American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
The "Doughboys"

February 1, 1917: Germany begins ruthless sea warfare; draws 'barred zones' around the allies; crisis conftonts the United States.

February 4, 1917 Relations with Germany are broken off; American ship Housatonic sunk, crew safe; militia called out; German ships seized.

February 28, 1917 President finds Laconia's sinking an 'overt act'; awaits full power from Congress before taking action.

March 1, 1917 Germany seeks an alliance against us; asks Japan and Mexico to join her; full text of her proposal made public in the Zimmerman Telegram.

March 16, 1917 President calls for war declaration, stronger navy, new army of 500,000 men, full cooperation with Germany's foes.

April 5, 1917 Senate, 82 to 6 adopts war declaration; house acts today; Berlin fears our influence on Russia.

April 6, 1917 House at 3:12 AM votes for war; 372 to 50... Nations gigantic resources mobilized.

April 29, 1917 Congress passes draft bill; House 397 to 24; Senate 81 to 8.. Registration on June 5

May 19, 1917 President calls the nation to arms; regulars under Pershing to go to France.

US Navy Recruitment Poster

June 1917 First US troops (1st Division) arrive in France (Mostly troops already in service at the time war was declared.

November 1917: Bolsheviks seize power in Russia

January 1918: Wilson's Fourteen Points speech to joint session of Congress

February 1918: Wilson's Four Principles speech to joint session of Congress.

May 1918: 25th:German U-boats make their first appearance in US waters.
27th: Third phase of the 1918 German offensive (Third Battle of the Aisne) begins in French sector along Chemin des Dames
28th: 28th Regiment of US 1st Division goes into action at town of Cantigny.

June 1918: 6th 2nd Division captures Bouresches and southern part of Belleau Wood.
9th: Opening of fourth phase of 1918 German offensive (Battle of the Matz) in French sector between Noyon and Montdider

July 1918: 15th: Opening of last phase of German offensive (Second Battle of the Marne)
18th: Allied counterattack seizes strategical initiative from Germans: nine US divisions participate.

September 1918: 26th Meuse-Argonne offensive opens; greatest offensive of war for US forces.

Meuse-Argonne Memorial showing a view of the Argonne Forest

November 1918: 11th Armistice goes into effect at 11am; Victory in Paris

January 1919: 18th: Peace negotiations start at Paris.
25th Peace conference accepts principle of League of Nations.

June 1919: 28th: Treaty of Versailles signed in Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

By November 11, 1918, 2,057,675 military personnel would arrive in France. This did not include naval personnel, those sent to Italy and Northern Russia nor anyone still in training in the States. The largest number of American soldiers arrived in France in July 1918.

Divisions 1, 3-8 were regular Army and volunteers
Division 2: Hybrid of regular Army and US Marines
Divisions 26-42: National Guard Units combined into divisions by states or contiguous states.
Divisions 76-91: National Divisions: Regular Army Cadre with draftees.

Places such as Belleau Wood, Meuse-Argonne and Saint Mihiel were etched into the minds of Americans through newspaper accounts of the battles. More than 100, 000 Americans were killed though the Americans were involved in the war less than two years.

More than 24 million men registered for the draft and almost 2.7 million were furnished to the US Army by conscription. Slightly over 300,000 volunteered for enlistment.

The "War to end all wars" introduced some ot the most horrendous advances in killing technology including gas warfare, deadly accurate artillery and massed machine gun fire.

It was reported that Gen.Pershing, arriving at Paris on the 4th of July 1917, led a division in a parade through Paris to the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette, who had fought beside Gen.George Washington in the Revolution and standing before the tomb, announced, "Lafayette, we are here!" Though denied by Pershing, the allies used the words as a rallying cry.

Originally the draft included men between the ages of 21 and 31 but later the draft ages was changed to include those 18 to 45.

Bernard Andrew Goodwin

(US Navy)

Clarence Warren Kemp

(US Army)

James Dee Irwin, Sr.

(US Army)

Owen Edmund Forrester, Sr.

(US Army)