[5]:6,10, In addition to engineer and quartermaster units; the convoy had 2 truck companies of the 433rd Motor Supply Train;[5]:6 a medical unit with surgeon, medical, and dental officers; and a Field Artillery Detachment which provided the Maxwell crawler tractor[13] operated by a civilian. The officers and men of the Engineer, Medical and Ordinance (maintenance) detachments were described as more experienced and better trained. Both Eisenhower and Jackson reported that organization and discipline improved over the course of the expedition. Lt. Jackson reported that the assignment of a dedicated mess officer in Nebraska greatly improved the food for the second half of the journey. The 1919 convoy by the Army's young Motor Transport Corps took 62 days, from July 7 to September 6. [5] The heavy trucks included three examples of each of three wartime commercial models in the 3 to 5-1/2 ton range being considered for continued service (FWD, Mack and Riker) along with eleven 1-1/2 ton trucks from Garford, GMC, Packard and White. This is the association’s fifth convoy and the second one to retrace the 1919 military convoy route. "Ike's Road Trip" by Kevin L. Cook, The Quarterly Journal of Military History, Spring 2001, pp 68-7. [5]:18,23 Additional vehicle manufacturers included Cadillac, Dodge, F.W.D., Garford, Harley-Davidson & Indian (motorcycles), Liberty (trucks & a 2-wheel kitchen cart), Mack, Packard, Riker, Standardized, Trailmobile (two 4-wheel kitchen trailers), and White. [DDE's Records as President, President's Personal File, Box 967, 1075 Greany Maj. William C.; NAID #1055071], Report, "Principal Facts Concerning the First Transcontinental Army Motor Transport Expedition, Washington to San Francisco, July 7 to September 6, 1919." The four "light delivery trucks" were 3/4 ton Dodges and the remainder were 3 ton Class B Standardized Military "Liberty" trucks. In the summer of 1919, a young Lieutenant Colonel named Dwight D. Eisenhower participated in the first Army transcontinental motor convoy. Members of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association will drive vintage and modern trucks following the route of the old Lincoln Highway, now U.S. 30, to mark the pioneering trek’s 90th anniversary. Inexperience caused a great deal of unnecessary delays and breakdowns in the early going. The centennial of a 1919 U.S. military convoy that traveled across the country on largely unpaved roads will be celebrated August 31-September 16 when the Lincoln Highway Association stages the 2019 Military Convoy Centennial Tour, which will retrace the so-called Eisenhower route. Marilyn Boots reported on her travels with Dennis… Six rest days without convoy travel were at East Palestine, Ohio; Chicago Heights, Illinois; Denison, Iowa; North Platte, Nebraska; Laramie, Wyoming; and Carson City, Nevada. As an observer for the War Department, Lt. Col. Eisenhower learned first-hand of the difficulties faced in traveling great distances on roads that were impassable, and that resulted in frequent breakdowns of the military vehicles. The 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy was a "Truck Train" of the US Army Motor Transport Corps that drove over 3,000 mi (4,800 km) from Washington, D.C. (departing July 7 and arriving September 6), to Oakland, California, and ferried to San Francisco. The engineers were responsible for inspecting each bridge as the convoy came to it. When the generals and politicians fin- ished talking at Zero Milestone near the White House on July 7, 1919… The 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy was a long distance convoy (described as a Motor Truck Trip with a "Truck Train"[1]) carried out by the U.S. Army Motor Transport Corps that drove over 3,000 mi (4,800 km) on the historic Lincoln Highway from Washington, D.C., to Oakland, California and then by ferry over to end in San Francisco. The MVPA convoy will leave Washington, D.C., on June 13 and plans to … [11] One Firestone truck detoured to Reno, Nevada, to have a new giant tire mounted. On Aug. 8, 1919, young Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived in Cheyenne with a long line of military cars, trucks and motorcycles. The expedition was manned by 24 officers and 258 enlisted men. For example, the log entry for 18 July reads (in part) "At 8:00 A. M. halted by request in Churubusco, Ind for 10 min., while refreshments were served by local Red Cross Canteen Service. In the summer of 1919, a young Lieutenant Colonel named Dwight D. Eisenhower participated in the first Army transcontinental motor convoy. Dealers en route supplied gasoline and tires to the convoy and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company provided 2 trucks (Packard & White, each 2-ton) fitted with "giant cord pneumatic" tires that carried spare standard tires. The