There is a story that many Alabamians don’t know. It is the story of young people from every county, street corner, corn barn and country road who answered a call that will change the state of Alabama forever.
A bronze statue of a World War I soldier stands in front of Union Station in Montgomery. Wearing a Doughboy helmet and carrying his dead comrade, the grim giant stands in honor of the men of the 167th Alabama Infantry who entered the lines during the first war to end all wars. His story is remarkable.
Gathered in 1836, the men of the Alabama militia were designated the “fourth Alabama.” When the American Civil War began, they were fully constituted as the 4th Alabama Infantry and fought at Seven Pines, Chickamauga, Manassas and lost 87 men at Gettysburg’s Little Round Top.
During Reconstruction, the unit reformed as a state militia in Alabama. But in 1916, Mexican bandit Pancho Villa crossed the border and attacked American cities. Renamed the 167th Infantry, the Alabama unit spent the better part of a year policing and patrolling the border region.
When the United States joined the war in Europe, a young Brig. General Douglas MacArthur was tasked with forming a new infantry division from several Guard units. MacArthur carefully selected Alabama men and improvised them with units from other states. The amalgamation of units represented a large swath of the United States, and its multistate flavor earned the new 42nd Division a nickname: the Rainbow Division.
Alabamians were right in the middle of it all. Young men who had never left their home countries sailed for Europe as key members of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The Alabama boys became legends. Not because they said it, but because everyone else said it. Because history says so.
The men had a loud reputation, something that was necessary. American General Edward Plummer said of them: “In times of war, send me all the Alabamians you can get, but in times of peace, for the love of God, send them to someone else.”
The unit was bloodied from the beginning. But in July 1918 they made themselves known at the Battle of Champagne. After lying in wait for 10 days, Company F (Gadsden) and Company E (Decatur) took up positions on the left flank. Company G (Ozark) and Company H (Alexander City) dug in on the right. The 167th fought a bloody fight against a German attack during which Private Brock Hill of Attalla became the first ground soldier to shoot down an enemy aircraft. They fought. They held. They gave much more than they received.
The battle was considered by some to be the turning point of the war, as the 167th suffered 83 dead and 212 wounded. Although the division was made up of men from many states, the Battle of Champagne became identified with the 167th Alabama Infantry. French Marshal Foch nicknamed the men “The Tigers” and it was said that the French learned to love “the Alabamas.” Company F (Gadsden) distinguished itself and received the French Croix de Guerre with a Palm.
But his legacy arrived a few days later at Croix Rouge Farm. With little rest, the division moved to Chateau-Thiery for an on-site relief.
The story goes that the commander of the 167th, Colonel William Screws of Montgomery, was seen marching with his men and chewing on a cigar. They asked him “Where are you going Bill? He replied, “Damn if I know, but I’m on my way.”
The fighting was fierce with the 167th in the middle using fixed bayonets. What happened became something that was taught at the Infantry School for years. The history of the Rainbow Division says: “The capture of the Croix Rouge farm and its clearing belong to that list of military exploits which cannot fail to excite the admiration of those who hear the story, because of the determination and bravery displayed.” .
Father Francis P. Duffy of the 165th Regiment (New York) said: “There was no more courageous and sustained attack during the entire war than the capture of Croix Rouge Farm…” In the continuing fight, former Auburn football player Edward “Shorty” Wren of Talladega earned the Distinguished Service Cross and Corporal Sidney Manning of Flomaton earned the Medal of Honor.
Today, a twin of Montgomery’s statue stands on the Croix Rouge battlefield in France, a testament to the Alabama men who turned the tide of battle. By the end of the war, 616 soldiers of the 167th Alabama Infantry had died in Europe.
The Rainbow Division patch has been officially and forever cut in half in honor of those they left behind. The men returned home to watch parades and celebrations. An arch was built across Dexter Avenue in Montgomery and women lined the street with flowers.
Rainbow City, Alabama is named after the Rainbow Division. Birmingham’s Rainbow Division Viaduct spans the 21st Street tracks.
The Alabama boys changed the state. Many of them had no previous experience outside their places of origin and had no more than a minimum of education. They came from all walks of life and volunteered to go places they had never seen or heard of. They saw the world. And the world saw them.
Many of them returned to Alabama with a new perspective on life. They became captains of industry, community leaders, ranchers and farmers. They brought a bigger picture of the world to their small communities and put their experiences to work. The men of the 167th were part of the driving force that brought Alabama into the modern era.
The 167th Infantry Regiment continues today as part of the Alabama National Guard, descended from the 4th Alabama. They earned a place in history and as we spend time remembering those who gave everything for this country, it is timely to remember that there is a unit that not only gave everything, but represented us as an entire state. 167th Infantry, 4th Alabama… Signa Inferemus. Boost.
Phil Williams is a former state senator from District 10 (which includes Etowah County), retired Army colonel and combat veteran, and practicing attorney. He previously served in leadership at the Alabama Policy Institute in Birmingham. He currently hosts the conservative news and talk show Rightside Radio on multiple channels throughout North Alabama. The opinions expressed are his own.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.