The 33rd DIVISION “The Prairie Division” was comprised primarily of soldiers from the Illinois National Guard, and augmented with draftees and other transferred seasoned soldiers. The 33rd Division had three Brigades: Two Infantry Regiments and one Field Artillery Regiment.  A Division is designed to have approximately 27,000 soldiers and 800 officers.   Enroute to France the 33rd Division consisted of approximately 20,200 men:  19,300 soldiers and 900 officers.  Additional assigned personnel did not deploy, remaining in the U.S.  Note:  Division troop strength changed over time.

  The 66th Brigade was comprised of the 131st and 132nd Infantry (INF) Regiments, each with a Machine Gun Battalion.   The 66th Brigade was reformed from the Illinois National Guard (ING) 1st and 2nd Illinois Regiments.  They became part of the 33rd Division at Camp Logan, Texas, in 1917.  Effective October 17, 1917, the ING 2nd Illinois Regiment became the 132nd Infantry Regiment.  Each Regiment had 3 Battalions, and each Battalion had 4 Companies. The 66th Brigade arrived in France on May 24,1918 for service in World War I.

Company L was comprised of soldiers from the Illinois National Guard Second Infantry unit, Company L, that was based in Chicago.  Federalized on July 25, 1917, the  Company L cadre were 125 soldiers who were augmented by draftees and other more seasoned soldiers. Most draftees were trained at Camp Grant, Illinois, near Rockford, Illinois. Link to an online Camp Grant history book (23 pages) LINK will open in new window or Tab

The Company L cadre – the Second Infantry Company L soldiers – departed from Chicago by train on September 10,1917 and arrived at at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, for further training on September 12th.  Additional soldiers were assigned while at Camp Logan.

Company L departed Houston, Texas, by train 7 May 1918 arriving at Camp Upton, Long Island on 12 May 1918. Two-Hundred-Forty-One (241 including 3 Officers) Company L soldiers departed for France from Hoboken New Jersey on the SS Mount Vernon 16 May 1918 arriving at Brest, France 24 May 1918. Post-war, 210 Company L soldiers (including 3 Officers) departed onboard the SS Mount Vernon from Brest, France to America on 9 May 1919, arriving 24 May at Hoboken, New Jersey. Company L served in combat operations in France for 202 days, and Post-war Luxembourg for 137 days, then an additional Post-war 13 days in France preparing for return to America: A total of 352 days stationed in Europe.

This Company L Morning Report extract records the Company L itinerary to France.

Company L Corporal Lee Reuter kept a detailed journal.  The section on Company L’s transfer from Camp Logan in Houston, Texas, to the French port of Brest provides many details on the daily life of Company L soldiers. This extract is part of the 10 pages of journal entries.

From Houston to Brest journal entries (10 page PDF file)
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Company L, with its 3 officers and 238 soldiers, traveled to France on the USS Mount Vernon.  They returned to the United States on it in 1919.   The Mount Vernon was formerly the German  Kronprinzesin Cecilie built by Germany in 1906.  It was commandeered and commissioned by the U.S. Navy and used as a troop transport; renamed the USS Mount Vernon in 1917, it was decommissioned in 1919. View the ship manifests.

Company L was part of the 3rd Battalion of the 132nd Infantry Regiment
of the 66th Infantry Brigade. 

The 33rd Division Order of Battle during WWI

Company L in the 33rd Division Chain-Of-Command

They trained at Camp Grant, Illinois, then at Camp Logan, Texas before sailing for Brest, France in May 1918.