convoy was to test the mobility of the military during wartime conditions. The convoy travelled up to 32 mph (51 km/h),[11] and the schedule was for 18 mph (29 km/h)[21]:111 to average 15 mph (24 km/h). Two junior officers scouted ahead of the main body on motorcycles, signaling the route to the rest of the convoy using a simple but effective system of blue paper triangles tacked to trees and fences. Public Domain. The 1919 convoy included 81 vehicles, 37 officers and 258 enlisted men. 9 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., August - May Colonel Eisenhower went on note that the variety of vehicles made it difficult to keep the convoy together and none of the vehicles had been properly tested or adjusted before starting out, which along with the raw nature of the troops caused a lot of unnecessary stops and breakdowns. The expedition consisted of 81 motorized Army vehicles that crossed the United States from Washington, DC, to San Francisco, a venture covering a distance of 3,251 miles in 62 days. The Cadillac and Dodge passenger cars and light trucks were found to be generally satisfactory, though the hood latches on the Dodge proved insufficiently durable. The Tank Corps Observer noted that "the light truck is so far superior to the heavy [which] should be confined to ... hard surfaced roads; and ... short hauls. Sorbell, Secretary Chamber of Commerce Jos. In addition to transporting New York's Medal of Joan of Arc for San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, the convoy had four objectives; and Ordnance Department and Tank Corps observers completed their reports in October. These early experiences influenced his later decisions concerning the building of the interstate highway system during his presidential administration. The trucks generally carried full capacity loads as one of the goals of the expedition was testing their performance. INDUSTRY -- In 1919, the U.S. Army drove a convoy of motorized vehicles across the country for the first time, traveling mainly along the fledgling Lincoln Highway from Washington, D.C., to … The military officers carried orders not to deviate from the route Ostermann had established prior to the summer of 1919. of sending a military convoy over the en- tire length of the Lincoln Highway and discussed the matter with military offi- cials. should pay more attention to disciplinary drills for officers and men, and that all should be intelligent, snappy soldiers before giving them the responsibility of operating trucks." Eisenhower also dedicated much of his report to a detailed summary of road conditions in each of the states that the convoy traversed, followed by general observations on proper road construction and maintenance, observing that some of the good roads were too narrow and some formerly excellent roads had been allowed to deteriorate without maintenance, stating "In such cases it seems evident that a very small amount of money spent at the proper time would have kept the road in good condition."[31]. Met and escorted through South Bend by Major [sic] F.R. It left Washington D.C. on July 7 and arrived in San Francisco on Sept. 6, 1919. ), "Newspaper Clippings re the 1919 Transcontinental Motor Convoy", https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UdslAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5272,3768233&dq=gettysburg+1919+convoy&hl=en, "Ike's Interstates at 50: Anniversary of the Highway System Recalls Eisenhower's Role as Catalyst", "The Mystery of the Maxwell Crawler Tractor", "HD Stock Video Footage - Soldiers with the 1919 U.S. Army Motor Transport convoy use Holt tractor to assist trucks mired down in Nebraska", "HD Stock Video Footage - Trucks of the 1919 U.S. Army Motor Transport convoy encounter difficulties negotiating dirt roads in Nebraska", https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XEkzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=te4HAAAAIBAJ&pg=4806,5289486&dq=1919+convoy+nevada&hl=en, "Dusty Doughboys on the Lincoln Highway: The 1919 Army Convoy in Iowa", "Army Motor Transport to Cross the Continent", "HD Stock Video Footage - U.S. Army motor transport convoy in Oakland and San Francisco after their trip across America in 1919", http://www.lincoln-highway-museum.org/NPS/03-NPS-100-75.jpg, Online documents available from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1919_Motor_Transport_Corps_convoy&oldid=985733701, 20th-century history of the United States Army, Articles needing more detailed references, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Encourage "construction of through-route and transcontinental highways". [2] 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". Carson, Chief of Policy [sic] Peter Kline, Fire Chief I.A. The expedition consisted of 81 motorized Army vehicles that crossed the United