154th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 154th Infantry Regiment ("Third Arkansas") was a United States infantry
regiment, which was created from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, Arkansas National Guard
, in 1917. The Regiment was activated as for World War I
, redesignated as the 154th Infantry and shipped to France as a part of the 39th Infantry Division (United States)
, but became a replacement regiment and its personnel were reassigned to other AEF
units. The 154th Infantry Regiment was never reactivated in the Arkansas National Guard following World War I.
had provided for a massive expansion of the National Guard, from a force of just over 100,000 to over 400,000.
While a 3rd Arkansas Infantry had existed in the Arkansas State Guard prior to the Spanish American War, the unit had been deactivated and never reorganized following the war with Spain. On 17 April 1917, plans for the 3rd Arkansas Regiment were formulated: new units were to be raised in sixteen cities to support the new Regiment. On 16 May 1917, it was announced that Little Rock was one of the cities to be allowed a new infantry company which would be part of the 3rd Arkansas Regiment. Enlistments were to be for the duration of the war. The pay per month for the enlisted men was as follows:
To qualify for a commission in the guard, an individual had to be a former officer or private of the guard, officer on reserve or unassigned list, active or retired officer of the regular army, navy or marine corps; graduate of the United States military or naval academy’s or graduate of a school, college or university where military science under a regular army officer was taught.
The age limits that were established for officers of the new units were these:
Recruitment for men in Little Rock was carried out by seventeen girls wearing badges bearing the words, "If You Are A Real Man Enlist." The girls distributed buttonhole tags with, "Are You A Slacker?" The other side of tag read, "Are You A Man?" The girls worked until 5 June 1917, when the draft law became effective.
On 18 July 1917, it was announced that Arkansas National Guard would move to Alexandria, Louisiana
, for training as part of the Eighteenth Division. Alexandria, Louisiana, was the location of Camp Beauregard
which was named after General P. G. T. Beauregard, C.S.A.
The 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment mobilized 5 August and was encamped around the new state capitol by 8 August. The 2nd and 3rd Infantry Regiments were examined for Federal service on 6 August 1917, at Ft. Brough (located on the Capital grounds). The regiments, under the control of General Wood, were sent to Ft. Roots and moved to Camp Pike by 24 August 1917. The Commander of the supply company of the 3rd Arkansas received instructions from the Augusta Arsenal to go into the open market and buy mess kits to complete the equipment needed for the new regiments. In mid-September the Arkansas units were notified that they were to be part of a newly created division, initially called the 18th but later re-designated as the 39th Division
.
The 3rd Arkansas Regiment used sixty coaches, three standard pullmans, six baggage cars, twelve boxcars, and one stock car, and set off on a train journey to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, lasting about fourteen hours; they mustered into Federal service 27 September – 18 October 1917.
The 18th Infantry Division was re-designated as the 39th "Delta" Division, U.S.N.G., and the Arkansas units were assigned to the 77th Infantry Brigade (153rd Infantry, 154th Infantry, and the 141st Machine Gun Battalion).
June, 1918, marked the arrival in France of 20 per cent of the enlisted personnel of the 154th Infantry, and the 141st Machine Gun Battalion, U.S.N.G. The movement consisted of only 20 per cent of each organization, and the officers did not accompany their troops but remained at Camp Beauregard with the other 80 per cent still in training.
The first unit of the 39th Division arrived in France on 12 August 1918, and the last unit arrived on 12 September 1918. The Division was then sent to the St. Florent area, southwest of Bourges, where it was designated as a replacement division. In November, 1918, it moved to St. Aignan. There several of the units were transferred to combat divisions. The 141st Machine Gun Battalion was deployed to near Chaumont, Department of Haute-Marne
, France. Soon after reaching its Billets an order was received from G. H. Q. designating this unit as the 141st Anti-aircraft Machine Gun Battalion and ordering it to proceed to Langres, France for training. The organization finished the war at Noigent waiting for transportation. Letters from Soldier of the 3rd Arkansas were received in Arkansas.
The unit returned to the United States and was discharged in 1919. Demobilized 13 January 1919 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana.
