again cared for division sick, and the latter to Neuville-au-Cornet,where they served the division in collection of the sick. On August 20the train left for Bourbonne-les-Bains, where it remained until the 28th.While at this station, Field Hospitals No. 309 and No. 310 rejoined thedivision and United States Army Ambulance Service section No. 560 was
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attached. The train left Bourbonne-les-Bainson August 28-29, 1918, for Bourmont, where it remained until September 3,when it proceeded to the Toul area.
St. Mihiel operation, September 12-16.
The sanitary train remained in theareas mentioned in the St. Mihiel operation until October 4.
On the nights of October 3-4 and4-5 the division was relieved and moved to the Foret de la Reine,and thence to the Clermont-en-Argonne area. On October 10 it moved to theeastern border of the Argonne Forest, with headquarters at Varennes. Itwas at this time a unit of the First Army Corps, operating as the left flank corps of the First Army.
The sanitary train proceeded withthe division to Clermont-en-Argonne, with the exception of Field HospitalNo. 310, which remained at St. Jacques to care for the renaming sick.
Meuse-Argonne operation, October15 to November 11, 1918.
In the latter part of November thedivision moved to an area in the Cote d'Or, with headquarters at Lemur-en-Auxois.It moved to ports of embarkation the latter part of April. Headquarterssailed from Bordeaux on May 24 and arrived at New York June 6, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEON3
Col. George M. Eckwurzel, M. C.,August 25, 1917 to June 10, 1919.
(National Army. Insignia: A graylorraine cross on a blue shield outlined in gray)
The 79th Division was organized August25, 1917, at Camp Meade, Md. It was originally composed of National Armymen from the States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.Later drafts brought men from New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
The organization of the divisionwas as follows:
157th Infantry Brigade:
313th and314th Infantry; 311th Machine Gun Battalion.
158th Infantry Brigade:
315th and316th Infantry; 312th Machine Gun Battalion.
310th Machine Gun Battalion.
154th Field Artillery Brigade:
310th,311th (light), and 312th (heavy) Field Artillery.
304th Field Signal Battalion.
304th Trench Mortar Battery.
304th Engineers.
Trains (304th Sanitary Train; FieldHospitals Nos. 313, 314, 315, 316 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 313, 314,315, 316).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France July 12, 1918, and the last August 3, 1918.
The division, less the artillery,immediately went into training in the 10th training area, with headquartersat Prauthoy, Haute-Marne. The artillery, upon landing in France, was sentto La Courtine (Creuse), where it remained in training until after thearmistice and rejoined the division in January, 1919, in the Souilly area,south of Verdun.
The work in the training area continueduntil September 8, when the movement to the front started. Moving by railto an area around Robert Espagne and Bar-le-Duc, the division detrainedand proceeded by trucks and marching; on September 16 it took over theMontfaucon, or 304th, sector (about 16 km. (9.6 miles) northwest of Verdun),relieving the French,157th Division. This sector was approximately 5 km.(3 miles) in width, but on September 22, in anticipation of the Meuse-Argonneoperation, was contracted to about 2.5 km. (1.5 miles). While in this sectortwo enemy raids were repulsed.
1007
The sanitary train arrived with thedivision and underwent training at the Prauthoy training area. No ambulanceswere available until the latter part of August, when two sections (Nos.502 and 506) of the United States Army Ambulance Service were attachedto the sanitary train.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to October 3, 1918.
Troyon sector, October 5-25, 1918.
Meuse-Argonne operation, October29 to November 11, 1918.
From November 11 to December 26 thedivision remained on the battle front, taking over a front extending fromDamvillers, on the north, to Fresnes-en-Woevre, on the south, for patroland police. On December 10, the headquarters, Headquarters Company, and3d Battalion, 314th Infantry, proceeded to an area around Montmedy, Stenay,and Virton (Belgium) for the purpose of guarding property, listing material,and maintaining order. On February 1, 1919, this detachment rejoined thedivision in the Souilly area.
Moving to the Souilly area, southof Verdun, on December 27 the division found itself completely assembledfor the first time in France, when it was joined in January by the Artillerybrigade.
The division moved from the Souillyarea during the last days of March to the fourth training area, northeastof Chaumont, around Andelot and Rimaucourt, where it was reviewed on April12 by General Pershing. The movement from this area to Nantes and St. Nazairebegan on April 19, the artillery going to St. Nazaire and the infantryto the vicinity of Nantes and Cholet.
Division headquarters sailed fromSt. Nazaire on May 18, 1919, and arrived at New York City on May 27, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEON3
Col. Philip W. Huntington, M. C.,August 22, 1917 to June, 1919.
(National Army. Insignia: Threeblue peaks on a shield of khaki)
The 80th Division was organized August27, 1917, at Camp Lee, Va. It was composed of National Army men from theStates of Virginia, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania.
The organization was as follows:
159th Infantry Brigade:
317th and318th Infantry; 313th Machine Gun Battalion.
