USA in WW1 Trivia

1. The U.S. Army's WWI 369th Infantry Regiment was comprised primarily of volunteers from which U.S. state?

From Quiz WWI - The Fighting 369th All-Black Infantry

Answer: New York

The unit was first structured in 1913 as the 15th New York National Guard Infantry Regiment. While the unit was lead by both black and white officers, the white officers controlled the command structure. The ground troops were exclusively black soldiers. The 369th Infantry became a part of the 93rd Division in 1917 when the unit was ordered to active duty. They were one of only four all-black regiments in the U.S.

From Quiz American Soldiers in World War 1

Answer: Escadrille de Lafayette

These pilots were known as Flyboys and flew in some of the riskiest times for pilots ever. A huge number of pilots died within a week. One notable American who flew for the Escadrille de Lafayette was Gervais Raoul Lufbery who finished the war with 16 kills (enemy planes shot down). Also, the Tiger Squadron was the nickname for American pilots during World War 2, not World War 1, who joined (yet again) before the USA joined. Escargot is French for snails and Souflée is just a word that sounds French.

From Quiz Ordeal in the Argonne

Answer: 77th Infantry Division

Activated in August, 1917, "The Statue of Liberty" division deployed to France in March, 1918. The unit patch consisted of a gold embroidered Statue of Liberty on a blue backing, hence the nickname. The 77th consisted mainly of draftees "plucked" from New York City, and it has been said members of the division spoke over forty different languages. The 77th was also the first U.S. draftee division to arrive in France!

From Quiz The Dough Boy: US Soldiers in WWI

Answer: no one is sure

No one is one hundred per cent certain where the term came from. The only certainty is that it was applied to the soldiers of the AEF in World War I.

From Quiz World War I (with an American Slant)

Answer: John J. Pershing

This General commanded two million American soldiers often referred to as the AEF (American Expeditionary Force).

From Quiz The Marines in WWI

Answer: 5th Marine Regiment

The 5th Marine Regiment, part of the 4th Marine Brigade, served with great distinction until the end of WWI.

From Quiz WWI - The Fighting 369th All-Black Infantry

Answer: Hellfighters (Die Unerschrockenen)

Since 70% of the unit called Harlem, NY home, they became known as The Harlem Hellfighters. The French called them "Les Enfants Perdus" or "The Lost Children". None of these men was ever held in capture. The unit never lost a prisoner and never relinquished any captured ground. According to commanding officer Col. William Hayward, their motto was "God damn, let's go."

From Quiz American Soldiers in World War 1

Answer: Frank Luke

Frank Luke was an accomplished ace for the USA during World War 1. He was credited with shooting down 14 German balloons and 4 German planes during 10 sorties (missions) that took place within a span of eight days. Billy Bishop was the third highest ace in World war 1, and the highest for Canada with 72 victories. Eddie Rickenbacker was the most accomplished American fighter pilot in World War 1 with 26 victories. Arthur Roy Brown was a pilot from Canada whose biggest claim to fame was supposedly shooting down Manfred von Richthofen.

From Quiz The Dough Boy: US Soldiers in WWI

Answer: alongside the Allies in trench warfare

When the AEF had been thoroughly trained, the French and British High Commands wanted to distribute the AEF as needed to the front for trench warfare. This idea was absolutely rejected by Pershing as being unsound because it would simply mean prolonging the war without attempting to end it. Offensive strategy was needed in order to break the deadlock of trench warfare, not just more men in the trenches.

From Quiz World War I (with an American Slant)

Answer: Austria-Hungary, Germany, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria

The Central Powers faced the Allied Powers, consisting of Serbia, Russia, France, Great Britain, Italy, and seven other countries. Technically, Italy had been one of the Central Powers but remained neutral when war broke out in 1914 and the following year entered the war on the Allied side.

From Quiz The Marines in WWI

Answer: Battle of Belleau Wood

The Battle of Belleau Wood is one of the most famous battles in Marine Corps History. The Marines stormed across open fields under heavy German machine gun fire to suppress the German forces and take Belleau Wood. The Germans, in complete awe of the Marines, nicknamed them "Teuffel-Hunden", which means "Devil Dogs".

From Quiz WWI - The Fighting 369th All-Black Infantry

Answer: Col. William Hayward

Col. Hayward was named commanding officer of 15th New York National Guard Infantry Regiment at its inception by New York Governor Charles Whitman. Hayward commanded the unit through their entire involvement in the war. Hayward, April 29, 1877 - Oct. 13, 1944, was born in Nebraska and died in New York City. Prior to taking command of the 15th he was the commanding officer of a Nebraska National Guard unit. Hayward was an ardent supporter of the men of the 369th and the unit returned that respect in kind. Maj. Whittlesey was the commanding officer of "The Lost Battalion," an American unit that became stuck behind German lines. Lt. Izac and Lt. Luke were WWI pilots.

From Quiz American Soldiers in World War 1

Answer: Alvin C. York

Alvin C. York only captured 132 German soldiers, not the 300 that was commonly reported. Despite the fact that his mother was a pacifist Protestant, he chose to enlist in the war and saved the lives of the soldiers he was with.

From Quiz Ordeal in the Argonne

Answer: Six days

For the next six days the surrounded Americans would endure repeated German attacks, artillery barrages, lack of badly needed food and fresh water, and lack of medical supplies!

From Quiz World War I (with an American Slant)

Answer: Woodrow Wilson

This president delivered a message to Congress asking for a declaration of war on Germany on April 2, 1917. The main reason was Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare.

