10th Division (United States)

10th Division (United States) was a unit of the United States Army that served in World War I under the command of John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, and Hunter Liggett. The division was formed in 1918 and consisted of troops from the Regular Army, National Guard, and United States Army Reserve. It was one of the several divisions that made up the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) that fought in France alongside the British Army and the French Army. The division's training and preparation were overseen by General Staff of the United States Army, which included notable officers such as Tasker H. Bliss and Peyton C. March.

● History

The 10th Division was activated on August 10, 1918, at Camp Funston, Kansas, as part of the National Army. The division was composed of the 19th and 20th Infantry Brigades, the 53rd Field Artillery Brigade, and supporting units such as the 10th Engineer Regiment and the 10th Field Signal Battalion. The division's early training was supervised by Major General George W. Read, who had previously served in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War. The division was later commanded by Major General Joseph T. Dickman, a veteran of the Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War, who had also served as a staff officer under John J. Pershing during the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa. The division's troops were trained at various camps, including Camp Forrest, Tennessee, and Camp Gordon, Georgia, before being shipped to France to join the American Expeditionary Forces.

● Organization

The 10th Division was organized into several brigades and regiments, including the 19th Infantry Brigade, which consisted of the 19th Infantry Regiment and the 61st Infantry Regiment. The division also included the 20th Infantry Brigade, which was composed of the 20th Infantry Regiment and the 62nd Infantry Regiment. The division's artillery component was the 53rd Field Artillery Brigade, which included the 10th Field Artillery Regiment and the 12th Field Artillery Regiment. The division was supported by various units, including the 10th Engineer Regiment, the 10th Field Signal Battalion, and the 10th Division Trains. The division's organization and structure were modeled after the French Army and the British Army, with which it would be fighting alongside in France. The division's troops were equipped with a variety of weapons, including the M1903 Springfield rifle, the M1911 pistol, and the M1917 Browning machine gun, which were supplied by the Rock Island Arsenal and the Springfield Armory.

● Commanders

The 10th Division had several commanders during its existence, including Major General George W. Read, who commanded the division from its activation until September 1918. Read was succeeded by Major General Joseph T. Dickman, who commanded the division until its demobilization in 1919. Other notable officers who served with the division included Brigadier General Charles G. Morton, who commanded the 19th Infantry Brigade, and Brigadier General William H. Waldron, who commanded the 20th Infantry Brigade. The division's commanders were trained at the United States Army War College and the Command and General Staff College, and had previously served in various conflicts, including the Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War. The division's staff officers included Colonel George C. Marshall, who would later become the Chief of Staff of the United States Army during World War II.

● Operations

The 10th Division arrived in France in September 1918 and was assigned to the Fourth Army (United States), which was commanded by Lieutenant General Hunter Liggett. The division was initially stationed in the Toul sector, where it underwent additional training and preparation for combat. In October 1918, the division was moved to the Meuse-Argonne sector, where it participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive alongside the First Army (United States), which was commanded by Lieutenant General Hunter Liggett. The division's troops fought in several battles, including the Battle of the Argonne Forest and the Battle of Sedan, and suffered significant casualties, including over 1,000 killed and wounded. The division was supported by aircraft from the United States Army Air Service, which included the 1st Pursuit Group and the 12th Aero Squadron.

● Insignia

The 10th Division's insignia was a gold and blue shield with a red and white stripe, which was designed by the division's commander, Major General Joseph T. Dickman. The insignia was worn on the division's uniforms and equipment, and was also displayed on the division's flags and guidons. The division's insignia was similar to those of other United States Army divisions, such as the 1st Division (United States), the 2nd Division (United States), and the 3rd Division (United States). The division's troops also wore a variety of other insignia, including shoulder sleeve insignia and distinctive unit insignia, which were designed by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry. The division's insignia and uniforms were manufactured by the Quartermaster Corps and the United States Army Uniform Board. Category:Divisions of the United States Army