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History of the 150TH Machine Gun Battalion 42D ‘Rainbow’ Division during World War I |
This page is
dedicated in honor of Private First
Class Joseph Lorenz.
PFC Lorenz was a native of Ohio who enlisted in Company F, 2D
Wisconsin Infantry Regiment in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in June of 1917. He served in
France with Company C, 150TH MG Bn., was wounded in combat at the
Ourcq River, and later died as a result of his wounds on 21 November 1918.
Today he rests with his Comrades at Suresnes American Military Cemetery near
Paris. One of his descendants contributed valuable information for this page.
On 16 Aug. 1917, Companies E, F and G, 2D Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, were officially detached from the 2nd Wisconsin and became the 150TH Machine Gun Battalion [Companies A, formerly Co. G, 2D Wis. (Appleton); B, formerly Co. E, 2D Wis. (Fond du Lac); and C, formerly Co. F, 2D Wis. (Oshkosh)], 83D Infantry Brigade of the 42D 'Rainbow' Division. The HQs Company was formed largely from Soldiers from Co. M, 2D Wis. (Oconto). Each machine gun company had an authorized strength of one captain, two first lieutenants and three second lieutenants, all mounted on horses, and 172 enlisted men. The Battalion Commander was Major W. B. Hall, of Oconto, previously one of the battalion commanders in the 2nd Wisconsin. The Company Commanders were; Co. A, CPT Lothar G. Graef; Co. B, CPT Adelbert R. Brunet; Co. C, CPT Gustave C. Schwandt.
The 42D 'Rainbow' Division was organized by combining National Guard units from 26 states and the District of Columbia. The National Guard units from the other states included: Louisiana Cavalry; 3D Battalion, 4TH Pennsylvania Infantry; 69TH New York Infantry; 4TH Ohio Infantry; Companies B, C and F, Georgia Infantry; 4TH Alabama Infantry; 3D Iowa Infantry; 1ST Illinois Field Artillery; 1ST Minnesota Field Artillery; 3D and 4TH Companies, Maryland, C. A. C., forming 117TH Trench Mortar Battery; 1ST Separate Battalion, South Carolina Engineers; 1ST Separate Battalion, California Engineers; Missouri Field Battalion, Signal Troops; Virginia C. A. C. (Military Police); Engineers' Train, North Carolina; Ammunition Train, Kansas; Supply Train, Texas; 1ST Ambulance Company, Michigan; 1ST Ambulance Company, New Jersey; 1ST Ambulance Company, Tennessee; 1ST Ambulance Company, Oklahoma; 1ST Field Hospital Company, District of Columbia; 1ST Field Hospital Company, Nebraska; 1ST Field Hospital Company, Colorado; 1ST Field Hospital Company, Oregon. The 'Rainbow' Division would be assembled at Camp Mills, Mineola, Long Island (New York) under the command of Major General William A. Mann.
On 3
Sept. 1917 the 150TH MG Battalion departed Camp Douglas,
Wisconsin bound for Camp Mills to assemble with the rest of the 42D Division. The Battalion was
carried on two trains, the first section pulled out at 3:50 p.m. with the
Battalion HQ's and Company C, an hour later Companies A and B departed on the
second train. The only stop was at Meadville, Pa., the
soldiers detrained and took a twenty-minute hike while the trains ice and water
were replenished.
On 5 Sept. the 150TH MG Battalion arrived at Camp Mills. The first section arrived at 11:20 a.m. and the second section at 4:15 p.m.
On 13 Sept. the last unit (160TH Infantry from Iowa) of the 42D Division arrived at Camp Mills making the formation of that Division complete. A different source suggested that the 1ST Michigan Ambulance Company was the last unit to arrive, also on 13 Sept.
On 18 Oct. 1917 the 150TH MG Battalion pulled out of New York Harbor, bound for France. The convoy carried 28,000 men and was escorted by the battleship U.S.S. Seattle and two torpedo boat destroyers.
On 7 Nov. 1917 news reached Wisconsin that the 'Rainbow' Division had reached France. The exact date of their arrival was not specified in the newspaper (due to wartime restrictions); it was probably between 30 Oct. and 1 Nov.
On 26 Mar. 1918 a fourth company, Company D, was added to the 150TH Machine Gun Battalion. Company A, 149TH Machine Gun Battalion, also of the 42D 'Rainbow' Division, was transferred and redesignated to become Company D, 150TH MG Bn. Company D was originally Company I, 4TH Pennsylvania Infantry, from Reading, Pennsylvania.
On 15 Jul. 1918, PFC William L. Brockman was KIA and was posthumously bestowed with the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism near Auberive, France, on that day. Assigned to Co. A, 150TH MG BN, he was from Appleton, WI. You can read his citation here.
