U.S. 9th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 9th Infantry Division ("Old Reliables") was created as the 9th Division during World War I, but never deployed overseas. Later, the division was an important unit of the United States Army
in World War II and the Vietnam War
. It was also activated as a peacetime readiness unit from 1947 to 1962 at Fort Dix
, New Jersey, and Fort Carson
, Colorado, and from 1972 to 1991 as an active-duty infantry division at Fort Lewis, Washington. Nicknamed the "Old Reliables", the division was eventually inactivated in December 1991.
, Carlson's Raiders on Makin Island
, the 1st Marine and the
Americal on the Guadalcanal
, and, alongside the 9th in North Africa
, were the 3rd Infantry and the 2nd Armored Divisions.) The 9th saw its first combat on 8 November 1942, when its elements landed at Algiers
, Safi
, and Port Lyautey, with the taking of Safi by the 3rd Battalion of the 47th Infantry Regiment standing as the first liberation of a city from Axis control in World War II.
With the collapse of French resistance on 11 November 1942, the division patrolled the Spanish Moroccan border. The 9th returned to Tunisia in February and engaged in small defensive actions and patrol activity. On 28 March 1943 it launched an attack in southern Tunisia and fought its way north into Bizerte
, 7 May. In August, the 9th landed at Palermo, Sicily, and took part in the capture of Randazzo
and Messina. After returning to England for further training, the division landed on Utah Beach
on 10 June 1944 (D plus 4), cut off the Cotentin Peninsula
, drove on to Cherbourg and penetrated the port's heavy defenses.
After a brief rest in July, the division took part in the St. Lo
break-through and in August helped close the Falaise Gap
. Turning east, the 9th crossed the Marne
, 28 August, swept through Saarlautern, and in November and December held defensive positions from Monschau
to Losheim
. Moving north to Bergrath
, Germany, it launched an attack toward the Roer, 10 December, taking Echtz and Schlich
. From mid-December through January 1945, the division held defensive positions from Kalterherberg
to Elsenborn
. On 30 January the division jumped off from Monschau in a drive across the Roer and to the Rhine, crossing at Remagen
, 7 March.
After breaking out of the Remagen bridgehead, the 9th assisted in the sealing and clearing of the Ruhr Pocket
, then moved 150 miles (240 km) east to Nordhausen
and attacked in the Harz Mountains, 14–20 April. On 21 April the Division relieved the 3d Armored Division
along the Mulde River, near Dessau
, and held that line until VE-day.
Medal of Honor 4
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
and other US Navy units that made up the Brown Water Navy. Its area of operations was in the rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta
from 1967 to 1972. Operation Speedy Express
was one significant operation in which the division took part during the war, while the Battle of Ap Bac was one of 22 major combat engagements with North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong main force units as well as thousands of small contacts during this period during division's presence in Vietnam.
The 9th Division was reactivated on 1 February 1966, and arrived in Vietnam on 16 December 1966 from Fort Riley
, Kansas, and its major units departed Vietnam on 27 August 1969 (HHC & 1st BDE) to Hawaii; 27 August 1969 (2nd BDE) to Fort Lewis, Washington; 12 October 1970 (3rd BDE) to Fort Lewis, Washington.
On deployment the division was assigned to the III Corps Tactical Zone of Vietnam where it commenced operations in the Dinh Tuong and Long An provinces (6 January-31 May 1967) in Operation Palm Beach.
The infantry units that eventually served with the 9th Infantry Division were:
Other units included:
One of the more unique units serving with the division was the experimental Armor Platoon (Air Cushion Vehicle) which used the specially designed hovercraft to patrol marshy terrain like the Plain of Reeds along the south Vietnamese/Cambodian border.
From 1967 on, one of the division's brigades (the 2nd Brigade) was the Army contingent of the Mobile Riverine Force. This brigade lived on the ships of Navy Task Force 117, and were transported on their infantry missions throughout the Mekong Delta on WW2 landing craft
supported by various other armored boats some of which mounted flame-throwers (called zippo after the lighter); had mortars in their holds; and even 105mm cannons on their bows (called monitors). The mobile riverine force was often anchored near the South Vietnamese city of My Tho, or near Dong Tam, the Division base camp, and they conducted operations in coordination with the Navy Seal teams, the South Vietnamese Marines, units of the ARVN 7th Division and River Assault Groups. Following the Tet offensive in 1968, General Westmoreland stated that the 9th Infantry Division and the Mobile Riverine Force saved the Delta region from falling to the North Vietnamese Army forces. In 1969, the division also operated throughout the IV Corps Tactical Zone.
