77th
Division
RECORD OF EVENTS
Order of Battle
of the
United States Land Forces
in the
World War
ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING IN THE
UNITED STATES, AUG 5,1917-
MAR 27, 1918
Aug 5, the War Department establishes the 77th Div,
National Army, which is to be organized at Camp Upton,
Yaphank, NY; drafts aggregating 42,000, anticipated for
1917 from New York City and the adjoining counties, are
designed to furnish personnel. Aug 13, the organization
of DHQ is directed, and its commissioned personnel is
ordered to report on or before Aug 15. Aug 16, the
Commanding General of Camp Upton is directed to organize
the Div in accordance with the Tables of Organization of
Aug 8, 1917. Aug 18, Maj Gen J. Franklin Bell assumes
command. Aug 25, the program for the movement of
selective service men to camps is announced. During the
last week in Aug. the organization begins from a cadre of
officers and men of the Regular Army and from ORC and NA
officers of the First. Officers Training Camp at
Plattsburg. Sept 10, the initial draft of 2,000 selective
service men arrives at camp. Sept 19-24, an additional
19,000 arrive. In Sept systematic training begins. Oct
31, the Div numbers about 23,000. During Nov. the many
transfers, in spite of a fresh draft of 750, reduce the
Div to less than 18,000. Dec. 5-10, the last drafts of
1917 furnish the camp with 8,500. Dec. 31, the strength
again reaches 23,000. During the winter, fresh drafts are
received from Camp Devens, and other places; 4,500 are
transferred from the Div during Jan. and Feb; in March
new arrivals complete the Div. March 22, the Adv Det
sails from New York and arrives, Mar 31, at Liverpool.
MOVEMENT OVERSEAS, MAR 28-MAY 13, 1918
Mar 28, Div moves to the ports of embarkation of Boston,
Brooklyn, Hoboken, New York, and Portland. Mar 29-Apr 16,
Div (less Arty, 302d Sup Tn, 302d Am Tn, 308th Amb Co,
and 308th F Hosp) sails, and arrives, Apr 12-28, at
Liverpool. Apr 23-26, 152d FA Brig, 302d Am Tn, 302d Sup
Tn, and 308th Amb Co sail, and arrive, May 2-6, at Brest.
May 13, the last element of the Div, 308th F Hosp,
arrives at St-Nazaire. The units in England, after a
brief stay in rest camps, proceed to Calais.
FINAL TRAINING AND OPERATIONS,
APR 15-NOV 11, 1918
Apr 15-June 5, Training with the
British in Picardy and Artois. Apr 15-May 4, Div
less Arty, 302d Sup Tn, and 308th F Hosp) moves to the
Eperlecques and Recques Training Areas, where it is
attached to the Br 39th Div (Br Second Army) for
training. [Apr 15-June 12, Div is under the
administrative control of the II Corps.] May 7,152d FA
Brig and 302dAm Tn move to Camp de Souge for training.
May 13, 154th Inf Brig moves to the vicinity of
Couturelle and trains with the Br 2d and Br 42d Divs (Br
Third Army) with a view to its employment along the
support line between Marieux and Pas, east of Doullens,
in case of hostile attack. June 6, Div (less Arty, Sup
Tn, and 308th F Hosp) moves to entraining stations, the
153d Inf Brig, from the Br Second Army, marching to
vicinity of Hesdin, the 154th Inf Brig, from the Br Third
Army, marching to vicinity of Longpre-les-Corps-Saints.
June 9, Div (less detached units) moves to the vicinity
of Rambervillers. in the Vosges in the area of the Fr
Eighth Army. [June 12-21, Div is under the administrative
control of the I Corps.] June 14, 302d Sup Tn rejoins.
June 19, Div (less Arty and 308th F Hosp) moves to the
Baccarat Sector.
June 21-July 15, Div participates
in the occupation of the Baccarat Sector (Lorraine). June
21, troops of the 77th Div, affiliated with the Fr 61st
Div, enter the front line of the sector, which includes
the subsectors of Badonviller, Ste-Pole, Montigny and La
Blette, and extends from a point 2-1/2 km northeast of
Pierre-Percee, through Neuviller-les-Badonviller and
Ancerviller, to a point on the Vezouse River 1-1/2 km
northeast of Herbeviller. On this date the command of the
sector passes from the 42d Div to the Fr 61st Div; local
actions follow. [June 21-Aug 8, Div is under the
administrative control of the IV Corps.] June 24, 308th F
Hosp rejoins. July 8-18, 152d FA Brig and 302d Am Tn
rejoin.
