| NY 27th Division |
From left to right - WW1 Victory Medal, NJ Victory
Medal, NY Victory Medal and Paterson NJ Victory
Medal.
Medal, NY Victory Medal and Paterson NJ Victory
Medal.
| 78th Division |
| 77th Division |
Established at Camp Dix NJ in 1917 the division drew heavily from New York and New Jerey draftees and fought on
the Western Front during the Great War. Nicknamed the "White Lightning" division. In one reference book I
consulted the division symbol was a result of a French statement which likened the units actions on the battlefield to
a bolt of lightning. In Stallings book he states - "the sobriquet had nothing to do with thunderstorms but with creeks
in the NY and NJ hinterlands where revenue officers sniffed for the smell of sour mash from moonshine stills". I
guess the red color represented whiskey and white lightning is a nickname for whiskey.
the Western Front during the Great War. Nicknamed the "White Lightning" division. In one reference book I
consulted the division symbol was a result of a French statement which likened the units actions on the battlefield to
a bolt of lightning. In Stallings book he states - "the sobriquet had nothing to do with thunderstorms but with creeks
in the NY and NJ hinterlands where revenue officers sniffed for the smell of sour mash from moonshine stills". I
guess the red color represented whiskey and white lightning is a nickname for whiskey.
| 42nd Division |
Closeup of the back of the Paterson NJ
Victory Medal. Many US cities and towns
awarded either medals or paper certificates
to commemorate a local soldier.
Victory Medal. Many US cities and towns
awarded either medals or paper certificates
to commemorate a local soldier.
The 77th was another of the NY/NJ based divisions established August 5, 1917 at Camp Upton, NY. Their unit symbol
was the Statue of Liberty. Due to their NYC origins they had several nicknames which included the "Cosmopolitan",
"Melting Pot" and "Liberty" Division . To quote Laurence Stallings book - The Doughboys - " the 77th was the cities
own. It spoke forty-two languages and among its gamblers could be found Chinese from Mott Street, Jewish boys from
Allen Street, Italian boys from Union Square and Germans from Yorkville on the Upper East Side. There were Turks
who spoke a little Hebrew and Hebrews who could speak a little Arabic. Many could speak nothing but Brooklyn
English". The 77th division was involved in what would be the single most famous US episode during the war- The
Saga of the Lost Battalion. In Edward Lengel's excellent book - To Conquer Hell - he recounts a story which highlights
the divisions racial diversity. In one chapter he states that the 77th's biggest contingent of soldiers came from Little
Italy in lower Manhatten. In one episode German scouts who heard the Italian soldiers talking reported back to their
unit that they were facing the Italian army!
was the Statue of Liberty. Due to their NYC origins they had several nicknames which included the "Cosmopolitan",
"Melting Pot" and "Liberty" Division . To quote Laurence Stallings book - The Doughboys - " the 77th was the cities
own. It spoke forty-two languages and among its gamblers could be found Chinese from Mott Street, Jewish boys from
Allen Street, Italian boys from Union Square and Germans from Yorkville on the Upper East Side. There were Turks
who spoke a little Hebrew and Hebrews who could speak a little Arabic. Many could speak nothing but Brooklyn
English". The 77th division was involved in what would be the single most famous US episode during the war- The
Saga of the Lost Battalion. In Edward Lengel's excellent book - To Conquer Hell - he recounts a story which highlights
the divisions racial diversity. In one chapter he states that the 77th's biggest contingent of soldiers came from Little
Italy in lower Manhatten. In one episode German scouts who heard the Italian soldiers talking reported back to their
unit that they were facing the Italian army!
The 27th Division was formed at Camp Wadsworth SC on July 18,
1917 from NY National Guard units. Division symbol is a stylized
monogram of the letters NY. The stars represent the constellation
Orion and was selected to pay tribute to the divisions commander
Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan.
1917 from NY National Guard units. Division symbol is a stylized
monogram of the letters NY. The stars represent the constellation
Orion and was selected to pay tribute to the divisions commander
Maj. Gen. John F. O'Ryan.
The 42nd was a composite division formed at Camp Mills
NY in 1917. A rainbow was picked as their symbol
because the unit was made up of National Guard soldiers
from 26 states which included NY and NJ. Probably the
most famous National Guard regiment of the war served in
the 42nd - the 69th New York from Brooklyn who were
nicknamed the -" The Fighting 69th". Brigadier General
Douglas MacArthur served for a time as the divisions
commanding officer. Noted individuals that served
included Father Duffy, Col. "Wild Bill" Donovan and poet
Joyce Kilmer.
NY in 1917. A rainbow was picked as their symbol
because the unit was made up of National Guard soldiers
from 26 states which included NY and NJ. Probably the
most famous National Guard regiment of the war served in
the 42nd - the 69th New York from Brooklyn who were
nicknamed the -" The Fighting 69th". Brigadier General
Douglas MacArthur served for a time as the divisions
commanding officer. Noted individuals that served
included Father Duffy, Col. "Wild Bill" Donovan and poet
Joyce Kilmer.
All items pictured above are a part of the authors collection. The picture above left contains a variety of WW1
items including two soldier decorated cigar boxes, dogtags, 1918 Omega Signal Corps watch, trench whistle,
German epaulets, belt buckel, wound badge, Iron Cross. The large metal container on the right was used by
US soldiers to store food.
items including two soldier decorated cigar boxes, dogtags, 1918 Omega Signal Corps watch, trench whistle,
German epaulets, belt buckel, wound badge, Iron Cross. The large metal container on the right was used by
US soldiers to store food.