Post Your Span-Am to WW I Full-Length Soldier Photos

[world war I nerd]

Joyriding on a French road in an AEF automobile from an unknown unit circa 1918.

[world war I nerd]

Men of the 8th Balloon Company hitching packs circa 1918.

[world war I nerd]

Troops of the 6th Engineer regiment on their way home from France in 1919.

 

A closer look at the crowd of 3rd Division engineers. Note the insignia of the 3rd Division painted on one of the helmets

[Salvage Sailor]

On 3/30/2019 at 7:16 AM, world war I nerd said:

Sailor with what I'm guessing is an electrician's rate from the U.S.S. Utah, circa 1913.

 

Photo Here

 

 

Radio Operator

 

EM/2c rating badge dating from the WWI time-frame showing the four electrical sparks of the radio operator/technician distinguishing mark affixed directly below the chevrons.

 

[AustinO]

I'm totally nerding out on that 6th Engineers shot, love it!

 

I'm wondering if the 313rd at Grant was one of the subordinate units (laundry, bakery etc)? The 79th certainly would not have been in the midwest....The other option would be one of the Camp Grant Detachments of recently returned men from France. You can really only see one sleeve and it doesnt have an OS stripe, so possible this was taken in Jan/Feb of 1919? It's not dated in the corner is it?

[world war I nerd]

Salvage Sailor, thanks for the ID of the navy rating and specialty badge.

 

AustinO, I too was doubting the connection between the 79th Division and its connection with Camp Grant. The U.S./313 collar disc and the infantry collar disc were worn by two two separate hockey players. No two discs were visible on any of the men in the photo. I just assumed that the U.S./313 and the infantry discs went together ... my bad.

 

This is "Charlie" on "Wash day". According to the information on the back, he is a member of the Machine Gun Company, 52nd Infantry Regiment. The image was taken on October 20, 1917 at Chickamauga Park, Georgia.

[world war I nerd]

A shot of five men, officious and otherwise, one with a basketball, outside of what must be a very important tent, provided you believe the message on the tent's door.

 

A close up of the basketball and the "no Loafing" instructions scrawled on the door.

[world war I nerd]

In this less-than-high-quality image a group of Doughboys to be are practicing for the highly competitive synchronized bayonet drawing competition.

 

A closer look at the 1917 Overcoat clad men and their bayonets, as well as their scabbards.

[world war I nerd]

Not sure if this image was taken over here or over there. Regardless it shows an MP wearing a white on blue Military Police Brassard and the seldom seen MP Collar Disc.

 

A better look at both the brassard and the collar disc.

[world war I nerd]

This homespun banner, made by the men of the 89th Division's ammunition train proudly trumpets that organizations contribution to the demise of Kaiser Bill and Imperial Germany.

 

A larger image of the ammunition train's banner and a detail shot showing the two chevron overseas service pin as worn on the overseas caps of the right and left hand banner bearers, next to the "T" for trains collar disc..

[world war I nerd]

U.S. Infantry posted to Ft. Liscum, Valdez, Alaska, 1913

 

Close up of two of the Ft. Liscum soldiers.

[world war I nerd]

Sergeant J. H. Bries, Company H, 14th Infantry Regiment at Ft. William Henry Harrison, near Helena Montana, 1911.

[world war I nerd]

Company Supply Sergeant, whose name is illegible in, according to the inscription on the reverse, "the jungles of Panama". The date is probably post 1911.

 

Close up of the sergeant in the Panamanian jungle.

[world war I nerd]

U.S. Marine wearing the P12 Cotton Summer Uniform. The name "Mr. Paul H. Leonard Jr". is written on the back - not sure if that's the name of the Marine or the recipient of the photo.

[world war I nerd]

Interesting image of an enlisted engineer. Not sure of the date on this one, but I'm guessing 1917 or 1918.

 

A better look at the combined U.S. collar disc and officers Engineer branch of service insignia on his collar and the ribbon bar worn on the regulation flannel shirt.

[RustyCanteen]

Company Supply Sergeant, whose name is illegible in, according to the inscription on the reverse, "the jungles of Panama". The date is probably post 1911.

 

If they ever made a movie based on that photograph alone, they should cast Sam Eliot in the role.

 

But seriously, great image! Lots of details, but a great looking photo

[world war I nerd]

RC, glad you liked the supply sergeant in Panama photo.

 

Sailors from the USS Michigan in Vera Cruz, Mexico, 1914. The hand written on the reverse reads: "A close view of a field piece from the U.S.S. Michigan ready for action."

 

A closer look of the "Michigan" sailors in Mexico.

[world war I nerd]

More sailors, date and location unknown wearing denim dungarees.

[world war I nerd]

American Red Cross nurses, circa 1918.

 

Close up of three of the nurses wearing no collar insignia and two different styles of collar insignia.

[world war I nerd]

German POWs and guards inside the wire of an AEF prisoner enclosure, date and location unknown.

 

Close up of the prisoners "PW" marked garb.

 

A better look at the shoulder insignia composed of the numeral "13" as worn by the POWs.

 

Presumably, the stencils identify the camp to which the POWs belong. Can anyone verify this assertion?

 

And a close up of the AEF guards supervising whatever the prisoners are doing.

[world war I nerd]

An unusual grouping of a ROTC man, a sailor, and an AEF officer wearing a District of Paris shoulder patch. I'm guessing that the tree men are brothers or have some other sort of family connection.

 

Close up of the District of Paris officer.

 

Close up of the seldom seen ROTC collar insignia.

[Salvage Sailor]

Company B, 1st US Infantry Regiment 1915, Fort Shafter, T.H.

 

Can anyone ID the collar disc? It's not Infantry and does not look like a QM disc.

[mysteriousoozlefinch]

1st Lieutenant Charles G. McDonald, 27th United States Volunt

[world war I nerd]

Salvage Sailor and mysterious oozlefinch thanks for your additions to this topic. They are much appreciated by me.

 

A fine photo of an unnamed "Regular" Army soldier circa 1907-ish. What's particularly interesting to me about this image is that he is wearing the U.S. Army's, first regulation service sweater - The 1904 Service Sweater in olive drab wool with a turtleneck. The 1904 Service Sweater was in service until it was replaced by the 1911 Service Sweater which had two front pockets and a buttoned placket collar. The 1911 Service Sweater was phased out in 1917. The Army adopted a button front cardigan style sweater for aviators in 1917, but as far as I know, other that home knit, Red Cross or private purchase sweaters, the Army did not issue any type of sweater to officers and enlisted men, with the exception of the above mentioned "Aviator's Sweater".

 

 

[world war I nerd]

Close ups of the flower pin/insignia. Does anybody recognize it?

 

Also, is that guy holding beer or soda?

 

Another unusual detail is the rectangular tag worn around one of the men's neck. Is this some sort of non-regulation ID tag?

 

An interesting shot of what I presume to be National Guard troops circa 1911 or 1912. An interesting detail of this photo is that two of the men (standing left & holding bottle) are wearing a pin or insignia designed in the shape of a flower. Does this flower insignia represent a particular National Guard outfit or organization?