160th Infantry Brigade:
319th and320th Infantry; 315th Machine Gun Battalion.
155th Field Artillery Brigade:
313th,314th (light), 315th (heavy) Field Artillery; 305th Trench Mortar Battery.
314th Machine Gun Battalion.
305th Engineers.
305th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (305th Sanitary Train; FieldHospitals Nos. 317, 318, 319, 320 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 317, 318,319, 320).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France May 23, 1918, and the last June 18.
The division, less the artillery,immediately went into training with the British in the Samer training area,a few kilometers east of Boulogne. The artillery was first sent to Redonnear St. Nazaire, but completed its training at Camps de Coetquidan andMeucon. The Artillery brigade did not rejoin the division until September,1918.
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After a short period of trainingat Samer, the division moved to the Third British Army sector, with headquartersat Beauval. Second line trenches between Albert and Arms were occupied.During this period front-line trenches were also occupied by battalionunits. One battalion participated in an attack in conjunction with NewZealand troops, and one with the Welsh 38th Division.
The division was relieved in thissector on August 20 and moved south to the fourteenth training area, lyingbetween Chaumont and Chatillon-sur-Seine. Here it remained until August31. On September 1 the 80th Division moved by rail to the Stainville area,and later marched to the Tronville area. While in the latter the divisioncomposed the reserve of the First Army during the St. Mihiel operation.The 320th Infantry and 315th Machine Gun Battalion were attached to theFrench Second Colonial Corps and actively participated in the operation.The 155th Artillery Brigade rejoined the division while in this sector.
On September 14 the 80th Divisionwas transported to the vicinity of Ippecourt and placed in the AmericanThird Corps. On the night of the 20th it moved forward preparatory to enteringthe Meuse-Argonne operation.
The sanitary train arrived in FranceJune 8-9, 1918. It did not join its division immediately, but was billetedand underwent training during June and July in three small villages inthe Department Haute Saone--Chauvirey-le-Chatel, Chauvirey-le-Vieil, andOuge. On July 28, Field Hospitals No. 319 and No. 320, and Ambulance CompaniesNo. 319 and No. 320 were ordered to the British Third Army sector for furthertraining and were furnished British equipment. Ambulance Companies No.317 and No. 318 were detached from the train the latter part of July andwere lost to the division until October.
When the division was relieved fromthe British training area, the sanitary train proceeded to the Tronvillearea, where it remained in reserve during the St. Mihiel operation.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to November 11, 1918.
On November 8 the division marchedto the Cornay-Apremont area and on the 12th moved to the Les Islettes area.Here it rested until the 18th, then the division moved by marching to thefifteenth training area, southwest of Chatillon-sur-Seine.
The 155th Artillery Brigade rejoinedDecember 5, after having served successively with the 80th, 4th, 5th, and90th Divisions, without relief, for a period of 48 days.
On March 30, 1919, the 80th Divisionstarted for the Le Mans area, and upon arrival headquarters was establishedat Ecommoy. Here it remained until its return to the United States.
Headquarters sailed from Brest May17, 1919, and arrived at Newport News May 26, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Thomas L. Rhoads, M. C., September10, 1917, to November 13, 1918.
Col. Elliott B. Edie, M. C., November14, 1918, to May, 1919.
(National Guard. Insignia: Silhouetteof wildcat in varying colors according to the different branches of theservice)
The 81st Division was organized atCamp Jackson, S. C., in September, 1917, from National Army drafts fromNorth and South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, and New York.
The organization was as follows:
161st Infantry Brigade:
321st and322d Infantry; 317th Machine Gun Battalion.
162d Infantry Brigade:
323d and324th Infantry; 318th Machine Gun Battalion.
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156th Field Artillery Brigade:
316th,317th (light), 318th (heavy) Field Artillery; 306th Trench Mortar Battery.
316th Machine Gun Battalion.
306th Engineers.
306th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (306th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 321, 322, 323, 324, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 321, 322,323, 324).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France August 15, 1918; the last August 25, 1918.
For training purposes, the division(less artillery) was sent to the sixteenth training area, with headquartersat Tonnerre (Yonne). For the same purpose the Artillery brigade was sentto Valdahon (Doubs). It did not participate in operations, but rejoinedthe division in November, 1918.
The division proceeded to the Vosgeson September 14. Arriving September 20, it took over the St. Die Sectorand remained in the front line from September 20 to October 10, 1918, aspart of the French Thirty-Third Corps, and later as part of the FrenchTenth Corps. Command of the sector passed to the commanding general, 81stDivision, on October 2. On October 19 the division moved to the vicinityof Rambervillers (Vosges), and from there to the Sommedieue sector, southeastof Verdun, where it was in the reserve of the French Seventy-Second ColonialCorps. On November 7 it passed to the French Second Colonial Corps, andrelieved the American 35th Division in line.2
The sanitary train arrived in Francethe latter part of August, 1918, and joined the division in the sixteenthtraining area, September 4. Here the train underwent training until September15, when it proceeded to the St. Die sector.
