X HISTORY 355TH INFANTRY

89TH DIVISION
1st April, 1919.
,ORGANIZATION.
The 89th Division was organized under the prov1s1ons of the Draft Law of May 18, 1917,
providing for the great National Army. The men were drawn from the States of Kansas,
Missouri, Colorado, Nebrask11, South Da1kota, Al'izona and New Mexico. The junior officers were
trained at the fort 'Riley Tr11ining 'C amp during the summer of 1917 and came mostly from the
states ,of 'K11nsas, Colorado and Missouri. The senior officers came from the Regular Army.
The first Commander was · Major General Leonard Wood , who assumed command at fort Riley.

· TRAH41NCi.
The first increments arrived at •Camp Funston on 5th September, 1917, and · continued th'rough
ithe f.rll du,rir\g which time the organizations of the 89th Division and the Depot Brigade were
clothed , equipped and put through their first training. The various units were organized accor-
ding to states, as far as was practicable.
The 355th Infantry was organized at Camp Funston, Kansas, ·September 5th, 1917, and was
-~t that time composed entirely from the state of Nebraska of which there remain .a large number
i n the Regiment at the present time. Later drafts gave the Regiment men from Missouri, Colo-
.-rado, Arizona and South Dakota, but the majority of the men in the Regiment continued to be
from Nebraska and the Regiment is known as the Nebraska Regiment. '
The Regiment was organized under the Command of Colonel Wm. G. ,Sills and Lieut. Colonel
Jas. D. Taylor, Captain Wm. E. Reid being Regimental Adjutant.
Great difficulties in shortage of clothing, equipment and facilities for training were overcqme,
·t he cantonement was completed, epidemics of meningitis and other less serious diseases were
. conquered and the training of the division maintained throughout the winter. Many thousand
·men were sent out to other training camps «nd other Divisions as replacements. The training
followed the orders laid down by the War Department and included the instruction given by
Frendi and British officers sent to Camp Funston for that purpose.

,CHANGE IN COMMANDERS.
Major General Wood left Camp Funston in November 1917 for France and returned in April
1918. During his adsence, the division was commanded by Brigadier General frank L. Winn.
Training of the division continued until May 1918, when General Wood took it to Camps Mills,
New York, enroute to France. Just as the division was about to sail , General Wood was relieved
.from command and the division sailed under (ieneral Winn .

. JOURNEY OVERSEAS.
The division left ·camp Mills via Hoboken for England and France. The 355th Infantry
-sailed from Hoboken, N. J . for overseas on June 4th, 1918, on the White Star liners '' Baltic"
and "Adriatic• , the 1st battalion crossing on the "Adriatic " and the remainder of the Regiment
with Regimental Headquarters crossing on the steamship " Baltic " arriving at Liverpool, England,

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on Jun~ 15th , 1918, and going immediately to American Rest Camp at Romsey, England. from
Romsey, the regiment, with the exception of Companies " f" , " H" and " K" whim departed eight
days later, mardied to South Hampton , about eight miles distance, leaving South Hampton June
·_24th, 1918 and arrived at La Harve, France June 25th , 1918.

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TRAINING IN FRANCE.

I The Division (less the Artillery) was concentrated in the Reyne( Training Area in France.
This area lies between Chaumont (American G. H. 0.) and Neufchateau. The 355th Infantry
during it's training period occupied the villages of GranJ , Brechainville and Aillianville, Vosges.
From June 28th until August 3rd , 1918, Regimental Headquarters, the Headquarters Bn., and the
1st battalion were established at Grand , Vosges; the 2nd battalion and the 3rd battalion being
located respectively at Brechainville and Aillianville.
. A vigorous course of taining was undertaken in accordance with A. E. f . orders. The fine
appearance , soldierly bearing and excellent work of the division soon gave it an enviable reputation
in. the ~J!leric.an fapeditionary Forces.

MOVING INTO THE LINE.

The 89th Division was the first American division to move up to the line by American truck.
transportation. It left the Reyne! Training Area the first,-part of August, moved up behind and
relieved the 82nd -American Division in the Lucey sector, northwest of Toul.

