Upon their return from the border intervention, South Carolina’s citizen-soldiers soon found themselves preparing for deployment to France. When war with Germany was declared in April, South Carolina’s troops were called up for the defense of the state. That summer, however, they were summoned into federal service. In the reorganization that followed the activation of the National Guard for federal service, the 1st South Carolina Regiment became the 118th Infantry. Assigned to the 30th (“Old Hickory”) Division, the 118th would become one of the most distinguished regiments of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).
 
Activation of the National Guard on July 25, 1917, had doubled the size of the United States Army, but even this expansion was insufficient to hope to realistically affect the course of the European war. Another more controversial policy followed: the national draft. For the first time since the desperate days of the Confederacy, South Carolina men were subject to conscription. Draftees were organized into the national army, distinguished from both the regular army and the National Guard. This national army also included the segregated troops of the 93rd Division, whose 371st Regiment was composed primarily of African American South Carolinians.

 South Carolinians would also serve in great numbers in many other units, including especially the 81st (“Wildcat”) and 42nd (“Rainbow”) Divisions.   South Carolinians would be found among the marines and sailors serving overseas as well.

CAPTION: British brodie-style helmet of Private 1st Class Clyde McTeer, 120th Infantry, 30th Division.  The helmet emblem is the 30th Division "Old Hickory" symbol.