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


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world war I nerd

Top sergeant & sergeant North Dakota National Guard in 1906, when the NG and Army were still wearing a mixture of blue and olive drab or khaki uniform items.

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world war I nerd

One of these men (not sure which) is James Davis who served in the U.S. Army from 1908 to 1938. This image shows him as a recruit in 1908 during the first year of his military career as a private in the 79th Company of the Coast Artillery Corps. He retired thirty years later, in 1938, as First Sergeant of Company A, 3rd Infantry Regiment.

 

That's all for today's batch. Will post more later ...

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world war I nerd

Not too much to see in this 3rd Army in review photo taken in 1919. However, take a look at the enlarger view of the various division color guards in the next post.

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In the close up you can clearly make out the 3rd Army painted helmets, as well as the felt backed collar discs that seem to have been only used within that AEF organization.

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That last post wasn't very impressive, so let's try a closer view of the color guards ...

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world war I nerd

Stateside shot of a pair of artillerymen in training circa 1917-1918. Note the spurs and the ankle-length pre-WW I issued 1913 Overcoat.

 

In France, these long overcoats were shortened by approximately 10 inches; thus making them more practical for wear in the trenches. The cut-down overcoats were known as "Trench Overcoats. The longer 1913 Overcoat was replaced early in 1918 by the 1917 Overcoat, which was identical except for its shorter length.

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world war I nerd

Stateside buglers with makeshift cord slings attached to their bugles. Note the Buglers' PFC Chevron worn on the right sleeve of the left hand bugler.

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world war I nerd

Not sure if these are Regulars or Guardsmen, but I'm pretty sure they are somewhere along the Mexican border in 1916. I don't know what to make of the bowler hat wearing man in the center. Maybe he's just a visitor or some sort of a civilian contractor, perhaps a cook?

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world war I nerd

A captain in the Massachusetts State Guard circa 1918.

 

Each state formed its own State Guard during WW I. The State Guard took over the duties of the National Guard after they had been sworn into Federal service with the AEF. The State Guards' were allowed to wear Army issued clothing. However, they were not authorized to use Army insignia so they would not be mistaken for active duty soldiers. Thus each State Guard organization adopted its own set of insignia, each of which was different.

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Close up of the Massachusetts State Guard insignia as worn by the captain. Insignia is comprised of Massachusetts State Guard collar brass, what I'm guessing is the number of the regiment (?), captain's rank, buttons bearing the state seal of Massachusetts, and a Massachusetts State Guard brassard.

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world war I nerd

Men from what looks like an Ohio National Guard outfit circa 1910-ish.

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Of interest is the combined use of pin-back 1902 style collar insignia for branch of service (infantry) and of 1910 style collar discs, which I think bear the word "Ohio". If you look closely, you can see the 1902 crossed rifle insignia on the sides of their collars and the Ohio collar discs near the front.

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