16 Replies Latest reply on Apr 6, 2021 1:59 PM by Margaret McMahon

Grandfather's World War I Service

Henry Rosenberg May 31, 2019 7:11 PM

My grandfather served in Co K of the 52nd Pioneer Infantry. His name was Dave Rosenberg. I have found very limited information on what they did. I know he served during Meuse-Argonne. He arrived in France in August 1918 and left in April 1919. There was a pamphlet written by a Frank Farrell but I can't find it. Any additional info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Henry

Re: Grandfather's World War I Service

Rebecca Collier Jun 14, 2019 11:05 AM (in response to Henry Rosenberg)

Dear Mr. Rosenberg,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located a series titled Records of Pioneer Infantry Regiments, 1917 - 1919 in the Records of the American Expeditionary Forces (World War I) (Record Group 120) that includes records of the 52nd Pioneer Infantry Regiment.

We also located a series titled Card File of Military Engagements of American Organizations, 1918 - 1918 in the Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs (Record Group 165) that includes a file unit titled Pioneer Infantry.

For access to and/or copies of these records, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov.

We hope this information is helpful. Best of luck with your family research!

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- Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
  
  Henry Rosenberg Jun 14, 2019 12:15 PM (in response to Rebecca Collier)
  
  Thank you Rebecca. That was very helpful.
  
  Henry
  
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Re: Grandfather's World War I Service

J. Andrew Jun 14, 2019 8:28 PM (in response to Henry Rosenberg)

The is a brief document about the 52nd Pioneer Infantry written by Frank Farrell available from the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center. There is also a very brief outline of their service in The US Army In World War I: Orders Of Battle by Richard A. Rinaldi

Because the 52nd Pioneer Infantry was formed from a New York National Guard unit, the New York State Archives and the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center might also have information about them.
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- Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
  
  Henry Rosenberg Jun 17, 2019 10:26 AM (in response to J. Andrew)
  
  Thank you. I thought there was more to the Frank Farrell pamphlet. I may check with NY state to see what they have. Thanks again.
  Henry
  
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Re: Grandfather's World War I Service

Margaret McMahon Mar 28, 2021 9:17 PM (in response to Henry Rosenberg)

Hello,

I would recommend RG165, which contains a history of the 52nd Pioneer Infantry.

"The Battled Participation of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, Belgium and Italy 1917-1918" shows which engagements the 52nd PIR took part, and is available online at:
https://books.google.com/books?id=VnHIAAAAMAAJ

"A Guide to the U.S. Pioneer infantry Regiments in WWI" contains brief summaries of all of the Pioneer Infantry, including the fact that there was a song about the 52nd Pioneers.

SGT Farrell's work is a poem.

There is also a Facebook Group for "Pioneer Infantry Regiments WWI - U.S."
at https://www.facebook.com/groups/300115760709770

M. M. McMahon

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- Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
  
  Henry Rosenberg Mar 29, 2021 9:20 PM (in response to Margaret McMahon)
  
  Thank you. That is extremely helpful.
  
  Henry
  
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Re: Grandfather's World War I Service

Elliot Schneider Mar 29, 2021 9:49 AM (in response to Henry Rosenberg)

Henry,

Here is some information below.

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- Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
  
  Henry Rosenberg Mar 29, 2021 9:18 PM (in response to Elliot Schneider)
  
  Thank you Elliot. I appreciate it. I have seen some of those documents but don't know much about the unit. I guess they were more of a support unit doing work to clear the way for the troops.
  
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  - Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
    
    Margaret McMahon Mar 30, 2021 11:19 PM (in response to Henry Rosenberg)
    
    Hello Henry,
    
    The Pioneer Infantry Regiments were non-divisional troops. Each one was designated to be assigned at the Corps or Army level.
    
    Think of them as cross trained in Infantry and Engineering skills. Some of the Regiments definitely saw combat. Some were filling in shelled roads to keep roads open at the front during battles. They did clear roads and obstacles, and also provided labor. There were Pioneer Infantry Regiments that did not see combat and were assigned to labor.
    
    Due to a lack of information that could be found about them, and my Grandfather who was in the 51st PIR, I have been researching these remarkable regiments for several years, and have published books about them.
    
