I Maintain the Right by Rick Reeves

The 307th Engineers in the Meuse - Argonne, October 1918

Commissioned by the 307^th Engineer Battalion, “I Maintain the Right” is brought to life by one of the country’s leading historical artists, Rick Reeves, who combines exquisite detail and authenticity in his depiction of the 307^th Engineers engaged in a fierce battle during the Meuse-Argonne campaign.

While conducting engineer operations in the First Army Rear, Delta Company was detached from the 82^nd Division and ordered to support the 55^th Brigade, 28^th Infantry Division in the vicinity of Apremont, France. The company was broken up with 50 sappers, a platoon of machine gunners and two squads of infantry assigned to a quarry forward of the line with the mission to organize it as a strong point. The balance of the company was held in reserve to conduct reconnaissance patrols and bolster defenses in the firing line. The quarry was a key defensive position to the division, and it had been ordered that no man was to leave his position. As many as 12 German Infantry companies of 120 men each attacked the quarry from two directions, surrounding it at one point. As the quarry came under heavy attack, the engineer sappers and infantry put up a stout defense, gave up no ground and inflicted up to 500 casualties (200 KIA) on the enemy while having no soldier killed.

Given a courageous stand and successful defense, the action of the 307^th Engineers at Apremont engenders the determination and tenacity of all its soldiers. The 307^th motto, “I Maintain the Right”, was approved by the War Department on 27 August 1942 and is “expressive of the Battalion’s desire to continue its contribution to the maintenance of liberty and righteousness.”