In the 1994 film Forrest Gump
, the eponymous main character
was a member of the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, notably: 4th platoon, A Company, 2nd Bn/47INF.
Washington until its inactivation in 1992. Beginning in the mid-1980s the division served as the high-technology test-bed for the army. This led to the division testing the concept of "motorized infantry", designed to fill the gap between light infantry and heavy mechanized forces. The idea was to create lighter, mobile units capable of rapid deployment with far less aircraft than a heavier mechanized unit. Motorized infantry doctrine concentrated on effectiveness in desert warfare.
By 1989 the division had fielded two complete brigades of motorized infantry in battalions designated as "Light Attack", "Light Combined Arms" and "Heavy Combined Arms". Motorized battalions traveled in the new Humvee and generally fought as traditional light infantry once engaged. Attack battalions utilized the Fast Attack Vehicles (later re-designated the Desert Patrol Vehicle
), first developed at Fort Lewis. Essentially a Volkswagen
- engined dune buggy mounted with either a 40mm Mk 19 grenade launcher
or .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun, the FAV was designed to provide highly mobile firepower that could attack the flanks of heavier mechanized units. Some variants also mounted TOW missiles
. All of these weapons systems were attached to the FAV by a mount designed to break away if the vehicle rolled over, which they were prone to do. The FAVs were problematic at best and were eventually replaced by various versions of the HMMWV.
The 9th Infantry Division (MTZ) tested motorized infantry doctrine at the Yakima Firing Center in Eastern Washington, at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin California and in Korea during the annual Team Spirit
exercise. While the motorized units performed well they were vulnerable to heavier mechanized forces, particularly if forced to stand and fight. They were also extremely vulnerable to indirect (artillery) fires.
At the end of the Cold War
the division was identified for inactivation. By the time of the First Gulf War one brigade was nearly inactivated. However the 3rd Brigade was still at full strength. The need for mobile forces that could be more easily deployed would seem to have never been greater. However the brigade was not deployed to the Middle East, instead providing soldiers and equipment to fill out deploying units from other divisions. While the rest of the army went to war, the 9th ID focused on inactivation and training National Guard and Army Reserve
units deploying to the Persian Gulf.
The existing 3rd Brigade did not inactivate and was instead reflagged as the 199th Light Infantry Brigade and assigned directly to I Corps. The 199th was later reflagged as the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (Light) and was transferred to Fort Polk
, Louisiana.
By December 1991 the final units of the 9th Infantry Division had cased its colors, ending over 50 years of valorous service. If the Army decides to reactivate any divisions, most likely the 9th Infantry Division would be the second division to be activated after the 7th Infantry Division.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in World War II and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. It was also activated as a peacetime readiness unit from 1947 to 1962 at Fort Dix
Fort Dix, New Jersey
JB MDL Dix , better known as Fort Dix, is a United States Army base located approximately south-southeast of Trenton, New Jersey. Dix is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Reserve Command...
, New Jersey, and Fort Carson
Fort Carson, Colorado
Fort Carson is a United States Army installation located near Colorado Springs, primarily in El Paso County, Colorado. It is north of Pueblo, Colorado in Pueblo County. The 137,000 acre installation extends south into Pueblo and Fremont counties...
, Colorado, and from 1972 to 1991 as an active-duty infantry division at Fort Lewis, Washington. Nicknamed the "Old Reliables", the division was eventually inactivated in December 1991.
World War II
- Activated: 1 August 1940 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
- Overseas: 11 December 1942 (Three organic combat teams participated in North African landings 8 November 1942)
- Campaigns: Algeria-French MoroccoOperation TorchOperation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
, TunisiaTunisia CampaignThe Tunisia Campaign was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African Campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces. The Allies consisted of British Imperial Forces, including Polish and Greek contingents, with American and French corps...
, SicilyAllied invasion of SicilyThe Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
, NormandyOperation OverlordOperation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, North France, RhinelandRhinelandHistorically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
, Ardennes-Alsace, Central EuropeCentral 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... - Days of combat: 304
- Distinguished Unit Citations: 24
- Awards: Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
-4; Distinguished Service Cross (United States)Distinguished 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...
-76; Distinguished Service Medal (Army)Distinguished Service Medal (Army)The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
-3; 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....
-2,282; 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...
-19; DFCDistinguished Flying Cross (United States)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
-2; 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...
-100; Bronze StarBronze 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...
−6,593; 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:...