Owing to the fact that in the St.Die sector the front was 37 km. (22.2 miles) and the evacuating pointswere two, Baccarat and Bruyeres, respectively, it was necessary to establishall field hospitals with varying functions: Field Hospital No. 321 relievedField Hospital No. 367, 92d Division, at Bruyeres. It moved on October12 to La Salle, where it assisted Field Hospital No. 322. Field HospitalNo. 223 relieved Field Hospital No. 365, 92d Division, at Raon l'Etape.Field Hospital No. 324 relieved Field Hospital No. 366, 92d Division, atSt. Die. Ambulance Company No. 324 established dressing stationsat Celles, Veriges, and Pierre Percee.
Other ambulances were stationed atvarious points on the front and were accessible at all times for sick andwounded. During the stay of the division in this sector battle casualtieswere very light, only 62 being evacuated to divisional hospitals. It sufferedgreatly from influenza, and during the period from September 20 to October23 field hospitals admitted 1,049 influenza cases and 165 cases of pneumonia.
Meuse-Argonne operations, November1-11, 1918.
On November 17 the division was relievedfrom the Sommedieue sector, and moved to the Chatillon-sur-Seine trainingarea, with headquarters at Mussy-sur-Seine, where it remained until May 2, when it was sent to the Le Mans embarkation center preparatory toreturning to the United States.
Division headquarters sailed fromBrest June 1, 1919, and arrived at New York June 11, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEON 3
Col. Kent Nelson, M. C., August 25,1917, to June, 1919.
(National Army. Insignia: Letters"AA" in gold on a blue circle, the whole superimposed on a red square)
The 82d Division was organized atCamp Gordon, Ga., in August, 1917, from National Army men from Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. At a later date the majority of these
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men were transferred to other divisions,their places being filled by drafts from Camps Dodge, Travis, Devens, Upton,Dix, Meade, and Lee, so that the organizations became a truly composite"all-American" unit, as suggested by its insignia.
The organization was as follows:
163d Infantry Brigade:
325th and326th Infantry; 320th Machine Gun Battalion.
164th Infantry Brigade:
327th and32Sth Infantry; 321st Machine Gun Battalion.
137th Field Artillery Brigade:
320th,321st (light), 319th (heavy) Field Artillery; 307th Trench Mortar Battery.
319th Machine Gun Battalion.
307th Engineers.
307th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (307th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 325, 326, 327, 328, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 325, 326,327, 328).
The first unit of the division arrivedin France May 8, 1918; the last July 12, 1918.
For training purposes the division(less artillery) was sent to the Escarbotin area, west of Abbeville, whereit was attached to the British 66th Division. For the same purpose theArtillery brigade went to La Courtine (Creuse). It rejoined the divisionin August, 1918.
The division left Escarbotin June16, and on June 25 relieved the 26th Division in the Toul sector, whereit was brigaded with the French until July 17, upon which date commandpassed to the commanding general, 82d Division. On August 9 it was relievedby the 89th Division and proceeded to the vicinity of Toul, with headquartersat Blenod-les-Toul.
The sanitary train arrived in Francein June, 1918, and joined the division in the Toul sector. While the divisionwas in the Escarbotin area, all casualties were cared for by the British.
In the Toul Sector the train tookover corresponding units of the 26th Division, establishing at Toul twofield hospitals, which functioned essentially as base hospitals, one nearRoyaumeix which served as a triage and one at Abbaye de Rangeval whichreceived gassed patients. The ambulance company section, which had but20 vehicles (8 G. M. C. and 12 animal drawn), was supplemented by UnitedStates Army Ambulance Service Section No. 647, with 30 Ford ambulances.
Marbache Sector August 17 to September11, 1918.
St. Mihiel operation, September12-16, 1918.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to November 7, 1918.
After its relief the division movedby successive stages to the tenth training area, with headquarters establishedat Prauthoy (Haute Marne), November 15, 1918. In March it moved to thevicinity of Bordeaux, with headquarters at Castres, preparatory to returningto the United States.
Division headquarters sailed fromBordeaux on May 9, 1919, and arrived at New York May 20,
1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Conrad E. Koerper, M. C., August25, 1917, October 27, 1918.
Lieut. Col. Frederick G. Barfield,M. C., October 28, 1918.
(National Army. Insignia: Twosolid figures "8" crossed at right angles, resembling a four-leaf clover)
The 88th Division was organized atCamp Dodge, Iowa, in September, 1917, from National Army drafted men ofNorth and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois,
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later supplemented by drafted menfrom Missouri and Nebraska. The organization was as follows:
175th Infantry Brigade:
349th and350th Infantry; 338th Machine Gun Battalion.
176th Infantry Brigade:
351st and352d Infantry; 339th Machine Gun Battalion.
