The Division was comprised of the following organizations:
67th Infantry Brigade 68th Infantry Brigade 133rd Infantry Regiment 134th Infantry Regiment 135th Infantry Regiment 136th Infantry Regiment 69th Field Artillery Brigade 125th Field Artillery Regiment 126th Field Artillery Regiment 127th Field Artillery Regiment 109th Trench Mortar Battery 109th Field Signal Battalion 109th Headquarters Train and Military Police 109th Ammunition Train 109th Supply Train 109th Sanitary Train which is comprised of: 133rd Ambulance Company 134th Ambulance Company 135th Ambulance Company 136th Ambulance Company and Field Hospitals. 109th Field Train 109th Engineer Regiment and Train.
Camp Cody Tents With Soldiers, Deming, New Mexico, 1917-1918
Santa Rita walloped Camp Cody here today by the score of 4 to 0 in a weird exhibition game, the first either team has played this season. Flashes of brilliancy were shown by each side, but all were spoiled by some pitiful errors.
Neither team had had more than a week of practice and both showed it in lack of team work and the poor condition of the players. The Copper Miners are the best teams . Twenty players were used by the soldiers in trying to stop their onslaught.
Edited: For Camp Cody Kelly, Smith, Tanke, Schafer Holliday, Schaub, Rouse, Moore, Welsh, Kroy. Mann, Jensen, Birehard, Crumrine, Ramsey, Kennedy, Foss, Pope, Red Boy, Wilson. – “The Silver City Enterprise” – Friday, March 29, 1918
Jewish citizens of Silver City who have been making inquires into what is being done for the Jewish soldiers in the Camp will be pleased to learn the Jewish Board for Welfare Work in the United States Army and Navy has established a branch here. Mr. Jack Yellen, a former newspaper man from Buffalo, NY, has been assigned to this Camp by the Central Office of the J.B.W.W. in New York City and is already on the scene and has organized religious services, established a club house, and otherwise looking after the welfare of the 250 Jews in the Thirty-Fourth Division.
By courtesy of the division commander, Mr. Yellen was give permission to utilize a central located mess hall exclusively for his work. Through the kindness of Mr. Sigmund Lindauer, the permanent Jewish resident in Deming, Mr. Yellen was enabled to transform the mess hall into a fine clubhouse where religious services are conducted every Friday evening, instruction given in French, English, and Hebrew, and where the Jewish men may read, smoke, write letters and otherwise enjoy themselves in their leisure hours. Rabbi J.H. Landau of Las Vegas has obtained a splendid Victrola for the men and Mr. Yellen is now waging a campaign for a piano, comfortable lounging furniture and a supply of free smokes for his men.
The clubhouse has been open a week and is gaining in popularly every day. It is open to everyone, non-Jews as well as Jews. Mr. Lindaur has contributed his personal library containing a valuable collection of English books on Jewish subjects and the American Library Association has provided a number of the best Yiddish books.
“I have a lot of most interesting lot of Jewish men here,” said Mr. Yellen today. “I have all classes, from the most extreme reform orthodox, to the most extreme reform elements.” They come from all parts of the country as far east as New York City, as far west as San Francisco and as far north as Duluth.
“Until the J.B.W.W. established a branch here many of them had not attended a religious service of any kind in more than nine months. While a great deal has been done for the Jewish men in camps nears big cities, the boys at Deming have been shamefully neglected, and I hope that the Jewish committee around Deming will see their duty towards these boys and fulfill it.” Mr. Yellen will be pleased to hear from any Jewish citizens of Silver City. – Camp Cody, Trench and Camp Newspaper – February 18, 1917
Camp Cody Soldiers And Tents – Deming, New Mexico, 1917-198
Entertainment was an important factor for the morale of the troops. An old reservoir that had been used to supply water to El Paso was converted into an outdoor amphitheater. The stage was 45 feet by 80 feet and benches were built to seat the entire division. It was dedicated in November 1917. The following April the Liberty Theatre opened and presented vaudeville, musical comedy, drama and feature films. The drop curtain displayed a scene from Ben Hur, painted by Rene Raoul from Kansas. Just off the base on the East end, a small community arose and was called Codyville. It contained a number of dance halls with names of “The Nebraska”, “The Iowa” and “The Des Moines”, obviously catering to the homesick element from those areas. There, the soldier could purchase soft drinks, listen to music and enter a roped area for a dance at 25 cents per.
