U.S. 106th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 106th Infantry Division was a division
of the United States Army, formed for service during World War II
. Two of its three regiments were overrun and surrounded in the initial days of the Battle of the Bulge
, and forced to surrender on 19 December 1944.
. It was actually activated on 15 March 1943 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina
with a cadre from the 80th Infantry Division. Following Basic and Advanced Infantry Training, the Division moved on 28 March 1944 to Tennessee
to participate in the Second Army #5 Maneuvers.
During World War II, the 106th Infantry Division relieved the 2nd Infantry Division in the Schnee Eifel
on 11 December 1944, with its 424th Infantry Regiment was sent to Winterspelt
. The Ardennes-Alsace Campaign attack was thrown in force at the 106th on 16 December 1944.
The division's 422nd and 423rd Infantry Regiments were encircled and cut off from the remainder of the Division by a junction of enemy forces in the vicinity of Schonberg
. They regrouped for a counterattack but were blocked by the enemy and lost to the Division on 18 December 1944. The two Regiments surrendered to the Germans on 19 December 1944.
The rest of the Division, reinforced by the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division, withdrew over the Our River
, and joined other units at Saint Vith. Along with the city of Bastogne to the south, St. Vith was a road and rail junction city considered vital to the German goal of breaking through Allied lines to split American and British forces and reach the Belgian port city of Antwerp. A scratch force of 106th Division personnel, in particular the division's 81st Engineer Combat Battalion, was organized and led by the 81st's 28-year-old commanding officer, Lt. Col. Thomas Riggs, in a five-day holding action (17–21 December) on a thin ridge line a mile outside St. Vith, against German forces vastly superior in numbers and armament (only a few hundred combat-green Americans against many thousands of veteran Germans). For this heroic stand, the 81st Engineer Combat Battalion was later awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for gallantry.
The stubborn defense of St. Vith by the 106th has been credited with ruining the German timetable for reaching Antwerp and thus dooming the Bulge offensive for the Germans. The courageous battle of the surrounded 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne is better known in the popular history of the war, but the contribution to victory of the Golden Lions is equally important.
The 81st and its allied units, including 168th Engineer Combat Battalion, all pulled back from St. Vith on 21 December 1944, under constant enemy fire, and withdrew over the Saint River at Vielsalm
on 23 December. The following day, the 424th Regiment, attached to the 7th Armored Division, fought a delaying action at Manhay
until ordered to an assembly area. From 25 December 1944 to 9 January 1945, the Division received reinforcements and supplies at Anthisnes
, Belgium, and returned to the struggle, securing objectives along the Ennal-Logbierme line on the 15th after heavy fighting. After being pinched out by advancing divisions, the 106th assembled at Stavelot
on the 18th for rehabilitation and training. It moved to the vicinity of Hunningen, 7 February 1945, for defensive patrols and training.
In March, the 424th advanced along the high ground between Berk
and the Simmer River and was again pinched out at Olds
on 7 March 1945. A period of training and security patrolling along the Rhine River followed, until 15 March 1945 when the Division moved to St. Quentin for rehabilitation and the reconstruction of lost units.
The division was reconstituted on 16 March 1945 when the 3rd Infantry Regiment (the Old Guard) and the 159th Infantry Regiment
were attached to replace the two lost regiments. The division then moved back to Germany on 25 April 1945, where, for the remainder of its stay in Europe, the 106th handled POW enclosures and engaged in occupational duties.
In the meantime, the 422nd Infantry Regiment and the 423rd Infantry Regiment were reconstituted from replacements in France on 15 April 1945, were attached to the 66th Infantry Division in training status, and were still in this status when the Germans surrendered on 8 May 1945.
At the end of the war the division had seen 63 days of combat. It had suffered 417 KIA
, 1,278 WIA
, and 53 died of wounds. It lost 6,697 personnel taken prisoner
. Of that total, 6,500 POWs were eventually returned to American military control after being releases at war's end. The remainder were listed MIA
.
