Before working on my Grandfather's diary, I had little knowledge of military hierarchy and rank. My notes, as i study those topics, are posted on this page. This is not presented as a definitive or scholarly document. Just my notes. I am still learning, and i invite comments and corrections.
Also on this page are my notes on how Private Nathaniel Rouse fitted into the hierarchy of the American forces in WWI.
Military Hierarchy (as relates to Pvt. N Rouse):
- American First Army: (The American Expeditionary Force (AEF), commanded by General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing)
- Corps: (Multiple Divisions) The First Army:
I - V Corps
- (IV Corps - 1st, 42nd, 89th Div's (3rd Div?)) Maj.Gen. Joseph T Dickman
- Division: (4 Reg's (plus artillery, medical,
hdqtrs.), 25k troops)
- 42nd Rainbow Division - 165 NY (Fighting 69th), 166 Ohio, 167 (Old 4th Alabama), and 168. (Gen. Menoher - Chief Staff/HQ: Colonel Douglas Mac Arthur). (MacArthur later brigade commander)
- Infantry Brigade: (2 Reg's, 7k troops)
- A brigade can be commanded by a brigadier general
or by a colonel.
- 83rd Brigade - (165th and 166th Infantry, 150th Machine Gun Battalion)
- 84th Brigade - 167th and 168th Infantry, 151st Machine Gun Battalion.
- Regiment: (12 Co's, 3.5k troops )
- 165th, "fighting 69th" Regiment - Colonel Frank McCoy, (Lt. Colonel Timothy J. Moynahan, Intel & Ops Officer: Lt. Harold E. Allen, Chaplin: Father Frank P. Duffy ) (Lt. Col. Harry Mitchel was promoted to colonel before Argone Offensive)
- Battalion: (4 Co's, 1k troops) An
army unit typically consisting of a headquarters and two or more companies.
- 1st Battalion (A,B,C,D Co's) - William Donovan (father CIA)
- 2nd Battalion (E, F, G, H Co's) - Major Alexander E. Anderson
- 3rd Battalion (I,J,K,L Co's)
- Company: (4 Ptn's, 250 troops)
- Company F - Captain Michael A. Kelly (promoted to Major)
- Platoon: (5 squads, 50 troops) "A subdivision of a company of troops consisting of two or more squads." Usually commanded by a lieutenant.
- Squad: (8 soldiers) The smallest tactical unit of military personnel. (5, 7, 9...?) Corporal John Finnegan (KIA 7/28). Acting Corp. N. Rouse.
My Grandfather's affiliation: F Co, 2nd Battalion (E,F,G,&H Co.'s), 165th Regiment, 83rd Brigade (165th, 166th), 42nd Division, IV Corps, American First Army, AEF.
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Ranks:
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OFFICERS
5 Star General
4 Star General
General General - (Div ?)
Major General - (Corps ?)
Brigadier Gen - leads Brigade
Colonel - leads Regiment
Lt. Colonel
Major - leads Battalion
Captain - leads Company
1st Lieutenant - assistant to the Captain
2nd Lieutenant - leads platoon (48-60 men)
ENLISTED MEN
Sergeant - Lt's right-hand man. If the Lt. gets wounded, he takes over.
Corporal --leads Squad (8 men)
Pvt. 1st Class
Buck Pvt.
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Corps
- I Corps (2nd, 5th, 90th, 82nd <89th?>, )
- (Maj.Gen. Hunter Liggett - Oct. promoted to entire US 1st Army)
- II Corps ( )
- III Corps ( )
- IV Corps (1st, 42nd, 89th Div's)
- (Joseph T Dickman, Maj Gen - was 3rd Div??)
- V Corps (4th,26th,and the 15th Fr. Colonial Div)
- (Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Cameron) Summeral (after St. Mihiel?)
- (Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Cameron) Summeral (after St. Mihiel?)
42nd Division:
- 83rd Infantry Brigade:
- 165th NY,and 166th Ohio Infantry Regiments; 150th Machine Gun Battalion - Wisconsin.
- 84th Infantry Brigade:
- 167th Alabama, and 168th Iowa Infantry Regiments; 151st Machine Gun Battalion - Georgia. [ ??? and/or the 149th Machine Gun Battalion ???]
- 67th Field Artillery Brigade:
- 149th and 151st (light), 150th (heavy) Field Artillery; 117th Trench Mortar Battery. 117th Field Signal Battalion.
- Trains
- (Sanitary Train 117: Field Hospitals Nos. 165, 166, 167, 168, and Ambulance Companies Nos. 165, 166, 167, 168).