Statistics of the day stated that a soldier sent to the battlefields of France had one chance in 30 to be killed and one in 500 that he would lose an arm or leg. Although Camp Cody was removed some 5,00-odd miles from the combat zone, it had a mortality factor of it own – lesser to be sure. The dubious distinction of the first to die at Cody belonged to Private Fess of Minnesota. He expired following an appendicitis operation in September 1917. Deaths at the Deming camp resulted from accidents, training mishaps, acts of nature (lightning caused a couple) and disease.
Records show that 67 died in the hospital the last four months of 1917. The following year, that number escalated to 426. Sixty percent of those deaths took place in the last three months of 1918. This, of course, was the critical period of the influenza epidemic. In November alone 194 were laid to rest in the final month of the war.
A modern sewage system for Camp Cody was approved in June 1918 at an estimated cost of a half million dollars. The following month, five ditching machines were at work preparing for its instillation. A giant septic tank was built on the East end of the camp. Its capacity was 2,500,000 gallons with the overflow running into the adjacent Mimbres River. The project was nearly complete at Armistice time when orders were issued to abandon the system. Located just off North Eight Street, the huge spillway is one of the few visible remains from the Camp Cody era.
World War 1 was publicized as the war to end all wars. It proved to be just another progressive phase in the art of mass murder. As long as mankind continues to harbor inner conflict, that dissension will be manifested in outer experience in the form of violence and war. When peace reigns within, serenity will prevail without. – Desert Winds Magazine – February 1995
109th Field Signal Battalion, Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico, 1917-1918
It is estimated that 45,000 troops served at Camp Cody in its less than two-year existence. Each was the embodiment of a unique life chronicle.
What was life like within the confines of the Camp Cody cantonment?
The streets were lined with pyramidal tents, eight men consigned to each. A Sibley stove, black in color and conical in shape, occupied the center. It burned wood, which was shipped into the camp. An electric light hung overhead. The mess halls and recreation facilities were contained in buildings. There was no paint, just new fresh lumber exposing its nakedness to the elements. Guards were everywhere, demanding a pass at every regimental boundary. Mountains of baled hay, piled 52 high, and were stacked along the tracks.
Inspectors constantly probed the area, insuring that it was kept spotlessly clean. Waste from the mess halls was burnt in incinerators. Details of men policed the camp areas every morning.
At 5:30 AM, a full band marched through the regiments, playing an inspiring march. Reveille followed; taps took place at 11 PM. Bugle calls sounded throughout the day, each signaling some activity. Sunday belonged to the soldiers, although they were accountable for periodic checks.
The remount station was located in the northern part of the base. It was equipped to handle 10,000 horses and mules. The site contained an immense loading platform, corrals, veterinary hospital and horse shoeing school. The facility covered 100 acres. – Desert Winds Magazine – February 1995
109th Field Signal Battalion Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico, 1916-1917
Assembled at the New Armory, Davenport, Iowa, upon call of the President, June 25, 1917. Entrained for Fort Des Moines, Iowa, June 27, 1917. Mustered into Federal Service at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, June 30, 1917. Entrained for Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas, July 1, 1917, having been ordered to that point to assist in the training of the Reserve Officers stationed there. At Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas, from July 1, 1917, having been ordered to that point to assist in training of the Reserve Officers stationed there. At Fort Logan H. Roots, Arkansas, from July 3, 1917, to October 5, 1917. Entrained for Camp Cody, New Mexico, October 8, 1917. Pvt. Cox promoted to 1st Lieutenant in August, 1917. Lieutenant Truitt to Captain and Battalion Adjutant in July, 1917. Lieutenant McCoy to Captain September 10, 1917. Upon arrival at Camp Cody, New Mexico, 1st Lieutenant Gregg rejoined Battery B. Captain McCoy transferred to Brigade Headquarters. 1St Lieutenant Gregg in command of Battery B. Lieutenant McGinley transferred to Headquarters Company, Sergeants Claypool and Hutchens promoted to 2nd Lieutenants in November, 1917. 1st Lieutenant Gregg promoted to Captain and Commanding Officer in November, 1917. – From the Thanksgiving Menu of December 29, 1917
Camp Cody Cloth Dryer, Deming, New Mexico, 1917-1918
