WW1 & WW2

Rhode Island in WW1, 1914-1918

In response to the Zimmerman Telegraph and the resumption of submarine warfare against American shipping, in April 1917, the United States declared war against Germany. The only organized Rhode Island units to serve in World War I was the 103 rd Field Artillery which had its roots in the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery, a unit whose history dates back to 1801 and saw active service in the Civil War as the First Rhode Island Light Artillery.

In addition, Rhode Islanders also served in large numbers in the 103 rd Machine Gun Battalion and the 104 th Ambulance Company. All were part of the 26 th Yankee Division. Thousands of Rhode Islanders, including many of Quebecois and Italian descent were drafted or volunteered to serve in the National Army. A total of 28929 Rhode Islanders served in World War and 702 died as a result of their service.

The following are a list of notable facts and occurrences related to Rhode Island's participation from 1916-1919.

In the summer of 1916, Battery A of Rhode Island is the highest scoring National Guard unit in a series of war games along the Border.
April-June 1917, Rhode Island Battery A expands from a single battery to a full artillery regiment as it is called into Federal service for World War I. Eventually they will be assigned to the Yankee Division.
The Newport Naval Base becomes a major training base and the Navy Hospital becomes a major treatment facility during the 1918 flu pandemic.
Rhode Island National Guard Coast Artillery units staff fortifications around Narragansett Bay throughout the conflict.
After several months training in France, in March 1918, the Yankee Division, including the 103 rd Artillery moves into the trenches near Toul.
At the Second Battle of the Marne in the summer of 1918, Rhode Island artillery plays a prominent role in the American advance.

Rhode Island in WW2, 1939-1945

In response to Japanese advances in Asia and the capture of western Europe by Nazi forces in 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt called up the National Guard to prepare for war. Rhode Island responded by expanding and calling up the National Guard units then in service: 103rd and 169th Field Artillery, 43rd Division Artillery, 118th Engineers, 118th Medical Battalion, and the 243rd Coast Artillery. In response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Rhode Islanders responded by the thousands, volunteering to serve in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Army Air Forces.

Rhode Island devoted itself fully to the war with industry taking a leading role in producing materiel to support the American war effort; among them were firearms manufacturing and shipbuilding in Providence. Navy bases along Narragansett Bay, including Quonset, Charlestown, and Newport trained tens of thousands of sailors and airmen to fight in the war; among those trained in Rhode Island was President George H.W. Bush. A total of 93,104 Rhode Islanders served in World War II and 1,620 died in the service.

The following are a list of notable facts and occurrences related to Rhode Island's participation from 1939-1945.

General Harold Barker of Providence leads the 43 rd Division Artillery and becomes one of the highest decorated soldiers in Rhode Island history. He pioneers the use of spotter planes to assist field artillery gunnery.
The majority of Rhode Island National Guard units serve in the 43 rd Division, fighting at Guadalcanal, Munda, New Guinea, and the Philippines.
The 243 rd Coast Artillery garrisons Narragansett Bay forts throughout the war.
Rhode Islanders served in every unit and campaign of the war, including the Battle of the Atlantic, North Africa, Italy, Normandy, Holland, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, and other battles throughout Europe and the Pacific.
Most of the Browning Automatic Rifles (BARs) used by American forces are made in East Greenwich.
PT Boat crews are trained throughout the war at Melville in Portsmouth, including John F. Kennedy and the crew of PT-109.
George Luz of Providence serves in the famous Easy Company, 506 th Parachute Infantry.
On May 8, 1945, U-853 is sunk off Block Island, the last U-boat kill of the war.