On April 8, 1918, the 369th Infantry Division was assigned
to the French Army for duration of the United States participation in the war. The men were
issued French helmets and brown leather belts and pouches, although they continued to wear
their U.S. uniforms. The 369th Infantry Regiment was Relieved May 8, 1918 from assignment to the 185th Infantry Brigade, and
went into the trenches as part of the 16th French Division and served continuously to July
3rd. The regiment returned to combat in the Second Battle of the Marne. Later the 369th was reassigned to Gen. Lebouc’s
161st Division in order to participate in the Allied counterattack. On August 19, the regiment went off the line for rest
and training of replacements. On September 25, 1918 the 4th French Army went on the offensive
in conjunction with the American drive in the Meuse-Argonne. The 369th turned in a good account of itself in heavy fighting,
sustaining severe losses. They captured the important village of Sechault. At one point the 369th advanced faster than French troops on their right and left flanks. There was danger of being cut off. By the time the
regiment pulled back for reorganization, it had advanced fourteen kilometers through severe German resistance.
In Mid-October the regiment was moved to a quiet sector in the Vosges Mountains, It was there on November 11, the day of the
Armistice. Six days later the 369th made its last advance and on November 26, reached the banks of the Rhine river, the first
Allied unit to get there.
This figure wears:
Eversparkle body, heavily modified
SST WW1 German uniform, bleached, modified and dyed to a proper khaki color
Cotswold WW1 French Adrian helmet(modified), ammo pouches, and equipment.
SST Lebel Rifle, haversack, and backpack
DML or 21st Century Leather jerkin
DID
U.S. or Japanese leather boots
Custom French 2
litre canteen