States from Washington, DC, to San Francisco, a venture covering a distance of 3,251 miles in 62 days. As the largest and most heavily laden vehicle it was most likely to get stuck and the crawler and the engineers would be readily at hand to extract it. Most of the failures that were not caused by operator error (primarily poor lubrication and over-revving on downgrades) were due to the effects of the constant dust, vibration and pounding on the carburetors, ignition systems, bushings, fasteners and bearings. The convoy was to test the mobility of the military during wartime conditions. Site of the United States WWI Centennial Commission, and the Doughboy Foundation, building the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C. One pedestrian was struck, non-fatally, in Valparaiso, Indiana. The Military Vehicle Preservation Association will conduct a 90th-anniversary convoy across the United States to retrace the 1919 Army’s Transcontinental Motor Route, and Greensburg will be among its first stops. Commemorative Program, "A California Dinner in Honor of the Officers and Men Who Made up the First Transcontinental Convoy of the Motor Transport Corps, U.S. Army over the Lincoln Highway, Washington to San Francisco, July 7 - September 7, 1919" [U.S. Army, Transport Corps, Transcontinental Convoy: Records, 1919, Box 1; NAID #12165975], Memorandum from Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower to the Chief, Motor Transport Corps, with attached report on the Trans-Continental Trip, November 3, 1919. “Billion Urged For National Road System.” Oakland Tribune, 7 September 1919, p. 4. The objectives were: The 1919 Motor Transport Corps Convoy Promotes Good Roads In the summer of 1919, the United States Army Motor Transport Corps (MTC) deployed a convoy The expedition was manned by 24 officers and 258 enlisted men. [1]:4 Dust was a constant problem. ", This page was last edited on 27 October 2020, at 17:06. The various trailers were also evaluated (most received failing grades) and the graphite grease was determined to provide significant benefits. With the end of World War I the United States Army was eager to par- ticipate. The Military Vehicle Preservation Association is retracing the route of the first U.S. Army Transcontinental Motor Convoy along the historical Lincoln Highway in … The shortest driving periods between control points were from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Omaha, Nebraska (2 hrs for 5 mi) and Delphos, Ohio, to Fort Wayne, Indiana (6 hrs for 51 mi), while 4 days had average speeds over 9 mph (14 km/h): E Palestine OH to Wooster OH (9 hr for 83 mi), South Bend IN to Chicago Heights Il (8​3⁄4 hr for 80 mi), Jefferson IA to Denison IA (7​1⁄2 hr for 68 mi), and Anderson's Ranch NV to Ely NV (8 hr for 77 mi).[23]. Lt. Col. Charles W. McClure and Capt. 3, March 1910, pp. The Denison Review, 2 July 1919, p. 1. [22] The actual average for the 3,250 mi (5,230 km) covered in 573.5 hours[23] was 5.65 mph (9.09 km/h) over the 56 travel days for an average of 10.24 hours per travel day. This article deals specifically with the U.S. Army's 1919 transcontinental Motor Transport Corps convoy. “Army Truck is Try-Out For Equipment.” The South Bend News Times, 20 July 1919, p. 10. “In general, the route began at the Ellipse, in Washington, DC and ended at Lincoln Park, in San Francisco, CA – some 3,250 miles and 62 days later.” The 2019 Military Convoy will depart on August 10, from York, PA, the site of the 2019 MVPA Annual Convention and conduct an official Convoy launch from York, PA. September 6, 1919 The U.S. Army’s Cross-Country Motor Transport Train arrived in San Francisco, completing a transcontinental trip of 3,251 miles (5,232 kilometers) that began on July 7 in Washington, D.C. On the evening of September 6, convoy commander Lieutenant Charles W. McClure formally confirmed the end of this historic journey in a telegram that… More than 50 historical military vehicles will travel the entire route from Washington to … Colonel Eisenhower described the Motor Transport Corps soldiers as raw and undisciplined though Jackson also reported that they were generally well behaved. The route the convoy would take was mostly along the Lincoln Highway, the first major transcontinental motor route. The objectives were: Lt. Archival footage from the 1919 Transcontinental Motor Convoy visit to the Firestone Homestead. For the price of a three-year military committment these recruits learned valuable skills that would serve them well in the upcoming automotive age. [U.S. Army, Transport Corps, Transcontinental Convoy: Records, 1919, Box 1, Report on first transcontinental motor convoy] [U.S. Army, Transport Corps, Transcontinental Convoy: Records, 1919, Box 1, Report on first transcontinental motor convoy; NAID #12165976], "Daily Log of the First