1919 Motor Transport Corps Convoy
The 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy was a "Truck Train" (convoy) of the US Army Motor Transport Corps that drove over 3,000 mi (4,800 km) from Washington, D.C. (departing July 7th), to Oakland, California, and ferried to San Francisco. In addition to 230 road incidents (stops for adjustments, extrications, breakdowns, & accidents) resulting in 9 vehicles retiring, the convoy of "24 expeditionary officers, 15 War Department staff observation officers, and 258 enlisted men" ((e.g., Bvt Lt Col Dwight D. Eisenhower of the Tank Corps) had 21 injured en route who did not complete the trip. Although some "were really competent drivers" by the end, the majority of soldiers were "raw recruits with little or no military training"; and except for the Motor Supply Company E commander (1st Lt Daniel H. Martin), troop officers had "meager knowledge" of "handling men in the field".
The convoy broke and repaired 88 wooden bridges (14 in Wyoming), and "practically" all roadways were unpaved from Illinois through Nevada. The convoy logged 3,250 mi (5,230 km) logged miles in 573.5 hours (5.67mph avg.). and 6 rest days without convoy travel were used. Convoy delays required extra encampments and, at Oakland, California, the convoy was 7 days behind schedule (ferrying the next morning on the last travel day).
Read more about this topic: Transcontinental Motor Convoy
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