815th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, Company H photograph

Content Description

This collection contains one panoramic photograph of the 815th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, Company H. The photograph is captioned No. 3003, Ewing, Inc., Photographers - Baton Rouge, La.” in the bottom right. Another caption to the left indicates the pictured group as “Company “H” 815 Pioneer Infantry.” “Newport News” is written at the bottom center, with “West, Va.” crossed out with paint. The photograph is arranged with the officers positioned at the left and the enlisted men arranged in three rows spread over the remainder of the image. The photograph is undated, though the 815th was formed in 1918 as a segregated African American unit in the United States Army during World War I, tasked primarily with engineering and logistical support in France. The 815th trained at Camp Funston and Camp Merritt before deploying from Hoboken, New Jersey to serve with the First Army Engineers in France. Like other Pioneer Infantry units, they were trained in both infantry tactics and basic combat engineering, enabling them to operate near the front lines. Their duties included repairing roads, constructing trenches, and supporting battlefield logistics.

Acquisition Type

Purchase

Provenance

Purchased from Max Rambod Rare Books, 3 October 2025.

Language of Description

English

Script of Description

Latin

Restrictions Apply

No