Company “L” consisted of 4 platoons and a headquarters platoon, each lead by officers. Company L arrived in France with 238 enlisted soldiers, and 3 officers. This Company “L” Roster totaled 207 enlisted personnel. It was compiled post-Armistice in May 1919 while stationed in Luxembourg: 1st Platoon 41 men; 2nd Platoon 45 men; 3rd Platoon 43 men; 4th Platoon 50 men; Headquarters Platoon 28 men. VIEW the Company “L” ROSTER of the five platoons. RosterCompany-L-132ndINF-ANNOTATED (PDF)

When the U.S. Army deployed to Europe during World War I, it adopted a new organization for its Rifle Company.  Units deployed to with the American Expeditionary Force look markedly different from those that remained in the states. Company L was organized into the Army’s new WWI organizational structure. This article explains the new structure. The combat elements of the rifle platoon were the hand bomber section (hand grenades), rifle grenade section, rifle section, and automatic rifle section.  Company L Organizational Structure (PDF)

At Camp Logan the soldiers were issued the following equipment:
2 pair drawers – First aid packet – Fork – Front sight cover – Gloves – Gun sling –
Hat and cord – Haversack – Knife – Knife, pocket – shoe laces – Leggins –
Oiler and case – 5 Tent pegs – 1 Tent pole – 1 poncho – 1 pouch first aid packet –
1 can foot powder – U.S. Rifle – OD shirt – marching shoes – cake soap –
2 identity tags –  half shelter and rope – 1 tooth brush – 1 towel face – 2 undershirts –
Chevrons –  Watch.

The 33rd served with the Australians at the Amines sector, and was represented by units at Verdun and at the Meuse-Argonne. As a division, the 33rd Division spent 27 days in active sectors and 32 days in quiet sectors. It captured 3,987 prisoners-a record for a National Guard Division – and advanced 36 km (22 miles) against the enemy while sustaining 989 battle deaths and 6,266 wounded. Search Company L Soldier’s Biographies including the 33rd Division Chain-of-Command. Data includes rank, service number, awards, stories, photos, and more.

Combat operations of the 132nd Infantry were along the Western Front.
About 70 miles north of Paris and extending about 135 miles east of Paris.

Company L marched across France starting on May 26th and were within 30 miles of Metz, France when the war ended November 11, 1918.  Before the Armistice was signed the 66th Brigade had fought at Hamel, Chippilly Ridge, Gussair Woods, the Somme Offensive, Verdun, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and St. Mihiel during their six months in battle. After a brief period serving as part of the Army of Occupation in Luxembourg, the Brigade returned to the United States and was mustered out of federal service in May 1919.

When the 132nd Infantry first arrived in France in May 1918 the Division trained with the British at Picardy from May 25th till August 23, 1918.  This included combat operations with the A.I.F. – The Australian Imperial Force.

Following this the Division occupied the Amiens Sector (Picardy) rotating trench duty.  From August 8  – 13th it participated in the Somme Offensive Operation.  During this time, the 3rd battalion of the 132nd Infantry Regiment, which included Company “L,”  fought at the battle of Albert.  During much of this time company L also rotated trench duty on the front lines.  Exerpt from the personal war journal entry of Corporal Lee Reuter:   July 30-Aug 4, 1918: Here we held the lines to the right of Albert < a French town >. We subjected to quite heavy shelling and our Batt. < The 3rd Battalion >  lost 159 men gassed and our Co < Company L > lost 26. Here Isador Pobstman was killed by a shell – our second death.

The typical monthly strength of Company L was approximately 150 soldiers.  The Company L database contains the names of 466 soldiers who served during the war.   The database lists the status of these soldiers and demographic information including age, birth data, civilian occupations, and when they were assigned, transferred, wounded, or killed in action.

Eleven (11) Company L enlisted men were promoted to commissioned officers:
Cornwall, R.V.
Dierstein, F.C.
Goodwin, A.W.
Keating, A.J.
LaVallie, O.E.
Lesley, H.L.
Markuson, H.C.
Mayall, D.S.
Pietrowicz, M.S.
Thompson, R.K.
Watson, K.E.