-129 - Commanders: Col . Charles B. Elliott (August 1940), Brig. Gen. Francis W. Honeycutt (September 1940), Maj. Gen. Jacob L. DeversJacob L. DeversGeneral Jacob "Jake" Loucks Devers , commander of the 6th Army Group in Europe during World War II. He was the first United States military officer to reach the Rhine after D-Day.-Biography:...
(October 1940 – July 1941), Maj. Gen. Rene E. DeR. Hoyle (August 1941 – July 1942), Maj. Gen. Manton S. EddyManton S. EddyManton Sprague Eddy was a lieutenant general of the United States Army.-Early life:Eddy graduated from Shattuck Military School in Faribault, Minnesota in 1913. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1916. Thoroughly the infantryman, Manton Eddy served in France in World War I in rifle and machine...
(August 1942 – August 1944), Maj. Gen. Louis A. Craig (August 1944 – May 1945), Brig. Gen. Jesse A. Ladd (May 1945 – February 1946), Maj. Gen. Horace L. McBrideHorace L. McBrideHorace Logan McBride was a US Army General during World War II. He commanded American forces in the Ardennes , the Rhineland, and Central Europe during that conflict.-Early Professional Life:...
(March 1946 to inactivation), Maj. Gen. William W. Eagles (15 July 1947 – 26 April 1948), Maj. Gen. Arthur A. White (27 April 1948 – ) - Inactivated: 15 January 1947
- Reactivated: 15 July 1947 at Fort Dix, New Jersey
- Inactivated: 31 January 1962 at Fort Carson, Colorado
- Redesignated 1 February 1966 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas
- Inactivated 25 September 1969 in Hawaii
- Activated: 21 April 1972 at Fort Lewis, Washington
- Inactivated: 15 December 1991 at Fort Lewis, Washington
Combat Chronicle
The 9th Infantry Division was among the first U.S. combat units to engage in offensive ground operations during World War II. (The others were the 32nd and the 41st in the Pacific on New GuineaNew Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
, Carlson's Raiders on Makin Island
Makin Island raid
The Makin Island Raid was an attack by the United States Marine Corps on Japanese military forces on Makin Island in the Pacific Ocean...
, the 1st Marine and the
Americal on the Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
, and, alongside the 9th in North Africa
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
, were the 3rd Infantry and the 2nd Armored Divisions.) The 9th saw its first combat on 8 November 1942, when its elements landed at Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Safi
Safi, Morocco
Safi is a city in western Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of the Doukkala-Abda Region, it has a population of 282,227 , but is also the centre of an agglomeration which has an estimated 793,000 inhabitants ....
, and Port Lyautey, with the taking of Safi by the 3rd Battalion of the 47th Infantry Regiment standing as the first liberation of a city from Axis control in World War II.
With the collapse of French resistance on 11 November 1942, the division patrolled the Spanish Moroccan border. The 9th returned to Tunisia in February and engaged in small defensive actions and patrol activity. On 28 March 1943 it launched an attack in southern Tunisia and fought its way north into Bizerte
Bizerte
Bizerte or Benzert , is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia and the northernmost city in Africa. It has a population of 230,879 .-History:...
, 7 May. In August, the 9th landed at Palermo, Sicily, and took part in the capture of Randazzo
Randazzo
Randazzo is a town and comune of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania. It is situated at the northern foot of Mount Etna, 70 km NW of Catania by rail. It is the nearest town to the summit of Etna, and is one of the points from which the ascent may be made.-History:In the 13th century the...
and Messina. After returning to England for further training, the division landed on Utah Beach
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank, or westernmost, of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944...
on 10 June 1944 (D plus 4), cut off the Cotentin Peninsula
Cotentin Peninsula
The Cotentin Peninsula, also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy, forming part of the north-western coast of France. It juts out north-westwards into the English Channel, towards Great Britain...
, drove on to Cherbourg and penetrated the port's heavy defenses.
Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô is a commune in north-western France, the capital of the Manche department in Normandy.-History:Originally called Briovère , the town is built on and around ramparts. Originally it was a Gaul fortified settlement...
break-through and in August helped close the Falaise Gap
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
. Turning east, the 9th crossed the Marne
Marne River
The Marne is a river in France, a right tributary of the Seine in the area east and southeast of Paris. It is long. The river gave its name to the départements of Haute-Marne, Marne, Seine-et-Marne, and Val-de-Marne....
, 28 August, swept through Saarlautern, and in November and December held defensive positions from Monschau
Monschau
Monschau is a small resort town in the Eifel region of western Germany, located in the district Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Geography:The town is located in the hills of the North Eifel, within the Hohes Venn – Eifel Nature Park in the narrow valley of the Rur river.The historic town center...
to Losheim
Hellenthal
Hellenthal is a municipality in the district of Euskirchen in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Eifel hills, near the border with Belgium, approx. 30 km south-west of Euskirchen and 40 km south-east of Aachen...
