They Called Them Soldier Boys: A Texas Infantry Regiment in World War I

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IMages of the texas 7th A typical Texas National Guard recruiting poster from the Wichita Daily Times, June 19, 1917. TheY CALLeD TheM SOLDIeR BOYS Colonel Alfred Wainwright Bloor. Colonel Bloor, an Austin attorney, commanded the 7th Texas Infantry, Texas National Guard, and later the 142d Infantry Regiment during World War I (Photo from C. H. Barnes, History of the 142d Infantry of the Thirty-Sixth Division, October 15 1917, to June 17, 1919 [Blackwell Job Printing Company, 1922].) IMages of the texas 7th Major Gen. Edwin St. John Greble, commander of Camp Bowie, ca. 1917–1918. General Greble oversaw the division’s training at Camp Bowie, but prior to its departure for France the War Department replaced him with Maj. Gen. William R. Smith (Courtesy, Ruth Dearmin Cooke Photograph Album, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library, Arlington, Texas.) TheY CALLeD TheM SOLDIeR BOYS Captain Ethan Simpson. Simpson recruited the Donley County company of the 7th Texas Infantry in the summer of 1917 and led his soldiers to France and back. This photo was taken at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, Texas, 1917–1918 (Photo Courtesy of Pat and Woodene Simpson.) IMages of the texas 7th Captain Steve A. Lillard. Lillard recruited the Wise County Company and led it through the battles at Saint Etienne and Forest Farm and proved to be a capable and respected officer (Wise County Messenger, February 18, 1927). Captain Thomas D. Barton. Barton, who made Amarillo his home, had served in militia companies since 1891 and fought in the SpanishAmerican War. He recruited the Amarillo company and led it to France. During the battle at Saint Etienne, a defensive position near the town earned the nickname “Barton’s Hill” during the fighting. Barton later ran unsuccessfully for governor of Texas (Fort Worth Star Telegram). Captain Robert Wagstaff. Wagstaff, who grew up in Abilene, recruited Company I from Taylor County and the surrounding area. Wagstaff remained with the division throughout the war and returned to Abilene where he became a successful lawyer and community leader (Fort Worth Star Telegram). Edwin B. Sayles. Sayles helped recruit the Abilene company of the 7th Texas Infantry and remained with the regiment throughout the war, eventually commanding the 37mm cannon platoon during the regiment’s time on the Western Front. Sayles was promoted to captain prior to the assault on Forest Farm (Abilene Daily News). TheY CALLeD TheM SOLDIeR BOYS Soldiers training at Camp Bowie, Forth Worth, ca. 1917–1918 (Courtesy, Fort Worth StarTelegram Collection, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library, Arlington, Texas.) Camp Bowie’s 36th Division review parade in downtown Fort Worth, April 11, 1918 (Courtesy, Ruth Dearmin Cooke Photograph Album, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library, Arlington, Texas.) IMages of the texas 7th Company E, 142d Infantry at Camp Bowie in 1917.This company included many members of the Choctaw Nation who served as communicators during the battle of Forest Farm, October 27, 1918. Using their native language, the Choctaw soldiers transmitted coded messages that the Germans could not understand (Photo Courtesy of Texas Military Forces Museum). Corporal Monte Dunaway of Wise County, who was killed during the fighting at Saint Etienne. His uncle penned a eulogy for him in the Wise County Messenger: “We will miss his cheerful face and quiet way of moving about our homes…” (Wise County Messenger, November 22, 1918). TheY CALLeD TheM SOLDIeR BOYS Camp Bowie’s 36th Division memorial stone marks the site of the 36th Division headquarters during World War I, installed at Camp Bowie Blvd. and Thomas Place during the twenty-fifth reunion; l. to r., Dallas Matthews, left, from Austin; Mark McGee, Fort Worth attorney; and R. Wright Armstrong of Fort Worth, October 27–29, 1950. Armstrong, an original member of Cap- IMages of the texas 7th tain Homer Merrill’s Lubbock company, went over the top at Saint Etienne on October 8, 1918 (Courtesy, William E. Jary Collection, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library, Arlington, Texas.) TheY CALLeD TheM SOLDIeR BOYS Second Lieutenant Oscar Emery, a member of the 142d Infantry Regimental Band (Photo Courtesy of the Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin, Texas). [3.137.187.233] Project...