WW1 US ARMY TRENCH ART CANTEEN 5TH INFANTRY 3RD DI

WW1 US Army Trench Art Canteen 5th Infantry WWI American Forces In Germany. Part of the Versailles Treaty with Germany provided for an occupation force to protect the Rhine bridgeheads; the 2nd Division was one of the US Army units selected for that task. By the end of July, 1919, the US Army of Occupation became the American Forces in Germany; they stayed there until January of 1923. According to Al Barnes, author of the book "In A Strange Land" which documents thoroughly that entire episode, "The 5th Infantry Regiment deployed to Germany in October 1919 and was supposed to be going to Silesia as peacekeepers but got diverted to AF in G in Nov 1919 to become part of the 2nd Brigade in the occupation and remained there until sometime in 1921-22." The troops had time on their hands, and some created "trench art" souvenirs of their service. This canteen was inscribed by a member of the 5th Infantry, 2nd Division, initials WEA. His service there was 1919-1920, "On The Rhine." Excellent