The 2nd Division A. E. F. — 5th Machine Gun Battalion

Fifth Machine Gun Battalion.

TIME AND PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
August, 1917, Syracuse, N. Y.

The 5th Machine Gun Battalion consisted of four companies — A, B, C, D also MC.

Handwritten in Vol 8, Records of the 2nd Division is:
Co. A 5th M.G. Bn. Left U. S. A. for France Sept. 17, 1917 on the British ship Carmania,
Disembarked at Liverpool, England first. Arrived in France Oct. 2, 1917 (Ed.)

Names of Commanding Officers.
Major Shelby C. Leasure — August 14, 1917 — Oct. 27,1917.
Captain d 'Alary Fechet — January 10, 1918 - May 29, 1918.
Major Harry T. Lewis — May 29th, 1918 — Jan. 17, 1919.
Captain George L. Moulton - Jan. 17, 1919 — Feb. 1st, 1919.
Major d 'Alary Fechet - Feb. 1, 1919 - Feb. 14, 1919.
Major A. S. Peake — Feb. 14, 1919 — Present date.

Date of Arrival in France.
September, 1917.

Training Periods.
Assigned to Ninth and Twenty-Third Infantry Regiments and trained with them in Bourmont area until March, 1918.

Verdun Sector.
The middle of March saw this new-formed battalion as a member of the 3rd Brigade leave its training area for actual trench life and warfare in a sector near Verdun. Headquarters was established at Troyon throughout this period from March 15th to May 20th. Company C with the 3rd Battalion of the 9th Infantry had a taste of real action in a raid by the Germans on Maizey, April 13th.

Aisne-Marne Defensive (Chateau Thierry).
Relief and a rest of one week at Longeville, near Bar-le-Duc, was followed by a move by rail to Bouconvillers near Chars in New Division area above Paris. Ordered to entrain at Chars on May 31st and was rushed around the east of Paris to Nanteuil where it detrained. A forced march through and past Meaux brought the battalion into line with the infantry which had come by camion on the front northwest of Chateau Thierry. Battalion Headquarters was established at Coupru. Thirty-eight days of trying warfare was followed by one week's rest.

Aisne-Marne Offensive (Soissons).
On July 16th began the ride by camions and a forced march to Villers-Cotterets out of which came the attack of July 18th. Two hot days of swift action up to and beyond Vierzy on the Plateau of Soissons and the Battalion was again relieved returning to Bergy, north of Meaux, for a ten day's rest.

Marbache Sector.
From Nanteuil-le-Houdin to Nancy by rail, then ten days in a quiet sector near Pont-à-Mousson, Battalion. Headquarters being at Ville-au-Val.

St. Mihiel Offensive.
The 15th to the 30th of August was spent in Camp Bois de l'Eveque between Toul and Nancy in replacing and training, On September 1st the Battalion moved by two easy marches to position in woods south of Limey. On the 12th to 14th it took part in the St. Mihiel action aiding in the capture of Thiaucourt and Jaulny. After relief returned through Limey marched back to barracks at Toul.

Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Champagne).
On September 21st moved by train from Toul to Sogny-aux-Moulins. After a weak at this town the Battalion marched to Somme-Suippes and went into the action of October 1st to 10th at Somme-Py and Blanc Mont, an action which caused the Battalion the heaviest losses it had yet suffered. From October 15th to 24th a much-needed rest was given the Battalion.

Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
On October 24th began a three day march ending with Battalion Headquarters established at Chaudron Farm. On November 1st began the successful attack through Landres-et-St. George, Bayonville, Nouart and Beaumont, which ended finally with the crossing of the Meuse on the last day of the war.

March to the Rhine.
November 17th marked the beginning of the march to the Rhine through Stenay and Montmedy, France, and Virton and Arlon, Belgium. The last week of November was spent at Haller, Luxemburg. On December 1st the Battalion crossed the border into Germany marching north and northeast by way of the Ahr River Valley, coming out upon the Rhine at Sinzig. The Rhine was crossed at Remagen on December 13th. Present station, Weitersburg, Germany was reached December 16th, 1918.

THE SECOND DIVISION

SYLLABI OF THE HISTORIES OF REGIMENTS AND SEPARATE ORGANIZATIONS

From dates of organization to June 1, 1919.

Coblenzer Volkszeitung, Coblenz, Germany.