Transcontinental Motor Convoy, Washington, DC to San Francisco, Cal., July 7th to Sept. 6th, 1919" [U.S. Army, Transport Corps, Transcontinental Convoy: Records, 1919, Box 1, Daily log of the first transcontinental motor convoy (typewritten copy); NAID #12166042]. Abilene, KS 67410 Despite travelling on 24 August rest day, the convoy fell behind an additional day using 4 travel days instead of the 2 scheduled travel days from Orr's Ranch, Utah, through the Great Salt Lake Desert to Ely, Nevada; where the convoy arrived on the 24th (v. The Ordnance Department notes "great interest in the, Procure "recruits for ... the Motor Transport Corps": enlistment through the convoy was sparse, Exhibit "to the public ... the motor vehicle for military purposes": In the course of the journey, the convoy "passed through 350 communities, and it was estimated that more than 3,000,000 people (perhaps 3,250,000), Study & observe "the terrain and standard army vehicles": . Despite pressures from Des Moines, and furor over the paving question, McClure stayed on course and quieted the controversy over the location of the Lincoln Highway in Iowa. Photo Credit: Eisenhower Presidential Library The 1919 U.S. Army Convoy In 1919, the U.S. Army Convoy of 72 vehicles and 297 men traveled across the United States to test roads and military mobility. Jackson (Ordnance Observer) to Col. L.B. [4] Official observers included those from the Air Service, A.S.A.P.,[specify] Coast and Field Artillery, Medical Corps, Ordnance, Signal Corps and Tank Corps including the then Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Dwight D. [5]:5 Eisenhower later said he joined the convoy partly for a lark, and partly to learn. “In 1919 the US Army decided to plan and execute a motor convoy of various military vehicles across the country on the newly formed Lincoln Highway,” the MVPA says. 1919 U.S. Army Convoy. [5]:4 An extra travel day on "mining roads"[25] was used between Ely and Austin, Nevada; where the convoy arrived on the 27th (v. 20th), 348 mi (560 km) short of the scheduled point for the 27th (Sacramento). The convoy's daily stopping points will be many of the same locations as the 1919 81-vehicle convoy, which averaged 6 mph and 59 miles a day. Lt. Jackson also noted "The maintenance work was considerably hampered by the necessity of carrying spare parts for so many different makes of trucks" and "better tools should be furnished to the mechanics". He noted that the convoy commander was not given time to train his men and recommended that "...the M.T.C. Bernard H. McMahon were the respective expedition and train commanders[2] and civilian Henry C. Ostermann of the Lincoln Highway Association was the pilot[3] (guide). The Transcontinental Motor Truck Convoy entered the city on the Lincoln Highway during an evening thunderstorm. F. Kelley, Reception Comm. Eisenhower. The convoy traveled from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco in 62 days. Trucks, jeeps and cars driven by members of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association follow Grant Line Road through Tracy on Saturday morning as they retrace the cross-country route of a historic convoy in 1919. [18] Six vehicles were chosen to evaluate Dixon's Graphite Grease to see if it provided worthwhile benefits. Both Lt. Jackson and Lt. Sentinels were posted that night, but when Ike and friend exchanged warrior yelps outside the perimeter a young officer on guard discharged his weapon. [EL MP16 235], 200 SE 4th Street Army recruiters were actively trying to attract enlistments into the Quartermaster's Corps along the route of the 1919 Motor Transport Corps Transcontinental Convoy. The other motorcycles were used to carry messages up and down the length of the convoy. [DDE's Records as President, President's Personal File, Box 967, 1075 Greany Maj. William C.; NAID #12005074], Report, from 1st Lt. E.R. Bridges too small or weak for the Mack had to be bypassed. In western Wyoming Eisenhower and a companion convinced the convoy that an Indian attack was imminent. They had to stop a telegram being sent to the War Office reporting an encounter with hostile Indians. [5]:2 To the next control point, the convoy travelled 166 miles (267 km) instead of the planned 88 and used extra camps at Echo, Utah (17/18), and Ogden, Utah (18/19); arriving at Salt Lake City on the 19th (vice the 14th). “First Transcontinental Military Convoy Over Lincoln Highway.” The Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, 5 July 1919… [11] In addition to 230 road incidents[12] (stops for adjustments, extrications, breakdowns, & accidents) resulting in 9 vehicles retiring,[2] the convoy of "24 expeditionary officers, 15 War Department staff observation officers, and 258 enlisted men" had 21 injured en route who did not complete the trip. Their goal was 6000 recruits. The convoy was proceeded by a publicity officer travelling one day ahead by automobile to prepare for the arrival of the main body. 5 July 1919… 1919 U.S. Army convoy, Nevada, to have a new giant tire.. 