On 15 Jul. 1918, PVT Willis P. Snyder performed deeds near Reims,
France, for which he was subsequently bestowed with the Distinguished Service
Cross and the Croix de Guerre. Assigned to Co. D, 150TH MG BN, he
was from Reading, PA. You can read his citations here.
PVT
Snyder later described the day’s events in his own words: "We were pretty far out in front of the rest of the bunch. Our two
guns were well placed, so as to command the two communication trenches. We
hadn't been told the first line trenches had been abandoned but thought the
French were still there. By morning we were all nearly crazy with the awful
bombardment. It was broad daylight when they came and there seemed to be
thousands of them coming through the bushes. At first we thought they were
'Frogs,' for most of them wore French uniforms. Suddenly Corporal Smith, who
commanded our gun, said: 'My God! they're Boche.' He jumped on the gun and fired perhaps two belts
when he was hit in the brain and dropped. I took the gun and fired like mad. I
couldn't very well miss them, they were so close. I remember Karausta come running up to me, telling me that Epler and Burkey had been killed
and the other gun taken, then all of a sudden the Boche
were on top of me. I lit out at them and they at me. A
coupled of them were tearing at my pack. They tell me
I tried to pull Karausta's body along but I don't
remember anything more until I was back in the reserve trenches."
On 28 Jul. 1918, PVT Tony Cramp was KIA and was posthumously bestowed with the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism near Villers-sur-Fere, France, on that day. Assigned to Co. B, 150TH MG BN, he was from Fond du Lac, WI. You can read his citation here.
On 28 Jul. 1918, CPL Elmer C. Grabinski was KIA and was posthumously bestowed with the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism between Sergy and Villers-sur-Fere, France, on that day. Assigned to Co. B, 150TH MG BN, he was born in Miller, SC, and entered the service from Fond du Lac, WI. You can read his citation here.
On 28 Jul. 1918, SGT Anthony N. Halfmann was KIA and was posthumously bestowed with the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism near Villers-sur-Fere, France, on that day. Assigned to Co. B, 150TH MG BN, he was from Fond du Lac, WI. You can read his citation here.
From Battle Participation
of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, Belgium and
Italy - 1917-1918.
Luneville sector, Lorraine, France, 21 February-23 March, 1918.
Baccarat sector, Lorraine, France, 31 March-21 June, 1918.
Esperance-Souain sector, Champagne, France, 4 July-14 July, 1918.
Champagne-Marne defensive, France, 15 July-17 July, 1918.
Aisne-Marne offensive, France, 25 July-3 August, 1918.
St. Mihiel offensive, France, 12 September-16 September, 1918.
Essey and Pannes sector, Woevre, France, 17 September-30 September 1918.
Meuse-Argonne offensive, France, 12 October-31 October, 1918.
Meuse-Argonne offensive, France, 5 November-10 November, 1918.
150TH Machine Gun Battalion
Roll of Honor
(The Soldiers who
died)
This list is not complete. |
|
PVT
Charles Arnold |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. D.; severely wounded 16 Oct. 1918, died shortly later. |
PFC
Waldo Balthazor |
19,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; served on all fronts with 'Rainbow' Div.; DW 26 Oct. 1918. |
PVT
Leon E. Bennett |
24,
Waukesha, Wis.; overseas; DD (influenza) 12 Oct. 1918. |
PVT
John W. Boehler |
21,
Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; WNG; Mexican Border; served on all fronts with 42D Div.; DW 29 Oct. 1918. |
MEC
Alvin Bohlman |
21,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; Defensive Sector; DW 28 March 1918. |
PVT
John E. Bonacher |
Co.
