Company I, 7th Texas Infantry
Abilene, Taylor County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Mustered into service during World War I, July 16, 1917, at Abilene with officers, Captain R. M. Wagstaff; 1st Lt. A. J. McDavid; 2nd Lt. E. B. Sayles; and 1st Sgt. Elmer C. Stearns. Company had 139 enlisted men from the area who trained here at the West Texas Fair Grounds (now Rose Park) until September 1, then transferred to Camp Bowie at Fort Worth. It became part of HQ. CO., 142nd Infantry, 36th Division. The unit saw action in France October 8-28, 1918, with the 4th French army, and was mustered out of service in June, 1919. (1968)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
On July 16, 1917, Company I of the 7th Texas Infantry was mustered into World War I service at Abilene under Captain R.M. Wagstaff, with 139 enlisted men drawn from the surrounding area. They trained at the West Texas Fair Grounds — now Rose Park — before transferring to Camp Bowie at Fort Worth and becoming part of the 142nd Infantry, 36th Division. The unit saw action in France with the French Fourth Army in October 1918 and mustered out in June 1919.
Why it matters
The company shows how small West Texas towns supplied the citizen-soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces that helped decide World War I on the Western Front.
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Related people
- · R. M. Wagstaff
- · A. J. McDavid
- · E. B. Sayles
- · Elmer C. Stearns
Related events
- · World War I
Themes & tags
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