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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 1942)
PAGE THREE. 91st Off to France July 6, 1918 to Write Proud History MEDFORD MAIL" TRIBUNE.-MEDFORD. OREGON. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14. 1942. Meuse-Argonne Push Among Bright Pages In Division Narrative It was July 6th. 1918. when the crowded liners carrying the 81st Infantry Division. A. E. F., slid from their docks and start ed their perilous Journey across the Atlantic. Twelve tense days passed, but finally at 6 p. m. on July 17 anchors were dropped at Liverpool. Other transports a carried others of the fighting westerners to London, Glasgow, Southampton and La Havre. After a brief rest period the men were entrained for the In terior of France. By the first day of August the Division (less artillery) was set tled in its final training area in the Department of Haute-Marne, with divisional headquarters at Montigny-le-Rol. For the same purpose tl. artillery Brigade went to Camp de Souge (Gi ronde) and Clermont - Ferrand (Puv-de-Dome). At these places the Division underwent inces sant drilling and long hours of marching until it was declared ready for the "big push" ahead. On August 29, Major General William Johnston came to the Division as commanding general and on September 7 the Division moved to the vicinity of Gondre- court, with headquarters at that place. It was assigned to the reserve of the First American Army during the St. Mihiel of fensive, with headquarters at Sorcy. Meuse-Argonne Offensive Prepared The success of the St. Mihtel offensive being assured, the Di vision moved to Vavincourt on September 14th and a few days later to Autrecourt, where the staff learned its mission to smash through the Meuse-Argonne. Soon Ohio's 37th Divi sion relieved the Westerners so that the 91st could prepare for the great Meuse-Argonne offen sive. From that time on Ohio's 37th Division and the 91st fought side by side, climaxing with a brilliant drive across the lowlands of Belgium and affect ing a general German retreat The 91st entered the Meuse- Argonne sector September 20, 1918, and suffered a few casual ties due to raids by the Germans between that data and Septem ber 28, when it assumed the offensive. Nearly every division employed in the Meuse-Argonne had previously served either on the offensive or in some sector of the line on the defensive, but the 91st had no such preliminary experience under fire. In spite of this fact, the fighting 91st captured more artillery, ma chine guns and prisoners, and advanced a greater distance un der fire than several divisions with much longer experience. Pershing's Confidence. Proves Well Founded On the 25th General John J, Pershing, commander - in - chief, personally visited Major Gen eral Johnston to express his con fidence In the men of the 91st before they marched into battle. On the first day the 91st broke through two German lines, pene trated cast a third, and made an advance of eight kilometers. The enemy was driven from such key positions as Very, Epinonville, Gesnes, Eclisfon tame. Tronsol Farm and to s point within half a kilometer of the stronghold of Ivoiry. A great tribute was paid to the 91st by Commanding Gen eral George H. Cameron of the Fifth Army Corps in an' order to General Johnston in which he said: "At a time when the divi sions on its flanks were falter ing and even falling back, the 91st pushed ahead and stead fastly clung to every yard gained. In its initial perform ance, your division has estab lished Itself firmly in the list of " the commander-in-chief 's reliable fighting units. Please extend to your officers and men my appreciation of their splendid behavior and my hearty congratulations on the brilliant record they have made." On October 4 the division was relieved by the '32nd division and went to the vicinity of Cpn One of the great honors given the division came on October 16 when, along with the 37th, it was named as America's con tribution to the armies in Fland ers which, under King Albert were about to launch one last desperate drive at the enemy in Belgium. With these two American divisions were troops of Belgium, France and England. Wild West Division Goes en Rampage The 91st went over the top in the early morning mists of October 31. From that time on. until the very moment of 11 a. m. on November 11, the Wild West Division" attacked and drove the enemy back in panic. By nightfall . of Novem ber 1 the 91st held the outskirts of Audenande; the next day the entire town was in the division's possession. Then in rapid order it took Welden, Petegem and Kasteelwijk. On the morning of November 10, with the 182nd infantry bri gade in the lead, the 91st divi sion doughboys began pressing the fleeing Germans hard. They crossed the Scheldt river near Eyne and occupied a gap in the allied ' forward wall between Cauwenberg and Moldergem. wim only hours to go before the . "zero hour" of Armistice Day, the 182nd Infantry Brigade took Boucle-St. Blaise at the point of the bayonet, cracked into and through Hoogstraet. and had advanced beyond Mol dergem when the order came to cease firing. 91st Division Cited By French General - Because of this valiant fight ing, tne following order was issued by Major General De Goutte who had resumed com mand of the Sixth French Army: VI French Army - . -. H. Q . 