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

World War I Chronology, September 1917, 100 Years Ago: 1st U.S. Aero Squadron Arrives in France

SEPTEMBER 3--  1st U.S. Aero Squadron arrives in France.  U.S. planes to the rescue.

From Wikipedia.

The 1st U.S. Aero Squadron is the military's oldest flying unit, established 5 March 1913.  Today it still exists as the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (1RS), USAF and is assigned to the 9th Operations Group based at Beale AFB, California.

It was organized originally for operations along the U.S.-Mexico border during the Pancho Villa days.  Pancho Villa crossed the border and attacked Columbus, New Mexico, on 9 March 1916 and the 1st Aero Squadron was sent to Columbus and took part in the Punitive Expedition.

They were still in Columbus, N.M. when the United States entered World War I on 6 April 1917.  They were ordered to Fort Jay, New York, and accompanied the U.S. First Division to Europe by boat, departing 13 August 1917 and arriving in England 1 September.  They crossed the English Channel the next day.

Lafayette, We Are Here.  --Cooter

Today's Marine Corps Came of Age in WW I-- Part 1: Just How Well Would They Perform?

From April 24, 2017 Army Times.com  by Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia (ret).

BELLEAU WOOD SHOWCASED GRIT, GUILE THAT STILL DEFINES THE SERVICE.

(Sgt. Major Brysan B. Battaglia served 36 years in the Marine Corps including as the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2011-1016).  Quite a record for him.

America's initial entry into World War I, which came three years after the war began, was more promise than power for the Allies.  Military experts on both sides of the Atlantic knew that  the Americans had the numbers, but their was little experience as far as combat troops.

The Army had been deployed to the Philippines to fight insurgents and units (and National Guard) had served along the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa times during the Mexican Revolution.

But this service was to be different from what they had faces.

--Cooter

The 21st U.S. Infantry: 1905 to World War I

Yesterday I wrote about the 21st U.S. Infantry at the Plattsburgh Barracks in Plattsburgh, New York.

From 1905-1906, the regiment was on garrison duty in the Philippines.  From 1909 to 1912 they were back in the Philippines.  Then they were based at Vancouver Barracks. From March 1916, they were on the Arizona-California border protecting citizens from Villista raids.

In December 1916, the 21st participated in the Panama-California Exposition defending against a simulated attack by U.S. Navy cruisers Frederick and San Diego and several aircraft.

With U.S. entry into World War I, in April 1917, they were transferred to Camp Kearney and were subordinated to the 16th Division's 31st Infantry.  Not quite sure what subordinated means.  Perhaps it has something to do with training soldiers.  They trained troops for fighting in France with the American Expeditionary Force.

In March, they returned to the Vancouver Barracks.

--DaCoot

Looking Back to 1916: Trouble Along the Mexican Border

From the July6, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

"Word has just been received here by the relatives of Peerley Terwilliger, an old DeKalb boy, who is doing duty on the Mexican border with a company from the New Mexico National Guard.  He is attached to the company from Artesia, a town located about forty miles south of Roswell, New Mexico.

"Since the guard of that state has been on the border, Terwilliger has been stationed at or near to Columbus, New Mexico, which was the seat of recent disturbances."

We weren't at war in Europe yet, but there was Pancho Villa in Mexico, who had crossed the border and attacked Columbus, New Mexico.'

There used to be a sporting goods store in DeKalb called Terwilliger's.  I wonder if this was his family, or perhaps even him.

Wonder If They Were Also Battling Aliens?  --Cooter

Looking Back 102 Years, 1914: The War in Europe and Mexican Revolution

From the October 8, 2014, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

Solicitors will gather up money to send Red Cross nurses to Europe to take care of wounded soldiers.  There is no question but the wounded should be cared for, but why should the United States spend money caring for them while the countries to which they belong are spending money to create wounded soldiers."

They have a point there.

