39th Infantry Division (United States)

The 39th Infantry Division (Delta Division) was an infantry formation of the Army National Guard, originally formed as the 18th Division in 1917. The division consisted of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. After training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, the division was deployed to France but did not see combat before the end of World War I. In July 1923 the division was re-designated as the 31st Infantry Division. The 39th Infantry Division was reactivated after World War II with troops from Louisiana and Arkansas and its headquarters in Louisiana. In 1967, the 39th Infantry Division was reorganized to become the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate). Its headquarters was in Little Rock and the unit consisted entirely of troops from Arkansas.McGrath, John J. (2004). The Brigade: A History: Its Organization and Employment in the US Army. Combat Studies Institute Press. . p. 170.

World War I In July 1917, a few weeks after the American entry into World War I, it was announced that National Guard units from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana would be assigned to Alexandria, Louisiana, for training as the 18th Division."Arkansas Guards Assigned to Alexandria Camp for Training," Arkansas Democrat (Evening Edition), 18 July 1917, p. 1. Alexandria is the location of Camp Beauregard, named after General P. G. T. Beauregard, C.S.A."Cantonment Here to be Named Camp Pike after Brig. Gen. Pike," Arkansas Democrat (Evening Edition), 16 July 1917, p. 4.

Re-numbering and loss of state designations Upon transfer to Camp Beauregard, all National Guard units were stripped of their state designations and re-numbered under a new federal system. At this time the division of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi was re-

designated the 39th Division. The 39th "Delta" Division was composed of:The Digital Bookshelf, American Expeditionary Forces, 39th "Delta" Division, www.thedigitalbookshelf.us/division_39.htm, See Also, Wyllie, Col. Robert E. "The Romance of Military Insignia." The National Geographic Magazine, Vol. XXXVI, No. 6. December 1919.

Headquarters New unit designation Former state designation State 39th Division HQ and HQ Company 2nd Separate Troop, Louisiana Cavalry Louisiana 77th Infantry Brigade 153rd Infantry Regiment 1st Arkansas Infantry Arkansas 154th Infantry Regiment 3rd Arkansas Infantry (Minus 3rd Battalion), Companies G, I, M, 1st Louisiana Infantry, less one third men; 1st Battalion, 2nd Mississippi Infantry Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana 141st Machine Gun Battalion 3rd Battalion, 3rd Arkansas Infantry plus Machine Gun Company from 2nd Arkansas Infantry Arkansas 78th Infantry Brigade 155th Infantry Regiment 1st Mississippi Infantry, attachments from Companies F and H, 2nd Mississippi Infantry Mississippi 156th Infantry Regiment 1st Louisiana Infantry, less companies G, H, I, K, L, and M Louisiana 142nd Machine Gun Battalion Companies H and L, 1st Louisiana Infantry Louisiana 64th Field Artillery Brigade 140th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm) 1st Mississippi Field Artillery Mississippi 141st Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm) 1st Louisiana Field Artillery, less 2 officers and 120 men Louisiana 142nd Field Artillery Regiment (155 mm) 2nd Arkansas Infantry, Minus Machine Gun Company"Shakeup Is Being Made in Arkansas Guard Regiments," Arkansas Democrat (Evening Edition), 31 October 1917, p. 1. Arkansas 114th Trench Mortar Battery 2 Officers and 120 Men, 1st Louisiana Field Artillery Louisiana Divisional Troops 140th Machine Gun Battalion Machine Gun Troop, 2nd Separate Squadron, Mississippi Cavalry, 3rd Battalion and Companies G and Machine Gun Company, 2nd Mississippi Infantry Mississippi 114th Engineer Regiment Company A, Mississippi Engineers, one third enlisted men from Companies G, I, and M, 1st Louisiana Infantry, Band and one half enlisted men from Company E, 2nd Mississippi Infantry Mississippi, Louisiana 114th Field Signal Battalion One half enlisted men from Company K, 1st Louisiana Infantry, one half enlisted men from Company K, 1st Louisiana Infantry Mississippi, Louisiana 114th Train Headquarters and Military Police Headquarters and Headquarters Company (less Band), Supply Company, Part of companies F and H, 2nd Mississippi Infantry, and one half the enlisted men from the 1st Louisiana Infantry Mississippi, Louisiana 114th Ammunition Train 1st Arkansas Ammunition Train, minus 257 men. 1st Mississippi Field Hospital, 1st Louisiana Field Hospital, 1st Separate Squadron (Less Machine Gun Troop), plus 193 men from 2nd Separate Squadron, Mississippi Cavalry. 1st Mississippi Field Hospital, 1st Louisiana Field Hospital Arkansas, Mississippi 114th Supply Train 2nd Separate Squadron, Mississippi Cavalry, Minus 193 Men, Plus 257 men from the 1st Arkansas Ammunition Train Arkansas, Mississippi 114th Engineer Train Transfers from the 114th Engineers and Draftees Mississippi 114th Sanitary Train (Ambulance Companies & Field Hospitals 153, 154, 155, 156) 1st Arkansas Ambulance Company and the 1st Arkansas Field Hospital,"2nd Arkansas to be Artillery," Arkansas Democrat (Evening Edition), 1 October 1917, p. 1; and D. T. Herndon, The High Lights of Arkansas History (Little Rock, Arkansas: The Arkansas History Commission, 1922), p. 170. 1st Mississippi Field Hospital, 1st Louisiana Field Hospital Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana

Sickness was a problem for the National Guard troops while at Camp Beauregard. In the later part of October 1917, measles kept the men from drilling."Arkansas Troops Under Quarantine," Arkansas Democrat (Evening Edition), 23 October 1917, p. 1. In January 1918, the National Guard Reserve was transferred to the active list.Arkansas Adjutant-General, "Special Order Number 1: 5 January 1918" (Microfilm reel Number 4 of unpublished Arkansas Military Department Records on file in Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas). In the same month, the town of Alexandria was placed off limits, and soldiers could not visit other regiments because of an outbreak of meningitis."Soldiers Cannot Visit Alexandria," Arkansas Gazette, 4 January 1918, p. 5. The off-limits order lasted until 6 March 1918. The soldiers were instructed in the use of deadly gases and then exposed to tear gas, which complicated the health concerns."Camp Beauregard Shy of Colonels," Arkansas Gazette, 6 January 1918, p. 2. The soldiers complained about the bugs and were anxious to go to France. By March 1918, the soldiers had received new Enfield rifles."Soldiers Now May Visit Alexandria," Arkansas Gazette, 6 March 1918, p. 1. Camp Beauregard was struck with Spanish influenza in early October 1918, which led to lobar pneumonia in many patients. All available facilities were used when the hospitals became overcrowded."Beauregard Has Many 'Flu' Cases," Arkansas Gazette, 8 October 1918, p. 2. The 39th Division was brought up to strength with the addition of soldiers from Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky."Many Promoted at Camp Beauregard," Arkansas Gazette, 29 June 1918, p. 8.

The entire 39th Division passed in review for the governors of Mississippi and Louisiana in April."39th Division Ready to Fight," Arkansas Gazette, 9 April 1918, p. 1.

Deployed to France

The army units already engaged in theater were suffering from a personnel shortage. The army had no system for providing replacement soldiers for unit losses. In May 1918, the army offered privates the opportunity to volunteer for duty overseas by agreeing to transfer out of the 39th Division. In the rush to help end the war, officers resigned their commissions so they would qualify for duty overseas before the war was over."Few Arkansas Remain in Camp," Arkansas Gazette, 15 May 1918, p. 8. Shortly thereafter, Private Robert Springer was the first state guardsman to lose his life in France."Member of 3rd Arkansas Killed," Arkansas Gazette, 29 June 1918, p. 8. Approximately 20 percent of the soldiers of the 39th Division were allowed to volunteer to deploy as individual replacements. In June 1918 the individual replacements arrived in France. The officers remained at Camp Beauregard with the other 80 per cent that were still in training."Arkansas Troops Arrive in France," Arkansas Gazette, 25 June 1918, p. 1. At Camp Beauregard the division was brought to full strength by the arrival of troops from Camp Zachary Taylor (men from the states of Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky)."Many Promoted at Camp Beauregard," Arkansas Gazette, 29 June 1918, p. 8.

It took 12 months for the entire 39th Division organization to reach France, where it remained for three months, before the war ended.Leonard P. Ayres, The War with Germany: A Statistical Summary (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1917), pp.33 and 102. At the time of its departure from the United States, the 39th Division was composed of 22 percent Arkansas National Guard, 40 per cent National Army draftees, and 10 per cent shortage from authorized strength.Leonard P. Ayres, The War with Germany: A Statistical Summary (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1917), page 27.

The 39th Division, less its artillery units, left Camp Beauregard on 1 August, and sailed for overseas service on 6 August 1918. The first unit of the 39th Division arrived in France on 12 August, and the last unit arrived on 12 September.

Designation as depot division The 39th Division was designated as the Fifth Depot Division on 14 August 1918, and moved to St. Florent area south-west of Bourges. The greatest American involvement in World War I, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, began on 26 September. The divisions were so depleted after one week of combat that General John "Blackjack" Pershing, commanding the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) on the Western Front, ordered personnel from the 84th and 86th Divisions, which had just arrived in France, to be used as replacements.Coffman, The War To End All Wars, pp. 81–84. The arrangement was supposed to be temporary, and at first only men from infantry and machine gun units served as replacements. Eventually all divisional personnel were taken, except for one enlisted man per company and one officer per regiment who maintained unit records. The manpower shortage persisted. The 31st, 34th, and 38th Divisions were stripped of their personnel and their men used as replacements. The high casualty rate took a toll on all combat units, and Pershing slashed the authorized strength of infantry and machine gun companies from 250 to 175 enlisted men, thereby temporarily reducing each division by 4,000 men."Final Report" and "Report of Assistant Cold, G-1, G.H.Q., A.E.F., printed in Reports of CINC, pp. 55, 147–52; Maurice Matloff, ed., American Military History (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1969), p. 401.

The units of the 39th, (not the 5th Depot Division) served as training cadres whose duties were to receive, train, equip, and forward replacements of both officers and men for the infantry units and machine gun units, and for ammunition and supply trains. On 29 October 1918, the 39th Division was "skeletonized" with most of the remaining men assigned as replacements and the senior officers attached to the 1st Depot Division (41st Division) at St. Aignan.Cameron, M.E., Recent American History, White River Valley Historical Quarterly, Volume 5, Number 5, Fall 1974, page 13">