American Expeditionary Force: Frontlines, States & Numbers - WW1

The First World War has always fascinated me. Perhaps it’s because many of the problems we’re working through today gestated in the first 25 years of the 20th century. My uncle and aunt didn’t have kids so he left me his box of medals and memorabilia from that period. Before I had them mounted in a shadow box I took a couple of snapshots. He’s got the Verdun Medal, awarded to any AEF soldier who fought anywhere in the Argonne and St. Mihiel sectors between July 31, 1914, and Nov. 11, 1918. His second WW I Victory Medal has clasps for these battles:

Aisne-Marne 27 May 1918
Champagne-Marne 15 Jul 1918
Somme-Defensive 8 Aug 1918
Oise-Aisne 18 Aug 1918
Meuse-Argonne 26 Sep 1918

He also belonged to “La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux” or The Forty & Eight. Americans were transported to the battle front on French trains within boxcars stenciled with a “40/8”, denoting its capacity to hold either forty men or eight horses. Originally The Forty & Eight was part of the American Legion but became an independent and separately incorporated veteran's organization in 1960.

This is an outstanding video/infographic.