**  "The supervising architect of the post office building now being constructed in Sycamore found in the course of excavation on the site a Greek coin dated 1826. "

**  "There will be no reception of Mexican wounded by American army officers at Naco, Arizona, opposite Naco Sonora, where Villista and Carracista forces are about to engage in another battle."

Wonder What Its Story Was.  --DaCoot

World War I's Lt. David M. Prince-- Part 3: His Uniform and Helmet

The Wayne County Museum has David Prince's helmet worn by him in World War I.  The type of helmet was designed in 1917.  German troops called these helmets"salatschussel" meaning salad bowl, which they did resemble.

The logo on it is hand painted with three "Xs," standing for the 30th Division.  If the logo is rotated by turning the helmet, you can read "OH", standing for "Old Hickory," Lt. Prince's division's nickname.

There is also a military coat worn by him during his service along the Mexican border near El Paso, Texas, for six months beginning July 1916.  You can still see the outline of his sergeant's stripes on the sleeves.

--Cooter

Second Battle of Aqua Priete, Mexican Revolution-- Part 2

From Wikipedia.

This was the battle Clayton Waterman of Sycamore, Illinois, participated in.

In early November 1915, the forces of Pancho Villa and the Constitutionalists fought at Aqua Priete, across the Rio grande River from Douglas, Arizona.  Pancho Villa's forces lost the battle and he attributed it to American interference especially from the large searchlights they turned on his troops.  This battle led to to even more disastrous Battle of Hermosillo on 15 November.

This engagement is referred to as the Second Battle of Aqua Priete.

The Constitutionalists at the battle were led by future Mexican President Plutarco Elias Calles, a supporter of Venustiano Carranza.  His force consisted of 6,500 while Villa had 15,000 troops.

Because of his blaming American forces for his defeat, he eventually attacked the American city of Columbus, New Mexico.

Camp Davis was built in Douglas, Arizona, in 1910.

--Cooter

Second Battle of Aqua Prieta: Mexican Revolution-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

On Saturday Dec. 26, 2015, I wrote about an article in the Sycamore, Illinois, newspaper from 1915 describing the role that Lt. Clayton Waterman from Sycamore had at Douglas, Arizona, involving the Mexicans.  I was unaware of this battle (or its name) and definitely confused by the statement where the American commander, General Thomas F. Davis "warned the contending armies to change the direction of their fire."

Were the Americans involved in the fighting, if so, why would they be warned about the direction of their fire?

I had to do some more research.

--Cooter

Battling Against Mexicans in 1915: Local Boy Fighting

From the Nov. 11, 2015, MidWeek "Looking Back."

November 1915:  Lieutenant Clayton Waterman, a former Sycamore boy, likely stationed in Douglas, Arizona, and formerly for some time in the Philippines, is actively engaged near Douglas in the trouble with Mexico.

"In the battle just across the American line shots went across to American soil, and general Thomas F. davis, commanding 6,000  American troops on the border warned the contending armies to change the direction of their fire."

--DaCoot

Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (FILI) Company

From the Encyclopedia of North Carolina.

I wrote about this unit's formation in 1793 and history up to the Civil War and Spanish-American War, when it officially changed its Confederate gray uniforms for United States blue before shipping out for service.

They trained at Camp Dan Russell at Tybee Island, Georgia, but never got to Cuba. They were mustered out at Macon, Ga., 8 Feb. 1899. In 1917, FILI, went to Camp Stewart at El Paso, Texas, to defend the U.S. border from raids by Mexican leader Pancho Villa.

During World War I, FILI served as Company F of the 119th Infantry Regiment, part of the Thirtieth Division. This is the same unit that the Goldsboro Rifles, which also served during the Civil War and Spanish-American War fought with in World War I.

The unit was involved in the bloody fighting around Flanders. This was the last action the FILI was involved in. Since then, they have existed primarily as a fraternal organization. They maintained an armory where Fort Bragg soldiers were often entertained and they also have established a museum to house their artifacts.

--Cooter