In August 1917, U. S. National Guard Units from twenty-six states and the District of Columbia united to form the 42nd Infantry Division. Douglas MacArthur, serving as Chief of Staff for the Division, commented that it “The Division stretches like a Rainbow from one end of America to the other.” In this manner, the 42nd became known as the “Rainbow Division.”
The 42nd was the first combat division to arrive in France and entered the front line in March 1918, where it remained in almost constant contact with the enemy for 174 days. During it's time in France, the Rainbow Division participated in six major campaigns and incurred one-out-of-sixteen casualties suffered by the American Army during the war.
Basically one uniform was used for fighting and parade. The US Army and USMC uniforms employed by the Americans in WWI were constructed of heavy woolen material and usually they were very ill fitted and uncomfortable in warm weather. The material was not water or wind resistant, making the nights and rainy days at the front difficult to cope with. The tunic is easily distinguished by its high collar. The pants were tight and uncomfortable to wear. Many officers opted to have their uniforms tailor made at their own expense. They would also purchase their own leather boots instead of wearing the puttees which were difficult to put on and would come undone at the worst times.
It was not until WWII that the Army had designed a looser fit and more breathable uniforms appropriate in tropical climates. When the US entered World War One in 1917, US soldiers wore the M1911campaign hat like the one on this soldier. It was not until later that these hats were replaced with M1917 metal helmets. |
