Beightler, Gordon, PVT

Fallen
 
 Photo In Uniform   Service Details
View Shadow Box View Printable Shadow Box View Time Line
Final Rank
Private
Last Service Branch
Infantry
Last MOS
605-Heavy Machine Gunner
Last MOS Group
Infantry
Primary Unit
1918-1919, 566, 4th Infantry
Service Years
1916 - 1919
Official/Unofficial US Army Certificates
Cold War Certificate
Infantry
Private
Three Service Stripes
Four Overseas Service Bars

 Last Photo   Personal Details 



Home State
Ohio
Ohio
Year of Birth
1894
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by SSG Jerry Dennis to remember Beightler, Gordon, Pvt.

If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
 
Casualty Info
Home Town
Marysville, OH
Last Address
General Delivery
Marysville, Ohio
Casualty Date
Jun 04, 1923
 
Conflict
World War I

 Official Badges 

Wound Chevron (1917-1932) World War I Honorable Discharge Chevron Badge of Military Merit


 Unofficial Badges 

Warriors Medal Of Valor Cold War Medal Cold War Veteran





World War I/Aisne Campaign/World War I/The Battle of Cantigny
From Month/Year
May / 1918
To Month/Year
May / 1918

Description
The Battle of Cantigny, fought May 28th 1918 was the first major American battle and offensive of World War I. The U.S. 1st Division, the most experienced of the five American divisions then in France and in reserve for the French Army near the village of Cantigny, was selected for the attack. The objective of the attack was both to reduce a small salient made by the German Army in the front lines but also to instill confidence among the French and British allies in the ability of the inexperienced American Expeditionary Force (AEF).
Capture of Cantigny
At 06:45 [H Hour], 28 May 1918, American Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Regiment left their jump-off trenches following an hour-long artillery preparation. Part of the preparation was counter-battery fire directed at German artillery positions. A rolling barrage, advancing 100 meters every two minutes, was calculated to give the attacking troops time to keep up with it.

The 28th Infantry Regiment (Colonel Hansen Ely, commanding) plus two companies of the 18th Infantry, three machine-gun companies and a company of engineers (3,564 men), captured Cantigny from the German Eighteenth Army. The village was situated on high ground surrounded by woods, making it an ideal observation post for German artillery.

Because the Americans did not have them in sufficient quantity, the French provided air cover, 368 heavy artillery pieces, trench mortars, tanks, and flamethrowers. The French Schneider tanks were from the French 5th Tank battalion. Their primary purpose was to eliminate German machine gun positions. With this massive support, and advancing on schedule behind the creeping artillery barrage, the 28th Infantry took the village in 30 minutes. It then continued on to its final objective roughly a half kilometer beyond the village.
Defense against German counterattacks
The first German counterattack, a small attack at 08:30 against the extreme right of the new American position, was easily repulsed, but German artillery bombarded the 28th Infantry for most of the day. At 17:10 the first large-scale counterattack took place, and a company of the 1st Battalion of the 26th Infantry commanded by Major Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was used to reinforce a weak spot in the American line. Another German counterattack at 18:40 was also repulsed by a combination of artillery and Infantry defensive fire. A series of counterattacks over the next two days were also defeated by both American regiments, and the position held.

The Americans reduced the salient and expanded their front by approximately a mile. A minor success, its significance was overshadowed by the battle underway along the Aisne. The U.S. forces held their position with the loss of 1,603 casualties including over 300 killed in action; they captured 250 German prisoners. Matthew B. Juan, a Native American war hero, was killed during this battle.

The American success at Cantigny assured the French that American divisions could be entrusted in the line against the German offensive to take Paris. The victory at Cantigny was followed by attacks at Château-Thierry and Belleau Wood in the first half of June.
   
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
May / 1918
To Month/Year
May / 1918
 
Last Updated:
Mar 16, 2020
   
Personal Memories
   
My Photos From This Battle or Operation
No Available Photos

  37 Also There at This Battle:
 
Copyright Togetherweserved.com Inc 2003-2011