32D Red Arrow Infantry Division and Brigade

Oise-Aisne Campaign

On 23 August 1918 the Division started movement to a new sector, in the vicinity of Pierrefonds, near Soissons. After a few days in the Army reserve the Division was sent across the Aisne to a position in the rear of the 127th French Infantry Division, with orders to relieve that division on short notice.

The relief of the 127th French Infantry Division took place on the night of 27-28 August. The 63^D Brigade went into the line and the 64^TH Brigade went into support (of the 63^D). (The Infantry companies were down to 50% of their authorized strength of 250 soldiers as the 32^D Division prepared to enter its second battle.) The relief was completed at 0200 hrs. The first attack was set for 0700 hours, the precise hour that command of the sector passed to the 32^D Commander, General Haan.

The 63^D went over the top at 0700 hours on 28 August to participate in a limited attack to eliminate a dangerous salient in the sector of the 59th French Division to the right of the 32^D. During the morning the 32^D readily gained their objective, the railroad track west of the village of Juvigny, the village was destined to be one of the high spots in the career of “Les Terribles”. The 63^D Brigade turned in over 100 prisoners as a result of their push, and the captured Germans all testified to their complete surprise at the presence of Americans in the sector. Later the 32^D found that the position they had captured was difficult to hold. They were on high, open ground on the slope of a hill facing the enemy. There was little cover, except shell holes, and they were subjected to artillery and machine gun fire from positions that had excellent observation of our front. The exposed position could not be abandoned without endangering the French; as a result, the casualties were high. Shortly after noon, the Germans counter attacked to attempt to dislodge the Americans. Our machine gunners held their ground and, aided by our artillery, were able to repel the German counter attack. After that, the Germans continued their harassing artillery and machine gun fire on the troops in the vicinity of the railroad tracks.
 

General Mangin ordered a general attack by the entire 10th French Army (of which the 32^D was a part of at this time) to take place at 0525 hours on 29 August, with the objective of a complete break through the German line. Two companies of tanks and a troop of Moroccan Cavalry were attached to the 32^D Division (several French Artillery units were also attached to the 57^TH Field Artillery Brigade of the 32^D Division).

Those two tank companies, although French-manned, were the first tanks used in support of U.S. troops. The first employment of U.S.-manned tanks occurred on 12 Sep. ‘18 near St. Mihiel. [added 19 Jan. ’14, TPB]

A tremendous artillery preparation had been delivered during the night, followed by a rolling barrage in front of the attacking infantry in the morning, but all this seemed to have little effect on the German machine gun nests, some of which took good advantage of numerous caves in the area. The Germans also laid down an effective counter barrage, just as our troops jumped off. The entire 10th French Army met a determined German defense occupying well sited and protected positions. Casualties were heavy on both sides and very little ground was gained. Because of the heavy casualties, the 63^D Brigade was relieved by the 64^TH Brigade on the night of 29-30 August in preparation for the next general attack, planned for 30 August. The 127^TH was on the right and the 128^TH on the left, each with two battalions in the line and one in support.

The planned attack for 30 August was not ordered. This situation left the 32^D Division front line still exposed on the hill west of Juvigny, with the troops suffering heavily. While corrective measures were being considered, word was received from the 59th French Division on our right that its right flank had advanced in close liaison with the division to their right, which had found a weak spot in the German line and had broken through. It became apparent that this movement was going to meet with success and preparations were made for the 32^D to participate in the shove. This would give us the opportunity to attack Juvigny. When the attack was launched, the left flank, together with the 66th French Division on our left, was held up by heavy fire coming from the northeast. The right flank, however, moved forward, and while it encountered determined opposition in going through the woods, it succeeded in making its way through the ravine to a position to the south of Juvigny with the extreme right partially enveloping the town to the east. One battalion of the 128^TH Infantry moved forward west of Juvigny and reached a position north of the town, in this way the village was practically surrounded. The enemy was taken by surprise by the attack, but recovered and delivered a counter attack on our left flank. This attack was repulsed by the 128^TH, which had been reinforced on its left by a battalion of the 125^TH Infantry. With Juvigny surrounded, the support battalion of the 127^TH Infantry entered the town from the southwest and mopped up, encountering some wicked fighting. Nearly all of the German troops holding the village were either killed or captured.

