Tag Archives: 79th Division

Then and (Not Quite) Now: 315th Inf. Regt. Celebrating Thanksgiving 1918 in Damvillers

November 28, 2019 by Randy
No comments
In 2017 the Webmaster and a client explored this series of Signal Corps photos showing troops of the 315th Inf. Regt. , 79 Division, A.E.F. celebrating Thanksgiving 1918 in Damvillers. These were taken on 28 November, 1918–101 years ago from the date of this post. The first three photos show Maj. Gen. Joseph E. Kuhn addressing troops in the town square. Photos taken there are easy to line up because the uniquely-shaped Mairie (Village Hall) still stands. Unfortunately, the Webmaster lost his “now” photos, so Continue reading →

Then and Now: Montfaucon d’Argonne 1918-19 Versus Today

October 29, 2018 by Randy
2 comments
    Few sites on the Meuse-Argonne American battlefield are as heavily visited as Montfaucon d’Argonne; and yet it remains difficult to “see” the town as it looked at the end of the war.  Moving from a destroyed village to a preserved memorial park that can be visited safely by thousands annually requires considerable clean-up and sanitization.  Thus, one sees the Memorial, the (enhanced) church ruins and a scattering of observation pillboxes, along with some good signage; but one does not see the ruined town Continue reading →

Then and Now: Bois de Consenvoye and Richene Hill–Part 2

July 20, 2017 by Randy
No comments
Webmaster’s Note:  This is part to of the “Then and Now” blogpost focusing on Griffin Group photos in the Bois de Consenvoye and on Richêne Hill.  Readers are encourage to view Part 1, which appeared yesterday.  For reader’s convenience, the ABMC Summary of Operations map has been repeated below.         Caption:  Griffin Group Photo A.M. 162.  American Dead.  325.2 – 280.4.  8 January, 1919. Location:  Looking at the above map, the “then” photo was taken along the tree line just East of Continue reading →

Then and Now: Bois de Consenvoye and Richene Hill–Part 1

July 19, 2017 by Randy
No comments
Webmaster’s notes:  This two-part then and now report will focus on Griffin Group photos in the Bois de Consenvoye and on Richêne Hill–excluding Molleville Ferme.  More details on the Griffin Group photos can be found in this 30 April, 2017 post:  http://meuseargonnerg.wpengine.com/?p=2179.     Readers are also reminded that the offensive East of the Meuse was begun on 8 October, almost two weeks after the main offensive, in order to “neutralize” the enemy artillery that was shelling AEF positions West of the Meuse River.  The Continue reading →

Then and Now: Samogneux

May 25, 2017 by Randy
3 comments
    Caption:  Samogneux is on the D964 at the edge of the Verdun battlefield East of the Meuse.  In 1918, any of the American divisions (33rd, 29th and 79th) fighting East of the Meuse would have passed through it.  Unfortunately, trees block the view of the canal and river in the now photo.  However, the horizon matches up well.   The now photo is taken from in front of the statue in the town cemetery.  The cemetery is on a slight hill, which mirrors Continue reading →

Then and Now: Montfaucon under German Occupation

January 28, 2017 by Randy
No comments
Authors/researchers and editors/publishers don’t always share the same objectives.  More often than not, photographs, maps, tables, etc. get edited out of books for reasons of length, readability, etc.  The webmaster felt this when reading William Travis Walker Jr.’s well-researched “Betray at Little Gibraltar:  A German Fortress, a Treacherous American General, and the Battle to End World War I.”  Mr. Walker’s description of the German positions in and around Montfaucon was largely verbal, with a limited number of photos and no war-time map. As one would Continue reading →