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78th Division men back on American soil.

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If you look hard, you can see the lightning bolt insignia of the 78th on at least one left shoulder, and painted on at least two helmets.

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78th Division shoulder patch and painted helmet above, and the same again below.

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Charlie Flick

Neat pics. The last several also show these 78th Division soldiers carrying Model of 1917 Rifles with the seldom seen fabric action covers in place.

 

Regards,

Charlie

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Thanks to all for the comments and to those who posted pics from their collection. Please post more.

 

Early enlisted Marine on board an unnamed vessel. This image was dated May 7, 1912.

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Close up of the upper-half of the shipboard Marine. Note the trouser suspender buttons just above the waist belt.

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This press photo is stamped with a February 16, 1918 date and captioned, "United States Guards".

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A closer look at the cold weather garments worn by this U.S. Guard. They include a 1907 Winter Field Cap, Leather Mittens, and a very obsolete 1898 pattern caped overcoat with what looks to be red artillery branch of service lining inside the shoulder cape.

 

I've read two eyewitness accounts which stated that African American stevedore troops working on the docks in France wore similar caped Spanish American War overcoats.

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world war I nerd

98th Aero Squadron football champs 1918.

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Nothing, other than the inked caption ("98th Aero Champs") and the marked football indicate that these AEF athletes served in the 98th Aero Squadron. The only visible branch of service insignia visible in this image is that of the Artillery collar brass worn by the standing lieutenant on the upper-right side.

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Another painted drum head bearing the likeness of a badly mauled Kaiser Wilhelm. So far, research indicates that drums with design were used one of the AEF Aero Squadrons.

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There's no information on this particular photo to indicate that this drum was used, or not used, by an Aero Squadron.

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3rd Army MP wearing the red collar tabs, favored by that organization, which indicated that the wearer was a member of the Military Police.

 

Branch of service and MP collar discs were sometimes worn over the red collar tabs, as were the embroidered initials 'MP' in white.

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A closer view of the red 'MP' collar tabs.

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Squad musicians or possibly some sort of training camp glee club, circa 1917. The date, unit and location are unknown.

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Close up of the two musicians and a man wearing a non-regulation paper overseas cap.

 

The guitar player is wearing a non-regulation/private purchase shawl collar cardigan sweater that appears to be made from olive drab wool. This style of sweater shows up from time to time in uniform groups and in period photographs.

 

As far as it is known to me, up to the end of WW I, only three regulation, olive drab, woolen sweaters were issued by the U.S. Army: 1904 Service Sweater (pullover turtleneck), 1911 Service Sweater (pullover with a three button placket neck), 1917 or 1918 (I can't remember which) Aviator's Sweater (collarless, button front cardigan).

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Men of the "bomb squad" in an unnamed training camp located in Nebraska. One image from this five photo group was dated July 1917.

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Close up of the eclectic array of garments worn by the bomb squad. The garb includs a 1913 pattern Overcoat, blue denim overalls, 1911 or 1917 pattern Service Dress and a non regulation sheepskin lined short overcoat.

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Experimental "Life Saving Suits" intended for wear on troop transport ships. The image is dated April 28, 1918.

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A better look at the life saving suits.

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Caption on the reverse of the life saving suit image.

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Image captioned, "On Board U.S.A.T. (U.S. Army Transport) 'Northern Pacific'.

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Of interest is the, as yet, unidentified brassard beginning with the letter "T", which likely stands for "Transport" or "Transportation".

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A closer look at the mysterious brassard from the above photo. The second initial looks like it might be a "M" or a "N" ... Any guesses?

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American Red Cross Canteen Service, Billings, Montana, January 1919.

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Same as above, only closer ... Well, okay, maybe it's not closer. It is the same as above though.

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Close up of the ARC Canteen Service women's uniform.

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Unnamed enlisted man wearing a 1904 pattern Service Coat with 26th Infantry Regiment collar brass.

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Close up of the Company H, 26th Infantry Regiment collar brass.

