Our World War I - Veteran
The Great War - The War to End all Wars - Trench War

US - Britain - France - - -> Germany

1917 - 1918

Millard A. Wagnon 
Cherokee Indian
Born: 8 Jan 1895 Cherokee Nation OK IT
Died: Jul 1921 Westville Adair County OK
Buried: Wagnon Cemetery Adair Co OK 
(Son of Thomas & Lucinda [Sixkiller] Wagnon)

8th Brigade - 4th Infantry Division
58th Infantry Regiment

     The 4th Infantry Division was organized at Camp Greene, North Carolina on 10 December 1917 under the command of MG George H. Cameron. It was here they adopted their distinctive insignia, the four Ivy Leaves. The Ivy leaf came from the Roman numerals for Four (IV) and signified their motto “Steadfast and Loyal”. The Division was organized as part of the United States buildup following the Declaration of War on 6 April 1917 and the entry of the US into World War I, “The Great War”, on the side of the British and French. 

     During the same offensive, the 8th Brigade’s 58th Infantry Regiment went into combat near Hautevesnes which they captured before driving on to Courchamps. The 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry took the village of Chevillon and moved on to Hill 172 where the Germans were deeply entrenched. In attempting to take the hill, the battalion suffered 48% casualties. To assist with taking Hill 172, 2nd Battalion, 59th Infantry moved in to assist. Other battalions of the 59th encountered heavy fighting over the next two days. Losses in the 59th were 179 killed in action and 860 wounded in action.

     By 23 July the 4th Infantry Division’s units had been re-consolidated near Bourneville for rest and to train replacements. The 4th Division soldiers had proven themselves by advancing 17 kilometers and capturing large numbers of prisoners and materials. 

     On 28 July 1918 the 4th was placed under U.S. I Corps control. 

     During the first week of August, the 4th fought as a Division under American control. They were sent to the Vesle River where they encountered the tenacity of the German defense. The German Army had fortified the high positions overlooking the Vesle River, and were constantly shelling and gassing the men of the 4th. The soldiers of the 8th Brigade established a bridgehead but were not able to reach the opposite shore until the following day. 

     The men of the 39th Infantry Regiment faced the most difficult task--the taking of the town of Bazoches. After losing several patrols that were sent across the river to machine gun fire from the town, the Brigade Commander decided to shell the town. The 4th Artillery Brigade obliged his wishes with an intense bombardment

The 58th, on the right of the 39th was able follow the barrage with an attack and gain the opposite bank of the river. The 1/39th, however, was slow to follow the barrage, suffered heavy losses, and had to fall back. The 47th Infantry took the 39th’s positions and launched their attack on the morning of 7 August. By noon, one company had made it across the river. Other companies followed slowly during the rest of the day encountering heavy German machine gun fire.

After the severe fighting on the Vesle it became necessary for the Division to 
rest and train replacements. The Division moved by foot and train to the Reynel training area, 30 miles northeast of Chaumont. MG John L. Hines assumed command of the 4th on 27 August after MG Cameron took command of V Corps. 

The Meuse-Argonne Campaign 

     On 26 September, the last great battle of WWI (the Meuse-Argonne Campaign) began. Moving under the cover of darkness for total secrecy, the Americans had moved into their sector of the front following the completion of their mission in the St. Mihiel area. Three US Army corps were assigned sectors along the US part of the front. III Corps held the extreme right (eastern) part of the front with V Corps to their left. The 4th Division was assigned to III Corps. The III Corps sector had the 33rd Division on the right, the 80th Division had the center, and the 4th was assigned the left, with the 79th Division, V Corps on their left. The 7th Brigade was moved to the line in the trenches around Hill 304. The Division plan called for one brigade to fight until exhausted and then send the other brigade forward to press the attack. The 26 September attack was made through a narrow valley. The 7th Brigade moved through the valley, taking large numbers of German prisoners, reached a second line of defenses by 9:00 a.m. and, after again overcoming the German defenders, approached the town of Cuisy. The Germans provided a formidable opposition, but the 39th Infantry overcame them and moved through Septsarges. During this first day, the 7th Brigade had captured 1700 prisoners, and more than 40 guns. Division Headquarters was moved forward to Cuisy. 
 
     On 27 September the attack resumed with a field artillery barrage. The 39th Infantry followed the barrage until they encountered withering machine gun fire from the Bois des Ogons where they were Ground gained vicinity Bois de Foret, Oct 1918 held up. The 8th Brigade was brought forward on the 29 September to take the place of the 39th on the line. The 8th Brigade moved through the Bois de Brieulles but met increasing machine gun fire from the Bois des Ogons. Very little progress was made over the next four days as the terrible condition of the roads at the rear hampered re-supply and reinforcement efforts. By 3 October, Phase I of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive was over. 

