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167th Alabama Infantry (4th Alabama)

"Rainbow Division"

 

 

 

 

 

 

     The “Rainbow Division”, of which the 167th Alabama Infantry was a part in World War I, played a large roll in beating Germany and earned the love of the French and the respect of the enemy.   The “Rainbow” was the first to take over a complete divisional sector of front-line trenches, and it held it longer than any other division.

 

     Though this fighting division was made up of men from many states, it somehow became identified with Alabama, and Marshal Foch himself dubbed its men “the Tigers”.  An old French officer, battle-scarred, with many decorations, said that all France had learned to love “the Alabamas”.

 

     After the Armistice, the 167th Regiment, formerly the 4th Alabama National Guards, was stationed for a while in Germany.  Stories of how extremely ferocious the “Alabamas” had been in  battle had disturbed the German people, who feared a harsh occupation by American troops, but one would have thought they had been living among the Germans for years, so peaceful was the atmosphere.  The Germans became very fond of the Alabama troops, whom they found kind and considerate, and they saw them depart for America with mixed emotions.

 

     Many of the men of the famous 167th Regiment never came home, for there were great gaps made in the ranks “over there” but it has been said that without the well trained and courageous 167th America could have entered the war in strength so soon nor won so complete a military victory.

 

Source: Copied from Deep South Genealogical Society - Vol. XV, Number 3 - August 1978 , p. 111, published by the Mobile Genealogical Society, Inc., Mobile, AL

 

 

 

Source:

Copied from Deep South Genealogical Society - Vol. XV, Number 3 - August 1978 , p. 111, published by the Mobile Genealogical Society, Inc., Mobile, AL