The 154th Infantry Regiment was never reorganized in the Arkansas National Guard following World War I.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment, which was created from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, Arkansas National Guard
Arkansas National Guard
The Arkansas National Guard comprises both Army and Air components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status...
, in 1917. The Regiment was activated as for World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, redesignated as the 154th Infantry and shipped to France as a part of the 39th Infantry Division (United States)
39th Infantry Division (United States)
The 39th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Army National Guard, originally formed as the 18th Division in 1917. The Division consisted of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. After training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, the Division was deployed to France but did not...
, but became a replacement regiment and its personnel were reassigned to other AEF
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
units. The 154th Infantry Regiment was never reactivated in the Arkansas National Guard following World War I.
Activation of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment
The United States declared war on Germany 6 April 1917 less than two months after the last Arkansas National Guard units completed mustering out from duty on the Mexican border. At this time the Arkansas Guard consisted of two infantry regiments, the 1st and 2nd Arkansas, which had each been mobilized for service on the Mexican border. The National Defense Act of 1916National Defense Act of 1916
The National Defense Act of 1916, , provided for an expanded army during peace and wartime, fourfold expansion of the National Guard, the creation of an Officers' and an Enlisted Reserve Corps, plus the creation of a Reserve Officers' Training Corps in colleges and universities...
had provided for a massive expansion of the National Guard, from a force of just over 100,000 to over 400,000.
While a 3rd Arkansas Infantry had existed in the Arkansas State Guard prior to the Spanish American War, the unit had been deactivated and never reorganized following the war with Spain. On 17 April 1917, plans for the 3rd Arkansas Regiment were formulated: new units were to be raised in sixteen cities to support the new Regiment. On 16 May 1917, it was announced that Little Rock was one of the cities to be allowed a new infantry company which would be part of the 3rd Arkansas Regiment. Enlistments were to be for the duration of the war. The pay per month for the enlisted men was as follows:
| Rank | Pay |
|---|---|
| Sergeants, First Class | $45 |
| Sergeants | $36 |
| Privates, First Class | $18 |
| Privates | $15 |
| Cooks | $30 |
To qualify for a commission in the guard, an individual had to be a former officer or private of the guard, officer on reserve or unassigned list, active or retired officer of the regular army, navy or marine corps; graduate of the United States military or naval academy’s or graduate of a school, college or university where military science under a regular army officer was taught.
The age limits that were established for officers of the new units were these:
| Rank | Age Requirements |
|---|---|
| Colonel | 2l to 65 years |
| Lieutenant Colonel | 21 to 50 years |
| Majors | 2l to 45 years |
| Captain | 21 to 40 years |
| First Lieutenant | 21 to 30 years. |
Recruitment for men in Little Rock was carried out by seventeen girls wearing badges bearing the words, "If You Are A Real Man Enlist." The girls distributed buttonhole tags with, "Are You A Slacker?" The other side of tag read, "Are You A Man?" The girls worked until 5 June 1917, when the draft law became effective.
Mobilization
On 18 May 1917, the Arkansas National Guard was notified that on 5 August 1917, the guard as a whole would be called into Federal service. On 16 July 1917, the 3rd Arkansas included the following units:| Regiment | Unit | Station | Officers | Enlisted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Regiment | Company A | Augusta | 3 | 150 |
| Company B | Little Rock | 3 | 150 | |
| Company C | Hot Springs and Camden | 3 | 160 | |
| Company D | Morrilton | 3 | 150 | |
| Company E | Newport | 3 | 150 | |
| Company F | Batesville | 3 | 160 | |
| Company G | Walnut Ridge | 3 | 160 | |
| Company H | Paragould | 3 | 160 | |
| Company I | Ashdown and Nashville | 3 | 150 | |
| Company K | Magnolia | 3 | 150 | |
| Company L | Fordyce | 3 | 150 | |
| Company M | Clarksville | 3 | 150 | |
| Headquarters Company | Little Rock | 2 | 97 | |
| Supply Company | Little Rock | 2 | 37 | |
| Machine Gun Company | Helena | 4 | 74 | |
| Medical Corps, | Eureka Springs | 4 | 33 | |
On 18 July 1917, it was announced that Arkansas National Guard would move to Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, for training as part of the Eighteenth Division. Alexandria, Louisiana, was the location of Camp Beauregard
Camp Beauregard
For the American Civil War site, see Camp Beauregard Memorial in Water Valley.Camp Beauregard is a U.S. Army installation located northeast of Pineville, Louisiana, primarily in Rapides Parish, but also extending northward into Grant Parish. It is currently operated by the Louisiana National Guard...
which was named after General P. G. T. Beauregard, C.S.A.