1LT Henry S. Blomberg, from Superior, Wis., an officer in Co. D, 127^TH Inf., was awarded the DSC for his bravery during this attack at Juvigny, France, on 30 August 1918. 1LT Blomberg’s citation reads: “Inspiring his men by his own personal bravery, he vigorously led his company forward in the face of heavy machine-gun and artillery fire, capturing the heights overlooking Juvigny with many prisoners. After reaching the objective he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire time after time in reorganizing the line. During the defense of the position won he personally set up and operated a captured German machine gun against the enemy while under terrific fire.” 1LT Blomberg was later KIA on 4 October 1918.

General Mangin ordered his second general attack to take place at 1600 hours on 31 August 1918. This attack was needed to straighten out the front line and improve the positions of some of the forward units. He ordered an artillery preparation of four hours to precede the infantry attack. The entire 57^TH Artillery Brigade, commanded by BG George L. Irwin, and the artillery of the 1st Moroccan Division, which was supporting the 32^D, was assigned to General Haan for this attack. Novel use was made of this abnormal abundance of artillery in the form of a triple, rolling barrage, to cover a depth of about 1 ½ km. Some of the German prisoners taken during the day remarked that there were so many artillery shells bursting around them that they thought the Americans had a machine gun that sprayed 75 mm shells. Even after all this, the 32^D Division still suffered considerable casualties as they progressed to the Terny-Sorny-Betancourt road, where the general advance stopped.

In an operation against a determined enemy, disposed in great depth, supported be adequate artillery and entrenched in highly organized positions in country that lent itself naturally to defense, the 32^D Division had again broken through a German key position, had penetrated his line to a depth of 5 ½ km, and started an enemy withdrawal, thus paving the way for a forward movement by the whole French 10th Army.

The 32^D was relieved by the First Moroccan Division; this division included the Foreign Legion and other famous units, on the night of 1-2 September and went into support for the 10th French Army.
 

On 4 September near Juvigny, the 120^TH FA Regt. fired gas shells for the first time. [added 1 Jul. ’15, TPB]

On 5 September orders were received stating that the 32^D was being transferred to the First American Army, thus effecting the 32^D Division’s withdrawal from the Oise-Aisne offensive. General Mangin later decorated the Division for its actions in this offensive. He decorated the colors of all four Infantry regiments, all three artillery regiments and all three machine gun battalions with the Croix de Guerre with Palm, the highest order of the Croix de Guerre. These were the only National Guard units bestowed with the highest order of the Croix de Guerre during WWI.

The citations for the 63^D Inf. Bde. and 64^TH Inf. Bde. were published in Order No. 13978 “D” and said:

“Magnificent brigade, to which the French soldiers fighting by its side, have rendered the most beautiful homage in calling it the ‘Brigade les Terribles.’ Composed of the 127th and 128th Infantry Regiments and the 121st Machine Gun Battalion, it took in a brilliant and irresistible attack, the village of Juvigny, the 30th of August, 1918, and pursued its advance the 31st of August and the 1st of September, dominating constantly the enemy, in spite of heavy losses, sustaining without faltering the most violent enemy counter-attacks, fighting for three days without stopping, without rest, and almost without food.” [added 8 Jul. ‘19, TPB]

“The 63rd United States Infantry Brigade, composed of the 125th and 126th Infantry Regiments, have acquired the most splendid title of glory in the battles of August 28th, 1918, in the vicinity of Juvigny. Scarcely having entered the lines, it dashed forward into the assault; the enemy, surprised, became demoralized by the rapidity and vigor of the attack. It proved its superiority in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle where the 125th and 126th Regiments emerged victoriously despite counter-attacks by the enemy. It drove back the beaten enemy as far as the approach of Terny-Sorny, while efficaciously supporting the neighboring French troops during the attacks from August 31st to September 1st, 1918.” [added 23 Nov. ’15, TPB]

Gen. Mangin also cited over 500 officers and men for gallantry in action while under his command. The 32^D Division casualties were 2908 losses from all causes, including: killed and died of wounds, 485; severely wounded, 599; slightly wounded, 1251; gassed, 574; missing, 14; captured, 5 men. Five German Divisions were used up in an attempt to hold the position which the 32^D stormed-the 7th, 7th Reserve, the 223rd, the 238th and the 237th. From these Divisions 937 prisoners were captured, 9 of them officers. The material captured included 2 pieces of heavy artillery, 2 pieces of light artillery, 16 trench mortars, 112 machine guns, 700 rifles and great quantities of ammunition and material.

The Division was moved to a rest area in the vicinity of Joinville, north of Chaumont, on 10 September 1918. About 5,000 new men arrived in the Division, but the rifle companies were still short three officers and 50 men each.

On 15 September General Pershing visited the 32^D Division and congratulated them on their accomplishments during the Oise-Aisne campaign.