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive--Phase II 

     Through the strenuous efforts of the supply and ammunition trains, enough 
materiel had been acquired to resume the attack by 3 October. The Division plan was to fight its way through the many forests surrounding the city of Brieulles and capture the city. On the morning of 4 October, the 8th Brigade moved out of the foxholes and moved across open ground under the cover of heavy fog. As the fog lifted the Germans opened fired from the front, the left and the right. The 58th fought forward wearing gas masks since many of the projectiles contained gas, finally managing to gain a foothold in the Bois de Fays. The line was able to advance no further for the next 4 days enduring constant shelling and German night patrols attempting to infiltrate their lines. Forward movement was again ordered on 

     9 October with the 7th Brigade attacking. The 8th Brigade was withdrawn for rest. The 39th Infantry was designated as the assaulting unit. The order to attack came just at sundown. With difficulty, the men stumbled forward in darkness wearing gas masks and under fire. Little progress could be made. The 39th withdrew to resume the attack at 0700 on the 10 October. 2/39th led the way and incurred heavy losses. Many of the officers in the 39th were killed or wounded, including all of the majors. Another attack was ordered and by 1730 2/39th had fought through the Bois de Peut de Faux. The men dug in for the night. Early on the morning of the 11th, the entire regimental staff of the 39th was gassed and LTC Troy Middleton, 47th Infantry was ordered to take command of the 39th. Attacking on the morning of the 11 October, the 7th Brigade pushed through the Bois de Foret. The orders for 12 October were to clean out the last pockets of German resistance in the Bois de Foret. Patrols were sent out to the north side of Hill 299. On the 13th of October, 4th Division units were relieved by the 4th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division. 

     On 10 October MG John L. Hines was selected to command III Corps. MG George H. Cameron was returned to the 4th Division as its commander. 

     The 4th was withdrawn from the front on October. During their 24 days of combat they had paid a heavy price with 244 officers and 7,168 men killed or wounded. They had fought their way over 13 kilometers and captured 2,731 enemy prisoners. 

     The Division relocated to Lucey as part of Second Army. MG Cameron received a new assignment to return to the US to train new divisions MG John L. Hines on 22 October. Command passed temporarily to BG Benjamin, Commander, 7th Brigade before MG Mark L. Hersey arrived to assume command on 31 October. 

     The Armistice ending the war was signed on 11 November 1918. The last casualties in the Division were suffered by 13th Field Artillery at 1400 11 November 1918. 

Occupation Duty 

      Under the terms of the Armistice, Germany was to evacuate all territory west of the Rhine. American troops were to relocate to the center section of this previously German occupied area all the way to the Coblenz bridgehead on the Rhine. The 4th marched into Germany, covering 330 miles in 15 days where it was widely dispersed over an area with Bad Bertrich as Division headquarters. The Division established training for the men as well as sports and educational activities. In April 1919 the Division moved to a new occupation area further north on the Rhine. 

     In July the Division returned to France and the last detachment sailed for the 
United States on 31 July 1919. 

     On 21 September 1921, the 4th Division was inactivated at Camp Lewis, 
Washington as part of the Army Reorganization Act of 1920.

General John J. Pershing

"Three thousand miles from home, an 
American army is fighting for you. 
Everything you hold worthwhile is at 
stake. Only the hardest blows can win 
against the enemy we are fighting. 
Invoking the spirit of our forefathers, the 
army asks your unshrinking support, to 
the end that the high ideals for which 
America stands may endure upon the earth."

General Pershing's patriotic message was recorded at American field headquarters during the battle of Picardy and Flanders on April 4, 1918.

WW I

     World War I, "the Great War," lasted from 1914 through 1918. More than eight million soldiers lost their lives in the struggle between the Central Powers -- Germany, the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires -- and the Allies -- Britain, France, Italy, Russia and, after 1917, the United States of America. The U.S. mobilized more than 4,000,000 troops, over 2,000,000 of whom were sent to battlefields in France, under the command of Major General John J. Pershing.

     The war effort inspired high patriotic fervor and vicious campaigns against pacifists, radicals, and citizens of German origin.

     The addition of America's forces to the war effort ended a bloody stalemate, and the fighting came to an end with the Armistice of November 11, 1918. More than 50,000 Americans lost their lives.

World War I
1917 - 1918

50,000 Americans died in this war

Burial Sites of the 4th Infantry Division - France

'We honor your courage & sacrifice'  

WWI - Battle at Meuse-Argonne Sep 26 1918 - American Cem. Meuse France - 4th Inf.

Millard A. Wagnon

In Closing I would like to add that Great Uncle Millard A Wagnon, was shot a killed, two years after returning from the Great War, WWI, that Obituary - to the right >

To have survived torpedoing at sea, battles where almost half of his unit was killed, caught in between deadly German machine gun fire, enduring life in the trenches and open fields of Europe, only to have his life end on a seemingly unimportant matter, agonizes us at the thought... 

But, as is the nature of the Cherokee Indians, known for their loyalty in life and friendships, he rose above all, demonstrating an unwavering courage and sacrifice that few men ever get a chance to demonstrate, this alone far over-shadows the events that took his young life.

In testament to his character, in 1920, he was caring for his mother, and several sisters and a nephew.  These deeds are not over looked for they are the result of those that came before, a mirror of his past... The very character and fiber of our greater family.   

Obiturary of Millard Wagnon:
The Standard-Sentinel, Adair Co. OK

OBITUARY OF MILLARD WAGNON
July 28, 1921 

Millard WAGNON, 26, was shot and killed by Lee FOLSOM last Friday afternoon about 5 o'clock, the killing was the result of a dispute over a school election, it is alleged, and occurred 2 1/2 miles north of Westville, in the vicinity of the homes of the two men.  

WAGNON was a veteran of the world war and saw overseas service. His remains were buried Sunday afternoon in the private grave yard of the WAGNON family. E.W. ALBERTY of Stilwell attended the funeral and he states that there was a large number of people to pay respect to the dead man's memory. 

FOLSOM has been arrested and placed in jail to await the preliminary hearing, which has been set for August 2nd. FOLSOM is a brother of the FOLSOM convicted of slaying of Pat DORE and now serving a life sentence. 

Lee Folsom Preliminary Hearing Aug 04, 1921
Provided by descendant: Kevin King