July 16-Aug 4, Div occupies the
Baccarat Sector (Lorraine). July 16, 77th Div
assumes command of the Baccarat Sector and the Fr 61st
Div begins to withdraw. Aug 4, 37th Div relieves the 77th
Div. Aug 6, Div moves from the vicinity of Charmes to the
vicinity of Fere-en-Tardenois in the zone of the Fr Sixth
Army. Aug 11, Div move toward the front.
Aug 12-17, Div occupies the Vesle
Sector (Champagne). Aug 12, Div relieves the 4th
Div and part of the Fr 62d Div in the Vesle Sector from
the Chateau du Diable, along the railroad north of the
Vesle River, the slopes east and north of St-Thibaut, to
the railroad north of la Graviere; 28th Div on right, Fr
62d Div (Fr XI Corps) on left. Night Aug 13/14, the Div
extends its front to the western edge of Fismettes,
relieving troops of the 28th Div. Aug 15, Fr 164th Div is
on the left. Aug 18, the sector occupation merges into
the Oise-Aisne Operation.
Aug 18-Sept 16, Div participates
in the Oise-Aisne Operation. Aug 18-Sept 3, the
Fr Sixth Army attacks the enemy positions north of the
Vesle River. The Div establishes bridgeheads north of the
river near the Chateau du Diable and Bazoches. Aug 21,
Div occupies Tannerie, and, on Aug 22, captures the
Chateau du Diable. Aug 27, 2d Bn 306th Inf raids Bazoches
from the southwest, and retires to its original position
before a hostile counterattack. Night Sept 2/3, Div
extends its sector toward the right to include Fismes.
Night Sept 3/4, the enemy begins his withdrawal to
prepared positions north of the Aisne. Sept 4, Div
advances, crosses the Vesle, and reaches an east and west
line from Grotte to les Terres -Noires, southwest of
Perles. Sept 5, Div captures Merval and Serval and,
further west, reaches a line from Barbonval (excl) to
Pierre Laroche, captures Longueval, and occupies les
Champs-Ste-Macre. Sept 6, Div reaches a line from a point
east of la Butte do Bourmont to Villers-en-Prayeres
(incl), thence along the road connecting
Villers-en-Prayeres and Vieil-Arcy, to the
Ruines-du-Tordoir (excl); patrols cross the Aisne Canal.
Night Sept 7/8, Fr 62d Div relieves the 28th Div on the
right; Fr 164th Div (Fr III Corps) is on the left. Sept
7-14, several attacks gain some ground in the direction
of Glennes and Revillon and also toward the Aisne. Night
Sept 11/12, the sector is reduced when the Fr 164th Div
relieves the 306th Inf west of the Bois de Mauchamp.
Nights of Sept 14/15 and 15/16, the Italian 8th Div
relieves the Div. Sept 16, the command passes to the
Italian 8th Div, and the 77th Div moves, via Epernay and
Chalons-sur-Marne, to the area of the Fr Second Army near
Givry-en-Argonne. Sept 19, Div (less Arty and trains)
moves to the vicinity of Le Neufour, Florent, and Les
Islettes. Nights Sept 19/20 and 20/21, Div (less Arty and
trains) relieves the Fr 120th Div in the Foret d'Argonne.
Sept 21-25, Div occupies the
Foret d'Argonne Sector (Lorraine). The Div
reorganizes this sector which extends from
Pierre-Croisee, through Courtechaussee and Le Four de
Paris, to 1 km north of La Harazee. Night Sept 23/24, the
artillery and trains enter the sector.
Sept 26-Nov 11, Div participates
in the Meuse-Argonne Operation. Sept 26, Div, on
the left of the I Corps, attacks toward Grandpre and
advances about 2 km; the 28th Div is on the right; the
368th Inf (92d Div), as part of a Franco-American liaison
detachment of the Groupement Durand between the First and
Fr Fourth Armies, is on the left. Sept 27-Oct 1, a series
of attacks through the Bois de la Grurie establishes a
line from a point southwest of le Chene Tondu, through
the Bois de la Naza, to 1 km east of Binarville. Sept 30,
Fr 1st Dismounted Cavalry Div (Fr XXXVIII Corps, Fr
Fourth Army) is on the left. Oct 2, the left of the Div
attacks; the 1st Bn 308th Inf, assisted by elements of
the 307th Inf and 306th MG Bn, penetrates the enemy
position between the Bois de laBuironne and the Moulin de
Charlevaux, but is surrounded. Oct 7, Div advances and
reestablishes connection with this battalion. Oct 8, Div
reaches the Rau des Noues in the Bois de Chatel, and the
front now extends from 2-km southwest of Chetel-Chehery
to Etang de Poligny. Oct 9, Div pursues the retreating
enemy, passes through the Bois des Quatrains and Bois de
Langon, and reaches a line from 1 1/4 km south of La
Besogne to the south slope of Hill 209; 82dDivon right.
