On 16 Aug. 1917, Companies E, F and G, 2nd Wisconsin
Infantry
Regiment, were officially detached from the 2nd Wisconsin and became
the
150th Machine Gun Battalion [Companies A, formerly Co. G, 2nd Wis.
(Appleton);
B, formerly Co. E, 2nd Wis. (Fond du Lac); and C, formerly Co. F, 2nd
Wis.
(Oshkosh)], 83rd Infantry Brigade of the 42nd 'Rainbow' Division. 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 42nd '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 42nd 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 42nd 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 42nd 'Rainbow' Division, was transferred and redesignated to become Company D, 150th MG Bn. Company D was previously known as Company I, 4th Pennsylvania Infantry, from Reading, Pennsylvania.
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.
| PVT Charles Arnold | Reading, Pa.; Co. D. |
| 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.; WNG; Mexican Border; served on all fronts with 42nd 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. |
| PFC Walter Briel | Reading, Pa.; Co. D; KIA 27 July 1918. |
| PVT William L. Brockman | 24, Married, Appleton, Wis.; 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.; WNG; Champagne, Marne, Aisne-Marne, Defensive Sector; DW 3 Aug. 1918. |
| PVT Tony Cramp | 35, Fond du Lac, Wis.; KIA 28 July 1918. |
| PVT Desire J. DeGrave | 22, Oconto, Wis.; 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.; 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.; KIA 28 July 1918. Posthumously decorated for distinguished service. |
| Stable SGT Kurt Graf | 27, Black Wolf, Wis.; 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.; Auberive; DW 17 July 1918. |
| SGT Anthony N. Halfman | 25, Fond du Lac, Wis.; WNG; Toul, Champagne, Ourcq, Villiers sur Fere; KIA 28 July 1918. Posthumously decorated for distinguished service. |
| PFC Floyd Heckman | Reading, Pa.; Co. D, DD. |
| SGT William 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.; 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.; 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.; 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 8 Mar. 1918. |
| Cook William J. Lang | 31, Appleton, Wis.; 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 42nd Div.; W 22 March; KIA 15 Oct. 1918. |
| PVT Herwitt Leonard | Co. D; KIA 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.; 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 42nd Div. till death; KIA 28 July 1918. |
| PVT Carl Norenberg | 32, Married, Appleton, Wis.; WNG; Auberive; KIA 15 July 1918. |
| SGT Frank Obersteiner | 22, Oshkosh, Wis.; 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.; WNG; Champagne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne; DW 24 Oct. 1918. |
| PFC Frank Phillips | 29, Oshkosh, Wis.; WNG; KIA 29 July 1918. |
| PVT Harvey V. Pierre | 19, Appleton, Wis.; trenches, Auberive; KIA 15 July 1918. |
| PVT Samuel Plis | Co. D; KIA 27 July 1918. |
| SGT Richard Procknow | 21, Oshkosh, Wis.; 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.; WNG; KIA 15 July 1918. |
| PVT Bryant D. Silvey | Co. D; KIA 12 Sept. 1918. |
| PVT William Sisco | Fond du Lac, Wis.; WNG; KIA 1 Oct. 1918. |
| PVT Harold Smith | 20, Oshkosh, Wis.; WNG; DW 29 July 1918. |
| CPL Harvey Smith | Co. D; KIA 15 July 1918. |
| PVT Otto Spaedtke | 19, Oshkosh, Wis.; WNG; DW 30 July 1918. |
| PVT Edward C. Steckbauer | 24, Oshkosh, Wis.; WNG; KIA 30 July 1918. |
| PFC Harvey Stich | 22, Oshkosh, Wis.; Champagne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Argonne-Meuse; DD (pneumonia) 27 Dec. 1918. |
| PFC Louis Suess | 29, Oshkosh, Wis.; 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.; 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.; all fronts, including Fere en Tardenois; W 18 July 1918; DW. |
| MEC Raymond C. Weiss | Fond du Lac, Wis.; served on all fronts but Toul Sector with 42nd 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.; WNG; Champagne (Suippes); KIA 15 July 1918. |
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.
revised 19 September 2008
since 26 February 2001