D. |
CPL
Floyd Bowers |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. D; KIA 27 July 1918. |
PFC
Nelson A. Bowers |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. D; D (drowned) 25 July 1918. |
PVT
Arthur W. Boyd |
Oshkosh,
Wis.; Co. C; KIA 12 Sept. 1918 in St. Mihiel Sector |
PFC
Walter Briel |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. D; KIA 27 July 1918. |
PVT
William L. Brockman |
24,
Married, Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; WNG; Auberive,
Champagne, Marne, Defensive Sector; KIA 15 July 1918. |
PVT
Charles Brown |
25,
Middle Inlet, Wis.; Overseas; DD (pneumonia) 29 March 1918. |
PVT
Pearson L. Brown |
Campbellsport,
Wis.; WNG; DD (acidosis, after being gassed) 29 March 1918. |
PVT
William M. Brown |
27,
Shiocton, Wis.; WNG; Auberive; KIA 15 July 1918. |
SGT
Elmer W. Bullis |
45,
Married, Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; Champagne, Marne, Aisne-Marne, Defensive Sector;
DW 3 Aug. 1918. |
PVT
Tony Cramp |
35,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; Co. B; KIA 28 July 1918 near Villers-sur-Fere,
France. Posthumously decorated for distinguished service. |
PVT
Desire J. DeGrave |
22,
Oconto, Wis.; Co. C; KIA 27 July 1918. |
PVT
Charles Devins |
26,
Beloit, Wis.; Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Defensive Sector; KIA 28 July
1918. |
SGT
Albert C. Dreier |
28,
North Fond du Lac, Wis.; WNG, Mexican Border; Argonne; KIA 15 Oct. 1918. |
PVT
Alvin P. Epler |
Mohnton,
Pa.; Co. D; KIA 15 July 1918. |
PVT
Paul Fauck |
25,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; Overseas; D (accident) 3 June 1918. |
PFC
Milton H. Folk |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. D, DD. |
CPL
William F. Gehring |
Hanover,
Pa.; Co. A, 149th MGBN; KIA 8 Mar. 1918. |
PVT
Elmer C. Grabinski |
29,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; Co. B; KIA 28 July 1918 between
Sergy and Villers-sur-Fere, France. Posthumously decorated
for distinguished service. |
Stable
SGT Kurt Graf |
27,
Black Wolf, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; Aisne-Marne, Defensive Sector; KIA 28 July
1918. |
PVT
Henry Gratton |
32,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; Overseas; DD (pneumonia after being gassed) 1 Apr. 1918. |
CPL
Guy R. Gross |
24,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; WNG; Luneville Sector, Baccarat,
Esperance, Champagne, Marne, St. Mihiel, Argonne-Meuse; KIA 15 Oct. 1918. |
PVT
William Hageman |
22,
Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; Auberive; DW 17 July 1918. |
SGT
Anthony N. Halfman |
25,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; Co. B; WNG; Toul, Champagne,
Ourcq, Villiers sur Fere;
KIA 28 July 1918 near Villers-sur-Fere, France.
Posthumously decorated for distinguished service. |
PFC
Floyd Heckman |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. D, DD. |
SGT
William B. Heiss |
20,
Appleton, Wis.; Auberive, Fere
en Tardenois; KIA 30 July
1918. |
PVT
Roy Hickman |
Co.
D; KIA 15 July 1918 (gassed). |
PVT
Adolph Hissinger |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. D; KIA 27 July 1918. |
PVT
John M. Houston |
Co.
D; KIA 15 July 1918. |
SGT
Herman O. Jahnke |
25,
Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; Auberive, Fere en Tardenois, St. Mihiel;
DD (pneumonia) 11 Oct. 1918. |
PVT
August G. Jeske |
26,
Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Mihiel, USS Bonzancy, Dept. of
Ardennes; KIA 14 Oct. 1918. |
SGT
Everette O. Johnston |
27,
Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; Fere en Tardenois
Sector; KIA 29 July 1918. |
PVT
Achileffs Karausta |
Tyrone,
Pa.; Co. D; KIA 15 July 1918. |
PVT
Harry A. Keltz |
Latrobe,
Pa.; Co. D. |
PVT
Arthur Koehne |
22,
Kaukauna, Wis.; Co. A; Auberive, Fere en Tardenois, St. Mihiel;
KIA 14 Oct. 1918. |
PVT
Arthur Kositzke |
Appleton,
Wis.; KIA 16 July 1918. |
PVT
Robert Kotouch |
Greensburg,
Pa.; Co. A, 149TH MGBN; KIA at 1030 hours on 8 Mar. 1918 by a
shell fragment. |
Cook
William J. Lang |
31,
Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; WNG; battle before Auberive;
KIA 22 July 1918. |
PVT
Albert O. Lange |
25,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; WNG; Mexican Border; served on all fronts with 42D Div.; W 22 March; KIA 15
Oct. 1918. |
PVT
Herwitt Leonard |
Co.
D; KIA at about 0800 hours on 14 Oct. 1918. |
PFC
Joseph Lorenz |
23,
Oshkosh, Wis.; WNG; Co. C; DW 21 Nov. 1918. |
SGT
Paul H. Ludwig |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. A, 149TH MGBN; KIA 8 Mar. 1918. |
PVT
Nicholas Mand |
28,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; KIA 2 Aug. 1918. |
SGT
James M. Mangan |
27,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; Lorraine, Champagne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Verdun;
DW 15 Oct. 1918. |
PVT
Guy Martorella |
Co.
D. |
PVT
Walter H. Mathieu |
20,
Kewaskum, Wis.; WNG; DD (pneumonia); 18 July 1918. |
PVT
Stanley E. Mitman |
Co.
