infantry

from the Catalogue of photographs and stereopticon slides , March 1 to June 1, 1918 By: United States. Committee on Public Information. Division of pictures. Published: (1918) "4098. THEIR FIRST MARCH ON FRENCH SOIL. Upon leaving their ships the boys of the American expeditionary forces march through the streets of the town to lose their sea legs." babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112069275524;view=1...

From "Catalogue of official A.E.F. photographs", Published 1919 "4098. A.E.F., France. Debarkation of Rainbow Division, St. Nazaire. Col. William Kelly, Lieut. Col. Harold Hetrick, Chaplain Bell, Captian Elihu C. Church, regimental adjutant. One Hundred and Seventeenth Engineers, November 3, 1917." archive.org/stream/cu31924027944598#page/n153/mode/2up

"Ultimately the 42nd, or as it was nicknamed, the Rainbow Division, comprised soldiers from twenty-six states and the District of Columbia." digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=10... see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

Art Siegel: Thanks for the two captions. Interesting how the A.E.F. catalog offers much more information. We will add more details when we update.

Gen & Mrs. Haan, see

Gen. Winans, see

Col. Robert McC. Beck, Jr. listed as Gen Haan's Chief of Staff, 32d Division. My Experiences In The World War – Vol. II [Illustrated Edition] By General of the Armies John Joseph Pershing books.google.com/books?id=TwFvCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT628&l... and see: "Robert McCandlass Beck, Jr. Major General, United States Army Born at Westminister, Maryland, May 9, 1879, Beck graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1901, the General Staff School, France, 1918, the Army War College, 1926. He was a Distinguished Graduate, School of the Line, 1921. Married: Jessie Hamilton, November 18, 1908 and married a decond time to Mary Kelly Mayer, Nov 1, 1958. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Cavalry, 1901 and was promoted the through grades to Brigadier General, 1936, Major General 1938. He served in the Philippines 1903-05 and 1909-11. He participated in Aisne-Marne, Oise Aisne Meuse Argonne offensives, World War One with Army of Occupation, Germany, 1918-19. Executive Officer, War Plans Division, General Staff, 1920. Instructor, the Cavalry School, 1926-30. Instructor, Command and General Staff School, 1926-30. Instructor, Army War College, 1931-35. Commanding General, 2nd Cavalry Brigade, 1936-38. Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations and Training Division, War Department General Staff, 1938-39. Retired 1939. Awarded: Distinguished Service Medal, Croix de Guerre with Palm, Officer of Legion of Honor (France). Lutheran. Mason. Home: Washington, DC Died: July 4, 1970 and was buried in Section 30 of Arlington National Cemetery. www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rmbeck.htm and "Birth: May 9, 1879 Death: Jul. 4, 1970 Note: AR United States Army Burial: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Arlington County Virginia, USA Plot: Sec: 30, Site: 887-1" www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=beck&a...;

Man on right may be Capt. Daniel D. Thomson. His Silver Star citation "Captain Thomson distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving as Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action southwest of Romagne, France, 14 October 1918, in securing valuable information under enemy fire." From the 32d division site, a notation indicating his name was sometimes spelled Thompson: "Thomson, Daniel Duke (Thompson) Captain, U.S. Army Headquarters, 32D ‘Red Arrow’ Division, A.E.F. Date of Action: 14 October 1918 Citation: “By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain Daniel D. Thomson, United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Captain Thomson distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving as Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, 32d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action southwest of Romagne, France, 14 October 1918, in securing valuable information under enemy fire.” General Orders: GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders No. 8 (March 1, 1920) Born: 28 October 1893 at Kentucky Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky Death: 21 April 1970 at California Interred: Victor Valley Memorial Park, Victorville, California He attended Central U. of Ky., freshman ca. '13; Capt. in Officers' Reserve Corps; assigned Aide-de-Camp to Maj. Gen. William G. Haan, 32D Div.; rode to France on USS George Washington; earned Silver Star Citation for his actions 14 Oct. '18 near Romagne; also earned Div. Citation, which was likely basis for Silver Star Citation; also earned Croix de Guerre; brother Capt. Robert R. also served; Maj. in Officers' Reserve Corps and resided at 700 W. Main St., Louisville, KY, ca. '20; married Constance Eugenia Smith on 18 May '20, father of at least 1; also served during WWII; attained rank of Lt. Col.; president of Axton-Fisher Tobacco Co." www.32nd-division.org/history/ww1/ss-ww1/SS-32ww1.html

My maternal grandfather, Wilfred Laurier Lessard (b.1895) is the third head from the left in this photo. He is the soldier immersed in the water up to his lower chest, wearing his signature grin. The distinctive Lessard family brow and upper lip is very apparent in this photo.

Thanks Jackie for identifying your grandfather. Awesome photo!