35th Infantry at Camp Travis

The 35^th Infantry Regiment Assignment to the 18^th Division Aug. 20, 1918 to Nov. 8, 1919
Camp Travis Barracks 1918
With a portion of its troops still back at Nogales, engaged in the "Battle of Ambos Nogales", a good portion of the 35th Infantry Regiment found itself at Camp Travis, Texas. The 35th had been assigned to the 18th Division on 20 August, 1918. During the summer of 1918 Camp Travis served as an induction and replacement center for troops headed for overseas service. By July, the camp saw an average strength of about 34,000 white and black troops. In August and September the Eighteenth Division was formed of old and new units at the post under the command of Brig. Gen. George H. Estes.

With the insignia, the figure "18", superimposed on a green cactus plant, under which is written "Noli me tangere," the 18th Division was organized at Camp Travis, Texas on 31 July 1918. On 2 August, the organization of the Division’s Artillery brigade was ordered at Camp Stanley, Leon Springs, Texas. Formation of the 18th Division began in August after the 19th and 35th Infantry Regiments had been concentrated at Camp Travis. The 19th and 35th Regular Army Infantry Regiments were assigned to this division and these regiments furnished the nucleus for the organization of the other two infantry regiments of the division. The division was composed of the following organizations: 18th Hqs. Troop, 52d Machine Gun Bn., 35th Inf. Brig. (19th and 85th Inf., 53d Machine Gun Bn.), 36th Inf. Brig. (35th and 36th Inf, 54th Machine Gun Bn.), 18th Fld. Arty. Brig. (52d, 53d, and 54th Fld. Arty., 18th Trench Mortar Battery), 218th Engrs., 18th Train Hqs., and M.P., 18th Amm. Train, 18th Supply Train, 18th Sanitary Train (Field Hospitals and Amb. Cos. No. 269, 270, 271 and 272).
Camp Travis circa 1921
All units of the division except the engineer train were organized by the middle of October and undergoing intensive training in preparation for war service overseas. With the end of Word War 1, on 11 November, 1918, the 18th Division found itself still in training. With the end to the war came also the end of the 18th. By February 14, 1919, all units of the division, except those of the regular Army, had been demobilized. The 35th Infantry continued its training at Camp Travis until 8 November, 1919, when it was relieved from its assignment at the camp. By the 16th of November, the "Cacti" found themselves transferred to Camp Lewis in Washington State.