Osprey Men-at-Arms 386 : The US Army 1917-1919

When the USA entered World War I in April 1917 the Regular Army counted just 128,000 men and lacked all the necessary equipment and training for modern trench warfare. By the Armistice of November 1918, General John J.Pershing's American Expeditionary Force in France had more than 2 million men and was holding 25 per cent of the Western Front. They had helped smash Ludendorff's brilliant Operation 'Michael' in the lines before Paris and had turned onto the offensive themselves at St Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. If Germany had not negotiated peace with unexpected speed the US Army would have taken over from their tired Allies an even greater share of the planned 1919 campaign. This concise account of the United States first world class army, its organization, uniforms, weapons and character, is illustrated with rare photos and eight full colour plates. Text by Mark Henry with illustrations by Stephen Walsh.

Contents

• The US Army in 1914
• 1916 - The National Defense Act - Expansion of the Regular Forces
• 1917 - Mobilisation of the National Guard
• 1917 - The Selective Service Law - Conscription
• The American Expeditionary Force
  From 'Triangular' to 'Square' Unit Structure
  Divisional Organisation
  Command
• Campaign Summary
• Post-Armistice Operations
• Uniforms & Insignia
• Equipment
• Weapons