All infantry members who received the Combat Infantryman Badge
were also later awarded the Bronze Star.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the United States Army, formed for service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Two of its three regiments were overrun and surrounded in the initial days of the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, and forced to surrender on 19 December 1944.
History
The division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company was constituted on paper on 5 May 1942 in the Army of the United StatesArmy of the United States
The Army of the United States is the official name for the conscription force of the United States Army that may be raised at the discretion of the United States Congress in the event of the United States entering into a major armed conflict...
. It was actually activated on 15 March 1943 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
with a cadre from the 80th Infantry Division. Following Basic and Advanced Infantry Training, the Division moved on 28 March 1944 to Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
to participate in the Second Army #5 Maneuvers.
During World War II, the 106th Infantry Division relieved the 2nd Infantry Division in the Schnee Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
on 11 December 1944, with its 424th Infantry Regiment was sent to Winterspelt
Winterspelt
Winterspelt is a municipality in the district of Bitburg-Prüm, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany....
. The Ardennes-Alsace Campaign attack was thrown in force at the 106th on 16 December 1944.
The division's 422nd and 423rd Infantry Regiments were encircled and cut off from the remainder of the Division by a junction of enemy forces in the vicinity of Schonberg
Schönberg
- Germany :*Schönberg, Lower Bavaria, a town in the district of Freyung-Grafenau in Bavaria*Schönberg, Upper Bavaria, a town in the district of Mühldorf in Bavaria*Schönberg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, district Nordwestmecklenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
. They regrouped for a counterattack but were blocked by the enemy and lost to the Division on 18 December 1944. The two Regiments surrendered to the Germans on 19 December 1944.
The rest of the Division, reinforced by the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division, withdrew over the Our River
Our River
The Our is a river of Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. It is a left tributary to the river Sauer/Sûre. Its total length is 78 km....
, and joined other units at Saint Vith. Along with the city of Bastogne to the south, St. Vith was a road and rail junction city considered vital to the German goal of breaking through Allied lines to split American and British forces and reach the Belgian port city of Antwerp. A scratch force of 106th Division personnel, in particular the division's 81st Engineer Combat Battalion, was organized and led by the 81st's 28-year-old commanding officer, Lt. Col. Thomas Riggs, in a five-day holding action (17–21 December) on a thin ridge line a mile outside St. Vith, against German forces vastly superior in numbers and armament (only a few hundred combat-green Americans against many thousands of veteran Germans). For this heroic stand, the 81st Engineer Combat Battalion was later awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for gallantry.
The stubborn defense of St. Vith by the 106th has been credited with ruining the German timetable for reaching Antwerp and thus dooming the Bulge offensive for the Germans. The courageous battle of the surrounded 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne is better known in the popular history of the war, but the contribution to victory of the Golden Lions is equally important.
The 81st and its allied units, including 168th Engineer Combat Battalion, all pulled back from St. Vith on 21 December 1944, under constant enemy fire, and withdrew over the Saint River at Vielsalm
Vielsalm
Vielsalm is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg.On 1 January 2007 the municipality had 7,339 inhabitants...
on 23 December. The following day, the 424th Regiment, attached to the 7th Armored Division, fought a delaying action at Manhay
Manhay
Manhay is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg.On 1 January 2007 the municipality, which covers 119.81 km², had 3,185 inhabitants, giving a population density of 26.6 inhabitants per km²....
until ordered to an assembly area. From 25 December 1944 to 9 January 1945, the Division received reinforcements and supplies at Anthisnes
Anthisnes
Anthisnes is a Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Anthisnes had a total population of 3,998. The total area is 37.08 km² which gives a population density of 108 inhabitants per km²....
, Belgium, and returned to the struggle, securing objectives along the Ennal-Logbierme line on the 15th after heavy fighting. After being pinched out by advancing divisions, the 106th assembled at Stavelot
Stavelot
Stavelot is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006, Stavelot had a total population of 6,671. The total area is 85.07 km² which gives a population density of 78 inhabitants per km².-History:...
on the 18th for rehabilitation and training. It moved to the vicinity of Hunningen, 7 February 1945, for defensive patrols and training.
