How a small French village became the proving ground for the American Expeditionary Force

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: On May 28, 1918, the U.S. 1st Division launched its first major offensive of World War I at the village of Cantigny. While a minor tactical success, the victory proved to skeptical Allied commanders that American troops were a formidable force capable of holding ground against intense German counterattacks.

By May 1918, the United States had been formally at war for over a year, yet the American Expeditionary Force had not conducted a major independent offensive. The U.S. 1st Division, stationed in reserve near Cantigny, was selected to capture the village to reduce a German-held salient and boost French morale. The village sat on high ground, serving as a vital observation post for German artillery, which made its capture a strategic necessity.

The assault began at 06:45 on May 28, 1918, following an hour-long artillery preparation. Because the Americans lacked sufficient heavy equipment, the French provided essential support, including 368 artillery pieces, air cover, and Schneider tanks. Advancing behind a rolling barrage that moved 100 meters every two minutes, the 28th Infantry Regiment—commanded by Colonel Hanson Edward Ely—seized the village in just 30 minutes. The force, totaling 3,564 men, pushed to an objective roughly half a kilometer beyond the village.

The victory was not easily held. The Germans launched multiple counterattacks throughout the day, including a large-scale assault at 17:10 that required reinforcements from the 26th Infantry Regiment, led by Major Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Over the next two days, the Americans repulsed repeated German efforts to retake the position. The operation resulted in 1,603 American casualties, including 199 killed in action. Among the dead was Matthew B. Juan, the first known Arizonan to die in combat during the war.

Ultimately, the success at Cantigny served as a critical proof of concept. It demonstrated that American divisions could be relied upon to hold the line against the German spring offensive. Beyond the battlefield, the victory bolstered General John J. Pershing’s argument for maintaining an independent American command structure. The battle was later memorialized by Colonel Robert R. McCormick, who renamed his Chicago estate Cantigny and helped establish monuments to commemorate the 1st Division’s historic role in the conflict.

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