FIRST ENGAGEMENT.
Before the commanp of the sector had been taken over by the commander of the 89th..
Division and during the relief, the cent~al parts of the sector were subjected to a severe bom-
bardment of mustard gas by the Germans. It was the 89th Division's baptism of fire. At this.
time the 355th Infantry was occupying the sector known as the Beaumont-Seicheprey sector.
This sector was occupied by one battalion in the front line, one battalion in support and one
battalion bei11g in reserve and relief was usually accomplished every ten days, the reserve battalion
generally being available for training purposes. At the time of the gas attack the regiment was-
occupying the villages of Ansauville, Hamonville, Mandres and Beaumont, the 1st battalion being-
in the front line, the second in support and third. in reserve. The area occupied by the 1st battalion,
was from the trenches near Seicheprey to and including Jury Woods, this area suffered most
severely in this gas attack on the night of August 7-8th, 1918, this battallion suffering a large ·
number of casualti_e s and necessitating for the time being, a relief from front line duty of part·,
of it's Companies. The casualties by companies were :

Company Officers Men

Killed Wounded Killed Wounded

A 1 1 33 91
B -- - - 6
C - 1 5 20
D - 4 1 127
Hqs - 2 4 19
Supply -- 1 6 -
Med. D. - 1 7 -
Total 1 I 10 56 263
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. Shp~tly after •coming overseas Colonel Wm. Ci. Sills was detailed on the_ General Staff .
and relieved from duty with the Regiment; Colonel George A. Mc. Masters was m command of
the Regiment during it's first occupancy of the front line. The comma~d of ~he Regiment wa~ -
taken .over by Colonel Jas D. Taylor on August 18, 1919 and he continued m command until .
October 19th, 1918.

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 ihe Division assumed an aggressive role of patrolling and dominating No Man 's Land. Al.
though no live identifications had been made for several weeks prior to the 89th Division's
entering the sector, from then on there was an ·average of almost one identification per night.
During the first part of August the Division served under the 32nd French Army Corps and
the Vlllth french Army. Later, the Division passed under the 4th American Army Corps (Major
General Didtman) and the first American Army (Lieut. General Liggett) for the St. Mihiel Offensive.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE ST. MIHIEL OFFENSIVE.

The 89th Division held the wide sector of 16 kilometers front, until the night before " D•
day of the big offensive. The mission of the Division was not only to prevent the enemy from
penetrating the line and gaining information of the offensive preparations but also, on " D" day,
to go over the top as a front line division and take the key to the· enemy's position, the Bois
de Mort Mare. The enemy made desperate efforts to capture prisoners, and to penetrate our
line of outposts. He was foiled in every attempt. The Regiment bore it's full share of patrolling
duty with great success capturing a number of prisoners from the enemy, penetrating his lines and
gathering information and at the same time preventing any such attempts on his part. Patrols
were sent out by all infantry companies In the Regiment and each Company shared in the Re-
gimental success.

ST. MIHIEL OFFENSIVE.

Major General William M. Wright assumed command of the division on the 6th Sep-
tembe·r, 1918.
On the morning of September 12, the 89th Division commenced its first offensive, in com-
pany with the 1st Division, 2nd Division, and 42nd Division, the three most veteran divisions
of the American Expeditionary Forces. The 89th Division captured all of its objectives and
established its record as a reliable fighting division. The Regiment was in the front line in this
attadt and was one of the first over the top. The sector covered by the Regiment took in the villages
of Euvezin, Boullionville, Beney and Xammes . which villages were captured including several
hundred cannon and machine guns, property and booty. In the St. Mihiel drive the Regiment
went ovei: the top with the 3rd Battalion in the lead followed by the 1st and 2nd Battalions,.
each battalion having two companies in the advance lines supported by two companies.

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ORuANµATION OF. CAPTURED TERRITORY.

The 89th Division dug in in frbnt of the Hindenburg line near Thiacourt, took over the ~'2nd
Division area on the left and half the sector of the 78t~ Division on the ri~ht. \)\"\s\on \\ead-
quarters ' were at Euvezin but the sector was first called the 'flirey Sector and \ater the 'P&.n\\es-
Flirey-Limey Sector in order that the location of Division Headquarters be not i\ven to the enem'j
unnecessarily.
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 The total casualties suffered by the 355th Infantry during its occupancy of the Lucey Sector
antl its participation in the St. Mihiel Offensive, and the organization of captured ground were :

-
Officers Men
Company
Kllled Wounded I Mlsstnu Killed !Wounded 111nln~

A - 1 I - 5 7 1
B - - - 7 10 -
C - - - 1 18 -
D -- - - 6 11 2
E - 1 - - 6 I -
F - 1 - 3 12 -
a - 1 - 6 12 -
H - ' - 1 8 17 1
r -- - - 5 19 1
K - I 1 -- 9 56 I
L 1 ' - I 12 21 r
M - I 3 I - 3 16 I
Hq. - - II - - 3 19 II -
M. G. - I
I --
- 1 9 I
-
Supply 1
I -
-·
- -
2
-
9
I-
Med . Det.
I I i
I
I
Total 2 I
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9
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-
I 71 I 242 I 9