. Moving north to Bergrath
Eschweiler
Eschweiler is a municipality in the district of Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany on the river Inde, near the German-Belgian-Dutch frontier, and about 15 km east of Aachen and 50 km west of Cologne.- History :...
, Germany, it launched an attack toward the Roer, 10 December, taking Echtz and Schlich
Düren
Düren is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, capital of Düren district. It is located between Aachen and Cologne on the river Rur.-Roman era:Celts inhabited Düren's area before the Romans. They called their small settlement Durum . After the Celts other Germanic tribes settled this area...
. From mid-December through January 1945, the division held defensive positions from Kalterherberg
Monschau
Monschau is a small resort town in the Eifel region of western Germany, located in the district Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Geography:The town is located in the hills of the North Eifel, within the Hohes Venn – Eifel Nature Park in the narrow valley of the Rur river.The historic town center...
to Elsenborn
Bütgenbach
Bütgenbach is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Bütgenbach had a total population of 5,574. The total area is 97.31 km² which gives a population density of 57 inhabitants per km². The official language in this municipality is German....
. On 30 January the division jumped off from Monschau in a drive across the Roer and to the Rhine, crossing at Remagen
Remagen
Remagen is a town in Germany in Rhineland-Palatinate, in the district of Ahrweiler. It is about a one hour drive from Cologne , just south of Bonn, the former West German capital. It is situated on the River Rhine. There is a ferry across the Rhine from Remagen every 10–15 minutes in the summer...
, 7 March.
After breaking out of the Remagen bridgehead, the 9th assisted in the sealing and clearing of the Ruhr Pocket
Ruhr Pocket
The Ruhr Pocket was a battle of encirclement that took place in late March and early April 1945, near the end of World War II, in the Ruhr Area of Germany. For all intents and purposes, it marked the end of major organized resistance on Nazi Germany's Western Front, as more than 300,000 troops were...
, then moved 150 miles (240 km) east to Nordhausen
Nordhausen
Nordhausen is a town at the southern edge of the Harz Mountains, in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Nordhausen...
and attacked in the Harz Mountains, 14–20 April. On 21 April the Division relieved the 3d Armored Division
U.S. 3rd Armored Division
The 3rd Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army. Nickamed the Third Herd, the division was first activated in 1941, and was active in the European Theater of World War II. The division was stationed in West Germany for much of the Cold War, and participated in the...
along the Mulde River, near Dessau
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
, and held that line until VE-day.
Assignments in the MTO
- previous: II CorpsU.S. II CorpsThe II Corps was a corps of the United States Army and the first US formation of any size to see combat in Europe or Africa during World War II.-World War I:...
- May 1943: I Armored CorpsU.S. I Armored Corps__FORCETOC__I Armored Corps was a World War II corps of the United States Army. The army made its debut in Operation Torch in November 1942 under the command of Major-General George S. Patton. In July 1943 it was redesignated as the U.S. Seventh Army....
Assignments in the ETO
- 20 November 1943: First ArmyU.S. First ArmyThe First United States Army is a field army of the United States Army. It now serves a mobilization, readiness and training command.- Establishment and World War I :...
- 25 November 1943: VII CorpsU.S. VII CorpsThe VII Corps of the United States Army was one of the two principal corps of the army in Europe during the Cold War, along with V Corps. Activated in 1918, it was subordinate to the Seventh Army, or USAREUR, throughout most of its existence and based outside of Stuttgart, West Germany, until...
- 1 August 1944: VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army GroupU.S. 12th Army GroupThe Twelfth United States Army Group was the largest and most powerful United States Army formation ever to take to the field. It controlled the majority of American forces on the Western Front in 1944 and 1945...
- 26 October 1944: V Corps
- 6 December 1944: VII Corps
- 18 December 1944: V Corps
- 20 December 1944: Attached, with the entire First Army, to the British 21st Army GroupBritish 21st Army GroupThe 21st Army Group was a British headquarters formation consisting primarily of British and Canadian forces. The Army Group was an important Allied force in the European Theatre of World War II. It was established in London during July 1943 under the command of Supreme Headquarters Allied...
- 18 January 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
- 17 February 1945: III CorpsU.S. III CorpsIII Corps is a corps of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Hood, Texas. It is a major formation of the United States Army Forces Command....