The map below shows the area of the 33rd Division’s operations from 10 September thru 20 October 1918.  Note the forests, called ‘Bois’:  Bois de Forges, Bois de Fays, Bois de Malamount, and Bois de Foret.  And in red are the Geman ‘Stellung’ main battle lines of defense that had been fortified for four years.  Each of the German Stellung defensive battle lines was a network of interlocking trenches protected with barbed wire. Earthen and wooden emplacements and other sites anchored the network of trenches. Between the lines were open fields and countryside. But they were defended with barbed wire, pillboxes, machine gun nests and death. These fields were the “No Man’s Land” of the Western Front.

Read the detailed information on this Mort Homme Sector Operation on September 10th in this PDF File:      Operations-10-Sept-1918-Mort_Homme-Sector

Details of other Company L battles are listed at the bottom of this page. 

Select map for larger version.

The 3rd battalion took part in the Meuse-Argonne Operations from October 6 – 13. On the nights of October 6th and 7th the 3rd battalion, including Company “L,” was attached to the 4th Division and took part in the attack on Bois De Fays. The battalion took a position in the shape of a horse shoe, with the enemy on both flanks in Bois de Maulamont.  The 3rd battalion was exposed to intense artillery and machine gun fire and gas.

The battalion continued its forward movement, and on the night of October 10 it advanced through Bois de Malamont and renewed the attack on October 11, reaching the Bois de Foret which was their final objective. The advancing lines were subject to artillery fire and gas causing the unit to suffered many casualties. Hand-to-hand fighting occurred frequently and machine gun nests were numerous and strongly placed. Every foot of the advance was contested. The fighting was so fierce that the troops could not be provided with proper rations.  Company “L” had every officer killed or wounded; it was commanded by the Company First Sergeant until the objective had been reached. Casualties were 38 killed, 315 wounded and gassed.  During this battle the battalion captured 400 Germans.

The document below recognizes Company L for its service during the Battles of Bois de Malumont, Bois de Peut de Faux, and Bois de Foret from October 10 – 12, 1918, and the Battle of Bois de Fays October 6 – 10, 1918.  Company L was subject to heavy artillery and Machine Gun fire during these battles.

Company L Commander, Captain Wise, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during this battle.  The Distinguished Service Cross is the Army’s second highest military award for extraordinary heroism and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Only the Medal of Honor is higher.

Henry FLAATA was in Company L, 2nd Platoon. The link below is an article including Henry’s WWI experiences. https://www.ndna.com/ndna-sponsored-web-site/stories/8336/
An excerpt:
Of the three major offensives Flaata fought in, one of the worse campaigns was Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which took place from Sept. 26 to Nov. 11, 1918.
“One of the most grim places was in the terrible Argonne Forest. I will never forget three o’clock in the morning on Sept. 26 when we were ordered to attack the enemy in the vicinity of Verdun and later in the Argonne. When the cannons begin firing together with the rattle of machine guns the clouds above turned red,” said Flaata whose company captured 63 prisoners, some machine guns and a 12-inch cannon.  Naturally, the enemy set up their own S.O.S. signals, which was the best show of fireworks I have ever seen. A man’s life at that stage was not worth much, one never knew if you could take another step or not and many never did. That day we advanced six miles. “After the battle was over, the Argonne Forest was a grim and horrible sight. So many bodies laid on the ground that we had to move them aside with our feet or step over them. Both allies and the enemy lay dead on the battlefield and with them many wounded. The wounded groaned and screamed. Some were out of their head and swearing and cursing, . . .”

After the battle of Bois de Fays the 3rd battalion took positions on the Muese in the front of Donneveaux holding the line until October 21st. On October 24th they were ordered to the Troyon Sector about 30 miles southwest of Metz where they stayed until the armistice was signed.  Patrols penetrated the towns of St. Hilaire, Bois de Warrville, Bois L’Epinens and the southern edges of Buttenville where they encountered contact with the enemy nightly.  At 0545 on November 11th they attacked the enemy in Buttneville and drove them to the north edge of town.  Later, they received word of the armistice (Signed at the 11th hour, of the 11the day, of the 11th month of the year). During this last day of the war Company “L” suffered 1 killed and 6 wounded.

