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With
the war over - or nearly so -
the troops of the "Cactus Division" had time for photos
Photo
Courtesy of the Carl McDonald Collection |
The
Texas climate has a reputation for unpleasant weather, but mild Texas
Winters have provided seasonal homes for baseball clubs, circuses
and especially the military. Whether it was U. S. troops in training
for war or German Prisoners of War, Texas hosted both groups.
When the United States entered World
War I, thirty-two training camps were set up. Half of them
were "tent cities" and were for National Guard Units while the other
half had wooden barracks for the regular Army.
Camp Travis was situated a few miles from downtown San
Antonio adjoining Fort
Sam Houston. Originally the name was Camp Wilson, named
after the man who "kept us out of war." It was the point from which
troops were mobilized in 1916 to quell the Mexican Border Crisis brought
upon by the Mexican Revolution. |
Camp Travis
General Staff
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Camp Travis
Light Artillery
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Camp Travis
Squad
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
With
the formation of the 90th Division in 1917, it was renamed
Camp Travis after William B. Travis of Alamo
fame.
Originally the troops of the 90th were to be from Texas and Oklahoma
exclusively, but as the men were shipped out, their replacements were
from other states. By the time they got orders for Europe in June,
1918, a good percentage of the troops were "foreign."
In August and September of 1918, The 18th "Cactus"
Division was formed of the left over units still at the Camp.
They were still preparing for the French trenches when the war ended
on November 11th. After the war - troops were mustered out through
the camp and in 1922 - Camp Travis was absorbed by Fort
Sam Houston. |
Forum:
Subject: Correction
"My great granduncle served in the 90th Division in WW I until
he was KIA 24 OCT 1918. I have spent no small amount of time researching
the 90th "Texas Oklahoma Division". I have found an inaccuracy here.
It indicates: "One of the Regiments within the 90th was the 19th Infantry."
This is not the case.
I checked some of the soldiers' names listed. They were not on the
troop transport passenger lists going to Europe with the 90th. The
19th Regiment were garrison troops that never left the US. As indicated
here,
they were scattered, some of them guarding warehouses and an arsenal
in San Antonio, TX.
The 4 Infantry regiments of the 90th Division were 357th, 358th, 359th,
and 360th. And they were all draftees except the officers who attended
the new officer training school at Leon
Springs, TX.
You might also review: Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces
in the World War Volume 1: Prepared in the Historical Section, Army
War College. Washington, D.C: U.S. Govt. Print. Off, 1931, Facsimile
Reprint 1987. digital image
(http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org: accessed 25 AUG 2018) http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4013coll7/id/853
- John B. Milam, October 03, 2019 |
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Anyone wishing to share history, stories or photos of their fathers,
uncles, grandfathers or great grandfathers that served in WWI, please
contact
us. |
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