163d Field Artillery Brigade:
338th (light),337th, and 339th (heavy) Field Artillery; 313th Trench Mortar Battery.
337th Machine Gun Battalion.
313th Engineers.
313th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (313th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 349, 330, 351, 352 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 349, 350, 351, 352).
The first units embarked for overseason August 9, 1918; the last units arrived in France September 7, 1918.
Upon arrival the division (less artillery)was ordered to the twenty-first training area, with headquarters establishedat Lemur (Cote d'Or). The Artillery brigade was sent to the artillery trainingschool at Clermont-Ferrand, in the south of France. It never served inthe division again and returned to the United States in January, 1919.
On September 14 the division wasplaced under the command of the French Seventh Army and moved by rail tothe Hericourt training area (Haute Saone) near Belfort. For administrativepurposes alone the division was under the American Seventh Corps with headquartersat Remiremont.
On September 23, 1918, the divisionrelieved the French 38th Division in the center sector, Haute Alsace, withheadquarters established at Montreux Chateau, on October 7. It held thissector until November 2, 1918, when it became a part of the American SecondArmy. One brigade was placed in reserve of the Fourth Corps, the remainderof the division being in army reserve, with headquarters at Lagney.
The sanitary train arrived in Englandon September 1, 1918, and on the 8th proceeded to the training area atLemur, France. While in this area all casualties needing hospital carewere sent to French Auxiliary Hospital No. 35 at Lemur. The train had noambulances and sick were evacuated in automobiles. Serious cases were evacuatedto Base Hospital No. 17, at Dijon, by ambulances belonging to that hospital.
On October 10 the sanitary trainestablished headquarters at Chavennes-sur-l'Etang, in the center sector,Haute Alsace. This sector was divided by the Rhine-Rhone canal into a northernsegment, held by the 175th Brigade, and a southern segment, held by the176th Brigade. One regiment of each brigade was in the line. In the northernsegment two battalions were in line, with headquarters at Hecken and Buethwiller,respectively, the northern battalion operating two advance aid posts locatedin dugouts in the woods and a battalion aid station at Hecken. All of thesestations were easily reached by ambulance. The southern battalion operatedone advance aid post in the northern end of their line and a battalionaid station at Balschwiller, which was very close to the front line. Itwas necessary to carry by litter from the upper station to Balschwiller,which was easily accessible by ambulance. These two stations evacuateddirectly to the field hospital located at Bellemagny all except gassedpatients, who were sent to the triage at Retzwiller.
The segment south of the canal washeld by three battalions of one regiment, with headquarters at Hagenbach,Badricourt, and Fulleren, respectively. The northern battalion operateda battalion aid station at Hagenbach and three advance posts located inthe woods behind companies in the front lines. All of these stations wereso located that ambulances could go within a very short distance of them.The middle battalion operated a battalion aid station at Badricourt andthree advance stations located along a road behind the companies in theline. All of these stations were reached by ambulance.
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The southern battalion operated abattalion aid station at Fulleren and two advance stations behind companiesin the line. These stations also evacuated patients from the battalionaid stations by ambulance to the triage at Retzwiller.
The advance aid posts were equippedto do first-aid dressings and to hold a limited number of patients pendingevacuation. The battalion aid stations had shock tables and were equippedto furnish hot drinks to patients needing them. Antitetanic serum was alsoadministered here. Supplies and equipment were ample for the care of thewounded received. Regimental stations, which were used as supply depots,carrying reserve supplies, cared for only a few slightly sick men who neededcare for a day or two.
After September 20, when motor ambulanceswere received, all transportation was pooled and ambulances were placedwith each battalion and with regimental headquarters. When train headquarterswas established at Chevannes-sur-L'Etang in the Alsace sector, trainingof the ambulance section personnel, less the transportation section, wascontinued. The litter-bearer section and dressing-station personnel ofthe ambulance companies were used as additional personnel at the fieldhospitals. On October 14, Ambulance Company No. 349 established, at Belfort,Rethenans Barracks Hospital, and operated there until November 8, whenit was taken over by Field Hospital No. 352. A part of the personnel ofAmbulance Company No. 351 established a convalescent camp at Bevilliers.Ambulance Company No. 352 established, on October 17, a triage at Retzwillerwhich it operated until November 6, 1918, when the train was reassembledat Vetrigne and entrained at Belfort on November 8. On the 9th, it detrainedat Pagny-sur-Meuse and marched to Legney, where it remained until November29, arriving at Hevilliers on December 1, 1918.
Field Hospital No. 350 assisted Frenchevacuation hospital at Hericourt from September 22 to November 6, 1918.Field Hospital No. 352 established at Romagny from September 20 to November2 for the care of gassed cases. It then took over Rethenans Barracks Hospitalat Belfort, operating it until December 6, 1918. Field Hospital No. 349established a hospital on September 20 at Bellemagny and operated it untilNovember 5. Field Hospital No. 351 was established on September 29 at Checannes-les-Grands,where it operated until November 4.
