On April 6th The United States of America declared war on Germany and entered the first World War. Immediately following, the First Battalion, 22nd Infantry, proceeded from Fort Jay to Hoboken, New Jersey, where they transferred the crews of the German ships lying alongside the great North German Lloyd and Hamburg-American line piers, from their ships to Ellis Island, New York harbor, where they were interned. This action was, beyond all doubt, the first act of war committed by the armed forces of the United States against Germany.
2nd Battalion was on a practice march when they were alerted to go to Hoboken. They ran as fast as they could to Fort Totten and went on guard duty at the piers. Within the course of two to three days a thorough system was devised for the proper guarding of the piers and ships, and the battalion entered upon a tour of guard duty that lasted for many months.
On August 3rd, 1917 the Regiment sent 400 enlisted and 3 officers to overseas duty with the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions. Though as a regiment, the 22nd did not go overseas to fight, these 403 men were called upon to live out the motto, Deeds not Words, in battle once again.
Captain Rozelle was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and Captain Yuill was cited in orders for gallantry on five separate occasions. Regimental Sergeant-Major Patrick Regan, who had been transferred from duty as first sergeant of Company H, 22nd Infantry, was the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Many of these men never again returned to the United States, but of those who did, a large percentage re-enlisted in the 22nd Infantry.
SMG Patrick Regan’s (would be promoted to 2LT) Medal of Honor Citation reads:
While leading his platoon against a strong enemy machinegun nest which had held up the advance of two companies, Second Lieutenant Regan divided his men into three groups, sending one group to either flank, and he himself attacking with an automatic rifle team from the front. Two of the team were killed outright, while Second Lieutenant Regan and the third man were seriously wounded, the latter unable to advance. Although severely wounded, Second Lieutenant Regan dashed with empty pistol into the machinegun nest, capturing 30 Austrian gunners and four machineguns. This gallant deed permitted the companies to advance, avoiding a terrific enemy fire. Despite his wounds, he continued to lead his platoon forward until ordered to the rear by his commanding officer.
Though these soldiers had a major impact on WWI, and many of them returned to their beloved 22nd Infantry Regiment, their history is not the history of our regiment. At the end of this article is a brief history of the 1st Infantry Division in WWI to give an idea of what our soldiers went through.
In October of 1917, after 6 months of continuous guard duty of the docks the 22nd was relieved by the 13th Infantry. The 22nd would be split up and sent to forts all throughout the North East. Companies E, and F were transferred to Fort Hamilton, New York; Companies I and L to Fort Niagara NY; Company K to Ellis Island, company Frankford arsenal and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Company H to Plattsburgh Barracks, NY. In January of 1918, Company E would move to Maddison Barrack, Sackets Harbor NY.
May 13, 1918, the supply company, 22nd Infantry, having completed its duties in connection with the 42nd Division at Camp Mills, Long Island, moved by wagon train from that place to Fort Hamilton; total distance covered, 35 miles.
On August 21st, the 1st Battalion of the 22nd would be sent to Washington D.C. for “Honor Guard” duty. They would guard all the monuments and the heart of our government. The other companies would continue their rotation of forts throughout New York and New Jersey with company G setting up a recruitment camp in Syracuse, NY. While at Syracuse the 22nd helped with the effort to “fight” the influenza pandemic that struck the world at that time.
Company F at Fort Jay was tasked with the “Slacker Drive”. Under the command of COL. Tillson (the regimental commander) soldiers of F Co. were sent all through the New York city area to round up draft dodgers.
Many of the ships seized on April 6th, 1917, were used in service of the American Navy to transport troops over to Europe. One such ship was the Vaterland, which would be renamed the USS Leviathan. The USS Leviathan was the largest ship of any kind afloat from 1914-1921. It was 950 feet long and 100 feet wide, displacing 54,000 tons. During the war, the USS Leviathan made 19 round trips across the Atlantic, carrying 10 % of all American troops ferried. In March of 1919 she brought home 14,416 troops on one run, setting a world record for the most people ever sailing on a single ship. The War would end on November 11th, 1918.
As mentioned above, 403 soldiers from the 22nd were sent to the army’s 1st Infantry Division. These men were scattered throughout the 16th, 18th, 26th, and 28th regiments. The following is a short summery of the 1st ID history in WWI from the First Division Museum to give an idea of what these soldiers went through:
When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, it had no divisions. President Woodrow Wilson promised the Allies he would send “a division” to France immediately. Four infantry regiments (16th, 18th, 26th and 28th) and three artillery regiments (5th, 6th and 7th) were ordered from the Mexican border in Texas to Hoboken, NJ, to board transports for France. On June 8, 1917, Brigadier General William Sibert assumed command of them as the “First Expeditionary Division.” Organized as a “square” division of more than 28,000 men, the First Division was twice the size of either the Allied or German divisions on the Western Front.
The First Division won the first American victory in World War I at the Battle of Cantigny. Cantigny is a small village north of Paris, in the Picardy region of France. Held by the German Army, Cantigny formed a dangerous salient in the Allied lines. On May 28, 1918, the First Division attacked and defeated the German forces in the village and held it against repeated German counterattacks, despite suffering more than 1,000 casualties. The success raised the Allies’ morale, convinced the British and French that the Americans were capable of operating in independent fighting units, and disproved German propaganda about American incapacity. Cantigny also was the first significant use of modern, combined arms operations by the US Army. The division was supported by French air units, flame thrower teams, tanks and artillery. After the Battle of Cantigny, the First Division participated in the major battles of Soissons, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. From May 1918 to the Armistice on November 11, 1918, the First Division suffered more than 20,000 casualties, including killed, wounded and missing. With commanders such as MG William Sibert, MG Robert L. Bullard and MG Charles P. Summerall, the First Division established a reputation for excellence and esprit de corps.
- John Cooper (Afghanistan, 2018-2021)