308th Infantry Regiment (United States)
| 308th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1917–1919 1921–1952 |
| Country |
 United States |
| Branch | U.S. Army |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Regiment |
| Motto(s) | Toujours en avant (Ever Forward) |
| Battle honours | World War I |
The 308th Infantry Regiment was a unit in the United States Army during World War I as a part of the 77th Infantry Division in Europe. Regimental designation is used only in historical tradition.
The War Department authorized the formation of the Regiment 5 August 1917, assigning it to the 154th Infantry Brigade of the 77th Infantry Division. It was organized at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York in September 1917 and was composed of men drafted from throughout the greater New York City area. The Regiment was initially commanded by Colonel Nathan K. Averill, a veteran of the Cuban War and faculty member at West Point. He would later be removed from command and succeeded by Colonel John R.R. Hannay. On 4 February 1918 the 308th was given the honor of being the first National Army regiment to receive its new regimental colors and was paraded through New York City in celebration.
The Division's three brigades embarked on 6 April for Europe aboard the Lapland, Cretic, and Justicia, arriving nearly two weeks later on 19 April. Upon reaching Europe, the 77th Division was assigned to the British command where it trained with the British army until early June 1918. Following the completion of this additional training, the Regiment was moved up to the front in the Baccarat Sector, specifically the town of Badonviller. In doing so, they became some of the first units of the National Army to take front line positions. The Regiment remained there until the end of August, resulting in losses equal to nearly one third of its strength. It was then moved to the Vesle front in the area near Fismes. The extensive losses were replaced by recruits from the American West, some still largely untrained. These recruits represented a very different side of America compared to the New Yorkers who had originally staffed the Regiment, the majority of whom were foreign born or of wildly different ancestry. In early September, the Regiment was moved to the Argonne Forest to participate in the Oise-Aisne campaign.
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