Roster of the Rainbow division (Forty-Second) Major General Wm. A. Mann commanding

In the early months of America’s entry into the Great War, a remarkable group of soldiers from across the nation gathered at Camp Mills, eager to forge a new identity as the famed “Rainbow Division.” Lieutenant Harold Stanley Johnson, fresh from the 151st Field Artillery of Minnesota, set out to capture that spirit on paper, creating a detailed roster that introduces each officer and unit before they head overseas. His foreword explains why personal familiarity among the men was vital for the division’s efficiency and morale as they prepared to become one of the first American forces in France.

The book unfolds as a living directory, listing the division’s headquarters, artillery brigades, infantry brigades, medical and support units, and the men who led them. Readers hear the names of future leaders—such as Colonel Douglas MacArthur and Major‑General William A. Mann—alongside the everyday soldiers who would soon face the trenches of Europe. This snapshot offers a vivid glimpse into the organization, pride, and hope that defined the early days of a unit destined to carry the Stars and Stripes across the battlefields.