16th Division (United States)

The 16th Division was an infantry division of the United States Army raised during World War I. It was the second formation of that name raised in the United States, the first being renamed to 37th Division in 1917.

16th Division
Active	1918–1919
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Commanders
Commander	Maj. Gen. David C. Shanks
Chief of Staff	Stephen J. Chamberlin

History

The division was organized in 1918 as a regular army and national army division for World War I, and was commanded by Major General David C. Shanks, with his son-in-law Stephen J. Chamberlin, later a lieutenant general, as chief of staff.^[1][2] Its two Infantry brigades, the 31st and 32nd, were commanded by Peter Weimer Davison and Walter Cowen Short.^[3][4] The division's 16th Field Artillery Brigade was commanded by Daniel W. Hand.^[5]

Reproduction of unofficial 16th Division shoulder patch, black on olive green

Reproduction of unofficial shoulder patch of 16th Division, blue and white

The Armistice occurred before the 16th Division departed for France; under the command of Guy Carleton, it was briefly considered for inclusion in American Expeditionary Force Siberia, but that conflict also ended before the division could embark.^[6] It did not go overseas and demobilized in March 1919 at Camp Kearny, California.^[7]

Because the 16th Division was in existence for such a brief period, it never designed or adopted a shoulder sleeve insignia or distinctive unit insignia.^[8] Some members of the organization devised a felt shoulder patch that featured the Liberty Bell, one with the number "16" superimposed on it, but neither insignia was never officially adopted.^[9]

References

1. "Gen. Shanks To Leave Soon". Daily Times Advocate. Escondido, CA. November 27, 1918. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Local and Personal News: Maj. and Mrs. Stephen Chamberlin". Spring Hill New Era. Spring Hill, KS. September 13, 1918. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War. Vol. 3, Part 2. Washington, DC: Center of Military History, United States Army. 1988. p. 653 – via Google Books.
4. Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). Generals in Khaki. Raleigh, NC: Pentland Press. pp. 332–333. ISBN 978-1-5719-7088-6 – via Google Books.
5. "Transfer Commander". Bakersfield Morning Echo. Bakersfield, CA. February 12, 1919. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
6. White, H. A. (1946). "Memorial, Guy Carleton, 1881". externalapps.westpointaog.org/. West Point, NY: West Point Association of Graduates.
7. Lee, Van (2004). Vin Rouge, Vin Blanc, Beaucoup Vin: The American Expeditionary Force in WWI. Morrisville, NC: Lulu Press. pp. 48–49. ISBN 978-1-4116-2315-6 – via Google Books.
8. Phillips, Fred H., ed. (March 1, 1919). "Divisional Insignia Explained". Arms And The Man. Washington, DC: National Rifle Association of America. p. 451 – via Google Books.
9. Dalessandro, Robert J.; Knapp, Michael G. (2008). Organization and Insignia of the American Expeditionary Force, 1917-1923. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-7643-2937-1 – via Google Books.