The Rainbow Soldier
A poignant World War I memorial at Montgomery’s historic Union Station, honoring the 3,677 Alabama National Guardsmen of the "Rainbow" Division.
Bond of Brothers
A 10-foot bronze sculpture by James Butler depicting a soldier carrying a fallen comrade.
This is a second casting of the monument located at the site of the Battle of Croix Rouge Farm in France, symbolizing a bond that spans an ocean.
Union Station
Located at 300 Water St, exactly where the 167th Infantry Regiment boarded trains for France on August 28, 1917.
Inaugurated on the 2017 Centennial
Open 24/7 in public area
Rainbow Division
The division was nicknamed by Douglas MacArthur, who said a unit composed of National Guardsmen from 26 states would "stretch across the whole country like a rainbow." Commissioned by Nimrod T. Frazer to honor his father and fellow Alabamians.
"A powerful bond between servicemen and their shared sacrifice."
Departure
Regiment leaves Union Station for WWI.
167th Infantry
Alabama National Guard
Dedication
100th Anniversary Memorial.
Standing where they left, remembering those who did not return.
History & Background
The Rainbow Division was the 42nd Infantry Division of the United States Army, nicknamed because it was assembled from National Guard units from 26 states and the District of Columbia — representing "a rainbow of states." Organized in 1917 and shipped to France during World War I, the Rainbow Division became one of the most distinguished American combat divisions of the war. Under the command of General Charles T. Menoher (and with Douglas MacArthur serving as chief of staff), the division fought in the Second Battle of the Marne, the Champagne-Marne Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive — some of the bloodiest fighting of the Great War.
Alabama's National Guard units contributed soldiers to the 42nd Division, connecting the state to the Rainbow Division's extraordinary combat record. World War I brought enormous changes to Alabama: tens of thousands of Alabamians served in the military, military installations were established in the state, and the war industries boosted Alabama's economy. The war also exposed Black Alabama soldiers to a world outside Jim Crow — an experience that many historians credit as an important factor in the awakening of civil rights consciousness in the early 20th century.
The Rainbow Division remained active through World War II, serving in the Pacific theater and liberating the Dachau concentration camp in April 1945. The soldiers of the 42nd Division were among the first Americans to witness and document the horrors of the Nazi death camps, an experience that left lasting trauma and moral clarity in equal measure. Monuments to the Rainbow Division honor soldiers who served across two world wars and multiple generations of military service, preserving their sacrifice in the public memory of the communities that sent them off to war.
Nearby Attractions
Alabama Department of Archives and History (Montgomery)
The Alabama Archives holds extensive military records, photographs, and service histories for Alabama soldiers in both World Wars. The museum's military history exhibits document Alabama's contributions to American conflicts from the Revolutionary War through contemporary service. Free admission and exceptional depth make it essential for visitors interested in Alabama military history.
U.S. Army Aviation Museum (Fort Novosel, Daleville)
Located at Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker) in southeastern Alabama, the Army Aviation Museum is the largest Army aviation museum in the world. The collection includes over 185 military aircraft spanning the history of Army aviation from early autogyros to modern attack helicopters. The museum provides free admission and a remarkable opportunity to see the evolution of American military aviation in one place.
Redstone Arsenal and U.S. Space and Rocket Center (Huntsville)
The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville houses the world's largest collection of rockets and space artifacts, including a real Saturn V moon rocket. Adjacent to Redstone Arsenal — where German rocket scientists including Wernher von Braun worked after World War II — the museum tells the story of how military missile development became the foundation of America's space program. Space Camp, operated here since 1982, has educated over a million young people.