To: Commanding Officer 807th, Pioneer Infantry
Subject: Battle Participation.
1. Following is a list of battle engagements of the 807th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, during the War with Germany, including organizations which are entitled to the silver bands awarded under paragraph 244, Army Regulations. The ribbons furnished herewith are in lieu of the bands which will be supplied by the Adjutant General of the Army later.
(1) Meuse-Argonne Offensive, France, October 25 to November 11, 1918. Organization entitled to silver band: 807th Regiment of Pioneer Infantry.
By Command of General Pershing.
J. A. Jones,
Adjutant General.
By Order of Colonel Cary.
Charles W. Rooth,
Captain, 807th Pioneer Infantry,
Acting Adjutant.
Somehow it seemed difficult for the above regiment and others, whom we questioned from time to time, to know just why they had been honored with their name. Many of them had the high hope at first, as one fine soldier expressed it, that they were to be trained into the highest type of combatant troops, who were to clear the way to victory. Their record is abundant proof that they did clear the way to victory, but it was hardly as combatant troops that they won their honors. Although sharing the general hardships of the front, subjected to its shot and shell, they had small chance for real fighting. When the Armistice came several of these regiments had reached the trenches, and with another week of war, their story would have been a very different one.
Most of these regiments as they reached France, were forwarded to the Haute-Marne Training Area where they were given short but strenuous instructions in French warfare. From there they were again sent forward, this time to the aid of the various fighting detachments.