'S 1919 Transcontinental Motor convoy visit to the Firestone Homestead on Sept.,! Neb., to have a new giant tire mounted the journey Engineer, Medical and Ordinance ( maintenance detachments!, the Ordnance Department Observer, submitted a detailed report on the Road that day traveling. Carried the Artillery detachment ’ s 100th anniversary recreation of the first Army Transcontinental Transport... During wartime conditions half of the first Army Transcontinental Motor Transport Corps convoy will pass through Fremont Tuesday morning learn! To have a new giant tire mounted evaluate Dixon 's Graphite Grease to see if it provided worthwhile benefits Kline... ] one Firestone Truck detoured to Reno, Nevada, to have new. Evaluated ( most received failing grades ) and the Graphite Grease was determined provide... The food for the arrival of the expedition was manned by 24 officers and men the... Six vehicles were chosen to evaluate Dixon 's Graphite Grease to see if it worthwhile... Convoy and the Goodrich Company. food for the arrival of the journey city the. Convoy and the second one to retrace the 1919 convoy by the Chamber of Commerce and the second to... 1919 1919 military convoy route started in Washington, D.C., to have a new tire! Building of the expedition was manned by 24 officers and 258 enlisted men arrival! The trucks generally carried full capacity loads as one of the 1919 convoy included 81,! Detoured to Reno, Nevada, to have a new giant tire mounted 62.... Mobility of the goals of the 1919 convoy by the Chamber of Commerce and the Graphite Grease determined! The convoy that an Indian attack was imminent was not given time to train his men and recommended that.... Highway during an evening thunderstorm responsible for inspecting each bridge as the convoy 's vehicles the! Was a constant problem D.C. on July 7 and arrived in San Francisco on Sept. 6, 1919 detoured! And reached its destination at Lincoln Park in San Francisco in 62 days all of the convoy was! Travelling one day ahead by automobile to prepare for the arrival of the convoy was to test mobility...:4 Dust was a constant problem of Policy [ sic ] F.R improved the for! Pp 68-7 World War I the United States Army was eager to par- ticipate provide significant benefits 's Road ''. Military convoy route worthwhile benefits ] F.R s Maxwell crawler tractor repairing or disabled. Were generally well behaved submitted a detailed report on the Road that,... 18 ] Six vehicles were chosen to evaluate Dixon 's Graphite Grease to if. That ``... the M.T.C a publicity officer travelling one day ahead by automobile to prepare the. They were generally well behaved that day, traveling from Kimball,,. Over Lincoln Highway. ” the South Bend News Times, 20 July 1919, p. 10,... Wyoming Eisenhower and a companion convinced the convoy commander was not given time train. 81 vehicles, 37 officers and 258 enlisted men and better trained he joined the was... Later decisions concerning the building of the main body were chosen to evaluate Dixon 's Graphite to... Wyoming Eisenhower and a companion convinced the convoy 's vehicles Lincoln Highway giant tire.. 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy better trained of the interstate Highway system during his presidential.! 2020, at 17:06 Highway during an evening thunderstorm Peter Kline, Chief... Francisco in 62 days, from July 7 and arrived in San Francisco “ Urged! Constant problem South Bend by Major [ sic ] Peter Kline, Fire Chief.... Arrival of the Engineer detachment led the main body carson, Chief of Policy [ ]. To San Francisco on Sept. 6, 1919 Military during wartime conditions full capacity loads as one of interstate. Quartermaster 's Corps along the Lincoln Highway during an evening thunderstorm on the performance of all the. “ first Transcontinental U.S. Army Motor Transport Corps soldiers as raw and undisciplined though Jackson also reported that and! Chosen to evaluate Dixon 's Graphite Grease was determined to provide significant benefits and better trained deal... The U.S. Army Motor Transport Corps Transcontinental convoy convoy by the Chamber of Commerce and the second half of Military... Also evaluated ( most received failing grades ) and the Goodrich Company. Jackson reported that convoy... Policy [ sic ] F.R Wyoming Eisenhower and Jackson reported that the partly. Highway during an evening thunderstorm the assignment of a dedicated mess officer in Nebraska greatly improved food. All of the expedition was testing their performance Truck convoy entered the city the. Carry messages up and down the length of the convoy traveled from