The field hospital at Bellemagnycared for medical and surgical cases north of the canal, the triage evacuatingmedical and surgical cases to the field hospital located at Chevannes-les-Grandsand gas cases to the gas hospital at Romagny. During the first part ofthe time spent in this sector, field hospitals evacuated to Hericourt,where Field Hospital No. 350 operated a portion of the French evacuationhospital, but later a hospital was opened at Rethenans Barracks to receivepatients from the division. The hospital at Hericourt was then graduallycleared and closed, personnel and equipment being moved to the hospitalat Rethenans Barracks to receive patients from the division. When the timecame for the division to move, all sick patients were transferred to thishospital, which was operated until all had been discharged.
On November 10 the division arrivedin the Toul sector, with headquarters at Legney, 9 km. (5.4 miles) northof Toul, where arrangements were made to complete equipment for more activefighting, but these were discontinued next day when the armistice was signed.
On November 29 the division movedby marching to the first training area, at Gondrecourt (Meuse). On April15, 1919, the division was transferred to the First Army. On April 26 itpassed to the command of the commanding general, S.O.S., preparatory toits return to the United States. Division headquarters sailed from St.Nazaire on May 21, 1919, and arrived at Newport News on June 1, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. J. R. Shook, M. C., August 20,1917, to November 30, 1918.
Maj. H. Hansen, M. C., December1, 1918, to February 27, 1919.
Maj. C. M. Dargan, M. C., February28, 1919, June, 1919.
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(National Army. Insignia: A black"XV" surrounded by a black circle)
The 89th Division was organized inAugust, 1917, at Camp Funston, Kans. Its personnel was composed of NationalArmy men from the States of Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, SouthDakota, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The organization was as follows:
177th Infantry Brigade:
353dand 354th Infantry; 341st Machine Gun Battalion.
178th Infantry Brigade:
355thand 356th Infantry; 342d Machine Gun Battalion.
340th Machine Gun Battalion.
164th Field Artillery Brigade:
340th,341st (light), 342d (heavy) Field Artillery; 314th Trench Mortar Battery.
314th Engineers.
314th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (314th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 353, 354, 355, 356 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 353, 354, 355, 356).
The first unit of the division togo overseas arrived in France June 11, 1918; the last July 10, 1918.
For training purposes the division(less artillery) was sent to the fourth training area, with division headquartersat Reynel. For the same purpose the Artillery brigade went to Camp de Souge,near Bordeaux. It rejoined the division immediately after the St. Mihieloperation, operating with it until the relief of the division in the Euvezinsector, on October 9, 1918, when it remained in support of the 37th and28th Divisions, successively, until the armistice. It rejoined the 89thDivision on the march into Germany.
On August 4, 1918, the division beganthe relief of the 82d Division in the quiet Lucey sector north of Toul,completing the relief August 10. The division operated under the Thirty-secondCorps, French Eighth Army, until August 20, when it passed to the FourthArmy Corps of the newly organized American First Army.
Prior to the arrival of the sanitarytrain in the training area, July 15, 1918, all sick were sent to the neighboringhospitals. Field hospitals of the division were erected and went into operationJuly 17, 1918.
During the night of August 7-8, whilethe division was relieving the 82d Division, the enemy put over from 8,000to 10,000 gas shells, causing many casualties. Most of these casualtiesoccurred when men marching from advance positions through a deep ravineremoved their masks.
Medical Department units in thissector were distributed as follows:
Ambulance Company No. 353, dressingstation at Noviant, 5 km. (3 miles) behind the advanced trenches. Headquartersat Minorville, 2.5 km. (1.5 miles) behind the dressing station.
Ambulance Company No. 354, dressingstation in Rehanne wood, 9 km. (5.4 miles) behind the front line; headquartersat Andilly, 4 km. (2.4 miles) in rear of the dressing station.
Ambulance Company No. 355 acted asan evacuation company, removing patients from triage to
Toul.
Ambulance Company No. 356 (animaldrawn) was in reserve at Andilly.
The field hospitals were locatedand functioned as follows: No. 353 and No. 354, in French barracks at Toul,supplemented by 16 nurses, operated in effect as evacuation hospitals.Field Hospital No. 355, near Royaumeix, 10 km. (6.2 miles) from the front,received gassed cases. Field Hospital No. 356, in Abbaye de Rangeval, onthe extreme left of the divisional sector, received surgical cases. Afterthe gas attack above mentioned there were relatively few casualties inthis sector, for, except during occasional raids, it was quite inactive.
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St. Mihiel operation, September 12-16,1918.
Meuse-Argonne operation, October19 to November 11, 1918.
Army of Occupation.
Division headquarters sailed fromBrest on May 10 and arrived at New York on May 31, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. John L. Shepard, M. C., August25, 1917, to September 23, 1918.
Maj. F. W. O'Donnell, M. C., September27, 1918, to November 30, 1918
Col. L. P. Williamson, M. C., December1, 1918, to May 14, 1919.