The Division maintained an offensive attitude, conducting several minor operations including
a raid on Dommartin Woods and a raid in the vicinity of Charey as a demonstration on the
morning of 26th September, "D• day for the Argonne Offensive.
The 355th Infantry during this reorganization of captured territory held the lines in the
Beney Sector until October 8th, 1918, on which date the Regiment was relieved to it's original
position held on September 11th, 1,918. During this occupancy of the Beney lines, the Regiment
·participated' successfully in all Division operations against the enemy.

RELIEF FROM THE PANNES- FLIREY- LIMEY SECTOR.

The 89th Division was relieved by the 37th American Division which had come over from
participation in the Argonne Offensive. The relief was slow. The Division was then assembled
in Commercy and moved rapidly by bus to the Recicourt Area in ,rear of the first Army, October
9th, 1918. In the middle of October, the division was moved up in rear of the 32nd American
Division in the Epinonville Sector and took over that line on th~ 19th of October. The Division
proceeded to clean up the Bois de Bantheville and advanced the front line nearly two kilometers.
In this position, the division founditself in company again with the 1st, 2nd and 42nd Divisions,
in preparation for the drive that was expected to win the war. This was under the 5th American
Army Corps (Major General Summerall) of the first American Army (Lieut. General Liggett).

THE FINAL DRIVE Of TH~ WAR.

The general situation on the 1st _Novembe~ was that the enemy was endeavoring to with-
draw from ffance a~d Belgium, was ~sing desperate efforts to stop the pressure coming up from
the south ,and applied by the Amencan Army. It was absolutely for him to hold th·15 r- .
order 16 guard his railroads and permit his withdrawal in the North If the A . me '"
. d h M h . I . f S. . . mencans were per-
m1tte to get. to I, .e euse in I e vrc mty o tenay ' ,t was clear th ey cou Id cut the im rta
·
s outhern r~rlway Imes. po nt

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PRBPI\RATIONS FOR THE DRIVE Of THE 1 .NOVEMBER.
Every eHort was made to guarantee the success of this operation. It was realiied if the
Heights of Barricourt were taken, the enemy could be driven beyond the Meuse. Terrific artillery
11upport was provided the operation carefully explained to all subordinates. It is believed that
neorly every man in the division understood the ·importance of the operation artd what his
-part was to be.

DRIVE Of .1 NOVEMBER.
The 89th Division went over the top the morning of November 1st and took all of its objectives
on scheduled time. By afternoon, the Heights of Barricourt were In our possession. It Is ·said
that Marsh~I Foch stated when he received this news "The war is over•. The fighting continued
night and day, first by one infantry brigade, then by the other, until the enemy was ' driven
beyond the Meuse . _
Twice the Corps Com·mander provided for the relief of the 89th ·Division, but the Division ·
Commander asked permission to stay in and complete the work. final operation effected . the
crossing of the Meuse at two places, at Stenay and Pouilly, just before the Armistice came
into effect on the 11th November.
The 355th Infantry took .an active part in all these division operations and. especially in the
vicinity of Bois de Banthcville, the capture of which must be credited to the 2nd Battalion of
this Regiment. This was accomplished on October 20th and 21st, 1918. The Regiment was then
relieved from active duty on the front line in this vicinity and again resumed active duty in the
front line on November 3rd, 1918 on which date it relieved the 353rd Infantry, 89th Division,
on the heights south of Tailly. The 355th Infantry continued in the advance . from November 5th
· to November 11th, inclusive during which time the capture of the following villagel' is credited
to •this Regiment : '
The Woods north of Tailly
Beauclair
Beaufort
Bois de Duilet and the villages of Laneuville, Luzy and Cesse on the Meuse River.
The casualties sustained by the 355th Regime~t during the .Argonne-M·e use Offensive were
as follows:
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Company Officers Men
Killed j Wounded I Missing Killed Wounded I Mbslnc

