28 OCT--This Day in US Military History, year 2

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 08:42:22 -0400

1918 – World War I was reaching its climax as Allied forces all along the Western Front continue launching attacks against the German “Hindenburg Line”.

Used to keep the pressure on the Germans most of these attacks gain some ground but not all succeed. A case in point is the failed assault launched on this date by the 26th Division (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) in a sector known to the French as the “Death Valley”. But it is no wonder the assault failed. The division was very weak, having been in action almost daily, with little relief, since the start of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in late September. For instance, its 51st Brigade, composed of the 101st Infantry (MA) and the 102nd Infantry (CT), had only 15 officers and just over 800 men when their combined organizational strength should have been 6,100 men. The men were tired but when the order came to advance they moved out.
Despite artillery support from the 101st Field Artillery (MA) and some French cannon, their attack failed to reach its goal and the survivors withdrew to their original jumping off point having lost an additional 150 men killed, wounded or missing. On November 1st the 26th Division was pulled out of Death Valley and sent to a rest area. It would see no more combat as the war ended on November 11th.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/october-28

October 28

28 October 1492 – Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba on his first voyage to the New World. 1768 - Germans and Acadians joined French Creoles in their armed revolt against Antonio de Ulloa the Spa...

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Oct 28 at 2015 8:44 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 08:44:51 -0400

MSG Private RallyPoint Member thanks for the astute military history perspective!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 28 at 2015 10:34 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 10:34:35 -0400

Great post as always

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 2 at 2015 4:13 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 16:13:36 -0500

The German Government conducted a large AAR of WWI. What was intended? Winning the war with fire and maneuver. What happened? Trench warfare. How do you reconcile the two? Highly mobile and combined arms forces.