Oct 10, the enemy retreats to positions north of the Aire
River; the Div pursues and reaches a line from Mareq
(excl), through the southern limits of Chevieres, to 1 km
south of Grand- pre; Fr 71st Div (Fr XXXVIII Corps, Fr
Fourth Army) on the left. Oct .11-13, local actions
occur. Oct 14, Div captures St-Juvin. Oct 15, Div changes
direction from the north to the northwest, and the left
of the Div closes in on the Aire River. Night Oct 15/16,
78th Div begins the relief of the 77th Div. Oct 16, 1st
Bn 307th Inf enters Grandpre, but units of the 78th Div
complete its occupation. Oct 16-30, Div is concentrated
near Pylone and Camp de Bouzon in corps reserve;
rehabilitation. Oct 31-Nov 1, elements of the Div reenter
the front line and relieve part of the 82d Div from the
Ravin aux Pierres to the northwestern slope of C6te 182
north of St-Juvin. Nov 1, Div attacks north and reaches
the high ground along the road 1 km east of
Champigneulle, and, on the left, to beyond the Agron
River astride the road from Champigneulle to St-Juvin;
80th Div on right, 78th Div on left. Night Nov 1/2, the
enemy withdraws to the north. Nov 2, Div pursues,
captures Champigneulle, and passes through Verpel,
Thenorgues, and Harricourt. Nov 3, it passes through
Autruche, Fontenoy, and St-Pierremont, and on Nov 4,
occupies Oches. Nov 5, Div occupies La Berliere, Stonne
and La Besace; its front now extends from La Besace
(incl), to south edge o Bois de Raucourt, thence along
the road to les- Huttes -d'Ogny Fme; 42d Div is now on
the left. Nov 6, Div resumes the pursuit northeast in the
direction of the Meuse, establishes connection with the
1st Div (V Corps), which replaced the 80th Div on the
right, and reaches the heights of the Meuse between Bois
de Pourron and Chamblage Fme, with patrols at
Villers-devant-Mouzon and Remilly-sur-Meuse. Nov 7, Div
holds the line of the Meuse from Rouffy to
Reniffly-sur-Meuse, and advances its right to crest of
Mont-de-Brune and east slope of Hill 275; 2d Div (V
Corps) on right. Nov 8, Div front is now along the Meuse
from opposite Mouzon to Remilly-sur-Meuse. Nov 9-10, Div
relieves the 42d Div, occupies the entire corps front,
and establishes connection with the Fr 150th Inf (Fr 40th
Div, Fr. IX Corps, Fr Fourth Army) east of Pont-Maugis.
Nov 10-11, Div holds the line of the Meuse from Mouzon
(excl) to Pont -Maugis (excl).
POST-ARMISTICE ACTIVITIES, NOV 12, 1918-FEB 6,
1919
Nov 12, Div is relieved of part of its front by the Fr
48th Div, and moves to the vicinity of Sommauthe,
Vaux-on-Dieulet, and La Besace. Nov 14, Div assumes
command of the entire front of the V Corps, relieving
troops of the 2d and 89th Divs, and engages in the
enforcement of armistice terms, salvage, and training.
Nov 17, the outpost positions of the 77th Div on east
bank of the Meuse pass to the 90th Div. Nov 20-24, Div
Oess Arty) moves to Les Islettes Area; the 152d FA Brig
and 302d Am Tn move to the vicinity of Grandpr4. Nov
26-Dec 5, Div moves to the 9th (Chateauvillain) Training
Area.
RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES AND DEMOBILIZATION,
FEB 7--MAY 9 1919
Feb 7, Div moves to Le Mans Area, American Embarkation
Center. Feb 9, 302d TM Btry sails from Brest. Apr 14, Div
moves to Brest. Apr 17, DHQ, _Hq 153d Inf Brig, and 306th
Inf sail. May 6, the last troops arrive at New York City.
The demobilization at Camp Upton, on May 9, includes:
DHQ, Hq 153d Inf Brig, Hq 154th Inf Brig, and Hq 152d FA
Brig.
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