United States. A Purple Heart, 101st Infantry, 26th Division, WIA Meuse-Argonne Offensive

In bronze gilt with purple, red, white and green enamels, engraved "WILLIAM A. HAUSSER" on the reverse, measuring 34.5 mm (w) x 43 mm (h), intact enamels, scattered gilt wear, spotting, original ribbon with brooch pinback, near extremely fine.

Footnote: William A. Hausser was Wounded in Action on October 17, 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The 9th Massachusetts had been protecting the Mexico-United States border near El Paso, Texas from June 18 to November 22, 1916, and was prepared for other such mobilizations, which would prove to be vital in April 1917, when the United States joined the Allied Powers during the First World War. In order to prepare the regiment for service, it was re-designated the 101st Infantry Regiment, and was assigned to the 51st Infantry Brigade of the 26th Infantry Division, the "Yankee Division." The 102nd Infantry Regiment was also assigned to the 51st Brigade. The regiment mustered in its new form on August 22, 1917 in Framingham, Massachusetts and arrived in France in September. It was the first Army National Guard unit of the American Expeditionary Force to arrive in France, and was also the first National Guard unit to enter frontline combat. Alongside the French Army, the 101st Infantry Regiment made a raid into German lines on February 23, 1918, marking the first time an American unit had launched a raid in the war. Commanded by Edward Lawrence Logan, the 26th Infantry Division, including the 101st Infantry Regiment, engaged the Germans in numerous battles along the Western Front in 1918, including; the 1918 Spring Offensive (March 21 to July 18), the Third Battle of the Aisne (May 27 to June 6), the Second Battle of the Marne (July 15 to August 6), the Battle of Saint-Mihiel (September 12 to 15), and the massive Meuse-Argonne Offensive (September 26 to November 11). The bloodied regiment was mustered out of service in April 1919 at Camp Devens in Massachusetts.