 

By the way, the 1904 pattern Service Coat (Specification No. 700) was adopted on August 26, 1904. Typical characteristics of the 1904 pattern include:

 

  • Roll Collar
  • Pointed Cuffs
  • Choke Bellows Pockets
  • Improved Bronze Buttons (reinforced with an improved aluminum shell)
  • 13 ounce (to the yard) Worsted Serge Woolen Cloth

 

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Unnamed enlisted man wearing the 1902 Dress Blue Service Dress which also bears 26th Infantry Regiment collar brass. This image dates to approximately 1915, give or take a year or two.

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Close up of the above dress blues and gilt collar brass.

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AEF officers consulting maps sometime in 1918.

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Close up of the two dispatch cases - an article of equipment that doesn't often appear in period photos. The left-hand case looks to be made from olive drab canvas, while the case on the right (I think) is made from russet brown leather.

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A great shot of German POWs under guard heading to the temporary POW holding pens that were established just behind the front. Note the youthful appearance of two of the German captives.

 

Written on the reverse of this image is: "Prisoners of Oct 23rd, Brabant, 1918"

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A closer look at the AEF guards shepherding the Germans to the rear. The left-hand guard appears to have a helmet lanyard wrapped around his tin hat.

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The presumed helmet lanyard.

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A post-Armistice shot of 90th men having a sip or two.

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Close up of one of the hard to see 90th Division shoulder patches in the above photo.

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A great image showing off some of the early 1910 Infantry Equipment. Check out the twist closures on the early square flapped canteen cover and the placement of the 1910 Bolo Knife behind the early 1910 half-moon shaped Meat Can Pouch.

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A closer look at some of the early 1910 pattern web-gear.

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And an even closer look at the twist closure canteen cover.

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Pair of WW I soldiers. One of whom is wearing an unauthorized star insignia above his service chevrons. Not sure if the chevrons are gold for overseas service or white for home service. Anyway, the star insignia could represent a gold "early enlistment star" (one of the first 100,000) or a silver "enlistment star", which indicated that the wearer volunteered for service, or enlisted, as opposed to waiting to be drafted.

 

The name on the back looks like it is "Mike Lolli" or maybe "Mike Lolhi".

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A closer view of the two men. Note the non-regulation shirt worn by the mustachioed soldier on the left.

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I can't quite make out what the collar disc is. It sort of looks like crossed rifles ... but not exactly. Anybody recognize this disc?

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The service chevrons and star insignia.

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A pretty neat photo of a YMCA hut in Belgium. The star of this photo is the box or display of Camel brand smokes.

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Check out the non-regulation fleece, fur, or wool lined vest worn by the Doughboy at the front of the line, oh yeah, and the box of Camels too.

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And the obligatory close up of the Camels.

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Depicted in this puny little (1 3/4 X 2 3/4 inch) snap shot is Sergeant Johnson and Sergeant Houtz, both of Prisoner of War Escort Company No. 96.

 

The big bag with several spigots at its base is a Lyster Bag containing potable drinking water.

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AEF cemetery somewhere in France. The back of this photos is captioned, "American Cemetery, October 1918".

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The name emblazoned on the grave marker in front of the soldier appears to be: "Albert E. Kaysrr".

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The name emblazoned on the grave marker in front of the soldier appears to be: "Albert E. Kaysrr".

This may be Kayser, he served in the 29th Division.

http://ryangarbsgoldstarmemorial.net/?nav=stories&num=3

 

Starting on page 227 is more info on Kayser which talks about his grave.

 

https://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/oca/Books2008-06/hisstoryofbethal00zimm/hisstoryofbethal00zimm.pdf

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  • 2 weeks later...
world war I nerd

Two sets of different collar brass, both of which are unknown to me.

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More collar brass ... possibly National Guard, Colorado?

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Beast, I think you are correct regarding the spelling (Kayser, not Kaysrr) on the AEF grave marker ... Thanks.

 

Early National Guard troops, not sure if they are from Colorado or not. However, there is a lot of different collar brass on display in this photo. Some of which I can't figure out. If you recognize anything, please identify it for the rest of us.

 

The men are wearing 1903 and 1904 pattern service coats, along with 1902 Service Hats and what appears to be 1904 pattern Canvas Leggings. Based on all that, the image was likely taken between 1905 and 1907 or so.

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