39 Soldiers were assigned to Company L on the 2nd October 1918. These soldiers fought in the Meuse-Argonne Operation including the Battle of Bois de Fays. They suffered 24 casualties (62% Casualties) – 5 Killed in Action (KIA) 13% , and 19 soldiers were Wounded in Action (WIA) 49%. The 19 soldiers WIA (36%) included 5 soldiers listed as ‘Sick in Hospital’ during October and are assumed to have been WIA (13%). List of the 39 soldiers and their status: link below.

Assigned_Company_L_Bois_du_Fays_2-October-1918

Eighteen (18) Men of Company L were cited for gallantry in action by General Pershing and General Bell. The Silver Star Medal is the United States’ third highest award exclusively for combat valor. The Silver Star was not established as an individual medal until July 19, 1932. At that time, veterans of World War I who had been cited for “gallantry in action” and awarded the “Citation Star” were, based upon specific criteria, authorized to request issuance of the Silver Star Medal in lieu of the earlier ribbon device.

Captain Roger K. Thompson
Sergeant George H. Bates
Sergeant Aaron L. Datin
Sergeant Wesley Foster
Sergeant Paul J. Healy
Sergeant Geoffrey L. Hubbard
Sergeant Walter A. Neubiser
Sergeant James Reynolds
Sergeant Ralph Salisbury
Sergeant Benjamin H. Taylor
Sergeant George M. Trost
Sergeant Royce V. Wallace
Corporal Arthur L. Gainer
Corporal Lorenzo Martinez
Corporal Dee Pickenpaugh
Corporal Thomas P. Tibbets
Private Marion Avery
Private John H. Carvell

Killed in action or other causes

The War Department announced the Purple Heart Medal in General Order No. 3, February 22, 1932:

By order of the President of the United States, the Purple Heart established by General George Washington at Newburgh, August 7, 1782, during the War of the Revolution, is hereby revived out of respect to his memory and military achievements.

By Order of the Secretary War 

During WWI soldiers were eligible for the wound chevron, worn on the right uniform sleeve, if they were as a result of enemy action killed or died by friendly fire, or wounded. In all cases it was required that treatment by a medical officer would have been required.  When the Purple Heart Medal was authorized in 1932, WWI soldiers could apply for the medal by exchanging their Meritorious Service Citation Certificates; apply if had been authorized wound chevrons; or apply if they were otherwise authorized the medal under the provisions pertaining to the wound chevron regulation.  Many soldiers of Company L were not authorized wound chevrons primarily due to being gassed – which was not considered a wound (wounds in WWI meant bleeding) –  or having been wounded but not having been treated by a medical doctor.

Documents relating to the use of gas written during WWI note that many soldiers, after gas attacks, either returned to duty without medical treatment or were taken in large groups and marches through medical areas and the worst cases identified.  However, the effects of being gassed resulted in many Company L soldiers to have post-war gas related medical issues that often resulted in their early deaths.  In other instances the medical records have not been preserved.  While these Company L soldiers may not have been officially authorized Purple Heart Medals for their combat related injuries – including being gassed – the Men of L website has indicated the medal when supporting evidence indicates.  The 85 soldiers listed below were found eligible for the Purple Heart Medal have the authorization source noted.  E.g. A Company L Morning or Personnel report indicating being wounded or gassed.  If you have a photo of your Company L ancestor showing a wound chevron, and if a Purple Heart Medal is not displayed on his Comments page please let us know.

Purple Heart Medal listing – Company L

Purple Heart Medal Eligible

The history of the Purple Heart Medal for combat injuries is contained on this Army webpage.

https://history.army.mil/html/reference/purhrt.html

The ‘War to end all wars’ was over. The regiment was then tasked with caring for released German POW’s.  They stayed in the Troyon Sector until December 7th when they marched to Saarburg, Germany, arriving December 15th.  They left December 17th for Luxembourg, arriving on the 20th, where they stayed until May 1919.

