New York State Military Museum hosts free talk about World War I battle on Saturday, Dec. 1

SARATOGA SPRINGS (11/16/2018) (readMedia)-- The author of a book about the World War I experiences of the 42nd Infantry Division-now a New York National Guard unit based in Troy-will speak about his latest World War I book at the New York State Military Museum on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Nimrod T. Frazer, the author of "The Best World War I Story I now, On the Point in the Argonne," will speak at 1 p.m. at the museum, which is located at 61 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs. There is no cost to attend.

The book tells the story of 35th Division, the 1st Division, and the 42nd Division and their attack on German positions on the Cote de Chatillion ridge during the American Army's Meuse-Argonne offensive in the autumn of 1918.

The 35th Division was made up of National Guard units from Missouri and Kansas. The 42nd Division was comprised of elements from 26 states.

The 1st Division was made up of Regular Army Soldiers.

The 35th Division and the 1st Division exhausted themselves trying to take the position and the mission was given to the Guardsmen of the 42nd Division. Eventually the 84th Brigade, led by then Brig. Gen. Douglas MacArthur and made up of National Guard Soldiers from MIssouori and Alabama, broke through the German line.

Frazer, is also the author of the book "Send the Alabamians, World War I Fighters in the Rainbow Division". His Father, Will Frazer, fought with the 167th Infantry Regiment of the Alabama National Guard in the 42nd Division.

Frazer, himself fought in Korea, earning the Silver Star and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School and a member of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame.

He honored his father's service by erecting in 2011 a Memorial to the Rainbow Division and the 167th on the site of the battle of Croix Rouge Farm. It honors all the soldiers of the Rainbow Division who gave their lives on French battlefields during WWI.

In 2017, the Republic of France made him Chevalier in the Order of the Legion of Honor.

Frazer's remarks on Dec. 1 will be followed with a presentation by Dr. Monique B. Seefried, a member of the US World War One Centennial Commission. She will speak about the French National Office of Forestry WWI Trail which connects some of the important sites where Americans fought during the war.