Introduction
War is usually depicted as a military response that arises due to a political situation. The First World War had numerous impacts and influences around the world. The devastation and loss of the war and the changes that would be realized in policies and politics around the world were tremendous. However, an integral component of the war was the selfless individuals who enlisted to serve as soldiers.
The world war in itself might have been crucial in various aspects of life, but it was only possible because of the soldiers that were willing to fight for the course. The focus of this paper is on analyzing the experiences of the soldiers in the first world war. The focus will be on the Alabama soldiers and the commonality and difference, if any, of their experiences in the First World War.
Alabama Soldier's Experience during World War I
The First World War was a horrifying event for the soldiers who served during the four years that it lasted. Millions of soldiers and civilians lost their lives while an unquantifiable amount of property was damaged (Isreal). From the very onset, the American nation had chosen to remain neutral even as the war raged on, but it was forced to merge up with Allies to fight against the Germans (Ivey ). Once Congress had declared war in 1917, the country had to enlist soldiers who would fight alongside the Allied Troops.
An estimation of up to four million men and women from the American nation served in the war. The world war is synonymous with the trenches. The recounted tales of the horrific experiences of foul smell and decaying bodies sum up the conditions that soldiers went through during the First World War (Jackoway). Trenches were holes that were dug six-feet deep that allowed men to walk upright aware from the glare of the sniper guns and bullets.
The arrival of the American troops in France had a great impact on the outcome of the war. Among the most effective units of the United States force was the Rainbow Division. One of the most notable regiments in the First World War was the 167th Infantry Regiment that rode on a myriad of successes for the American troops (Alabama's 167th Regiment 13).
It was described as the strongest regiments within the Rainbow Division unit. The regiment was composed of a wide range of Alabamians, and it would also accrue a great chunk of loss in terms of death in comparison with other American troops. Promotions and endorsements were a great part of the First World War (World War I and Alabama's Rainbow 11).
The Rainbow Division did enjoy a great deal of prominent celebrities and politicians as its endorsers. The Alabama regiment on the other hand largely remained unrepresented. Looking at newspaper articles failed to accord the regiment any form of recognition despite its success during its service in the world, war evidence suggests that the regiment did not receive any reporter from Alabama to cover it (Jackson ).
The Alabama regiment spent more days in the trenches and was also the unit that gained more ground against the enemy. In relation to its operations, it was the Regiment that marched the furthest in comparison to any other division in the American Expeditionary Forces (Knight ). With a total of 164-battle day, the Alabama Infantry had one of the most successful and yet challenging war experiences in France (Jacks ).
The territory and area of operation play a crucial role in the type of combat that an army would have with the enemy. The terrain and topography of an area were a crucial determinant in war. The experiences of the war had tremendous impacts on the soldiers that fought with the Alabama Regiment. The degree of impact could be seen on those that returned home from the war (Kirkland).
The Croix Rouge Farm battle with is bayonets, fighting with a unit that had been dismantled almost in half, exhausted both mentally and physically from the Ourcq battle, the survivors of the 167th Regiment faced a hard time readjusting back to the normal life. The horrors of war as recounted in the tales of the various battles the regiment faced provided insights as to the experiences that they faced (Herrod ).
Upon the ending of the First World War, troops returned home with the survivors of various divisions. The heroic welcoming that they received did not have a great impact on the dents that had been placed on the lives and souls of the soldiers. The horrific experiences would later define and impact on the life of the soldiers greatly. As recounted by Frazer, through the personal account of his father’s experiences in the war (Ingram ).
For a great of the returning Alabamian soldiers, alcoholism and other challenges would rock their lives in relation to the first world war experiences. This recount is a crucial tenet at understating the similarity of the story and experiences of the common Alabama soldier (Kitchens ). The focus on the 167th Infantry Regiment allows the reader to get insights regarding the experiences not only of the soldiers in the world war but more specifically the Alabamian soldiers and their experiences.
For any soldier in the battles, the single most crucial thing is for them to survive. Regardless of the odds and challenges, a soldier has to find a way of making a way through the day of battle. For the Alabamian soldiers, there is a difference of experience on the account that they fought more battles as well as some of the hardest in relation to other Infantries. However, from the perspective of the soldiers within the infantry, the grueling challenges and experiences are similar based on the fact that they fought as a single unit.
Conclusion
The experience of any soldier in a war scenario is often horrifying and detrimental. Considering the First World War as the first modern warfare, the weaponry that was used was devastating in many ways. To the soldiers, it only meant a reduced chance of survival. Apart from the reduced or lack of recognition and endorsement, the Alabama regiment did face a number of different experiences in caparison to other soldiers serving the war.
The Alabama soldiers fought together in the 167th Regiment. This meant that they faced and experienced similar challenges, obstacles, and victories. The deaths and the horrors of the war were a common factor among all the soldiers within the Alabama soldiers. Despite the seemingly, insurmountable terrains, obstacles and tactics of the Germans, the soldiers of the 167th infantry managed to stand out among the various troops that went to fight in the war.
Works Cited
"Alabama's 167th Regiment." Alabama Dept. of Archives and History. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. <http://www.archives.alabama.gov/timeline/1900/ww1.html>.
"World War I and Alabama's Rainbow Division."Www.archives.alabama.gov//World_War_I_and_Alabamas_Rainbow_ Division_PowerPoint_March_2011.ppt. Web. 02 Mar. 2016.
Herrod, Jeff. Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Ingram, William P. Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Isreal, Henry G. Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Ivey, Mack. Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Jackoway, John. Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Jacks, William C. Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Jackson, Fred. Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Kirkland, Robert Lee Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Kitchens, Solomon. Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
Knight, Bascom A. Alabama Department of Archives and History http://www.archives.alabama.gov/goldstar Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