A - 1 - 12 47 1
B 2 1 - 11 55 1
C 1 - - 12 43 -
D - 2 - 11 47 -
E - 2 - 4 29 2
f - 2 1 13 61 3-
G - 2 - 9 32 2
H -,- - - 8 37 2
I - 3 - z-- 12 - '
K 2 1 - 4 10 4:
L - 3 - 4 36 -
M - - - 7 36 1
Hq. - - - 7 21 -
M. G. - 2 - 4 22 --
Supply - - - 1 2 -
Med. Det. - 1 - 3 3 ! -
Bn. Hqrs. 1 I 3 - - - I -
I I I I
Total 6 I 23 1 112 493 I 16
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 -RECORD OF THE DIVSION
In the St. Mihiel Sector, the division was in the line continuously for 35 days and continued
'on as a front line division through the offensive and in the organization of the conquered grour)d
I for over 20 days more. In the Argonne, the division was in the line for 12 days of almost con~
I tinuous fighting and then continued in the big drive of hard fighting for the last eleven days
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11 of the way.
r The Division captured 194 German Officers and 4867 Men, also 127 pieces of artillery and
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r 455 machine guns. The Division advanced over 38 kilometers, including the penetration of two
strongly defended positions. The division suffered as casualties :

KILLED WOUNDED & GASSED MISSING IN ACTION PRISONERS

Officers Men Officers Men Officers Men Officers Men
48 1081 201 5560 1 57 1 4

Of this total the casualties of the 355th Infantry were :

8 238 64 998 16 0 2

ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
Major General frank L. Winn assumed command of the Division on 12. November, 1918.
The 89th Division was first selected to be part of the first troops to enter Germany in
company with the 1;t, 2nd and 42nd Divisions. These orders were changed and _ the · 89th
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Division was assigned to the 7th Corps of the Third American Army, and commenced . its march
on the 24th November from the Meuse through Belgium, Luxemburg and into Germany.
The 355th Infantry is at the present time located in the Saar Valley with Regimental Head~
qu11rtes at Saarburg, Germany, Colonel W. A. Cavenaugh Commanding the Regiment, Lt.. Col.
Levi G. Brown !IS 2nd 'in command. Captain Wm . E. Reid , Regimental Adjutant.
The Regiment in its present location in Germany has been engaged in Border and . Patrol
guards and in performing a regular weekly drill and training schedule. The Third Battalion, fi rst
Battalion and Second Battalion in the order named have been on Border and Railroad guard duty,
guarding the main railroads leading into the area occupied by the American Army of Occupation
and patrolling the German - Luxemburg Border. All troops have engaged in record rifle practice
and a very creditable showing has been made. The experience of the 355th Infantry in Germany,
as a whole, has been very pleasant, officers and enlisted men being quartered in good billets.
The afternoons have been devoted to athletics and organized games. The Regiment won the
89th Division tra.cx_ meet, carried off first place by a large margin in the Brigade Horse Show,
and in the last rating of the organizations of the Division, it was rated as the most · efficient
organization in the 89th Division. The JSSth Infantry has mad~ a good re(:ord and believes that
the pride of the men in the · Regiment is amply justified · by its showing in activities in t raininQ
areas, as a member of the Army of Occupation, ,and in combat.
 HEADQUARTERS 365TH INFA~TRY,
American Expeditio~ary Forces.

April 29, 1919.

LQB- LH
General - Orders }
No . . .. .. 56

The foUowing telegram· from the Divisiol) Commander is plublished for th~ information
of the entire • command :
"The Division Commander wishes you to convey to all officers and men his deep appre-
ciation of the hard work and fine spirit which were strikingly in evidence today. The spfendid
appearance of the men and excellent condition of equipment and transportation fully measured
µp to the 'Standard desired. The Commander-in-Chier" has told you that the Division while in line
was · unexcelled by any . It must be a source · of pride and satisfaction to all as it is to me to
give him a final review · worthy of the occasion . (signed) WINN"
This recognition by the Commander-i~-Chief of the excellent work of the Division, and
the ·commendatio~ of the Regiment by the Division and Brigade Commanders at the final revie·w
are a so_urce of gratificati.o n to all of the 355th Infantry. You have responded nobly to each call
that has been made upon you by your country and your God. Your duty has always been well
done . A grateful country will soon welcome you home, and will always honor you !or
your deeds.
The Regimental Commander thanks you and congratulates you. May you never dim your -
excellent record.

BY ORDE.R OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL BROWN:

WM. E. REIQ,
Captain & Adjutant, 355th Infantry,
REGIMENTAL ADJUTANT.

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GcnQt fll :Orders l Fra nc e , Februa r .y 28 ,1 919,

No .. , .. ; . , 38-Al

rJY F'.SLLCW SOLDIEBS.

