Clarence Edwards was the first commander of the 26th Infantry Divison and
was there when it was nicknamed Yankee Division by Boston Globe reporter
Frank Sibley.
He got YD over to France in 1917 as the first full division,and had them in
the first major campaigns. He was disliked by the AEF staff , and was
considered having gone native with his National Guard command.
Due to politics he was relieved two weeks prior to the end of the war to be
replaced by a Big Red One officer.
was there when it was nicknamed Yankee Division by Boston Globe reporter
Frank Sibley.
He got YD over to France in 1917 as the first full division,and had them in
the first major campaigns. He was disliked by the AEF staff , and was
considered having gone native with his National Guard command.
Due to politics he was relieved two weeks prior to the end of the war to be
replaced by a Big Red One officer.
Willard Paul was from Worcester and chose the Army as a career. He was in
command of the 75th Division when he was offered the chance to command
his home region's National Guard Division.
He lead the Division through all of Europe to include the relief of the 101st
Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge as part of Milliken's and Pattons III
Corps of the Third Army.
He went on to become a Lieutenant General and was responsible for
integrating blacks in the Army in 1947.
command of the 75th Division when he was offered the chance to command
his home region's National Guard Division.
He lead the Division through all of Europe to include the relief of the 101st
Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge as part of Milliken's and Pattons III
Corps of the Third Army.
He went on to become a Lieutenant General and was responsible for
integrating blacks in the Army in 1947.
George Dillboy was a Greek Immigrant that was awarded the Medal of
Honor posthumously.
Honor posthumously.
Michael Perkins was a Bostonian that was awarded the Medal of Honor
posthumously.
posthumously.
Hiram Bearss was a Marine Corps officer and Norwich Graduate assigned
to command Yankee Division's 102nd Infantry during the Great War.
He was previously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in the
Philippines.
to command Yankee Division's 102nd Infantry during the Great War.
He was previously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in the
Philippines.
Ruben Rivers was a black tank crewman in 761st Tank Battalion attached
to Yankee Division's 104th Infantry Regiment. He was posthumously
awarded the Medal of Honor.
to Yankee Division's 104th Infantry Regiment. He was posthumously
awarded the Medal of Honor.
Alfred Wilson was a native of Pennsylvania that was awarded the Medal of
Honor posthumously for providing medial care to the wounded.
Honor posthumously for providing medial care to the wounded.