Assembled at Fifth Street Armory, Davenport, Iowa, upon call of the President, June 20, 1916. Entrained for Camp Dodge, Des Moines, June 20, 1916. Entrained for Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa, June 26, 1916. Mustered into Federal Service at Camp Dodge, Iowa, June 30, 1916. All men took Nation Defense Oath. Entrained at Brownsville Texas, for Davenport. Iowa, December 15, 1916. During the period in which the Battery served on the Border, a New Armory building had been built and thirteen acres of land purchased on North Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa. Mustered out of Federal service at the New Armory, December 30, 1916. Lieutenant Gregg transferred to Battery D in June, 1917, leaving Lieutenant Truitt in command of Battery B, Pvt McGinley promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in June 1917. – From the Thanksgiving Menu of December 29, 1917
Battery B, 1st Iowa Field Artillery, was organized on June 10, 1915, by Major E. E. Lucas, at Davenport, Iowa. It supplanted Company B, 54th Iowa Infantry. When organized the Battery had 133 enlisted men, and the following officers: Captain Dan Evers, Lieutenants Ward, Compton, Truitt and Parker. First camp was at Camp Robinson, near Sparta, Wisconsin, together with Battery A of Clinton and C of Muscatine, August 8th to 18th, 1915 for firing practice. Captain Evers resigned and Lieutenant Compton became Captain in October of 1915. Sergeant McCoy promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, and Lieutenant Hinrichs resigned in March of 1916. – From the Thanksgiving Menu of December 29, 1917
Tents of the 126th Field Artillery at Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico
Deming was taken by an army of invaders from the South last Monday. The 67th Brigade which marched away on a hike a week previous returned that day and met a defending force consisting of the 68th Brigade from Silver City a mile or so south of the polo field.
The 68th “white army” identified with a white cloth around their hats while the invaders were the brown army, perhaps from the fine coat of tan acquired from their week’s trip. The White Army came down from Silver City and were out numbered and out flanked and defeated.
The Southern Pacific Railroad was the dividing line between the invader’s and the defenders. The Brown Army came from Hondale at 2:00 p.m. The Brown consisted of the 133rd Infantry (1st Iowa Infantry), the 134th Infantry ( 1st Nebraska Infantry) and the 126th Machine Gun Company and attached Sanitary and ammunition trains.
• Colonel H.J. Paul Commanded the 134th
• Colonel W.E. Bartly Commanded the 133rd
• May Higbee Commanded the 135th Infantry (1st Minn.)
• Colonel W.T. Molison Commanded the 136th Infantry
• Major C. J. Bates Commanded the 127th Machine Gun Company which is a South Dakota unit.
From the “Deming Graphic” May 17, 1918
Camp Cody Soldiers on the Move. Deming, New Mexico, 1917-1918
Two Games are Scheduled with Santa Rita And One With Soldiers Team April 5, 6, and 7
Silver City people will have an excellent opportunity to see the Chicago Cubs in a series of three games which will be played at Santa Rita and Camp Cody early next month. The schedule is as follows: Cubs Vs Santa Rita at Santa Rita April 5; Cubs Vs Santa Rita at Camp Cody, April 6;Cubs Vs Camp Cody at Camp Cody, April 7.
Seating accommodations to be provided for 8,000 people in the Camp Cody stadium and over $2000.00 is in the fund which will be used to put the playing field into condition and to provide extra seating. It is announced the Alexander and Killifex, Chicago’s new $80,000 battery will work in the game on April 5th in Santa Rita.
The baseball fans in Silver City and vicinity, all in a starved condition for baseball, will probably take in all three games, the extra trip to Deming being more than compensated for in the opportunity it will give to see the big Army camp. The barriers which surround the camp are to be down on the occasion of the ball games and visitors will be admitted without the formality of a pass.
Major T. C. Crimmins, Assistant judge advocate, of the 34th Division, is baseball manager for the Camp Cody, and has as his chief assistant Captain T. N. Ashmore War Department Athletic Officer. About a hundred men responded to the call for players and among the number were many semi-pro and college stars from the north and east. From these a slashing good team will be developed.
Practice games will be played with Santa Rita, Hurley, Tyrone, and Fort Bayard and it is not impossible that one or more of the games will be played in Silver City. Admission to the games at Deming will be $1.10 for civilians, including the war tax, and 55 cents for soldiers. – “The Silver City Enterprise” March 22, 1918
Chicago Cubs Vs 34th Division (Name Changed from Sunshine to Sandstorm)
Memories of Camp Cody Weblog 