University of Illinois - Illio Yearbook (Urbana Champaign, IL)

Page 19 text:

9 ,2 flQ iz' July 10, 1917 marked an epoch in the University's history when the famous Illini Battery, now of the 149th Field Artillery of the Rainbow Division, left for Fort Sheridan on the first lap of its trip to the Rhine. It was the start of a busy career for since February 25, 1918 when the organization took up its first position in the Lorraine sector it saw almost continuous service until the signing of th-e armistice. Fighting side by side with its valiant comrades of the famous Rainbow Division, the 149th, commonly known as Reilly's Bucks , participated in all the great battles in which the Americans were engaged: Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel and Sedan. And the most remarkable part of the Battery's war record is that none of its men were seriously wounded and only one, a non-University man, was killed, and that, in the last three days of the conflict. So lucky was the organization, . that it is commonly termed the Horseshoe Battery by the five other outfits of the regiment. Battery F was organized in the University November 15, 1915 as a part of the First Illinois Field Artillery. Enlistments in it were accepted as a substitute for drill in the University Brigade. B. W. Benedict, director of the machine shop lab- oratories, was responsible for its formation. He subsequently received his commission as captain in the Illinois National Guard and remained in command until the organiza- tion got overseas in 1917, when he was transferred to a staff officers' school. The organization got its first taste of service soon after it's formation. It went to Homer Park for a summer camp June 12, 1916, and had only been there a week, when the entire National Guard of the nation was called out at the instance of the Villa fiasco in Mexico. The rest of the summer was spent at Fort Sam Houston and at the big artillery range at Leon Springs, Texas. On September 25, 1916 the organization was mustered out of Federal service. Practically all the student soldiers re-entered school and pursued their studies until the B'attery went into camp south of the Armory for a three weeks training period under Sergeant Herman Leprohn, U. S. A., near the end of school in 1917. The regiment was o-rdered out June 30, for service in the Great War and was mobilized Fort Sheridan. After a month or so here of comparative inactivity it was made the 149th U. S. Field Artillery of the Rainbow Division and ordered overseas. The division was mobilized at Camp Mills on Long Island and left for France on the U. S. Army transport President Lincoln, October 18, 1917. After a twelve-day uneventful voyage, so far as submarines were concerned, it disembarked at St. Nazzaire, France. Camp Coetquidan in Brittany was the next stop. French 75's and the complement of horses were issued to the unit here and Captain Benedict left the battery, being transferred to the Staff Ofi'icer's School, Col. White. Sinister blows wcrc struck by Battery F on thc western front. Eleven THE TWEN'l'Y lLLIO Q- V N - g

Page 18 text:

li FN: H fxxx Q V42 4 l 'Il As in ancient times the hills sheltered the cliff dwellers, so the hills of Chateau Thierry sheltered the soldiers ol' the Allies. All serene. this giant of the air has many like it that have helped win the war. Many Illinois men were on the U. S. S. Covington which was on its wuy with thousands ol' American soldiers towards France. Ten fT HE 'TWEJITYU ILLIO

Page 20 text:

rf x..x , . 1 1 -2 Qlgx Twelve 1. A 1 5 2 I I ? 1 i 1 5 E Y X i 1 l 1 w E I, u f If i I 1 I I AL n