World War I Infantry Unit Histories

The World War I Infantry Unit Histories Collection preserves the experiences of U.S. Army regiments and divisions as told by the men who served in them. Unlike official records, these volumes capture daily routines, training, rosters, casualty lists, photographs, and first-hand narratives of service overseas. For teachers and students, they provide vivid primary sources for essays and classroom study. For genealogists, they offer names, photos, and personal accounts that bring ancestors’ service to life. For historians and military researchers, they provide a rare window into the human side of America’s Great War military history.

🪖 346th Infantry Regiment, 87th Division (1919)

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📌 Highlight of Noteworthy Content

The Unit History and Historical Notes of the 346th Infantry Regiment, 87th Division provides an unusually complete portrait of this regiment’s World War I service:

• ✅ Rosters of Officers and Enlisted Men – Every company within the 346th Infantry is represented, making this an essential genealogical resource.

• ✍️ Company Histories – Short narratives document the organization, training, and overseas activities of each company, giving researchers a ground-level view of service life.

• 📸 Group and Officer Photographs – Visual records of leadership and unit cohesion that put faces to the names listed in rosters.

• ⚔️ Casualty Lists and Service Records – Acknowledging those killed or wounded, these entries connect personal sacrifice to the broader divisional history.

• 🌍 Deployment and Movements – Notes on the regiment’s training in the United States and activities in France link the 346th Infantry to the larger story of the AEF (American Expeditionary Forces).

✨ Why it matters: For genealogists and military historians, the 346th Infantry’s unit history is one of the few surviving primary sources that combines rosters, photographs, and narrative context in a single volume.

🪖 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Division (1919)

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📌 Highlight of Noteworthy Content

The Unit History of the 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Division offers a vivid record of one of the most important regiments raised at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Published in 1919, it captures both the military organization and the personal experiences of its soldiers.

• ✅ Complete Rosters of Officers and Enlisted Men – Every company within the regiment is represented, providing a detailed personnel record invaluable to genealogists.

• 📸 Photographs of Officers and Company Groups – Formal and informal images that bring to life the men who served, allowing researchers to put faces to names.

• ⚔️ Casualty Lists – Documentation of losses suffered by the regiment, acknowledging the sacrifices made in combat.

• ✍️ Company and Regimental Histories – Narratives of daily routines, training, and overseas duties that show how the regiment functioned as part of the American Expeditionary Forces.

• 🌍 Deployment to France and Return – Includes photographs and descriptions of the regiment’s journey overseas, encounters abroad, and debarkation at Newport News aboard transport steamships.

✨ Why it matters: The 351st Infantry’s history blends rosters, photographs, casualty records, and narrative accounts, making it a primary source that offers both human and historical insight into America’s role in World War I.

🪖 88th Division (WWI)

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📌 Highlight of Noteworthy Content

The history of the 88th Division—organized at Camp Dodge, Iowa—documents the service of soldiers drawn from Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and Illinois. Its insignia, two blue “8”s crossed at right angles, became a symbol of pride for its men.

• 🏕️ Formation and Training – Detailed accounts of how the division was raised and prepared at Camp Dodge give context to the Midwest’s contribution to the war effort.

• ✅ Regimental Rosters and Command Structures – Many unit histories include names of officers and enlisted men, critical for family history research.

• 📸 Photographic Record – Group portraits and candid images of soldiers illustrate daily life in training camps and overseas service.

• ⚔️ Battle and Service Narratives – Division histories describe movement to France, front-line assignments, and the realities of trench warfare.

• 🏅 Honors and Decorations – Listings of commendations and meritorious service highlight the division’s contribution to the AEF.

✨ Why it matters: The 88th Division’s history captures not only military operations but also the social makeup of a citizen-soldier army, representing communities across the American Midwest.

Related Resources

• Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry (1917) – official training guide used by WWI soldiers
• Field Service Regulations, U.S. Army (1914) – outlining combat and field doctrine
• Soldier’s Individual Pay Record Book (1918) – financial records of enlisted men
• Soldier’s Diary Extracts (1918–1919) – first-hand accounts of daily life during the war
• French Currency Used by WWI Soldiers – cultural context of American soldiers overseas