The 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment mobilized 5 August and was encamped around the new state capitol by 8 August. The 2nd and 3rd Infantry Regiments were examined for Federal service on 6 August 1917, at Ft. Brough (located on the Capital grounds). The regiments, under the control of General Wood, were sent to Ft. Roots and moved to Camp Pike by 24 August 1917. The Commander of the supply company of the 3rd Arkansas received instructions from the Augusta Arsenal to go into the open market and buy mess kits to complete the equipment needed for the new regiments. In mid-September the Arkansas units were notified that they were to be part of a newly created division, initially called the 18th but later re-designated as the 39th Division
39th Infantry Division (United States)
The 39th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Army National Guard, originally formed as the 18th Division in 1917. The Division consisted of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. After training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, the Division was deployed to France but did not...
.
The 3rd Arkansas Regiment used sixty coaches, three standard pullmans, six baggage cars, twelve boxcars, and one stock car, and set off on a train journey to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, lasting about fourteen hours; they mustered into Federal service 27 September – 18 October 1917.
Creation of the 154th Infantry Regiment
Once the Arkansas regiments arrived at Camp Beauregard, they were re-organized under a new national system for numbering army regiments. The 1st Arkansas Infantry became the 153rd Infantry Regiment, the 2nd Regiment (minus it's Machine Gun Company) became the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment. The 3rd Arkansas Infantry, which had reported to Camp Beauregard with over 1800 Soldiers, was divided in to two new units. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment were redisnated as the 154th Infantry. The the former 3rd Battalion, 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment and the Machine Gun Company from the 2nd Arkansas Infantry were redisgnated as the 141st Machine Gun Battalion.The 18th Infantry Division was re-designated as the 39th "Delta" Division, U.S.N.G., and the Arkansas units were assigned to the 77th Infantry Brigade (153rd Infantry, 154th Infantry, and the 141st Machine Gun Battalion).
Deployed to France
In May, 1918, privates were given the opportunity to volunteer for duty overseas. In the rush to help end the war officers resigned their commissions so they would be qualified for duty overseas before the war was over. As result the first Arkansas National Guard Soldier to die in combat during World War I was, Private Robert Springer, a former member of the 3rd Arkansas.June, 1918, marked the arrival in France of 20 per cent of the enlisted personnel of the 154th Infantry, and the 141st Machine Gun Battalion, U.S.N.G. The movement consisted of only 20 per cent of each organization, and the officers did not accompany their troops but remained at Camp Beauregard with the other 80 per cent still in training.
The first unit of the 39th Division arrived in France on 12 August 1918, and the last unit arrived on 12 September 1918. The Division was then sent to the St. Florent area, southwest of Bourges, where it was designated as a replacement division. In November, 1918, it moved to St. Aignan. There several of the units were transferred to combat divisions. The 141st Machine Gun Battalion was deployed to near Chaumont, Department of Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne is a department in the northeast of France named after the Marne River.-History:Haute-Marne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, France. Soon after reaching its Billets an order was received from G. H. Q. designating this unit as the 141st Anti-aircraft Machine Gun Battalion and ordering it to proceed to Langres, France for training. The organization finished the war at Noigent waiting for transportation. Letters from Soldier of the 3rd Arkansas were received in Arkansas.
The unit returned to the United States and was discharged in 1919. Demobilized 13 January 1919 at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana.
The 154th Infantry Regiment was never reorganized in the Arkansas National Guard following World War I.
External links
- AR National Guard
- AR Army National Guard
- The Arkansas National Guard Museum
- Bibliography of Arkansas Army National Guard History compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History