Francis Warren AFB-- Part 3: Fort Russel and "Black Jack" Pershing

In 1906, Secretary of War  William Howard Taft recommended an expansion for Fort Russell to brigade-size and by 1910, there were a lot more buildings.  Artillery units were assigned to the fort as well.

From 1913-1916, during the Mexican Revolution, artillery units were stationed along the border to keep the struggle from  coming to U.S. territory. During World War I, the fort served as a mobilization point and training facility for field artillery and cavalry units.

When the war began, Fort Russell became one of the largest stateside Army posts.

Quarters No. 2 at the post were for the second in command and  at one time the family of John J. "Black Jack" Pershing lived there.  He later led U.S. Forces in World War I.    He had married the daughter of Francis E. Warren.  Within two years of his marriage to Helen Frances Warren in 1905, Pershing was raised four ranks from captain to brigadier general.  Something unheard of in those days.

It is suspected that being married to the daughter of a very powerful U.S. senator and a personal favorite of Theodore Roosevelt had something to do with it.

For the post's role in World War II, go to my Tattooed On Your Soul:  World War II blog.

--Cooter

Boy Scouts Getting Into Pershing Week and Selling War Stamps

From the September 12, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"When you pass the booth of the Boy Scouts at the Leslie's building, stop and ask the boys what they are doing.

"They will inform you that it is Pershing week and they are so enthused that they will induce you to show your patriotism.  They reported sales of the stamps as 'pretty good' this afternoon."

Supporting the War Effort.  --DaCoot

"The Deadliest Weapon In the World" USMC

Today marks the 243rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  Tomorrow marks the 100th year since the end of World War I, and, of course, Veterans Day.

Probably the greatest compliment ever paid to the Marines is this quote by the Commander of American Forces in Europe during World War I, John "Blackjack" Pershing.

"The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle."

Oh Yeah!!  Thanks General.  --CootMarine

Cher Ami the Pigeon-- Part 3: American Hero and Awards

For this, Cher Ami became a hero of the 77th Division.  Army medics worked to save her life.  They were unable to save it so they carved a small wooden one.  When she had recovered enough to travel, the now one-legged bird was put on a boat back to the United States, with General John J. Pershing seeing her off.

AWARDS

 Cher Ami was given  the Croix de Guerre Medal by the French for delivering 12 messages at Verdun.

She died at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, on June 13, 1919, of the wounds she received.

After that, she was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931.  She also received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers.

The man responsible for training and caring for her in the U.S. Signal Corps, Enoch Clifford Swain, was given an award for his service.

--Cooter

WW I Chronology, August 1918: The Vesle Defensive Sector

VESLE DEFENSIVE SECTOR

August 4 to 17

U.S. casualties:  623 Killed in Action, 3,425 Wounded in Action.

From Wikipedia.

Vesle refers to the French River.

During World War it was just behind the French-held front, but at times, particularly in the spring and summer of 1918, it was the scene of heavy.  It was part of the Second Battle of the Marne.

In early August the Vesle River front in early August led U.S. General Pershing to form the U.S. First Army there for upcoming action.

Cooter

First Americans Killed in WW I Action-- Part 4: Thomas Enright

From Wikipedia

Thomas F. Enright, private.  First Pennsylvanian serviceman killed in action WW I and perhaps the first American to die.  (It is not known in what order the  three men were killed.)

Born May 8, 1887.  His parents were Irish immigrants.  Enlisted in the Army in 1909 and served in the Chinese Boxer Rebellion and the Philippines Insurrection.  In 1914 he was in Vera Cruz, Mexico, with Pershing looking for Pancho Villa.

In 1916, he left the Army and went home to Pittsburgh.  He reenlisted in the 16th Infantry at Fort Bliss, Texas.  On June 26, 1917 he and his regiment disembarked in France.

--Cooter

"For Sammy in France" 1917

From the August 23, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb Couty, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"General Pershing has sent the request that we send our papers and magazines to the boys in France.  It is only necessary to roll two or three together, tie securely, write on the margin, "For Sammy in France," and put on a one cent postage stamp.

Just think how we miss our morning paper if for any reason it does not reach us each morning by breakfast time.  The boys will be very greatly pleased even though the news be a week or two old."

The War Effort.  --DaCoot

Today's Marine Corps Came of Age in WW I-- Part 2: Increase in Fighting Force

Despite the limited experience in the Philippines and along the Mexican border, it was going to be very different on the battlefields in France "where machine guns, artillery and chemical warfare were capable of killing 10,000 men in a day."

The Marines, which at the time had less than 15,000 men, had seen combat action in China and Nicaragua, but even that experience wasn't enough to prepare them for what they were about to face.

Army General John "Blackjack" Pershing was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to command the American Expeditionary Force.  He determined to keep the American units fighting as separate units rather than being supplied piecemeal to British and French forces as replacements.

America was now at war and the Marines would be called upon.  Congress approved an additional 31,000 Marines to increase their fighting strength.  General George Barnett, commandant of the Marine Corps, successfully orchestrated a nationwide recruiting campaign to enlist and commission the best of America's volunteers.

--DaCoot

New Hanover County's Role in World War II-- Part 4: The 30th Division

Many New Hanover County soldiers went into the 119th regiment, 30th Division of the U.S. Army.

Regiments were segregated and it was expected that Blacks would not have to fight.  Lt. Thomas J. Bulloch was a black officer.

One third of those drafted did not have to go into the military.

Flu killed a lot of the soldiers.

Two million American soldiers were sent overseas.

North Carolina whites served in the 30th Division. The division arrived in France in May 1918.  The commander of the U.S. forces, General Pershing did not want his soldiers serving under British or French officers.

The 30th was involved in the battle that led to the fall of the Hindenburg Line and the Meusse-Argonne.

--Cooter