54th Pioneer Infantry

January 5, 1918 - Spring 1919

The 54th Pioneer Infantry was formed on January 5, 1918. Its companies were composed originally of men from the 71st New York National Guard, with their ranks then bolstered with draftees from Minnesota, Philadelphia, South Carolina, and New York City. In late August, the battalion set sail for Brest, France. During the advance on the Hindenburg Line, the battalion filled in craters, built roads, and repaired bridges to facilitate the resupply of frontline troops, all while suffering artillery fire. At the port of d’Atelier, the medical detachment battled influenza, treating patients in improvised hospitals in barn lofts around the village (20). On December 3, the battalion moved to the Longuyon where they were depressed to learn that they would join the occupying army, and it would be a while before they would see home (14). The battalion was scattered throughout the Rhineland for much of the occupation, with many companies billeting near Coblenz.

Information taken from 54th Pioneer Infantry: With the Army of Occupation, 3rd US Army.

Other Resources

Items in bold are in the museum's collection.

 

“54th Pioneer Infantry Band, Coblenz, Germany, March 1919.” New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=ZDhjMmE5MjktYTE3Yi00M2Y0LWJmYjYtZDIxZWRlNmIxN2Vi&rID=MTIxNTE=&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=NTR0aCBQaW9uZWVyIEluZmFudHJ5&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.

 

"54th Pioneer Infantry, Hdqrts. Co.our Company Street Would Be." Gas Attack of the New York Division (wadsworth Gas Attack; the Rio Grande Rattler). (1918). Print. Available at the New York State Military Museum. 

54th Pioneer Infantry with the Army of Occupation, Third U.s. Army. Germany: publisher not identified, 1919. Print.

Bates, William Graves. Pocket Diaries, 1879-1943. 1941. Available at the New York Historical Society.

Hill, Tanny. History of Company "c" 54th Pioneer Infantry. Coblenz, Germany: Gebruder Breuer, 1919. Print.

Minnesota War Records Commission, creator. “Collected materials, 1909-1936 (bulk 1917-1920).” Library of Congress.

New York State. Adjutant General’s Office. “New York State Adjutant General's Office Abstracts of National Guard Service in World War I.” 1917-1919. New York State Archives.

Nienhauser, Roy B. “Roy B. Nienhauser and family papers, 1828-1995 (bulk 1870s-1975).” Library of Congress.

 

"Regimental Notes 54th Pioneer Infantry.our Newly-Hatched." Gas Attack of the New York Division (wadsworth Gas Attack; the Rio Grande Rattler). (1918). Print. Available at the New York State Military Museum. 

Thisted, Moses N. Moses Thisted Photograph Collection. 1916.