D. |
PVT
Otto Neuendorf |
31,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; served on all fronts with 42D Div. till death; KIA 28 July
1918. |
PVT
Carl Norenberg |
32,
Married, Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; WNG; Auberive; KIA
15 July 1918. |
SGT
Frank Obersteiner |
22,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; W 15 July; KIA 22 Oct. 1918. |
PVT
Ross Overdorf |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. D; KIA 27 July 1918. |
SGT
Robert C. Pattison |
Carlisle,
England; Co. D; wounded 14 Oct. 1918, later died. |
SGT
William Pechman |
26,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; Champagne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel,
Meuse-Argonne; DW 24 Oct. 1918. |
PFC
Frank Phillips |
29,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; KIA 29 July 1918. |
PVT
Harvey V. Pierre |
19,
Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; trenches, Auberive; KIA 15
July 1918. |
PVT
Samuel Plis |
Co.
D; KIA 27 July 1918. |
SGT
Richard Procknow |
21,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; KIA 30 July 1918. |
PVT
Walter S. Reynolds |
Beaver
Falls, Pa.; Co. A, 149TH MGBN; DOW 12 Feb. 1918 (accidentally
wounded by a ricochet during machine gun training on 11 Feb.). |
PFC
Guy L. Rice |
25,
Gleason, Wis.; Army of Occupation; Overseas; DD (tuberculosis) 31 July 1919. |
PVT
Charles L. Roehl |
34,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; WNG; U.S.; DD (pneumonia) 3 Apr. 1918. |
PVT
Herbert J. Ryan |
19,
Brillion, Wis.; WNG; Fere en Tardenois;
KIA 5 Nov. 1918. |
PVT
William G. Schaffelke |
24,
Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; WNG; KIA 15 July 1918. |
PVT
(Cook) Bryant D. Silvey |
Co.
D; KIA 12 Sept. 1918. “Cook Silvey, who had begged
to come along and see some real action, was shot through the right lung and
died.” |
PVT
William Sisco |
Fond
du Lac, Wis.; WNG; KIA 1 Oct. 1918. |
PVT
Harold Smith |
20,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; DW 29 July 1918. |
CPL
Harvey Smith |
Co.
D; KIA 15 July 1918. |
PVT
Otto Spaedtke |
19,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; DW 30 July 1918. |
PVT
Edward C. Steckbauer |
24,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; KIA 30 July 1918. |
PFC
Harvey Stich |
22,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; Champagne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Argonne-Meuse;
DD (pneumonia) 27 Dec. 1918. |
PFC
Louis Suess |
29,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; KIA 30 July 1918. |
PVT
Robert Thill |
20,
Oakfield, Wis.; WNG; DD (pneumonia, after being gassed) 29 March 1918. |
CPL
Walter Thorne |
21,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; KIA 30 July 1918. |
PVT
George William Walsh |
25,
Gillett, Wis.; KIA 16 Oct. 1918. |
CPL
John C. Washbush |
22,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; Luneville, Baccarat, Esperance,
Champagne, Marne, St. Mihiel; KIA 29 July 1918. |
CPL
Roy W. Watson |
36,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; DW 22 July 1918. |
PVT
Alfred J. Weber |
30,
Schleisingerville, Wis.; Overseas; DD (pneumonia);
16 Dec. 1918. |
PFC
Edward J. Weinfurter |
23,
Appleton, Wis.; Co. A; all fronts, including Fere
en Tardenois; W 18 July 1918; DW. |
MEC
Raymond C. Weiss |
Fond
du Lac, Wis.; Co. A; served on all fronts but Toul
Sector with 42D
Div.; KIA 5 Nov. 1918. |
Clerk
Albert Welling |
27,
Fond du Lac, Wis.; Lorraine, Champagne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Verdun,
Ardennes; DW 16 Oct. 1918. |
PFC
Edward C. Wyro |
22,
Kaukauna, Wis.; KIA 14 Oct. 1918. |
CPL
Herbert Yeich |
Reading,
Pa.; Co. D; KIA 29 July 1918. |
PVT
Leonard M. Zenz |
22,
Stephenson, Wis., WNG; W 21 March; KIA 28 July 1918. |
Wagoner
Edward Zindler |
26,
Oshkosh, Wis.; Co. C; WNG; Champagne (Suippes); KIA
15 July 1918. |
Bibliography:
The Appleton Evening Crescent.
Newspaper articles from 1917.
Battle
Participation of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces in France,
Belgium and Italy - 1917-1918. Washington: Government
Printing Office, 1920.
Gregory,
John G. Wisconsin's Gold Star List.
Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1925.
Nolan,
J. Bennett. Our Boys in the Great War.
Reading: Historical Society of Berks Counts, n.d.
Back to 150TH Machine Gun
Battalion
revised 14 May 2011
since 26 February 2001