Harry Shankman and WWI

Harry Shankman’s
W.W.I. Service History

PFC Harry Shankman: Private First Class, E-2, Service #1390206

Member of Company “L” (4th Platoon) . . . .
of the 3rd Battalion . . . Of the 132 Infantry Regiment . . . of the 66th Brigade . . . of the 33rd Division
“The Prairie Division”

Harry, shown in front of his tent, at Camp Grant, IL when he was drafted in September, 1917 and received basic training.  He received further training at Camp Logan, Texas, prior to deploying to France in May 1918.  

Harry’s military records were destroyed in an archive fire.  It is interesting to note that he arrived in America in 1910 – speaking no English – and seven years later was drafted.   It is more significant to note that on the ship manifest heading to France he is listed as a Private First Class.  Most soldiers were Privates during the entire war.  That means in less than eight months Harry must have had demonstrated outstanding proven leadership qualities to have been promoted so quickly.

Harry’s WWI draft registration, below, shows he was 5 feet 4 inches.


After completing basic training at Camp Grant near Rockford, Illinois, he was assigned to the Headquarters Company of 333rd Field Artillery. The 333rd Field Artillery (FA) Regiment was formed on 5 August 1917 and assigned to the 161st Field Artillery Brigade, 86th Infantry Division. The regiment was sent to France but did not see action. In January 1919, the 333rd regiment was demobilized at Camp Grant, Illinois.  On November 17th, 1917 at Camp Logan, Texas, Harry transferred from the 333rd and joined Company L of the 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division.  This is the Company L Morning Report entry showing Harry added to the Company L Roster on the 18th:

Harry was promoted to Private First Class January 1st, 1918.

Harry was gassed during one or more battles and received treatment at Veterans Hospitals until his death in 1949.  Harry’s overseas service after the Armistice ended the WWI included duties as a courier in Luxembourg.  An article describing Harry’s WWI service was published in the United States World War One Centennial Commission:
WWI Centennial Commission article: Harry Shankman

33rd Division

The 33 DIVISION “The Prairie Division” was comprised of soldiers from the Illinois National Guard. They trained at Camp Logan, Texas before  sailing for Brest, France on May 16, 1918. The 33rd served with the Australians at the Amines sector, and was represented by units at Verdun and at the Meuse-Argonne. As a division, the 33rd Division spent 27 days in active sectors and 32 days in quiet sectors. It captured 3,987 prisoners-a record for a National Guard Division – and advanced 36 km (22 miles) against the enemy while sustaining 989 battle deaths & 6,266 wounded. < See website dedicated to Company L will open in new browser window or tab.>

Harry’s Company L traveled to and from France on the USS Mount Vernon.  It formerly was the German  Kronprinzesin Cecilie built by Germany in 1906.  It was commandeered and commissioned by the U.S. Navy and used as a troop transport; renamed the USS Mount Vernon in 1917, it was decommissioned in 1919.

These are the USS Mount Vernon ship manifests that included Harry enroute to France in May 1918, and on his return in May 1919:

Search the Company L Roster and the 33rd Division’s Chain-of-Command. Data includes rank, service number, awards, stories, photo and other information. Select the plaque image below.

USS Mount Vernon’s Company L manifests. They contain name, rank, serial number, unit assignment, and next of kin. Links below are to numbered manifest pages. Each lists approximately 40 soldiers

Manifest index pages will open in new browser window or tab

May 1918 Enroute to France
May 1919 Enroute Home

Combat operations of the 132nd Infantry were along the Western Front: About 70 miles north of Paris and extending about 135 miles east of Paris.

The 66th Brigade was reformed from the 1st and 2nd Illinois Regiments as part of the 33rd Division at Camp Logan, Texas, in 1917. The Brigade arrived in France aboard the Mt. Vernon at the port of Brest on May 24,  1918 for service in World War I. They marched across France starting on May 26th and were within 30 miles of Metz, France when the war ended.  Before the Armistice was signed the Brigade had fought at Hamel, Chippilly Ridge, Gussair Woods, the Somme Offensive, Verdun, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and St. Mihiel during their six months in battle. After a brief period serving as part of the Army of Occupation in Luxembourg, the Brigade returned to the United States and was mustered out of federal service in May 1919.

When Harry Shankman first arrived in France in May 1918 the Division trained with the British at Picardy from May 25th till August 23, 1918. Following this the Division occupied the Amiens Sector (Picardy) rotating trench duty. From August 8 – 13th it participated in the Somme Offensive Operation. During this time, the 3rd battalion of the 132nd Infantry Regiment, which included Harry’s Company “L,”  fought at Albert.

During much of this time his company also rotated trench duty on the front lines.  His 3rd battalion took part in the Meuse-Argonne Operations from October 6 – 13. On the nights of October 6th and 7th the 3rd battalion, including his Company “L,” was attached to the 4th Division and took part in the attack on Bois De Fays. The battalion took a position in the shape of a horse shoe, with the enemy on both flanks in Bois de Maulamont.  Harry’s battalion was exposed to intense artillery and machine gun fire and gas.