Maj. F. W. O'Donnell, M. C., May14, 1919, to June, 1919.
(National Army. Insignia: Monogramof the letters "T" and "O" in red)
The 90th Division was organized in August, 1917, at Camp Travis, Tex. Its personnel was composed of draftedmen from the States of Texas and Oklahoma.
The organization was as follows:
179th Infantry Brigade:
357th and 358th Infantry;344th Machine Gun Battalion.
180th Infantry Brigade:
359th and 360th Infantry;345th Machine Gun Battalion.
343d Machine Gun Battalion.
165th Field Artillery Brigade:
343d and 344th (light), 345th(heavy) Field Artillery; 315th Trench Mortar Battery.
315th Engineers.
315th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (315th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 357, 358, 359, 360 and Ambulance Companies Nos. 357, 358,359, 360).
The first unit of the division togo overseas arrived in France June 23, 1918; the last, July 17, 1918.
For training purposes the division(less artillery) was sent to the Department of Cote d'Or, with headquartersat Aignay-le-Duc. For the same purpose the Artillery brigade went to CampHunt, at Le Courneau (Gironde). It did not participate in operations, butrejoined the division after the armistice on the march into Germany.
On August 19, 1918, the divisionmoved to the vicinity of Toul, with headquarters established at Gondreville.This move was scarcely completed when the division was ordered to relievethe 1st Division in the line in the Villers-en-Haye sector north of Toul,which was accomplished on August 24, 1918.
The sanitary train arrived in EnglandJuly 10, 1918, and on the 16th joined the division in its training areain France. Headquarters of the sanitary train and field hospital sectionwere established at Recey-sur-Ource; Ambulance Companies No. 357 and No.353 were at Rocefort and Ambulance Companies No. 359 and No. 360 at Busseau.While in this area a program of intensive training was carried out by theentire organization. The ambulance section did not receive its vehiclesuntil August 13, when 40 ambulances were received.
On August 23 the sanitary train relievedthat of the 1st Division, headquarters being located at Rosieres-en-Haye.The 90th Division now held a section of the trenches west of Pont-a-Mousson,and the various ambulance companies and field hospitals carried out a methodicalsystem of evacuation, with aid and dressing stations, triage and specializedfield hospitals. Ambulances were assigned to the service of the severalregiments, and units of the train were distributed as follows: AmbulanceCompany No. 357 to St. Georges, Ambulance Company No. 358 to Bois de Marbache,Ambulance Company No. 359 to Jezainville, where it established a dressingstation, and Ambulance Company No. 360
1015
Foret d'Avrainville, in reserve.Field Hospital No. 357, at Griscourt, acted as the triage; Field HospitalNo. 358, at Rogeville, received gassed and slightly sick patients; FieldHospital No. 359, at a point 2 km. (1.2 miles) south of Rosieres-en-Haye,the slightly wounded and the sick; and Field Hospital No. 360, at Boisle Pretre, the contagious and venereal cases. Seriously sick and woundedwere sent to the hospitals at Toul. The division surgeon's office was establishedat Rosieres-en-Haye on August 22. Here a thorough course of training wasgiven all the medical units, aid stations were established, provision wasmade for treatment of gassed patients, and equipment was completed forbattle. Companies were filled to war strength and all preparations weremade for the coming engagement. About September 2 Ambulance Companies No.357 and No. 358 were ordered to Gezoncourt and Ambulance Company No. 360to Joli wood, northeast of Villers-en-Haye.
St. Mihiel operation, September 12-16,1918.
The division remained in line inthe Puvenelle sector until October 10; during this period it engaged inraids of major and minor importance, and participated in demonstrationsconducted against the enemy simultaneously with theinitial attack in the Meuse-Argonne operation, September 26, 1918. On October10 it was relieved by the 7th Division and proceeded to the Blercourt areawest of Verdun, in the reserve of the First Army.
By September 17 the battle line hadagain become stationary, and operation of the medical detachments tookon a more or less routine character. Ambulance Company No. 357 establishedan advance dressing station at Vilcey, on September 20, and a few dayslater Ambulance Company No. 358 opened one at Vieville, behind the leftflank of the 179th Brigade.
Meuse-Argonne operations, October13 to November 11, 1918.
Division headquarters sailed fromSt. Nazaire on May 28, 1919, and arrived at Boston on June 7, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col Paul S. Halloran, M. C., August25, 1917, to December 31, 1918.
Lieut. Col. Earl L. Parmenter, M.C., January 1-16, 1919.
Col. Normal L. McDiarmid, M. C.,January 17, 1919, to May, 1919.
(National Army. Insignia: Greenfir tree)
The 91st Division was organized inAugust, 1917, at Camp Lewis, Wash., from drafted men from the States ofCalifornia, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyomingand from the Territory of Alaska.
The organization was as follows:
181st Infantry Brigade:
361st and362d Infantry; 347th Machine Gun Battalion.
