Historical Era : WWI

The regiment's performance in the Philippines and in Mexico made such a favorable impression on General Pershing that he chose it to be one of four infantry regiments assigned to his new command—the 1st Division, soon to become known as the “Big Red One.” Sailing from Hoboken, New Jersey, the 16th Infantry Regiment landed at St. Nazaire, France, near the end of June 1917.

The French wished to honor our Independence Day and suggested that some of our troops participate with theirs in an appropriate observance.  The people of Paris had not yet seen any American troops and the French authorities felt that the actual appearance of U.S. soldiers on the streets would have a good effect on French morale. The 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry was brought to Paris from St. Nazaire for the occasion. Although these troops were from a Regular Army regiment, they were not likely to make much of an impression from a military point of view as the unit had only recently been raised to war time strength and about two-thirds of the men were raw recruits. The untrained, awkward appearance of this unit, which was regarded by many French officers as representing our Regular Army, could not have escaped their critical observation. However, they could not have foreseen the battle performance of this same battalion and others that would carry the day at Coullemelle, Soisson, and Fléville. The initial ceremony was held in the Court of Honor at Les Invalides and was a fine gesture of recognition of our entry into the war. The President of France, "M. Raymond Poincare, presided and was accompanied by Marshall Joseph Joffre, other high officers, and a group of French veterans of former wars. The impressive formalities were carried out with studied precision. The President presented a stand of our national colors to our battalion and a pair of guidons to General John J. Pershing who observed the event. There at this national shrine, scared to the memory of the French people an official welcome was extended on Independence Day to America's first contingent of troops. This first appearance of American combat troops in Paris brought forth-joyful acclaim from the people. On the march to Lafayette's tomb at Picpus Cemetery, the battalion was joined by a great crowd, many women and children forcing their way into the ranks and swinging along arm in arm with the men. With wreaths around their necks and bouquets in their hats and rifles, the column looked like a moving flower garden. With only a semblance of a military formation, the animated throng pushed its way through avenues of people to the martial stains of the 16th Infantry band and the still more thrilling music of cheering voices. The humbler folk of Paris seemed to look upon these few hundred of our stalwart fighting men as their real deliverance. Many people dropped on their knees in reverence as the column went by. These stirring scenes conveyed vividly the emotions of a people to whom the outcome of the war had seemed all but hopeless."

Prior to being committed to battle, the 16th Infantry Regiment, began training in July 1917 in the Gondrecourt area with the French 47th Division, Chasseaurs Alpines, nicknamed the "Blue Devils.”   Throughout the summer and fall the training went apace and soon it was time for actual combat exposure.  On 3 November 1917, while occupying a section of trenches near Bathlemont, the 16th Infantry became the first U.S. regiment to fight and suffer casualties in the trenches during World War I when it repelled a German night raid.  The French government later erected a monument at Meurthe-et-Moselle, France, honoring the first three 16th Infantry Regiment soldiers killed during the German night, with the inscription: “Here lie the first soldiers of the Great American Republic fallen on French soil for Justice and Liberty.” In the months that followed the 16th Infantry would sustain even more casualties in several defensive battles in eastern France.  The regiment’s first major attack was made during the bloody three-day drive near Soissons in July 1918.  Along with the rest of the Big Red One, it relentlessly attacked until the German rail line that supplied their front line troops was severed forcing a major withdrawal of forces.  The regiment also participated in the US First Army’s huge offensive to reduce the St. Mihiel salient.  Arguably the regiment's most gallant action was the drive that liberated the little village of Fléville in the Argonne forest region on 4 October 1918.  To this day that action is celebrated annually during the 16th Infantry Regiment's Organization Day.  The 16th Infantry also participated in the 1st Division’s final drive of the war when the division attacked to seize the city of Sedan.  Though the division was stopped short of that objective by international politics, the verve and vigor of that drive demonstrated the regiment lived up to the division’s motto, “No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great—Duty First!”

The Interwar Years

After the 1st Division’s return to the US in September 1919, it was moved initially to Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky.  It remained there recruiting, training and occasionally conducted riot control at miners’ strikes until the summer of 1920 when it was transferred to Camp Dix, New Jersey.  Two years later, the division was transferred once again, but this time, the brigades, regiments, and smaller units were sent to garrison small posts all over the northeastern US.  The 16th Infantry was posted to Fort Jay, New York on Governors Island in the middle of New York harbor.  The regiment would remain there until 1941, during which time it became known as “New York’s Own” and adopted its regimental song, “The Sidewalks of New York.”  During this period the regiment engaged  in the normal peacetime training routine of the 1920s and 30s which consisted of schools and individual, squad, and platoon training in the winter and spring, followed by training of the Organized Reserve, R.O.T.C., and C.M.T.C. in the summer at Camp Dix.  The fall was reserved mainly for maneuver and marksmanship training, also held at Camp Dix.  The regiment, along with the rest of the 1st Division, also participated in the First Army maneuvers of 1935 and 1939.  After the latter maneuver, the entire division was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, to participate in a corps-level maneuver experiment designed to improve the employment of the new “triangular” division structure.  The regiment returned to Fort Jay that summer in time to participate in the next First Army maneuver in upstate New York in September 1940.  The following January, the 1st Division was assembled at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, where it remained until its departure for overseas service after Pearl Harbor.