On April 24, 1917, shortly after the US declared war on Germany, former French Prime Minister René Viviani arrived in the US as head of a commission to solicit US support for the war. He was accompanied by the famous Marshal of France, Joseph Joffre. The mission was initially met by Admiral Henry Mayo, commander-in-chief of the US Atlantic Fleet, French Ambassador to the US Jean Jules Jusserand and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt. Assistance to help manage the French railway system was high on their priority list.

According to the official history of the 13th Engineers:

“First among the requests of this Commission was one which called for experienced railway men for the operation of the military lines of France and, incidentally, to lay the foundation for an American line of communication from Atlantic ports to the front lines. The formation of railway regiments having already begun, it remained only that the personnel be recruited and ordered into active service.

“Accordingly, six railways (the Illinois Central, Rock Island & Pacific, Chicago Great Western, Milwaukee & St. Paul, Chicago & Northwestern, and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe) instructed the men they had selected to come to Chicago for examination and enlistment. Colonel W. C. Langfitt, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, was ordered from his duties in the Southwest to Chicago to command the regiment to be known as the 3rd Reserve Engineers, reporting May 12th, 1917.

“Railway officials opened recruiting offices where the men were first examined as to character and ability before they were allowed to apply for regular army enlistment at the other headquarters. The regiment was to be trained as closely as possible to the point where they would depart for France, and the city authorities of Chicago authorized the use of the new Municipal Pier at the foot of Grand Avenue for the organization of the regiment.”

Edwin Dudley was soon heading to Chicago.