IntroductionThe History of the 103rd Regiment
of the 26th Division of the U.S. Army
during World War I
Table of Contents

HISTORY OF THE 103RD INFANTRY

August, 1917, to November, 1918

INTRODUCTION

IN the early part of December, 1918, the Division Commander, Major General Hale, at a conference at Montigny-le-Roi, expressed his desire that the several organizations of the division take steps to properly record their history. An. order on this matter soon followed, and it is in compliance with this order that (-he following history or story of the 103rd Infantry has been written. Primarily its purpose is to record the events, the actions, and the facts, concerning the regiment from the time of its incorporation as a part of the 26th Division through the close of the wnr. This primary purpose would be satisfied by a very few pages of statistics and data, but it is thought that something more should be given; for, just as any history would be dull if it contained nothing Qbut dates, places, figures, and names, in the same measure would this story of the 103rd Infantry be dry and uninteresting if the circumstances, the life, and the atmos- phere surrounding the events should be omitted. As a glance at the index shows, the history is divided into four main parts following in natural sequence; lirst, :1 [brief sketch of_thc [National Guard units which formed the regiment, their mobilization at Westfield, and thc departure of the regiment overseas; second, thc period of preliminary instruction including the time of debarkation in France and entrance in the lines; third, the period of practical instruetion, covering the operations on the Soissons and Toul fronts; and fourth, the period when thc division had become a combat ani! and covering the Chateau-'l`hierry, St. Mihiel, and Verdun, or Mcuse—Argonne offeiisives. The phrase "natural sequence" is believed to be used advisedly. The first; para- graph of our Infantry Drill Regulations states the object of military training to he as follows: "Success in battle is the ultimate object of all military training; success may be looked for only when the training is intelligent and thorough." Net until the regiment had passed into this stage of being a combat unit, been put to the practical test of offensive Warfare, and been successful, had this object been attained. Each of the preliminary stages was important; to each period will be given the consideration it deserves annl, though relatively speaking, all of the events since August, 1917, are so near in point of time as to preclude a distant perspec~ tive, which might result in the omission of some details, this lacl; or error should be more than eounterbalanced by the fact that now is the time when the sources of information are best available. In regard to this matter of inf mation it should at the outset be understood that oH·icers and men throughout tiibqgiment have been called upon to assist, and have assisted, in compiling such facts as are here recorded, and to them are due more than " the customary acknoxvledgments." CHARLES R. CABOT, l\Ii».,vo1‘t 103nD INFANTRY, Regimental H islori an
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