88th Division in the First World War

The 88th Division in the World War of 1914 - 1918

U.S. Government Printing Office, The 88th Division in the World War of 1914 - 1918, © 1919, Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Company, New York, Hardcover, 238 Pages.

Content Section

The 88th Division was organized at Camp Dodge, Iowa, from men drawn from North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. The divisional insignia is two figures “8” in blue, crossed at right angles.

The overseas movement began August 8, 1918, and the last units arrived in France September 9. Major General Edward H. Plummer organized the division and Major General William Weigel commanded the division in action.

To include May 15, 1919, the 88th Division suffered a total of 90 casualties, of whom 27 were killed and two officers and seven men were taken prisoner by the enemy. The division received 731 replacements.

The 88th Division is composed of the following organizations:

  • 156th Infantry Brigade—349th and 350th Regiments.
  • 157th Infantry Brigade—351st and 352nd Regiments.
  • 337th, 338th and 339th Machine Gun Battalions.
  • 163rd Artillery Brigade—337th, 338th and 339th Artillery Regiments.
  • 313th Trench Mortar Battery.
  • 313th Engineer Regiment and Train.
  • 313th Field Signal Battalion.
  • 313th Train Headquarters and Military Police.
  • 313th Supply Train.
  • 313th Ammunition Train.
  • 313th Sanitary Trian—349th, 350th, 351st and 352nd Ambulance Companies and Field Hospitals.

The main units of that comprise the 88th Division: 337th Machine Gun Battalion, 175th Infantry, 349th Infantry, 350th Infantry, 338th Machine Gun Battalion, and various units of the 313th. Comprised mostly of men from the Upper Midwest, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota.

The Division passed through three big stages in its career, therefore, the books is divided into four main parts:

  1. Organiazation and training at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and the trip to France
  2. Arrival in France, training, and life in the trenches
  3. The period after the Armistice, which includes training, athletics, entertainment, the trip home and demobilization
  4. Complete roster of all officers and men who served with the Division in France

Contents Include:

  • Large photographs of the higher ranking officers
  • Organization and Training at Camp Dodge
  • Biography of Major-General William Weigel, U.S. Army
  • Brief History
  • Arrival in France - Training and Life in the Trenches
  • After the Armistice
  • Two Years of American Accomplishment Since War Was Declared
  • Rosters of All Companies within the 88th Division
  • Large number of photographs of Camp Dodge and various towns and cities within France

Publishers' Note

This, the official History of the 88th Division, is published by authority of the Commanding' General of the Division, who, under date of June 3, 1918, made the following announcement:

HEADQUARTERS
88th DIVISION
U. S. A.

The Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Company has been authorized to publish the official History of the 88th Division, which will contain in picture and in text the achievements of the Division—its training, its service overseas, its return home and demobilization. A complete raster of all officers and men who served in the Division overseas will form a part. of the History.

All members of the Division are assured that this History will, in every way, be a worthy volume, and all are urged to secure a copy of what will be the record of one of the most interest:ng chapters in their life's history.

WILLIAM WEIGEL,
Major-General, U. S. A.

The publishers undertook this work in view of the interest and enthusiasm evinced by the officers and men of the 88th Division, from the States of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and neighboring States; and upon the assurances of co-operation and support from them and that there was a tremendous demand for a book giving in pictures and text the accomplishments of the 88th Division.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge, with appreciation, the co-operation of all those who have made its issuance possible, especally

  • WILLIAM WEIGEL, Major-General, Commanding General.
  • FAY W. BRABSON, Colonel, Genera! Staff, Chief of Staff.
  • C. S. BUCK, Major, Adjutant.
  • Tom D. NELSON, Captain, Assistant G-2.
  • EDGAR J. LARSON, Captain.
  • JACOB NORM, Captain.
  • W. T. BUTTES, fat Lieutenant.
  • WILLIAM DARROW, let Lieutenant.
  • L. R. FARIALL, fat Lieutenant.

Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co. July 15, 1919. Copyright 1919 by Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Company

Faithful to Noble Tradition, the Living Division Renders Homage to the Dead of the Division We Left behind in France by Dedicating This History to Their Memory

CONTENTS

  • Organization and Training at Camp Dodge
  • Biography of Major-General William Weigel, U S A
  • Arrival in France - Training and Life in the Trenches
  • After the Armistice
  • Two Years of American Accomplishment since War Was Declared
  • Roster

This short story of the Eighty-Eighth Division's participation in the world war was prepared mainly to give the men of the Division a few facts which would enable them in future years to recall the many pleasant recollections which they will indeed have of their service in the United States and France. No attempt has been made to give a detailed account of the many noble things accomplished by each organization or individual. The book is simply a story of what the Division as a whole accomplished, accompanied by photographs and maps. The Division passed through three big stages in its career. Therefore, the book is divided into four main parts:

  • The first part, organization and training at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and the trip to France.
  • The second part, arrival in France, training, and life in the trenches.
  • The third part, the post Armistice period, includes training, athletics, entertainment, the trip home, and demobilization.
  • The fourth part, a complete roster of all officers and men who served with the Division in France.
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