The battalion continued its forward movement, and on the night of October 10 it advanced through Bois de Maulamont and renewed the attack on October 11, reaching the Bois de Foret which was their final objective. The advancing lines were subject to artillery fire and gas causing the unit to suffered many casualties. Hand-to-hand fighting occurred frequently and machine gun nests were numerous and strongly placed. Every foot of the advance was contested. The fighting was so fierce that the troops could not be provided with proper rations. Harry Shankman’s Company “L” had every officer killed or wounded; it was commanded by the Company First Sergeant until the objective had been reached. Casualties were 38 killed, 315 wounded and gassed. 

Harry might have been gassed during this battle.  The battalion also captured 400 Germans.  Henry FLAATA was in Company L, 2nd Platoon. Harry was in the 4th Platoon. They certainly knew each other, and fought together; they certainly were in the same battles. The link below is an article including Henry’s WWI experiences.
https://www.ndna.com/ndna-sponsored-web-site/stories/8336/
An excerpt:
Of the three major offensives Flaata fought in, one of the worse campaigns was Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which took place from Sept. 26 to Nov. 11, 1918.
“One of the most grim places was in the terrible Argonne Forest. I will never forget three o’clock in the morning on Sept. 26 when we were ordered to attack the enemy in the vicinity of Verdun and later in the Argonne. When the cannons begin firing together with the rattle of machine guns the clouds above turned red,” said Flaata whose company captured 63 prisoners, some machine guns and a 12-inch cannon.

“Naturally, the enemy set up their own S.O.S. signals, which was the best show of fireworks I have ever seen. A man’s life at that stage was not worth much, one never knew if you could take another step or not and many never did. That day we advanced six miles.

“After the battle was over, the Argonne Forest was a grim and horrible sight. So many bodies laid on the ground that we had to move them aside with our feet or step over them. Both allies and the enemy lay dead on the battlefield and with them many wounded. The wounded groaned and screamed. Some were out of their head and swearing and cursing,” Flaata continued.

A history of Illinois in the World War was published In 1920. Select the book cover (link below) to read the extracted narrative of Harry’s Company ‘L’ as it participated in the war.  For a complete narrative of 33rd Division operations you may want to read the complete book (684 pages) which is listed with the other related books below.

The PDF (1.3 MB) will open in a new window or tab.


The 33rd Division included the 66 Infantry Brigade and the 132 Infantry Regiment which included the 3rd Battalion, which included Company “L”
consisting of 4 platoons and a headquarters platoon. Harry was in the 4th platoon. Company “L” totalled 207 personnel: 1st Platoon 41 men; 2nd Platoon 45 men; 3rd Platoon 43 men; 4th Platoon 50 men; Headquarters Platoon 28 men. VIEW Company “L” ROSTER

So . . . just how was the 33rd Divison organized, and where is Harry?
See image below to see where Harry was in the 4th Platoon of Company L.

Notes for Harry’s Chain of Command in the 66th Infantry Brigade:
– Squads form the basis of each Infantry Platoon. Don’t know to which squad Harry was assigned.
– The 4 Platoons comprise each company. Fifty men are in each platoon.
Companies A, G, L, M. The 4 Companies total 800 men and comprise Harry’s 3rd Battalion.

– The 3 Battalions of the 132nd total 2,400 men and comprises Harry’s 132nd Infantry Regiment.
– The 2 Regiments (131st & 132nd) and 1 Machine Gun Battalion comprise the 66th Brigade:
– The 65th Brigade, Harry’s 66th Brigade, and the 58th Field Artillery Brigade totals 7,000 men.
– Add the Divisional Troops & Trains add about 3,000 men for a total of about 10,000 soldiers that comprised the 33rd Division.


Men of L was a post-war organization in Luxembourg created as an organization called Men of the A.E.F.   On May 7, 1929,  The Men of L was  formed as a non-profit organization in Chicago by the men of Company L, of the 3rd Battalion, 132nd Infantry, 66th Brigade, 33rd Division, “The Prairie Division”.  The Men of L  hosted annual picnics and organizational meetings.  The original Men of L membership certificates were blue in color.  They were replaced by gold color membership certificates.  Meetings continued until 1974 when the organization ceased operation due to loss of members.  Harry was issued certificate number 28.

66th Brigade

 

The Order of Battle lists the forces assigned to the 33rd Divison

After the battle of Bois de Fays the 3rd battalion took positions on the Muese in the front of Donneveaux holding the line until October 21st. On October 24th they were ordered to the Troyon Sector about 30 miles southwest of Metz where they stayed until the armistice was signed.  Patrols penetrated the towns of St. Hilaire, Bois de Warrville, Bois L’Epinens and the southern edges of Buttenville where they encountered contact with the enemy nightly.  At 0545 on November 11th they attacked the enemy in Buttneville and drove them to the north edge of town.  Later, they received word of the armistice (Signed at the 11th hour, of the 11the day, of the 11th month of the year). During this last day of the war Company “L” suffered 1 killed and 6 wounded.

Read operations summaries involving Company “L” during the battles of Forges, Bois De Fays, and Dois De Foret.