I~ . NO\; t ha t y ou:r so:rvk0 r1i th t ho ,\r1,o:ric:1_n Ex;.,c di tiom :·y Force s is a bout t o
t er rn1 1,-no , I c::m no t l ot you co \'lith out a ipo rs o:ul VJ01·d. At t J1,_; e:1.ll to a.r rr:S ,
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~;~'';<1.1·,10 · :.1 1ny vr l10r- r.; r.1.oci s i •re 'ricto:ri os t e stify to it s c :'fici oncy c.nd. it s vn.lor.
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,·1t. :1 tho sur1-r 0:rt of t ho mtion firr:i ly uni te d to de f end th-:. r,a. use: of Lib ,:· r t y ,
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Ot ?' c: :rri,y :1r 1 c.:xo cut od tho will of t ho pe o, 1e v,i th r csnlu te ,_,ur;,0 2() ,
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Cl'3.cy ,· 1.'Jl.s licen t e :te d, ,'."nd tre forces of ::.u t ocrc. cy ho::o J CC:1 d,:; f e'.1tcd. . To
t h•'J' glo ry Of t h :: citizon-soldio:r, our tro op s h1.vo' f e1it:ti.fu lly f uJfill ed t }-lc i r
t:ru s t, ::i,nd in J. , :ucc e ss ion of bri 11 innt o ffrmsi ves hJ..vc ovcrcon:c · t he rr.c: nc.nc e
to our civHizJ. tion.

As a n individila l, your part i11 the world rmr h:1s been t:-.n i mpo rbnt one·
•in t he sum t0t ::i,J_ of o1.ir :1.chiov::,ments , Wh oth0r }:ecr>i n;• lO!lO l y , i c il i n 'c hc
tr c::1.chos, .o:r /:':l.lJ::-.ntry sto:r-ming t11c e nemy 's strongho ld; i'i hr:thc:r 0, ndl,l"ing mo-
11oto1Jou s tlru<lfory :1t th 0 reJ,r, 0r c::ust a. inin; t:w fi 6 hti :ng lin-.:: 2.. t t h o f ror: t,
G.:>.c h has b n.ve ly :m d c ffieiontly ;.,l 2;y-ed his part. ,3y ,7illi nG sa c r ifi ce of
-por$o ri.n;.l r i r,ht s : ~ ' che: crful enc:Lu r,:. re c of hards}, i11 3.nd pri m. ti on; b? vi e or,
stron gth nnd inn.c;'!l5. t ;;:.o l o ,-., ill, rrcdo effocti vc b;r tho:r ou fh or§::rni :z~tion and
cordia.l co-0 1Xl: 1' ,'.'. ti on, you L1spir.::d tho ·,v;,. r·-v,orn a llie s r, ith ner.' lifo :c.nd turn-
ed the tide of ~hl· 0 0 t oned do fe ::lt into ov0ri'l...½.elni n:;- Yictory.

V/ith a consecrs..tod devotion to d1,;,ty ' :iml :J. wilJ lo conquer. you h::i.1·c loy-
::llly se:rv8d j)O" t country, liy your e xemplary cond1.1ct n. star.da.rd lus been e s-
b b l:i:sh ed 1nrl n,',.i :1~~i :1e d nover be fore (!ttairncl by any ri-rtcy. r,'ith n inl :::.nd
body :?.c clt?J.::-i nnd ~trong o.s tho dee is i vo blows yon doliv 0 r e cl :>.f,J. i lJS t t h a foe,
yo·.1 1u· r, soon to re t t1:r11 tio th e r.mrs,'i ts of :fX' -'.ll C0, In lec'.vin g tho sc,mcs of
yo,J.:t· victories , v1.y I o. sk th2t you ca r:ry homo yout hir,h idoo.ls c.r.d c0nt inuc
tc live :l.s you },2.vo sorvcc':.---::i.11 honor to th0 p:cinciplos for ,in ic h y oti i1ave
f'OUf..:ht ,JJ1d to th o fa.llen comr:xd0s you lc ::"vo b<;Jhind.

It ic ,·,ith rJrid0 in our· succoss th<1t I c:xte n,. to you my sincere tro nks,
fo:r your S,pJ. endid service in tho ~,:rmy and to the n1tio?I: ,

Rlithfully,
.
(Si@!cd) John J. Forsh.in c,
• .i\ ,jlr"

·.·-,, . ~ '." ·• Col!lil)'.lnder in Chi--::i f •

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Official•: :, ~ -, "
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Ro'b -ert C. Davis,
,1dj
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u tdn t Gon er al.
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