When the United States entered World War I in 1917, it sent the American Expeditionary Force to relieve the worn and beleaguered Allied Forces. On September 20, 1917, Congress approved the creation of the Second Division of the American Expeditionary Force. A hybrid Marine/Army unit, it was conceived and ultimately formed overseas, primarily from units in France. Giving themselves the nickname “Second to None,” the Second Division effectively stopped the German drive on Paris in June 1918, becoming the first American unit to fight the enemy in a major engagement and revitalizing the Allied war effort.
This volume details the fighting experiences of the Second Division, from its creation in the fall of 1917 through 1919. The book follows the unit from training in Toulon through the major campaigns including Chateau Thierry, Soissons, Blanc Mont and Meuse Argonne and records the experiences of the men who served. Appendices provide information regarding the pedigree of the division and its units; a syllabi of the Second Division’s experiences; and a list of major awards received by Second Division personnel. Detailed maps and period photographs are also included.

The late George B. Clark, military historian and former Marine, wrote about World War I, World War II, and the United States Marine Corps. He lived in Pike, New Hampshire.

George B. Clark
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 268
Bibliographic Info: 44 photos, maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2007
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2960-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1416-8
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

Introduction      5

1. Organization of the American Expeditionary Forces      11

2. Training      14

3. Toulon      22

4. Chateau Thierry      37

5. Soissons      95

6. Marbache      113

7. St. Mihiel      118

8. Blanc Mont      133

9. Meuse-Argonne      157

10. Occupation of Germany and Return Home      179

Appendix A. Pedigree of the Division and Its Units      185

Appendix B. Second Division Register      193

Appendix C. Major Awards to 2d Division Personnel      221

Chapter Notes      237

Bibliography      249

Index      255

“value…a ready reference…valuable appendices”—United States Naval Institute