"Help with these photos" Topic

I found these two old photos in my family photo collection. They are unlabeled and I know nothing about them. It's hard to see any insignia, so I'm not even sure if they are army or marines. If you have any information that you could offer, including anything about the small mortar they are loading, that would be much appreciated. If I could figure out what unit (or at least branch of service!) they are in, I might be able to track down who it is. The photo of the four men has a government stamp on the back from the committee of public information and that it's for private use only, not for publication.

thanks!
Photos at: link

They look like Army troops to me. Otherwise, it's pretty difficult to tell.

The photo of the sigle gent looks like the building has "THE NEW O…." written on the top. Maybe New Orleans? That COULD explain the palm tree!

Sorry, the best I can offer.

GregS

I can help with the mortar in the first picture, it's a Mortier de 58mm type 2 or the 58 type 2 for Americans. It was the standard French medium mortar during World War One. Combined Arms Research Library has a digital copy of the American manual for the mortar:

link

Wikipedia has some good pictures of it:

link

At least one man is carrying a Springfield Model 1903 Mk 1 rifles but that probably doesn't really narrow things down much.

Based on the lack of leaves on the tree and how the wall is built I'm pretty sure that first picture was taken in France probably in the Winter of 1917-18.

This link gives a not bad summary of US uniforms during World War One which may help:

link

Good luck with your search, hope this helps.

Just wanted to add one more piece of information that might help. If they were training with the mortar they could have been part of a Trench Mortar Battalion (they also could just be guys posing for a picture). Here is a histroy of the 3rd Trench Mortar Battalion:

link

Interestingly enough they passed through New Orleans on their way overseas (just for a couple of hours). As it points out some of these Trench Mortar Battalions were sometimes formed from the Coast Artillery.

Thanks -- this is more than I knew before.

I have positively identified the building in the back of the single soldier as The New Orleans Terminal railroad station. Does anyone know of any Ohio units that were stationed at or passed through New Orleans at any point during the war?

Thanks!