Battle of Forges September 27, 1918 REPORT

Company “L” in front line; officer killed.
Battle of Bois De Fays October 6 – 12, 1918 REPORT

Company “L” engages enemy.
Battle of Bois De Fays and Bois De Foret October 10 & 11, 1918 REPORT

Company “L” in front line and attacked by intense artillery, machine gun, and gas.

The regiment was then tasked with caring for released German POW’s.  They stayed in the Troyon Sector until December 7th when they marched to Saarburg, Germany, arriving December 15th.  They left December 17th for Luxembourg, arriving on the 20th, where they stayed until May 1919. During his duty in Luxembourg Harry, shown on his cycle in the photo, was a motorcycle courier.

Harry Shankman Luxembourg 1918

Company L Soldiers were offered Rest & Recuperation trips during their stay in Luxembourg.  Harry took a trip in March 1919 to a resort area, and stayed at a high-end hotel which is still in operation: In the heart of Chamonix, city bordering Switzerland and Italy, close to the Tunnel du Mont-Blanc. 

Harry annotated a post card with an ‘X’ where his room was located.  He noted that they had 3 regular meals every day.  The front of the card was a photo of the hotel.

In early May, after being “decootied” and issued new uniforms, they returned to America, sailing from Brest, France on the same ship, the Mount Vernon, that brought them to France almost a year earlier. The ship arrived in New York Harbor on May 17, 1919. At Staten Island the ship was met by the Illinois Governor and the famous “Prairie Division” was welcomed home. The troops disembarked at Hoboken and went to Camp Mills, Long Island. From there they entrained for the return to Illinois. The request for one giant parade in Chicago by the entire Division was rejected by the War Department. Instead, the Division demobilized in June 1919 with a parade down Chicago’s State Street for each of 3 increments of troops. The 132nd’s parade was conducted on May 27, 1919. Harry and his fellow doughboys got off the train and marched to Grant Park for a reception and visiting with their relatives. At 11 a.m. the parade began. The troops wore their service uniforms and trench helmets marked with the 33rd insignia (the yellow cross) and carried rifles, bayonets and light packs. After the parade there were banquets held at “Loop” hotels. Then the men proceeded to Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois for their honorable discharges. By the end of June the demobilization was complete. Harry returned home and married Rosabel Anita Golden in 1920. Their children were LaVeraLee “Vera” and Millicent.

Company “L” 132nd Infantry Camp Grant, Illinois 1918

Harry on top row, 3rd from left. Select photo for larger image.


Postal cards and documents give us a glimse into the daily life of the soldiers in Company “L” during their time training in Texas, while in Europe, and after the war ended. These cards and documents were in the collection of the clerk of Company “L” and are available for viewing at the Illinois Military Museum, Springfield, Illinois. Select this link to view them.

Harry Shankman received the following clasps on his W.W.I Victory Medal:

·        Somme Offensive – Aug 1918 to 11 Nov 1918
·        Meuse-Argonne – 26 Sep 1918 to 11 Nov 1918
·        Defensive Sector – 4 Jun 1917 to 11 Nov 1918

History of the Illinois 33rd Division
and
132nd Infantry during the first World War

Books relating to the history of Company L
(Link to page containing access to online books)

A history of Illinois in the World War – Excerpts (~10 pages)
The Story of the 132d Infantry  A. E. F (57 pages)
The Story of the THIRTY-THIRD DIVISION (32 pages)
Illinois in the World War, VOL I (684 pages)
The 131st US Infantry in the World War (723 pages)
Illinois in the World War, The History of the 33rd Division A.E.F. Volume I (595 pages)
Illinois in the World War, The History of the 33rd Division A.E.F., Volume III (610 pages)
Illinois in the World War, An Illustrated History of the 33rd Division, Volume I (428 pages)
Chemical Warfare in World War I: The American Experience, 1917-1919
Gas Warfare in World War I (Study Number 8) [and excerpt from the following book]
Gas Warfare in World War I – The 33rd Division Along The Meuse October 1918

Harry’s trench periscope has been put on loan to the Armed Forces Military Museum located at Camp Shelby, Hattesburg, Mississippi. This photo shows part of the WWI exhibit; his trench scope and case are prominently displayed on the desktop in this diorama.

The official listing of Company ‘L’ major operational locations contains all the locations where Company ‘L’ operated select the image below to view a full size page view.

The chart below recaps major locations and operations of Company ‘L’

Harry Shankman WWI Company “L” Unit Operations

Following the war, Harry Shankman was active in the Jewish War Veterans (JWV), Veterans of Foreign War’s (VFW), and the American Legion. He served as post commander of all these organizations. His war injuries (being gassed) caused him numerous visits to VA hospitals and ultimately his death in 1949 at age 55.

He was a member of the American Legion Wilshire Post No. 319, and Woodrow Wilson Post 317 in Los Angeles.  The photo below shows his uniform patch as a member of the Los Angeles East Side Posts 192 and 397.

 

 

 

 

Harry. Post Commander of the Los Angeles American Legion East Side Post 397.

 

 

 

Harry’s Post Commander pins.

During WWII he provided the Defense Department with photos of Luxembourg.