11 December, 1918 Oenertl Order No. 31 "In sddreMlns the Divisions of the United states Army who cover ed themselves with glory in the Cheteeu-Thterry offensive. I said tht orders given by the Commend ing officers were elwajra accom plished Irreepectlve of the dlfflcul Ue arising thereby or the sacrifices to be made. . "I have found the same spirit of duty and discipline freely given In the 7th and 81st Divisions. United Statea Army, which brings about valiant soldiers and victorious arm tea. "On the heights between the Lyt and the Excaut the enemy was to be held to the death. The Amer ican troops belonging to these div isions, acting with the French div isions of the Flandera Army Group, smashed them on October 81, 1318. and after hard fighting threw them back upon the Excaut. "Then In an operation of extra ordinary daring, the American units crofter d the Excaut under the enemy fire and maintained them selves on the opposite bank, not withstanding enemy counter-at-taeke. "Olory to such troops and to such commanders. They have brav ely contributed to the liberation of a part of Belgian territory and to final victory. "The great nation to which they belong can be proud of them. "The Commanding Oeneral of the Army -s- "De Ooutte." After the Armistice the 166th Field Artillery Brigade (less the 346th Field Artillery Regiment and the 316th Trench Mortar Battery) moved into Germany, occupying the village of Wittlich until February of 1919. Mean while, the infantry of the Divi sion, after parading triumphant ly with Ohio's men before cheer ing crowds in Brussels, patrolled the Franco-Belgian frontier west of Poperinghe from Beveren to Warande. On the 27th of De cember it moved to the Amer ican Embarkation Center near Le Mans. France, and on Janu ary 2. 1919. the 346th Field Ar tillery, first unit of the Division to board homeward bound trans ports, loaded aboard a steamer at. Brest for home. .The 316th Trench Mortar Battery sailed from St. Nazaire February 23rd and other units followed. Division Headquarters Last To Leave France Division Headquarters, last to leave France, - sailed on April 6th. Final demobilization of the "Wild Westerners" was effected at Camp Kearny, California, Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming, the Presidio of San Francisco, and at Camp Lewis in Wash ington. While the Division served at Le Ferte Bernard, the following orders were issued to announce the name by which the Division was popularly known, the dis tinctive divisional insignia and motto: I. The name "Wild "rest Divis ion." by which this Division has been known since the days of Its organisation at Camp Lewis, Wash ington, in 1817. Is officially recog tilted aa the distinctive divisional name. 3. The distinctive dlvldonal de sign, a green fir tree, adopted aa a personal badge, to be worn by each soldier and man of the Division (O. O. No. 57. Slat Infantry Division, 1B18) la emblematic not only of the foliage found In each State from which the personnel of the Division was selected, but the ever green and ever useful char acter of this foliage la emblematic also of the state of readiness and the degree of usefulness which haa characterised, and should continue to be the aim of each unit of the Division. 8. Sine this Division waa ready to participate In the St. Mihiel operation while atandlng In the reserve of the First American Army; since It was ready to attack In the front line of the Fifty Army Corps, from Foret de Heaae. when the Commsnder-ln-Chlef launched his attack against the enemy's line of communications between the Meuse River and the Anronne For est; since some of its unite were already entraining for Belgium be fore others, marching from the fir ing line, had reached the railroad; since Its units never hesitated to attack the most formidable of the enemy's defenses In Belgium; and since Its members are now ready. either to return to the United States and resume the pureulta of peace, or to continue their service whenc-er ordered by the Commander-in-Chief, the phrase "Always Ready" la adopted aa the divisional motto. By command JOHNSTON : of Major Oeneral Henry C. Jewett Colonel. Oeneral Staff. Chief of Staff. Official: -s- D. J. Comm. Major. A. O, Adjutant. Americans spent $130,000,000 for toys and games in 1941. 3 "POWDER RIVER-LET 'ER BUCK" THE BATTLE CRY OF "EBFORD'S HEW 91st The Toggery extends to the men of the New 91st Division a sincere welcome to Medford. We Invite you to make this store your headquarters when you are away from camp. The friendly atmosphere of The Toggery, like the quality of our merchandise, can't be beatl Open Week-Dsy Nights Til 8:30 TOGGERY 30 NORTH CENTRAL WELCOME 91st DIVISION The Spirit of 1918 Marches On Provide Our Fighting Man With the Equips) They Need BUY MORE BONDS! The BOHEMIAN CLUB Main and Fir 0 WELCOME 91sf Division We know you will carry on the reputation of the old 91st . . . that ground taken will be held against the enemy. Back Up Our Fighting Men With Fighting Dollar! BUY WAR BONBS HODGES CLUB CQ1?CQ ANHD SOUTHIEEKf EEDKf SALOTES THIE 91st. DIVISION NOW TRAIIilllG AT CAMP WHITE TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA'S RAMPARTS and BRING PEACE AND SECURITY to a WORLD AT WAR ft m V 1 A MERICA is now training millions of tough, JElX freedom-loving fighting men for this all-out show-down with the forces of aggression. We're building a great army and navy to safe guard our own front and to carry the fight to the foe wherever he may be ... At Camp White our own division the 91st is becoming conditioned for battle; hardening bodies, stimulating minds, learning the new technique of warfare against the day soon to come when "Powder. River, Let 'er Buck" will become the ringing cry on some distant battle field. We're proud of these men, proud of the officers who will lead them, glad that they have come to OUR community to serves , Medford, Jackson County and all Copcoland pays tribute to the 91st Division upon the occasion of the re-activation of the division tomorrow at Camp White. mil? .WK 9Hsi. A (SEAKflD) MVDSnQKT WMTIKI (SMEMmJS EVERY man, woman and child in southern Oregon and the entire nation may well be proud of this fighting division the 91st! Rich in traditions of gallantry and achievement at Meuse-Argonne and Ypres-Lys a quarter century ago, the Pine Tree Division will again bring glory to our flag, our nation and our com munity. Under the leadership of resourceful, bril liant Major General Gerhardt, the 91st will give a good account of itself in the days ahead. Visit Camp White Saturday morning . . . You will be inspired by the ceremonies marking the re-birth of a grand fighting outfit the 91st. Asa Personal Tribute to Our Own 91st Division MJY ftlOTtfE WAIft B(S02)S AW' STAMPS WW2 Don't wait 'till it's too late ... do it NOW ... . TODAY and every day... buy all the War Bonds and Stamps you can ... do your part in this fight for victory and freedom. 0 The CALIFORNIA OREGON POWER COMPANY "POWDER RIVER LET 'ER BUCK" 44 SOUTH CENTRAL
