“On October 1, the division had watched the elements of the 35th Division withdraw slowly down the main highway from Clermont toward Bar-le-Duc. We had listened for days to the ceaseless uproar of battle. Men must be tiring. Fresh Americans must be needed to replace the appalling wastage. Heart and mind the division was ready.” – G. Edward Buxton, JR., Lt. Colonel, Infantry, 82nd Division.
By October of 1918, the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) had sustained heavy casualties in its push to break the Hindenburg Line, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. By October 1st, the 35th Division had been worn down on the strong positions of the Germans. Though the Germans of the 2nd Landwehr Division were vastly outnumbered, they were seasoned veterans of the war compared to the largely inexperienced men of the AEF. While the 2nd Landwehr desperately attempted to prevent their frontline from collapsing, AEF 1st Army command sent in fresh troops from the 82nd Division. It was now time for the men of the 164th Brigade to break this exhausted yet determined foe.
This is where you come in. Take on the role of a regimental officer deciding the fate of the men of the 328th Infantry Regiment, 164th Brigade, 82nd Division. Will you make the same decisions that they did? Will you make the same mistakes? Be sent to the front amidst the battle for the Argonne Forest and discover the world of command. Join the regimental command staff in preparation for the coming attack and learn how fateful decisions have an impact on the battlefields of the Meuse-Argonne. Beware the fog of war in an age of industrialized war!
Join staff of Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park as we explore the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from the perspective of the 328th Infantry Regiment’s command staff. This program will take place within the historic York Barn and will be offered at 10:00 AM CT in the morning, and 2:00 PM CT in the afternoon. Program capacity is limited to 10. Adults and children over 12 are recommended. $10 per person.
You may also like the following events from Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park:
|
