<Ul> <Li> Cantigny </Li> <Li> Belleau Wood </Li> <Li> Château - Thierry </Li> </Ul> <Li> Château - Thierry </Li> <P> The Battle of Cantigny, fought May 28, 1918 was the first major American battle and offensive of World War I . The U.S. 1st Division, the most experienced of the five American divisions then in France and in reserve for the French Army near the village of Cantigny, was selected for the attack . The objective of the attack was both to reduce a small salient made by the German Army in the front lines but also to instill confidence among the French and British allies in the ability of the inexperienced American Expeditionary Force (AEF). </P> <P> At 06: 45 (H Hour), 28 May 1918, American Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Regiment left their jump - off trenches following an hour - long artillery preparation . Part of the preparation was counter-battery fire directed at German artillery positions . A rolling barrage, advancing 100 meters every two minutes, was calculated to give the attacking troops time to keep up with it . </P>

Where did the us first attack in ww1