Why were World War 1 US soldiers called dough boys?

Answer 1

The usual explanation is that during the "Punitive Expedition" into Mexico in 1916, where Pershing led American soldiers in a long "chase" around northern Mexico after Pancho Villa, the infantry soldiers frequently got covered with dust. It was adobe dust (the same soil used as the primary building material in the southwest), so the mounted soldiers called these dusty infantrymen "adobes". Then it became "dobies". From there it was a short transliteration to "doughboys".

By the way, their sons in the next war did not call themselves "GIs". They called themselves "doughs".

Pershing (a city in Michigan) High School's mascot is the doughboy

Answer 2

The familiar Spanish soldiers were accustomed to eating the fried dough, and when American soldiers came to fight in WWI they came to love the fired dough, and thus were called doughboys.

Answer 3

I don't know if the term is specific to the WWI or II era but 'Dough Boy' is an alternative term for G.I.s

Answer 4

t think it was because they were fat