After the war ended on November 11, 1918, Company L remained in Doncourt-Les-Conflans, France until November 29, 1918 then marched to Woel, France, and other locations arriving in Esch, Luxembourg on December 11/12. They were then billeted at Alzingen, Luxembourg from December 12-14, and Remich, Luxembourg December 14-15 and then from December 15-17 they marched into Germany and were at Weiten, Germany and returning to Remich, Luxembourg on December 17. They marched around Luxembourg arriving on December 28 at Gonderange, Junglinster, Luxembourg. They remained in Gonderange until April 25, 1919 and that is the day they left for Luxembourg City; Company L left Luxembourg City the morning of April 26. They ate supper in Verdun, France. They arrived in Brest, France on April 29.  According to Corporal Lee Reuter’s personal journal they left Brest for New York on the Mount Vernon at 4 P.M. on May 9, 1919.

In Luxembourg, Company L spent time in Remich, Flaxweiler, Bourglinster, Gonderange, and Junglinster.  The 132nd’s Regimental Headquarters was in a house in Junglinster.

The American flag flew in front of this 132nd Regimental HQ, Junglinster, during their occupation.

Company L soldiers with local family. Local family and Company L soldiers. All unidentified except for PFC Harry Shankman (circled). Junglinster, Luxembourg, April 6, 1919. Photo used by permission.

Company L departed Luxembourg April 26, 1919.  In early May, after being “decootied” and issued new uniforms, they returned to America, sailing from Brest, France on the same ship, the Mount Vernon, that brought them to France almost a year earlier. The ship manifest listed Company L embarked with 3 officers and 207 soldiers.

The Mount Vernon arrived in New York Harbor on May 17, 1919. At Staten Island the ship was met by the Illinois Governor and the famous “Prairie Division” was welcomed home. The troops disembarked at Hoboken and went to Camp Mills, Long Island. From there they entrained for the return to Illinois. The request for one giant parade in Chicago by the entire Division was rejected by the War Department. Instead, the Division demobilized in June 1919 with a parade down Chicago’s State Street for each of 3 increments of troops.

The 132nd’s parade was conducted on May 27, 1919. The doughboys got off the train and marched to Grant Park for a reception and visiting with their relatives. At 11 a.m. the parade began. The troops wore their service uniforms and trench helmets marked with the 33rd insignia (the yellow cross) and carried rifles, bayonets and light packs. After the parade there were banquets held at “Loop” hotels. Then the men proceeded to Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois for their honorable discharges.

Company L Corporal Lee Reuter, accompanied by two ladies, and his friend Corporal Louis ‘Louie’ Kovits on his right.

Read operations summaries involving Company “L” during the battles of Forges, Bois De Fays, and Bois De Foret.

Battle of Forges Company “L” in front line; officer killed.

A Cook County Illinois Forest Preserve area was named in honor of the 132nd Infantry’s battle of Forges Woods.  Details <Link>

 

Battle of Bois De Fays Company “L” engages enemy.

Battle of Bois De Fays and Bois De Foret Company “L” in front line and attacked by intense artillery, machine gun, and gas.

Note:  The cemetery photo erroneously states ‘South End’; it was in the North End.

General Order #144 From: Headquarters 33rd Division
France October 17, 1918

Letters of Appreciation to the 3rd Battalion, which includes Company L, from the Commanding General relating to their combat successes in support of attacks and capture of Bois de alaumont, Bois de PeutdeFaux, and the Bois de Foret from October 10th to 12th.  It notes they were subjected to heavy hostile artillery and machine gun nest fire from the front and both sides as they attacked.

This is the official listing of Company ‘L’ major operational locations.

The chart below recaps major locations and operations of Company ‘L’