In March, the 424th advanced along the high ground between Berk
Berk
Berk may refer to:As a surname:*Dick Berk , American musician*İlhan Berk , Turkish poet*John van den Berk , Dutch motorcyclist*Sammy Berk , American vaudeville entertainer...
and the Simmer River and was again pinched out at Olds
Olds
Olds may refer to:* Oldsmobile, a brand of automobile manufactured in the US from 1897 - 2004People* F. E. Olds , founder of American brass musical instrument manufacturing company...
on 7 March 1945. A period of training and security patrolling along the Rhine River followed, until 15 March 1945 when the Division moved to St. Quentin for rehabilitation and the reconstruction of lost units.
The division was reconstituted on 16 March 1945 when the 3rd Infantry Regiment (the Old Guard) and the 159th Infantry Regiment
159th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 159th Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Army. It served as a part of the 40th Infantry Division for most of its history before deploying in World War II as a part of the 7th Infantry Division.-World War I:...
were attached to replace the two lost regiments. The division then moved back to Germany on 25 April 1945, where, for the remainder of its stay in Europe, the 106th handled POW enclosures and engaged in occupational duties.
In the meantime, the 422nd Infantry Regiment and the 423rd Infantry Regiment were reconstituted from replacements in France on 15 April 1945, were attached to the 66th Infantry Division in training status, and were still in this status when the Germans surrendered on 8 May 1945.
At the end of the war the division had seen 63 days of combat. It had suffered 417 KIA
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
, 1,278 WIA
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
, and 53 died of wounds. It lost 6,697 personnel taken prisoner
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. Of that total, 6,500 POWs were eventually returned to American military control after being releases at war's end. The remainder were listed MIA
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
.
Lineage
- Moved to Camp AtterburyCamp AtterburyCamp Atterbury, near Edinburgh, Indiana, USA, is a training base of the Indiana National Guard. It was planned just months before the U.S. entry into World War II. Originally surveyed and researched by the Hurd Company, the present site was recommended to Congress in 1941. Construction commenced...
, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, on 28 March 1944. - Staged at Camp Miles Standish, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
on 10 October 1944. - Departed BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Port of Embarkation on 10 November 1944. - Arrived in England, 17 November 1944, and trained for 19 Days.
- Assigned 29 November 1944 to VIII CorpsVIII CorpsList of military corps — List of military corps by numberA number of countries have Eighth, or VIII, Corps:* VIII Corps * VIII Corps * U.S. VIII Corps involvement in the American Civil War...
, First United States Army, 12th Army Group. - Moved to France, 6 December 1944, where the Division entered the on-going Rhineland Campaign
- 106th Infantry Division crossed into Belgium on 10 December 1944
- Relieved from assignment to Rhineland Campaign on 16 December 1944, and Assigned to Ardennes-Alsace Campaign.
- Relieved from assignment to VIII Corps, and Assigned 20 December 1944 to XVIII Airborne Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group, with attachment to the 21st Army Group.
- Relieved from attachment to 21st Army Group on 18 January 1945, and returned to XVIII Airborne Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
- Ardennes-Alsace Campaign terminated 25 January 1945. Division resumed assignment to Rhineland Campaign.
- On 6 February 1945, the 106th Infantry Division relieved from assignment to XVIII Airborne Corps, and assigned to V Corps.
- On 10 March 1945, 106th Division relieved from assignment to V Corps, and assigned to Fifteenth United States Army, 12th Army Group.
- 106th Infantry Division returned to France on 16 March 1945
- Rhineland Campaign terminated on 21 March 1945.
