The First Pioneer Infantry WWI

During the First World War, the First Pioneer Infantry, as well as other Pioneer Infantry regiments played a significant part in the American Expeditionary Forces campaign and the Allied victory in defeating Germany.   The First Pioneer Infantry included a large contingent of men from all regions of Kentucky.   Many men of the number were from eastern Kentucky including Clay, Jackson, Laurel, and the surrounding counties.  Pioneer Infantry regiments were attached to Army headquarters or Army Corps and were organized as engineer regiments and sometimes marched at the head of battalions to clear obstructions, to improve roads and build bridges or make repairs to roads.  The pioneer regiments also followed battles to make repairs, all the while being always prepared to fight. 

The First Pioneer Infantry had its beginning at Camp Wadsworth, S.C. in January, 1918.  The regiment soon absorbed detachments from the National Guard and Army Reserve and was designated for immediate foreign deployment.  On March 18, 1918, a fine group of 1,500 recruits from Kentucky and southern Indiana, who had been inducted into the army at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, KY, marched into the regimental camp.  A minor setback slowed departure overseas as the regiment was placed under quarantine for an outbreak of mumps and measles.  Between the months of April and June 1918, additional soldiers were received from other states.  Thirty three states in total were eventually represented.  The regiment was placed under the command of Colonel James S. Boyer and consisted of companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, and M, as well as the Headquarters and Supply companies.  The majority of men from Clay, Jackson, Laurel and surrounding counties were in Company I, Company K and Company L.   

On July 1, 1918, the First Pioneer Infantry, departed Camp Wadsworth, SC and arrived at Camp Mills, NY.  The regiment boarded transport ships for Hoboken, New Jersey on July 8th, with Companies L and M, on the Orizaba and the remainder of the regiment on the Mount Vernon, which was a formerly a German liner which had been seized.  On July, 9th, the ships sailed down North River and got a glimpse of the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty before sailing on to France, arriving at Brest Harbor, France on July 18th.

Upon landing, the regiment passed thru the city of Brest, viewing Napoleon’s Pontanezen Barracks, then travelled on to La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre, viewing French farm country where they got a far off view of the Eifel Tower and on to the Marne River.  While passing thru the Marne Valley, the regiment was saluted by French inhabitants and greeted with cheers of “Vive L’Amerique”.  Upon arriving at Nanteuil-Saacy, the regiment had its first view of artillery fire and soon the regiment would be engaged in the war. 

During the war, the First Pioneer Infantry participated in three major offensives including Marne-Aisne, Oise-Aisne and Meuse-Argonne.   The Marne-Aisne offensive lasted from July 25th to August 6th.  The Oise-Aisne offensive was from August 18th to September 10th.    The Meuse-Argonne offensive lasted from September 26th to November 11th.  Each company of the First Pioneer Infantry would have differing roles and assignments and sometimes were reassigned to other areas during its service.

On November 11, 1918, Armistice Day, World War I officially was over, but the First Pioneer Infantry remained until June, 1919, occupying part of Germany.  At one point they were stationed at the Fortress Ehrenbreitstein, overlooking the Rhine.   This was the last German soil given up by the American Army.  Here the regiment spent Christmas.   On February 2, 1919 the First Pioneer Infantry was transferred to Headquarters, Third Army.   Companies I, K, L and M were stationed at Bendorf, Germany.  On May 19, the entire regiment received orders to depart.   They marched to Engers to board Side Door Pullman trains on the journey to the coast.  Upon arriving near Le Mans, they stayed for a brief period, and while there the regiment was reviewed by General John J. Pershing.  From there they moved to St. Nazaire near the Loire River.   They boarded the Ancon on June 26, 1919, and arrived in Newport News, VA on July 7th, one year from the day they had departed.  The troops were divided and sent to various camps for discharge with the largest majority going to Camp Zachary Taylor, in Louisville, KY.  

LOCAL AREA DOUGHBOY VETERANS OF FIRST PIONEER INFANTRY

CLAY COUNTY

Green Dotson, Company D, Paw Paw                        

Hardin Jones, Company I, Manchester

Chester Cobb, Company I, Oneida                            

Leonard Davidson, Company I, Antepast

David Hubbard, Company I, Bright Shade                 

Henry Melton, Company I, Laurel Creek

Green Bowling, Company I, Hector                           

Bradley Hyde, Company I, Manchester

Alfred Jackson, Company I, Bright Shade                  

Allen Bishop, Company I, Teges

Virgil Burns, Company I, Manchester                                   

Lawrence Carpenter, Company I, Plank

John Lee, Company I, Bar Creek                                

Jimmie Powell, Company I, Tanksley

Walter Herd, Company K, Manchester                     

Roger Williams, Company K, Manchester

Blain, Hensley, Company K, Manchester                  

Milton Henson, Company K, Crawfish

Pearl Hornsby, Company K, Burning Springs             

Marion Sandlin, Company K, Sextons Creek

Woodson Spurlock, Company K, Hensley                  

James Sibert, Company L, Crawfish

Sebastian Samples, Company L, Tanksley                 

Thomas P. Benge, Company L, Portersburg

Matt Benge, Company L, Manchester                      

Hugh Stidham, Company L, Oneida

Phillip Wilson, Company L, Bar Creek                                   

William Caudill, Company L, Benge

KNOX/WHITLEY COUNTY

Earl Alger, Company L, Corbin                                  

Charles Denham, Company L, Corbin

David Craig, Company L, Lynn Camp                        

Frank Elliott, Company L, Rockhold

JACKSON COUNTY

Charles Lainhart, Company I, McKee                        

John R. Lakes, Company I, Drip Rock

Daniel Alcorn, Company I, Drip Rock                        

Sylvester Callahan, Company I, Parrott

Henry Davis, Company I, Bond                                  

Taylor Isaacs, Company I, Egypt

Merrill Lainhart, Company I, Brazil                           

Roscoe Matthews, Company I, Gray Hawk

William Pearson, Company I, Brazil                          

Delbert Sexton, Company L, Bond

Frank Hayes, Company L, McKee                              

John Carroll, Company L, Drip Rock

Dusley Baker, Company I, Clover Bottom

LAUREL COUNTY

Charles Parsley, Company I, Crawford                      

Dan McDaniel, Company I, London

Beverly Owens, Company K, Marydell                      

Charles P Warren, Company L, Pittsburg

Harvey Carmack, Company L, Lily                             

Edmund Moberly, Company M, Atlanta

Sparks McFadden, Supply Co., London                      

Jesse Thompson, Supply Co., London

John Owens, Supply Co., Lily                                      

Richard Parrigan, Company M, Lily

LESLIE COUNTY

Jim Coots, Company F, Wooten                                 

Farmer Asher, Company I, Roark

Johnny Sizemore, Company I, Shoal                          

Berlay Sizemore, Company I, Hyden

Woolery Bailey, Company M, Confluence                

Owsley County

John Couch, Company I, Mistletoe                            

Winburn Hisle, Company L, Jinks

Rockcastle County

Jeff Himes, Company A, Wildie                                 

Sam Holcomb, Company A, Brodhead

Walter Owens, Company B, Livingston                     

Samuel Patton, Company B, Mt. Vernon

James Hasty, Headquarters Co., Rockcastle Co.

Information for this article was obtained from The Story of the First Pioneer Infantry, USA, by Chester W. Davis and Harrison W. Foreman, published 1919.