182d Infantry Brigade:
363d and364th Infantry; 348th Machine Gun Battalion.
166th Field Artillery Brigade:
346th,347th (light), and 348th (heavy) Field Artillery; 316th Trench Mortar Battery.
346th Machine Gun Battalion.
316th Engineers.
316th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (316th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 361, 362, 363, 364, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 361, 362,363, 364).
The first unit of the division arrived in France July 20, 1918; the last, July 29, 1918.
For training purposes the division(less artillery) was sent to the eighth training area, in the Departmentof Haute-Marne, with headquarters at Montigny-le-Roi. For the same purposethe Artillery brigade went to Camp de Souge (Gironde), and Clermont-Fer-
1016
rand (Puy-de-Dome). It never rejoinedthe division nor did it participate in combat operations.
On September 7 the division leftthe training area and moved to the vicinity of Gondrecourt, with headquartersat that place. It was assigned to the reserve of the American First Armyduring the St. Mihiel operation, and headquarters was established at Sorcy,September 11, 1918.
The sanitary train arrived in Englandon July 20, 1918, and then proceeded to St. Nazaire, where it remainedin training until August 24, when it rejoined the division at Montigny-le-Roi.The train was without motor transportation, but on August 27 United StatesArmy Ambulance Service Sections No. 593 and No. 640 were assigned to thedivision. Various specialists reported during September, as did a mobilefield laboratory. The field hospitals did not function during the St. Mihieloperation; all sick were evacuated to Evacuation Hospital No. 9, at Vaubecourt.
By the end of September, the sanitarytrain had received sufficient motor trucks to carry all its equipment andsix truck loads of supplies, but when the division entered the Meuse-Argonneoperation the ambulance section of the train still had no ambulance transportationexcept seven animal-drawn ambulances, and the evacuations fell largelyon the two ambulance sections mentioned above.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to October 16, 1918.
Ypres-Lys operation, October 31to November 11, 1918.
After the armistice, November 11,1918, the division remained in Belgium until January, when it moved tothe Le Mans embarkation center preparatory to its return to the UnitedStates.
Division headquarters sailed fromSt. Nazaire on April 6, 1919, and arrived at New York April 16, 1919
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Peter C. Field, M. C., September4, 1917, to October 28, 1918.
Lieut. Col. John G. Strohm, M. C.,October 29, 1918, to November 16, 1918.
Col. O. G. Brown, M. C., November17-24, 1918.
Lieut. Col. John G. Strohm, M. C.,November 25, 1918, to May, 1919.
(National Army, colored. Insignia:Buffalo in black circle on olive-drab field)
The 92d Division was organized inOctober, 1917, at Camps Funston, Grant, Dodge, Upton, Meade, and Dix fromNational Army drafts from all parts of the United States. The divisionwas assembled at Camp Upton, N. Y., in June, 1918.
The organization was as follows:
183d Infantry Brigade:
365th and366th Infantry; 350th Machine Gun Battalion.
184th Infantry Brigade:
367th and368th Infantry; 351st Machine Gun Battalion.
167th Field Artillery Brigade:
349th,350th (light), 351st (heavy) Field Artillery; 317th Trench Mortar Battery.
349th Machine Gun Battalion.
317th Engineers.
317th Field Signal Battalion.
Trains (317th Sanitary Train: FieldHospitals Nos. 365, 366, 367, 368, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 365, 366,367, 368).
The first unit of the division arrived in France June 19, 1918; the last July 18, 1919. For training purposesthe division (less artillery) was sent to the eleventh training area, withheadquarters at Bourbonne-les-Bains (Haute-Marne). For the same purpose
1017
the Artillery brigade wentto La Courtine (Creuse). It rejoined the division in the Marbache sector(Lorraine) October 31, 1918. On August 11, the division went to the Vosges,with headquarters at Bruyeres. On August 24 it commenced the relief ofthe 5th Division in the St. Die sector, completing the relief August 31.It remained in line until September 21, when it proceeded to the vicinityof Triaucourt (Meuse).
The sanitary train joined the divisionin the eleventh training area, where it underwent extensive training. Whenthe division moved to the St. Die sector, Field Hospital No. 367 establishedat Bruyeres, in connection with a French hospital. This unit functionedas an evacuation hospital for the division. In another French hospitalin the same city an American operating team was also established.
Field Hospital No. 366 opened a triageat St. Die, from which the sick were transported to Field Hospital No.367, at Bruyeres, the wounded to the French hospital where the Americanoperating team was stationed, and the gassed to a gas hospital at St. Die.
Another triage was established atRaon l'Etape by Field Hospital No. 365. This evacuated its gassed to St.Die and its wounded to St. Die or Baccarat (Evacuation Hospital No. 2).The animal-drawn organizations, Field Hospital No. 368 and Ambulance CompanyNo. 368, were in reserve at La Salle.