- Central Europe CampaignCentral Europe CampaignAfter crossing the Rhine the Western Allies fanned out overrunning all of western Germany from the Baltic in the north to Austria in the south before the Germans surrendered on 8 May 1945. This is known as the "Central Europe Campaign" in United States military histories.By the early spring of...
started on 22 March 1945. - On 15 April 1945, 106th Infantry Division was attached to the Advanced Section, Communications Zone. Fifteenth Army directed the establishment of the Frontier Command segment of the Occupation of GermanyUnited States ConstabularyThe United States Constabulary was a United States Army military Constabulary force. From 1946 to 1952, in the aftermath of World War II, it acted as an occupation and security force in the U.S...
. - On 23 April 1945, the Frontier Command segment of the German Occupation started.
- 106th Infantry Division entered Germany on 25 April 1945.
- On 8 May 1945, Germany signed its surrender.
- With the termination of the Central Europe Campaign, German hostilities ceased on 11 May 1945.
- 106th Infantry Division was located at Bad EmsBad EmsBad Ems is a town in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the county seat of the Rhein-Lahn rural district and is well known as a bathing resort on the river Lahn...
, Germany on 14 August 1945. - 106th Infantry Division returned to New York Port of Embarkation on 1 October 1945.
- Inactivated 2 October 1945 at Camp ShanksCamp ShanksCamp Shanks, named after Major General David Carey Shanks was a United States Army installation in and around Orangeburg in the Town of Orangetown, New York. Situated near the juncture of the Erie Railroad and the Hudson River, it served as a point of embarkation for troops departing overseas...
, New York. - Headquarters Company allotted 25 March 1948 to the Organized Reserve CorpsUnited States Army ReserveThe United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
- Activated 1 May 1948 at San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
; - Inactivated 12 October 1950 at San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Assigned units
1942 ("Triangular") Organization- HHC, 106th Infantry Division
- 422nd Infantry Regiment.
- 423rd Infantry Regiment.
- 424th Infantry Regiment
- HHB, 106th Division Artillery
- 589th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
- 590th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
- 591st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
- 592nd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
- 106th Mechanized Reconnaissance Troop
- Hqs, Special Troops, 106th Infantry Division
- Military Police Platoon, 106th Infantry Division
- 81st Engineer Battalion (Combat)
- 331st Medical Battalion
- 106th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment
- 806th Ordnance Company (Light Maintenance)
- 106th Quartermaster Company
- 106th Signal Company
Attached units
- 820th Tank Destroyer Battalion (Self-Propelled)(M-18): 8 December 1944—4 January 1945.
- 444th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Auto Weapons): 17 December 1944—25 December 1944.
- 563rd Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Auto Weapons): 9 December 1944—18 December 1944.
- 634th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Auto Weapons): 8 December 1944—18 December 1944.
Campaign participation credit
World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
- Rhineland Campaign
- Ardennes-Alsace Campaign
- Central Europe CampaignCentral Europe CampaignAfter crossing the Rhine the Western Allies fanned out overrunning all of western Germany from the Baltic in the north to Austria in the south before the Germans surrendered on 8 May 1945. This is known as the "Central Europe Campaign" in United States military histories.By the early spring of...
Unit recognition
- Distinguished Unit Citations
- Belgian FourragèreFourragèreThe fourragère is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, that is shaped as a braided cord. The award has been firstly adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.- History :...
1940 (424th Infantry cited per DA GO 45, 1950) - Cited in the Order Of The Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes (424th Infantry cited per DA GO 43, 1950).
- Cited in the Order Of The Day of the Belgian Army for action at St Vith (424th Infantry cited per DA GO 43, 1950).
Individual recognition
- Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
-6; - Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
-1; - Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
-77; - Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
-9; - Soldier's MedalSoldier's MedalThe Soldier's Medal is a military award of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926...
-26; - Bronze Star MedalBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
-352; - Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
-10.
All infantry members who received the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
were also later awarded the Bronze Star.
Shoulder sleeve insignia
- Description. On a blue disc within a white edge, a gold lion's face all within a red border.
- Symbolism:
- The blue is for infantry, while the red represents artillery support.
- The lion's face represents strength and power.
External links
- Combat Chronicles from The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950, pp. 510–592 reproduced by the United States Army Center of Military History