|
Organized August 27, 1917 at Camp Lee, Va. The majority of the officers were from New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, and the enlisted men from Western Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The division began leaving Camp Lee on May 17, 1918, and was embarked at Newport News for France. Its principal points of entry were St. Nazaire, Bordeaux, and Brest. The assembly point of the division was Calais, from which place it departed early in June for the Samur training area, with the British. The artillery was not trained in this area but rejoined the division September 13th. The last units of the division arrived in France June 19, 1918.
Division left Samur training area on July 4th, for Third British Army sector, where it arrived July 5th. All units trained with the British in the Artois sector; while in this sector the troops were attached to the British and were on active duty. On August 18th the units of the division proceeded by rail to the forteenth training area. On Sept. 1st it moved to the Stainville and late to Tronville area as reserve during the St. Mihiel operation. During this time one infantry regiment and one machine gun battalion were serving with the French, taking part in active operations. Commencing Sept. 14th, the division moved into the Argonne and began its preparations for the offensive in that region. On September 16th, in conjunction with other American divisions, it attacked at Bethincourt, advancing a distance of nine kilometers in two days. On Sept. 29th it was relieved and assembled in the vicinity of Ouisy, where on Oct. 4th it again attacked, and over difficult ground attained a distance of four kilometers in nine days. On Oct. 12th the division was again relieved and proceeded by march and bus to the Thiaucourt area where it was re-equipped. On Oct. 29th, making preparations for the resumption of the Meuse-Argonne offensive. The division, on Oct. 29th, entered the line St. Georges-St. Juvin and on Nov. 1st made an attack on that line, penetrating in the next five days a distance of twenty-four kilometers, being relieved the morning of November 6th. Upon relief it proceeded by marching to the Buzancy and Champ Mahaut areas. On the 18th of Nov. The division proceeded by march to the fifteenth training area, completing the march Dec. 1st.
The 155th F.A. Brigade after its relief from duty with the 80th Division, remained in the Cunel sector, serving successively with American divisions in that sector. It was in actor for forty-eight consecutive fighting days. It proceeded by rail from Dun-sur-Meuse to the 15th training area, arriving Dec. 4th to 7th.
Battle deaths, 1,141; wounded 5,622; prisoners 101. Distinguished Service Crosses awarded 42.
Maj. Gen. Adelbert Cronkhite, U.S. Army, commanded the division from Sept. 9, 1917.
The following units composed the division: 159th and 160th Inf. Brigs., 317th, 318th, 319th, 320th Inf. Regts., 314th, 315th M.G. Bns., 155th Art. Brig., 313th, 314th, 315th Arty. Regts. 305th Trench Mortar Battery, 313 Div. Machine Gun Bn., 305th Engr. Regt and Train, 305th Fld Sig. Bn., 305th Train Hqs., and M.P., 305th Supply Train, 205th Amm. Train, 305th Sanitary Train (317th, 318th, 319th, 320th Amb. Cos. And Field Hospitals.)
|
|