From Quiz The Marines in WWI

Answer: Quantico

In 1917, MCB Quantico opened and immediately became a major hub of Marines training to go to France in support of World War One.

From Quiz WWI - The Fighting 369th All-Black Infantry

Answer: Lt. James Reese Europe

Lt. Europe was a well-known ragtime musician who was responsible for the first all-black performance at Carnegie Hall. Col. Hayward had recruited Europe specifically to form the unit's band. Europe accomplished this in fine form, recruiting musicians from throughout the U.S. and its territories. One of his recruits was Harlem dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. After Europe was commissioned a First Lieutenant, he turned over his baton to bandmaster Eugene Mikell and led a machine gun unit instead. He died in New York in 1919 from a stab wound inflicted during an argument by one of the drummers in his band. He was buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery. The alternate choices were also men of the 369th. Sgt. Spottswood Poles was an acclaimed baseball outfielder in the Negro Leagues. He received five battle stars and a Purple Heart for his service with The Harlem Hellfighters. Lt. George Robb was a white member of the unit who received The Medal of Honor. Lt. Vertner Tandy has the distinction of being the first black man to earn a commission while in the 15th New York National Guard Infantry Regiment. The 369th's Regimental Band helped introduce Jazz to the people of Europe.

From Quiz American Soldiers in World War 1

Answer: Henry Johnson

His last award was presented by the President for his actions when a German raiding party almost entirely by himself and, armed with a knife, prevented the capture of his fallen comrade.

From Quiz The Dough Boy: US Soldiers in WWI

Answer: his marksmanship

The Allies were extremely impressed that the average private in the infantry of the AEF was an able marksman. Marksmanship outside of sniping was not emphasized in European armies. Memoirs and diaries from German sources confirm that while engaging US forces, AEF marksmanship was superior to any that they had encountered on the Western Front.

From Quiz The Marines in WWI

Answer: Capt. Loyd W. Williams

The Marines had, in fact, just gotten there, as they were filling in the front lines where French Forces had retreated. It was imperative that the front lines be held, and those lines were becoming very thin, going from 11 miles long to a mere 9,000 yards by the time the Marines arrived.

From Quiz WWI - The Fighting 369th All-Black Infantry

Answer: France

Gen. Pershing wasn't a bigot. He'd served in the 10th Calvary with black "Buffalo Soldiers' in Montana and at San Juan Hill. Pershing was concerned with the welfare of the blacks and made an effort to position them in combat situations rather than menial labor posts - which was the primary function of "colored" troops in WWI. The French were delighted at the prospect of fresh reinforcements and race wasn't an issue. The men of the 369th were issued French helmets and weapons. They continued to wear their American uniforms but switched to French if they were participating in raids. Only a few disagreements surfaced between the French and the 369th. On June 6, 1918 when the fighting was so fierce at Belleau Wood the French general in command told the 369th to retreat. Col. Hayward told the general he did not understand him. The general shouted, "Retire, Retire!" Hayward said his men did not "retire" and countered with, "They move forward or they die."

From Quiz The Dough Boy: US Soldiers in WWI

Answer: the Chauchat LMG

The AEF received the French 8mm Chauchat Light Machine Gun until sufficient quantities of the BAR could be secured. The stamped metal Chauchat was prone to stoppages and lacked durability. Needless to say, for those reasons alone it was disliked by the infantrymen in the AEF.

From Quiz World War I (with an American Slant)

Answer: Germany

Germany suffered just over 2 million military dead, Russia about 1.7 million, France just under 1.4 million and the U.S. 116, 000.

From Quiz The Marines in WWI

Answer: GySgt Dan Daly

It's this very spirit that led the Marines to victory in that 20-day battle.

From Quiz WWI - The Fighting 369th All-Black Infantry

Answer: Séchault

In the Meuse-Argonne (Champagne) Offensive, the 369th was assigned to the French 161st Division. At one point, the unit - advancing right up the middle - moved so quickly they overtook the French forces on their left and right flanks. This move threatened to cut them off and it was necessary to fall back to reorganize. They first took the town of Ripont then advanced over Bellevue Signal Ridge to take the strategically important village of Séchault and moved on. The unit sustained more than 1,500 casualties in their mission to reduce the German defenses in the region but received only 900 replacements. After the November 11th Armistice, the men of the 369th was the first American soldiers to cross the Rhine into Germany alongside the French Army of Occupation. The other cities listed are in southern France.

From Quiz American Soldiers in World War 1

Answer: Eddie Rickenbacker

Eddie Rickenbacker had shot down 26 enemy planes by the end of the war. He also earned a Medal of Honor for shooting down two German planes after being attacked by seven German planes.

From Quiz The Dough Boy: US Soldiers in WWI

Answer: M1912

The Dough Boys of the AEF used M1912 web gear. Like the British P08, web gear was more durable and could be maintained easier. Unlike the P08, it was much simpler to arrange and had a higher comfort level.

From Quiz World War I (with an American Slant)

Answer: Second Battle of the Marne

This was a important Allied victory and made a significant contribution to the overall Allied victory.

From Quiz The Dough Boy: US Soldiers in WWI

Answer: Prussian Guards

Prussian Guards of the 28th Division who opposed the onslaught of the 5th Marines, are credited with applying the term 'teufelhund'. An entry found in the diary of one of the Guards reads: 'We have Americans opposite us who are terribly reckless fellows'.

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