Detailed history of the 117th Engineer Regiment, 42nd Division, American Expeditionary Force. Included are descriptions of the regiment's formation and activities before it was mustered into federal service, July 1916-Aug. 1917 (Companies A, B, and C were known as the First Separate Battalion of South Carolina Engineers, National Guard, and Companies D, E, and F as the First Separate Battalion of California Engineers, National Guard); Johnson next attended assembly and training at Camp Albert L. Mills, Long Island, N.Y., 31 Aug.-19 Oct. 1917; voyage to St. Nazaire, France from Hoboken, N.J. aboard the Covington, 19 Oct.-5 Nov. 1917; duties in France before moving to the front, 7 Nov. 1917-28 Mar. 1918, including the construction of barracks, baths, stables, shelters, the erection of barbed wire barricades, and the excavation of trenches; activities in the Baccarat Sector, 29 Mar.-18 June 1918 including maintenance of the roads in the forward area, construction of "an entire position, known as the 1 Bis Position, composed of three parallels, including trenches, wire and.... shelters," and trench raids "for the purpose of demolition"; improving the second defensive position in the Suippes Sector, 18 June-14 July 1918; duties during the Second Battle of the Marne, 15 July-5 Aug. 1918, including the rebuilding of the bridge over the Ourcq River by Companies C and F; participation in the Battle of St. Mihiel, 12-15 Sept. 1918, which included opening roads, cutting barbed wire, and assisting in the movement of tanks and artillery; and role in the occupation of Germany, 2 Nov.-18 Dec. 1918. Also includes "Report of Operations 117th Engineer Regiment from November 3rd to 9th Inclusive," 9 Nov. 1918, [J.M. Johnson], Commanding Officer, 117th Engineer Regiment to Chief Engineer 5th Corps, American E[xpeditionary]F[orce] containing a list of 14 bridges constructed by the regiment; and transcribed letter, 13 Dec. 1918, Dorsel, Germany, [J.M. Johnson], Commanding Officer, 117th Engineer Regiment to Commanding General, 42nd Division, recommending commendations for individual soldiers and containing a detailed description of the regiment's duties between 3 and 5 Nov. 1918 which included clearing roads, burying dead German and American soldiers, and repairing bridges.
