Home of Marion's Own

Information regarding the Ohio National Guard unit from Marion, Ohio that became Co. D of the 166th Infantry of the 42 Division in 1917.

From Rainbow Memories - Character Sketches and History of the First Battalion 166th Infantry, 42nd Divsion AEF by First Lieutenant Alison Reppy

"Captured German prisoner says the Huns are afraid of only two American divisions, namely, the Rainbow and the Forty-Second". - Ohio Rainbow Reveille, August, 31, 1918

This site is intended to be a source for:
- Personal histories.
- Action history.
- Any other related information.

This work is a collaboration between Paul Wallace and Mark Boyd, grandsons of Sgt. Roy Bailey and Pvt. A.D. Boyd.
If you have any information to add, or questions to ask, please e-mail
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Paul has put together a CD that combines Roy Bailey's diary, A.D. Boyd's letters and commentary from Ohio In the Rainbow as well as other comments. You can download the CD image here in .zip format.

We also have available several books and newspaper articles that we are using as reference. The primary written history of the 166th in WW1 is Ohio In The Rainbow by Robert Cheseldine.

See the News page for recent developments

Co. D materials available are:

Letter's Home by Austin DeWitt "Dusty" Boyd
Diary of Sgt. Roy Bailey
Photos from the 4th Ohio National Guard involvement in Texas in 1916.
Rainbow Memories: Character Sketches and History of the First Battalion
Ohio Rainbow Reveille - Read what the troops were reading in the trenches (and sending home)
Brief History of Co. D. (1939)

We're guessing this photo was taken in France before the action (perhaps Camp Mills, NY).
Note that this image is much larger than is displayed here. You can right click on the image and select "View image" and see it at a much higher resolution.

This photo was taken in Germany after the Armistice. Co. D was billeted in this resort hotel, Schloss Ernich on the banks of the Rhiene near Unkelbach, Germany
Note that this image is much larger than is displayed here. You can right click on the image and select "View image" and see it at a much higher resolution.

Here is an old post card of Schloss Ernich sent to me by Richard Dana.

166th Inf Resources:

Information on Co. G, largely from Greenfield, OH

Co. E - Marysville Memorial marker

Rainbow Memories - CHARACTER SKETCHES AND HISTORY of the FIRST BATTALION, I66TH INFANTRY, 42ND DivisioN by First Lieutenant Alison Reppy INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, FIRST BATTALION

Other WW1 Resources:

An excellent overall history of the 166th Infantry in WW1 is available at the Ohio Historical Society Web site.
WW1 Forum
Trenches on the Web - A great deal of information about WW1

Diary of Pvt James Bradford, 101^st Ammunition train 26^th Div.

Marion County, Ohio Resources:

Marion County History Society
Huber Museum