The ambulance section of the sanitarytrain did not function due to lack of transportation. Ambulance servicewas performed by an attached United States Army Ambulance Service section.
Battalion aid stations were in dugouts,well up to the front lines, or with the reserve, and patients were litteredto ambulances in the rear. In some cases, however, it was possible forambulances to reach the stations. Ambulance posts were established at Dijon,St. Jean d'Ormond, St. Michel, and Raon l'Etape. An ambulance dressingstation was established at St. Jean d'Ormond, about 2 km. (1.2 miles) fromthe front line.
Meuse-Argonne operation, September26 to October 4, 1918.
Marbache Sector (Second Army), October9 to November 11, 1918.
After the armistice the divisionremained in the occupied area until the middle of December, when it proceededto the Le Mans embarkation center, preparatory to its return to the UnitedStates.
Division headquarters sailed fromBrest on February 7, 1919, and arrived at New York on February 17, 1919.
DIVISION SURGEONS3
Col. Perry L. Boyer, M. C., November7, 1917, to October 5, 1918.
Lieut. Col. J. S. White, M. C.,October 6, 1918, to February, 1919.
(1) Outlines of Histories ofDivisions, U. S. Army, 1917-1919, prepared by the Historical Section, theArmy War College. On file, Historical Section, the Army War College.
(2) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 1st Division, prepared under the direction of division surgeon,undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(3) Personal Reports. On file,Personnel Division, S. G. O.
(4) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 2d Division, prepared under the direction of the division surgeon,undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(5) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 3d Division, prepared under the direction of the division surgeon,undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(6) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 4th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(7) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 5th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(8) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 6th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
1018
(9) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 7th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(10) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 26th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(11) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 27th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(12) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 28th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(13) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 29th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(14) Report of Medical Departmentactivities,30th Division, prepared under the direction of the division surgeon, undated.On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(15) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 32d Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(16) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 33d Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(17) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 35th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(18) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 36th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(19) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 37th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(20) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 42d Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(21) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 77th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(22) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 78th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G .O.
(23) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 79th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(24) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 80th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(25) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 81st Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(26) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 82d Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(27) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 88th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(28) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 89th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(29) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 90th Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
(30) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 91st Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S G. O.
(31) Report of Medical Departmentactivities, 92d Division, prepared under the direction of the divisionsurgeon, undated. On file, Historical Division, S. G. O.
LISTOF DEPOT AND REPLACEMENT DIVISIONS
31st, National Guard of Georgia,Alabama, Florida.
34th, National Guard of Minnesota,North and South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska.
38th, National Guard of Kentucky,West Virginia, Indiana.
39th, National Guard of Louisiana,Mississippi, Arkansas.
1019
40th, National Guard of California,Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico.
41st, National Guard of Washington,Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming.
76th, National Army, draft; NewEngland States.
83d, National Army, draft; Ohioand West Virginia.
84th, National Army, draft; Indianaand Kentucky.
85th, National Army, draft; Michiganand Wisconsin.
86th, National Army, draft; Illinois.
87th, National Army, draft; Arkansas,Louisiana, Mississippi.
1020
First Army:
Col. A. N. Stark, M.C., June 6, 1918, to December 31, 1918.
Col. T. L. Rhoads, M.C., December 4, 1918, to April, 1919.
Second Army:
Col. Charles R. Reynolds, M.C., September 28, 1918, to May 31, 1919.
Third Army:
Col. J. W. Grissinger, M.C., November 15, 1918, to July 15, 1919.
First Corps:
Lieut. Col. William Reno, M .C., January 20 to February 13, 1918.
Col. Robert M. Culler, M. C., March 3, 1918, to June 15, 1918.
Col. J.W. Grissinger, M. C., June 30, 1918, to November 14, 1918.
Col. T. L. Rhoads, M. C., November 15, 1918, to December 2, 1918.
Second Corps:
Col. C. C. Collins, M. C., March 19, 1918, to January 18, 1919.
Third Corps:
Col. James L. Bevans, M. C., July 1, 1918, to March 16, 1919.
Fourth Corps:
Col. George H. R. Gosman, M. C., June 28, 1918, to September 22, 1918.
Col. John W. Hanner, M. C., September 23, 1918, to May 5, 1919.
Col. J. R. Shook, M. C., May 6, 1919, to May 27, 1919.
Fifth Corps:
Col. W. R. Eastman, M. C., August 19, 1918, to February 23, 1919.
Sixth Corps:
Col. Charles R. Reynolds, M. C., August 5, 1918, to September 27, 1918.
Seventh Corps:
Col. Wallace DeWitt, M. C., September 7, 1918, to April 24, 1919.
Lieut. Col. R. H. Pierson, M. C., April 25, 1919, to May 27, 1919.
Eighth Corps:
Col. J. R. Shook, M. C., December 1, 1918, to March 31, 1919.
Ninth Corps:
Col. Paul C. Hutton, M. C., November 25, 1918, to December 21, 1918.
