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Yes, he made a typo as far as the Cantigny assault by the US 1st Div being on May 28 1918 (not 1917).
However, he is correct about the first US war dead in the trenches occuring in Nov 1917. They were Thomas Enright, Merle Hay, and James Gresham - all died in a German trench raid abot 3AM Nov 3rd 1917 (along with losing 12 men as POW's)....The USA's first dead in the trenches, all US Army, all 1st ID.

It was my understanding that the first major action involving US forces was at Belleau Woods. However, if there were American war dead prior to that then I stand corrected. I thought the US Army's first major action in France was St Mihel. There is no way there were huge American divisions in France in '17. That year was the major British offensive in Flanders around Paschendale. It proved exactly why the US did not want to committ regiments to bulk up Entente Battalions.

Holy ****!

Revisionism in all its sordid glory!

Written with todays values about yesterdays actions.

Next thing you'll be telling us how Henry Ford and his ilk protected the doughboys from the ravages or war and how today's congressmenn and senators urge their sons to become rifle men.

Please do me a huge favor and treat me with the same respect everybody else on this forum deserves and don't cuss at me. As for your difference in opinion, I can say I disagree with you whole heartedly. The unions have done such a great job of protecting workers rights and getting them a 'fair deal' that they have pretty much protected this country from ever having new manufactories again. I challenge you to take a drive through Pennsylvania and every where south of their along the appalatians and try to show me the good unions have done. I know it changed my opinion in a hurry. As for Henry Ford and the Doughboys, I am sure he was pretty well bummed out that he never thought of getting a contract with the Army before they bought the Renault. I guess thats why Ford did not miss out 25 years later and produced Shermans.

ORIGINAL: ShermanM4

Yes, he made a typo as far as the Cantigny assault by the US 1st Div being on May 28 1918 (not 1917).
However, he is correct about the first US war dead in the trenches occuring in Nov 1917. They were Thomas Enright, Merle Hay, and James Gresham - all died in a German trench raid abot 3AM Nov 3rd 1917 (along with losing 12 men as POW's)....The USA's first dead in the trenches, all US Army, all 1st ID.

It was my understanding that the first major action involving US forces was at Belleau Woods. However, if there were American war dead prior to that then I stand corrected. I thought the US Army's first major action in France was St Mihel. There is no way there were huge American divisions in France in '17. That year was the major British offensive in Flanders around Paschendale. It proved exactly why the US did not want to committ regiments to bulk up Entente Battalions.
...

Hi ShermanM4,

Couple quick things; yes we actually did ship several of our huge 'Square' divisions to France in 1917, I believe we had 100,000 troops there that summer alone (mainly to show the flag).

Also, the fight on April 20th 1918 at Seicheprey - just happens to be near St Mihiel - you no doubt read about it and the author just didn't bother to use the less well known name.

Check out the 'Doughboy Center' I posted earlier in this thread, I think you'll like it.

B

Oops, sorry about the typos. Big B and ShermanM4 are correct about the 26th US ID and Cantigny dates.

ORIGINAL: ShermanM4

...

It was my understanding that the first major action involving US forces was at Belleau Woods. However, if there were American war dead prior to that then I stand corrected. I thought the US Army's first major action in France was St Mihel.

...

After thinking about your post - I think we are talking (somewhat) about different things,

The US Armys' first Major offensive WAS at St Mihiel in Sep. 1918. But THAT was the first offensive taken by the newly created, independent, and wholly American 1st U.S. Army - operating on it's own sector of the western front - as opposed to Seicheprey in April 1918 which was the first large scale action fought by "U.S. Army units".

The difference is the emphasis on 'US 1st Army' as a tactical entity - as opposed to 'American army unit' as a description of national origin.

Depending on which you are talking about you will come up with different dates.

B

Thank you Big B[;)] In both cases I appreciate the research. Thanks for the book suggestion. Tell it to me in a language I can understand. What is the Author, title, publisher, date. Sorry I am to used to searching for things by Chicago Manual of Style reference. I hope this is not too much to ask for.

ORIGINAL: ShermanM4

Thank you Big B[;)] In both cases I appreciate the research. Thanks for the book suggestion. Tell it to me in a language I can understand. What is the Author, title, publisher, date. Sorry I am to used to searching for things by Chicago Manual of Style reference. I hope this is not too much to ask for.

Thanks and your welcome ShermanM4...
But I am a tad confused (nothing new about that...go through life that way) but I was just going back over this thread and I don't recall making any specific book suggestion.
However! a click here ( http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/ ) will get you to THE best site on the AEF availible...
And a click here ( http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/bstbooks.htm ) will take you straight to their book section where you can find all the info on books you would like - organized as you asked.[:)]

B

Check out the 'Doughboy Center' I posted earlier in this thread, I think you'll like it.

I thought this was a book recomendation. I get it now[;)]

Man, trench warfare had to have sucked. Living with the rats than having to charge "ball and musket" style into modern day machine guns. geez [X(]

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

Man, trench warfare had to have sucked. Living with the rats than having to charge "ball and musket" style into modern day machine guns. geez [X(]

Jeeze ilovestrategy! I just don't know what to add to that! Yep that must have sucked and blown simultaneously!!![:D][:D]

Thanks for bringing us back to earth!

Well, all wars suck, but World War I must have elevated that fact to a whole new level of suckiness.[:(]

Also, don't forget that if either side could not force the other out of their trenches, through frontal assults and trench raids, they tunneled under them and blew them out of the trenches.

Add rain, mud, rats, more rain, more mud, gas attacks, artillery, machineguns and inept higher leadership, and well... I rest my case.[X(]