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1917 – During World War I, the first 14,000 U.S. infantry troops land in France at the port of Saint Nazaire.
The landing site had been kept secret because of the menace of German submarines, but by the time the Americans had lined up to take their first salute on French soil, an enthusiastic crowd had gathered to welcome them. However, the “Doughboys,” as the British referred to the green American troops, were untrained, ill-equipped, and far from ready for the difficulties of fighting along the Western Front.
One of U.S. General John J. Pershing’s first duties as commander of the American Expeditionary Force was to set up training camps in France and establish communication and supply networks. Four months later, on October 21, the first Americans entered combat when units from the U.S. Army’s First Division were assigned to Allied trenches in the Luneville sector near Nancy, France. Each American unit was attached to a corresponding French unit. Two days later, Corporal Robert Bralet of the Sixth Artillery became the first U.S. soldier to fire a shot in the war when he discharged a French 75mm gun into a German trench a half mile away.
On November 2, Corporal James Gresham and privates Thomas Enright and Merle Hay of the 16th Infantry became the first American soldiers to die when Germans raided their trenches near Bathelemont, France.
After four years of bloody stalemate along the Western Front, the entrance of America’s well-supplied forces into the conflict was a major turning point in the war. When the war finally ended on November 11, 1918, more than two million American soldiers had served on the battlefields of Western Europe, and more than 50,000 of these men had lost their lives.
https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2005/06/27/june-26/
The landing site had been kept secret because of the menace of German submarines, but by the time the Americans had lined up to take their first salute on French soil, an enthusiastic crowd had gathered to welcome them. However, the “Doughboys,” as the British referred to the green American troops, were untrained, ill-equipped, and far from ready for the difficulties of fighting along the Western Front.
One of U.S. General John J. Pershing’s first duties as commander of the American Expeditionary Force was to set up training camps in France and establish communication and supply networks. Four months later, on October 21, the first Americans entered combat when units from the U.S. Army’s First Division were assigned to Allied trenches in the Luneville sector near Nancy, France. Each American unit was attached to a corresponding French unit. Two days later, Corporal Robert Bralet of the Sixth Artillery became the first U.S. soldier to fire a shot in the war when he discharged a French 75mm gun into a German trench a half mile away.
On November 2, Corporal James Gresham and privates Thomas Enright and Merle Hay of the 16th Infantry became the first American soldiers to die when Germans raided their trenches near Bathelemont, France.
After four years of bloody stalemate along the Western Front, the entrance of America’s well-supplied forces into the conflict was a major turning point in the war. When the war finally ended on November 11, 1918, more than two million American soldiers had served on the battlefields of Western Europe, and more than 50,000 of these men had lost their lives.
https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2005/06/27/june-26/
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Military History
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Military History WWI
Posted >1 y ago
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Lafayette we are here!
Spoken by Pershings number one who spoke french. This was at their landing. First stop, the young French royal and american revolutionary supporters grave. Returning the favor.
Tidbit. Pershing, his staff and a small infantry contingent crossed the Atlantic in civies to be inconspicuous.
Sadly Pershing died in a military hospital just after WWII was won, forgotton though he listend and read the goings on from the bed he was in for at least a year. A no nonsense General, MaCArthur and some other future leaders could have learned from him. Your fat, fail, no clue, all about you and your family name, you are gone. We fight as one under good leadership. Unfortunately he was a bit racist. No problem sending blacks to foreign units that welcomed them, treated them well and as equals. Big loss for us in that sense.
They too brought victory, despite what Pershing thought. A man who lead the 10th Cav!
Nyff said
Spoken by Pershings number one who spoke french. This was at their landing. First stop, the young French royal and american revolutionary supporters grave. Returning the favor.
Tidbit. Pershing, his staff and a small infantry contingent crossed the Atlantic in civies to be inconspicuous.
Sadly Pershing died in a military hospital just after WWII was won, forgotton though he listend and read the goings on from the bed he was in for at least a year. A no nonsense General, MaCArthur and some other future leaders could have learned from him. Your fat, fail, no clue, all about you and your family name, you are gone. We fight as one under good leadership. Unfortunately he was a bit racist. No problem sending blacks to foreign units that welcomed them, treated them well and as equals. Big loss for us in that sense.
They too brought victory, despite what Pershing thought. A man who lead the 10th Cav!
Nyff said
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MSG (Join to see)
Great additional info. Thank you!
I will differ with you, though, on Pershing's racial sentiments. As you mention, he ahd lead the 10th Cavalry, a segregated black unit. His racial tollerance, however, was quite advanced for his time. His attaching US black units to French divisions, was not an expression of racism, but because he knew that the French would utilize those units better and more humanely than his subordinate commanders would have.
I will differ with you, though, on Pershing's racial sentiments. As you mention, he ahd lead the 10th Cavalry, a segregated black unit. His racial tollerance, however, was quite advanced for his time. His attaching US black units to French divisions, was not an expression of racism, but because he knew that the French would utilize those units better and more humanely than his subordinate commanders would have.
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SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr.
True to an extent MSG. He was given the name Black Jack during the Spanish American war cause he led them. At that time he did not think they were capable of much despite the Buffalo Soldiers history, name given to the black soldiers cause of their hair by the native americans out west. He still had his doubts in WWI which is partially why he was willing to hand over the sons of Brooklyn to the French where they fought valiantly an d won many a French award. One, Sgt Johnson I believe, about a month ago finally received the CMH.
Racist, perhaps not, as a man from Missouri (might be wrong state wise) his sentiments may have been clouded, he could have sent a white unit. Instead, against his own judgement sent a black one. In reality he wanted no american soldier, sailor or Marine fight with the Brits or French but as a whole American force to fight as one. Pressure got him.
Lafayette would have been saddened by the separation of american soldiers in WWI, considering that he saw poor whites fight side by side with free and enslaved blacks in a common purpose against the tyranny of Great Britain during the revolution and 1812. And together win.
Whatever his sentiment, a general of his calibre in our history are few and far between.
Racist, perhaps not, as a man from Missouri (might be wrong state wise) his sentiments may have been clouded, he could have sent a white unit. Instead, against his own judgement sent a black one. In reality he wanted no american soldier, sailor or Marine fight with the Brits or French but as a whole American force to fight as one. Pressure got him.
Lafayette would have been saddened by the separation of american soldiers in WWI, considering that he saw poor whites fight side by side with free and enslaved blacks in a common purpose against the tyranny of Great Britain during the revolution and 1812. And together win.
Whatever his sentiment, a general of his calibre in our history are few and far between.
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Back when the US Military created the reputation of being BAMF and to not mess with the best.
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