Photo Album: Alabama's Own on the Western Front

During the World War One Centennial commemorations,  Alabama was one of the states that was deeply committed to honoring the efforts and sacrifices of their predecessors during the war.  I was provided with numerous photos of Alabama's war time experience by their Centennial Commission and some of our friends and contributors like Monique Seefried and the late Nimrod Frazer. Here's a selection of photos that I think captures the wartime efforts of Alabama's historic 4th Infantry that served with the 42nd "Rainbow" Division as the 167th Infantry.  I've interspersed the photos with some details on the regiments history and wartime experience. Please keep in mind that thousands of other Alabamians served with other AEF units, the Marine Corps and Navy, and volunteer organizations.

Off to Camp

Pre-Departure Parade

Mobilization of the Alabama National Guard for service on the Mexican border was announced on June 16, 1916. It included five regiments, the largest being the 4th Alabama, and had been created as militia by the Alabama legislature in 1911. Alabamians regarded the 4th Alabama as the descendant of a Confederate unit with the same name and number. There had not been a 4th Alabama between the end of the Civil War in 1865 and 1911. On August 14, 1917 the War Department published an order changing the name of the 4th Alabama Infantry Regiment to the 167th United States Infantry Regiment. William Preston Screws, after having only briefly held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, was promoted to Colonel and given command of the expanded and newly named regiment. On the next day it was announced that the command would become part of the 42nd “Rainbow” Division and on August 28, 1917 a force of 3,677 officers and men left Montgomery on eight trains for Camp Mills on Long Island to join its new division.

Some of the Men of the Regiment's Company I

A Group of the 167th's Junior Officers Sporting
Their Sam Browne Belts

Upon entering the war on April 6, 1917, the regiment’s authorized strength for rifle companies was increased from 65 men to 150, then to 250. Other Alabama National Guardsmen were integrated into the 4th to bring it to 3,720, including 112 officers. The Guard had a total force of about 5,000 at that time. Many of those not selected to be included in the 4th were sent to Macon, Georgia to become the nucleus of the 31st (Dixie) Division.

A Little Rest Time for the Troops at Neuvilles

In Action at Seringes-et-Nesles

The “Rainbow” Division organized and trained on Long Island for little over a month. In October it started moving by ship to England and France. The Alabama regiment began its movement on November 7, 1917. After reaching France and receiving some specialty training from the French and a few newly established American schools, the 167th (Alabama), like all of the 42nd Division, was twinned with French units in the Lunéville sector of Lorraine in February, 1918.   The Rainbow Division saw heavy fighting in all the major engagements of the war through the Armistice.

Awaiting an Enemy Attack Near Reims

Decorating Corporal Gary Roberts for Heroism in Action

Regimental Aid Station in Champagne

The fiercest fighting the 167th experienced, however, occurred in July 1918 while attacking German strong points at La Croix Blanche Farm and La Croix Rouge Farm, the latter being just east of Beuvardes about midway between Fére-en-Tardenois and Château-Thierry in the Aisne department. The regiment succeeded in forcing a German retreat and were instrumental in securing a crossing over the Ourcq River and assisting Allied troops in routing German troops from their entrenched positions in France. Of the 3,700 members of the regiment, 616 died in service and over 1,000 were wounded. Of the men killed, 282 rest today in American cemeteries in Europe, the remainder, at the request of their families were returned home for burial throughout the state.

Fallen of the 167th After the Croix Rouge Farm Action

In Rifle Pits During the St. Mihiel Offensive

The regiment entered Germany and served in the Army of Occupation in Sinzig. After five months of occupation duty, some training, fraternizing and sightseeing, it traveled by rail to Brest, France and sailed for home on April 25, 1919. Returning to Camp Meritt, New Jersey, the “Rainbow” dispatched all units to home states for discharge. The Alabama troops left for home by train on May 7, 1919 and were honored by triumphal parades in Gadsden, Anniston, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile before being discharged at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

Back Home to Alabama

Welcome in Montgomery

42nd Rainbow Division Memorial Dedication at
Croix Rouge Farm Where the 167th Fought

One of the Sons of Alabama Who Now Rests in
France at the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery

Sources:  Alabama Centennial Commission; ABMC; Alabama Encyclopedia; LovettArtillery.com; Official U.S.  Photographs of the World War; Croix Rouge Farm Foundation