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165th Regiment: 3 Battalions
- 1st Battalion - (A,B,C,D Companies) William Donovan (father CIA)
- 2nd Battalion - (E,F,G,H Companies) Major Alexander E. Anderson
- 3rd Battalion (I,J,K,L Companies)
F Co. (4 Ptn's, 250) - Michael A. Kelly, Captain (promoted to Major)
Platoon(5 Squads, 50):Squad (8): Corporal John Finnegan (KIA 7/28)
(acting Corp. N Rouse)
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==== Company F, 165th - Decorations ===
F Company
- Michael A. Kelly, Captain - (promoted to Major)
- (Major Michael A. Kelly awarded LEGION OF HONOR and DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS and CROIX DE GUERRE )
- Timothy J. Moynahan Lieut.-Colonel
- awarded DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS and LEGION OF HONOR and CROIX DE GUERRE (2 citations)
- John Finnegan, Co. F (Dec.)
- awarded CROIX DE GUERRE post-humously
***probably Grpa replaced as Corp ***
- awarded CROIX DE GUERRE post-humously
- Capt John T. Prout
- awarded CROIX DE GUERRE
medals page: http://www.hourigan.com/69thny/decorations.htm
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- F Company:
- These are members of F Company mentioned in my Grandfather's diary:
- Captain Michael A. Kelly, Commander of Company F.
(Major Michael A. Kelly awarded LEGION OF HONORand DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS and CROIX DE GUERRE). Kelly was portrayed in the movie "Fighting 69th". - John McGuire of 776 2nd Avenue, NYC
- Oscar Ammon, mentioned here, will meet misfortune 3/8/1918. "Oscar Ammon was a transfer from the 12th Regiment. He was from Brooklyn and is listed as killed in action on March 7, 1918."
- Sedegel is a thief (2/1/18)
- Larkins (2/1/18)
- Willie Walker, close buddy. [William Walker of 211 Columbus Ave. was a close friend]
- William Gracely, of Elizabeth, NJ (3/2)
- Bernard Corcoran. (3/8) According to the diary, Corcoran shot and killed Ammon. "Corkern is probably Bernard Corcoran from Long Island City" - S. Harris
- McCarmick (3/9)
- Zigler (3/9)
- Franders (3/9)
- Lt. Sellerman (4/13)
- Conner (4/13)
- Edward Selesky, of 736 Bedford Avenue, NYC. (4/20)
- Lt. Anderson. (5/4)
- Lannon (5/9)
- Col. Frank McCoy, (5/19). (replaced Timothy J. Moynahan)
- (Timothy J. Moynahan)
- Dorning (5/25)
- J Moran - James Moran, from Boston (6/2) [thanks Steve Harris]
- Dunekew died (6/6)
- Joe Whynus (6/16). Joe Whynus and Hescot had a fight
- Hescot - Clarence Hiscox
- Donald Monroe, (6/17). "A sad funeral"
- Corporal John J. Finnegan of F Co., 165th, was killed on July 28. Finnegan had been with the 69th regiment in the Mexican Border in 1916.
- LaRuffa came back and said he saw Griff Jones (8/11)
- Griff Jones (8/11)
- Cooper (9/18) F Co?
- Pete Miloy from the Co. (1/5/19)
- Captain Michael A. Kelly, Commander of Company F.
- These are members of F Co. who's decendants have contacted me:
- Pvt. Eugene Rogers: In April 2005, i was contacted by Bob Gilson, whose ancestor (Pvt. Eugene Rogers) was also in Company F, 165th. He was fatally injured on the same day and in the same way my Grandfather was injured - a single machine gun bullet to the head.
- Richard D. Leahy: In 2003 Gerard Doyle contacted me. His Grandfather was also in the 165th Regiment, Company F! "His name was Richard D. Leahy: (aka "Dick") of the Yorkville section of Manhattan, NYC. Legend has it he was called "Company F's favorite Tenor", and would sing sometimes at gatherings."
- Pvt. John Tyson: July 2004 i was contacted by Tom Tyson "My grandfather was Pvt. John Tyson, and you reference Joe Hourigan's account of F Company on your Web site. I still have a number of my grandfather's effects, including his Purple Heart medal and a diary."
- Pvt. (Corp.) Nathaniel Rouse (my grandpa).
- These are members of F Company mentioned in my Grandfather's diary:
This site is a work in progress...
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Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch
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IVth French Army (General Gouraud)
7/4-7/15 Region of the mound of Souain. (in particular during German offensive of 15th)
7/16 Moved to Vth French Army (General Degoutte)
42nd took over on the 26th
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St. Mihiel Offensive:
IV Corps [Maj. General Joseph T. Dickman]
1st Division [Maj. Gen. CharlesSummerall]
42nd Division [Menoher]
89th Division [Wright]
Reserve: 3rd Division [Buck]
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