American Expeditionary Force

The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) was the designation for the United States military in Europe during World War I. Under the command of General John Pershing, the AEF participated in significant battles, including the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in September 1918. This marked the first U.S.-led offensive and allowed American troops to fight under their own command.12

Following Saint-Mihiel, the AEF was heavily involved in the battles of the Meuse-Argonne, a series of final confrontations on the Western Front. Despite facing difficult terrain and largely inexperienced formations, over a million Americans participated in these battles, which contributed to the eventual armistice. The term AEF has also been used in the context of World War II, referring to the Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force, a role held by General Dwight D. Eisenhower during the Normandy invasion.34