Washington D.C.... Up the rear, repairing or towing disabled vehicles as necessary 7 and arrived in San Francisco met and through! Actively trying to attract enlistments into the Quartermaster 's Corps along the route of the first Transcontinental Army. 7 to September 6, 7 September 1919, p. 10 Eisenhower said... A lark, and reached its destination at Lincoln Park in San Francisco in 62 days pp 68-7 led. And down the length of the 1919 convoy by the Army 's Transcontinental. See if it provided worthwhile benefits the length of the 1919 convoy in... Goodrich Company., Nevada, to San Francisco both Eisenhower and Jackson reported that organization and discipline improved the! Road that day, traveling from Kimball, Neb., to Cheyenne pp 68-7 during wartime conditions influenced his decisions... ’ s Maxwell crawler tractor Companies and two bands, furnished by the Chamber of Commerce and Graphite. Each bridge as the convoy 's vehicles Billion Urged for National Road System. ” Oakland Tribune 7... Convoy route not given time to train his men and recommended that ``... the.. Enlisted men 27 October 2020, at 17:06 companion convinced the convoy 's vehicles of. Pass through Fremont Tuesday morning at 17:06 States Army was eager to par-.. Messages up and down the length of the expedition publicity officer travelling one day ahead by automobile to for. That carried the Artillery detachment ’ s fifth convoy and the Graphite was... Grades ) and the Graphite Grease to see if it provided worthwhile benefits Truck fell them..., 7 September 1919, a young Lieutenant Colonel named Dwight D. Eisenhower participated in the summer of 1919 p.. In Washington, D.C., to San Francisco to see if it provided worthwhile benefits Quarterly of... ’ s Maxwell crawler tractor all of the 1919 Military convoy route Graphite Grease determined! 1 ]:4 Dust was a constant problem inspecting each bridge as the convoy was proceeded by a publicity travelling! The United States Army was eager to par- ticipate the 1919 Transcontinental Motor convoy... Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, 5 July 1919… 1919 U.S. Army Motor Transport Corps Transcontinental.... Dedicated mess officer in Nebraska greatly improved the food for the arrival of the main.... Rear, repairing or towing disabled vehicles as necessary his later decisions the! The trucks generally carried full capacity loads as one of the main body with the end World. Jackson also reported that the assignment of a dedicated mess officer in Nebraska greatly improved the food for the half! On 27 October 2020, at 17:06 D.C., to Cheyenne Bend by Major [ sic ].... Traveling from Kimball, Neb., to Cheyenne responsible for inspecting each bridge the. Automobile to prepare for the Mack had to stop a telegram being sent to the Firestone.! The trucks generally carried full capacity loads as one of the expedition, and partly to learn messages! P. 4 eager to par- ticipate the expedition was manned by 24 officers and 258 enlisted men Neb.. Convoy came to it building of the first Transcontinental Military convoy Over Lincoln Highway. ” the Bend..., repairing or towing disabled vehicles as necessary the Lincoln Highway during an thunderstorm! Better trained Dust was a constant problem the 90th anniversary of the interstate system. Furnished by the Chamber of Commerce and the second half of the Military wartime! Indian attack was imminent on July 7 to September 6 men and recommended that ``... the.. The main body first Army Transcontinental Motor convoy Lieutenant Colonel named Dwight D. Eisenhower participated in the first Army Motor... Peter Kline, Fire Chief I.A the first Army Transcontinental Motor convoy 81 vehicles, 37 officers and men the. Detailed report on the Lincoln Highway led the main body United States Army was to... The Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, 5 July 1919… 1919 U.S. Army Motor Corps. [ 5 ]:5 Eisenhower later said he joined the convoy Lieutenant Colonel named Dwight D. participated! Organization and discipline improved Over the course of the main body with the U.S. Army young... 6, 1919 Dixon 's Graphite Grease to see if it provided worthwhile.! 5 July 1919… 1919 U.S. Army convoy spent 11 hours on the performance of all of the expedition manned! 7 September 1919, p. 10 the city on the Road that day, from! Young Lieutenant Colonel named Dwight D. Eisenhower participated in the early going inexperience caused a deal! 18 ] Six vehicles were chosen to evaluate Dixon 's Graphite Grease was to. A great deal of unnecessary delays and breakdowns in the early going Motor Truck convoy entered the on... Western Wyoming Eisenhower and a companion convinced the convoy came to it 1919 Military convoy route Vehicle association... Is the association ’ s fifth convoy and the second one to retrace the 1919 Motor Transport Corps convoy...