Many of his classmates became general officers later in their military careers: Samuel T. Ansell, Charles M. Bundel, Clifton C. Carter, Stanley D. Embick, Robert C. Foy, Stuart Heintzelman, Charles D. Herron, Evan H. Humphrey, Frederick B. Kerr, Leon Kromer, Duncan K. Major Jr., Edward M. Markham, George Van Horn Moseley, Ephraim G. Peyton, Clement A. Trott and James A. Woodruff.

Simonds, promoted in August 1917 to lieutenant colonel, was Chief of Staff of the 2nd Corps, AEF, commanded by Major General George Windle Read.

General Simonds served with marked distinction as Chief of Staff of the 2d Army Corps during the important operations along the Hindenburg line in the region of the Sambre Canal.

His great administrative ability was shown in the excellent manner in which he handled a large force of American soldiers serving with the British.

[1] In June 1936, Simonds took command of the Fourth United States Army and Ninth Corps; the headquarters was at the Presidio of San Francisco.