    M. M. McMahon
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    - Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
      
      Henry Rosenberg Mar 31, 2021 8:54 AM (in response to Margaret McMahon)
      
      Hi Margaret- Thank you for responding. Do you have links to your books or titles that I could look up? I have cursorily looked for information and have also found very little on the Pioneer infantry. It sounded like their work was in front of the infantry troops and in some cases quite dangerous. They would have to clear roads of obstacles and dead horses. I realize it's a long shot to find specifics but I know the 52nd was involved in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Unfortunately my grandfather died when I was only 1 1/2 and like most people, never thought to ask anyone else. I'm trying to document as much as I can for my kids (who don;t ask).
      
      Thanks again,
      Henry
      
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      - Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
        
        Margaret McMahon Apr 2, 2021 5:48 PM (in response to Henry Rosenberg)
        
        Hello Henry,
        
        It was the Army, and even then, they had a lot of paperwork! It's just a question of finding the documents. Finding diaries and other memorabilia also yields great insights.
        
        Many people think that these were only labor regiments. Of the 37 Pioneer Infantry Regiments that were formed, 20 were composed of African-American soldiers.
        
        There was a book published by COL Moses Thisted, "Pershing's Pioneers." It is out of print and had a variety of information about the Regiments, but a lot of focus on the 1st PIR (his regiment).
        
        "A Guide to the U.S. Pioneer infantry Regiments in WWI" is available on Amazon, It contains a brief summary of each regiment.
        https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1727742710
        
        There is some information about the 52nd PIR in RG 165. I had been considering publishing transcriptions of the important documents found in that record set for Pioneer Infantry Regiments. It may be time to finish that!
        
        The US Army Heritage & Education Center (USAHEC) has three items from the 52nd PIR. Two are from Company D and one is from the HQ CO.
        
        Margaret
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        Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
        
        Henry Rosenberg Apr 3, 2021 10:29 AM (in response to Margaret McMahon)
        
        Hi Margaret. Thanks for the link to your book. What is RG 165? You mentioned it before but I am not sure what it is. Is it something I can buy or is it a record that is available on some Federal website? Sorry to be so ignorant. I have been doing genealogy research on and off for about 3-4 years including my wfe's family and there is so much I am learning as I go.
        
        Have a nice weekend,
        Henry
        
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        Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
        
        Margaret McMahon Apr 6, 2021 1:59 PM (in response to Henry Rosenberg)
        
        Hello Henry,
        
        RG = Record Group, which can be considered a unit of how things are organized and stored at NARA.
        
        RG165 was mentioned in the first response from Ms. Collier, but she spelled out Record Group, where I used an abbreviation. Sorry for any misunderstanding.
        
        As a professor, I can tell you that questions are how we learn, so keep asking.
        
        Margaret
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        Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
        
        Henry Rosenberg Apr 3, 2021 11:08 AM (in response to Margaret McMahon)
        
        Margaret- I purchased your book on Amazon. I went to USAHEC but couldn't find anything except for a listing for Frank Farrell's book.
        We are Jewish. When you mentioned that black troops were placed in the Pioneers, it made me wonder if Jews were placed there intentionally too. Neither group was held in high esteem by the country or the military and racism and anti-Semitism were still rampant then. Regardless, I am starting to get a better idea of what he did. I look forward to reading your book when it arrives.
        Thanks,
        Henry
        
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        Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
        
        Margaret McMahon Apr 5, 2021 7:43 PM (in response to Henry Rosenberg)
        
        Hello Henry,
        
        Thank you very much.
        
        The 20 African-American regiments had all African-American enlisted men.
        
        The other 17 had a large population from cities, which in turn had groups of immigrants.
        
        USAHEC is in the middle of a terrific digitization project, and the website has been updated but does not contain all the content. They are responding to emails.
        
        The World War One Centennial Commission has an interesting article about the number of soldiers who were immigrants, or children of immigrants.
        https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/edu-home/edu-topics/588-americans-at-war/4993-immigrants.html
        
        Margaret
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        Re: Grandfather's World War I Service
        
        Henry Rosenberg Apr 6, 2021 8:56 AM (in response to Margaret McMahon)
        
        Thank you for the information,Margaret. My grandfather was the son of immigrants. His father was German and mother was Austrian/Hungarian so that makes sense. I know in WW2 my wife's Uncles who were recent immigrants from Austria were allowed to fight but were not sent to Europe for similar reasons regarding immigrants.
        
        Thanks again,
        Henry
        
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