- 31 March 1945: VII Corps
- 4 April 1945: III Corps
- 14 April 1945: VII Corps
Command and Staff
- Commanding General
- 27 November 1943 Maj. Gen. Manton S. Eddy
- 19 August 1944 Maj. Gen. Louis A Craig
- 17 May 1945 Brig. Gen. Reese M. Howell (Acting)
- Assistant Division Commander
- 27 November 1943 Brig. Gen. Donald A. Stroh [Assumed command of 8th Infantry Division on 12 July 1944]
- 20 July 1944 Brig. Gen. James E. Wharton
- 12 August 1944 Brig. Gen. Kenneth Buchanan
- 17 September 1944 Col. James S. Rodwell
- 8 October 1944 Col. Hammond D. Birks
- 7 January 1945 Brig. Gen. Hammond D. Birks
- Artillery Commander
- 27 November 1943 Brig. Gen. Reese M. Howell
- Chief of Staff
- 27 November 1943 Col. George B. Barth
- 16 June 1944 Col. Jesse L. Gibney (Acting)
- 24 June 1944 Col. Noah M. Brinson
- 30 August 1944 Col. John G. Van Houten
- 9 October 1944 Lt. Col. James W. Lockett
- 12 October 1944 COL William C. Westmoreland
- Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
- 27 November 1943 Lt. Col. Frank R. Veale, Jr.
- 25 August 1944 Lt. Col. William L. Peverill
- 6 May 1945 Maj. Franklin G. Allen
- Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
- 27 November 1943 Lt. Col. Robert W. Robb
- 21 August 1944 Maj. Jack A. Houston
- 27 October 1944 Lt. Col. Jack A. Houston
- Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
- 27 November 1943 Lt. Col. Alver B. Sundin
- 1 April 1944 Lt. Col. Frederick C. Feil
- 10 December 1944 Maj. Reginald L. Riley (Acting)
- 6 January 1945 Lt. Col. Frederick C. Feil
- Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
- 27 November 1943 Lt. Col. George E. Pickett
- 11 April 1945 Maj. George R. Huff (Acting)
- Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
- 6 May 1944 Lt. Col. Asa White Kenney Billings, Jr.
- 9 December 1944 Maj. Charles O. Tingley
- Adjutant General
- 27 November 1943 Lt. Col. William L. Peverill
- 27 August 1944 Lt. Col. James R. Hutchison
- 14 April 1945 Maj. George E. Materewicz (Acting)
- Commanding Officer, 39th Infantry
- 27 November 1943 Col. Harry A. Flint
- 24 July 1944 Lt. Col. Van H. Bond
- 10 October 1944 Col. Van H. Bond
- Commanding Officer, 47th Infantry
- 27 November 1943 Col. George W. Smythe
- 6 March 1945 Lt. Col. Herman A. Schmidt (Acting)
- 13 March 1945 Col. Peter O. Ward
- Commanding Officer, 60th Infantry
- 27 November 1943 Col. Frederick J. de Rohan
- 2 July 1944 Col. Jesse L. Gibney
- 4 October 1944 Lt. Col. Donald C. Claymen
- 9 October 1944 Col. John G. Van Houten
Chronology
- Activated 1 August 1940
- Arrived UK 27 November 1943
- Arrived Continent (D+4) 10 June 1944
- Entered Combat 14 June 1944 [First elements in combat in North Africa 8 November 1942; entire Division entered combat NATOUSA 26 March 1943]
- Days in Combat 264
Casualties
- (Tentative)
- Killed 4,581
- Wounded 16,961
- Missing 750
- Captured 868
- Battle Casualties 22,292
- Non-Battle Casualties 15,233
- Total Casualties 33,864
- Percent of T/O Strength 240.4
Campaigns
- Algeria-French Morocco
- Tunisia
- Sicily
- Normandy
- Northern France
- Ardennes
- Rhineland
- Central Europe
Individual Awards
Medal of Honor 4
- Distinguished Service Cross 86
- Legion of Merit 6
- Silver Star 1,789
- Soldier's Medal 55
- Bronze Star 5,518
- Distinguished Flying Cross 1
- Air Medal 124
Composition
- 39th Infantry
- 47th Infantry
- 60th Infantry
- 9th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
- 15th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 9th Medical Battalion
- 9th Division Artillery
- 26th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm Howitzer)
- 60th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm Howitzer)
- 84th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm Howitzer)
- 34th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm Howitzer)
- Special Troops
- 709th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
- 9th Quartermaster Company
- 9th Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Band
- 9th Chemical Company
Attachments
- Antiaircraft Artillery
- 376th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 13 June 1944 – 16 June 1944
- 376th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 16 June 1944 – 26 May 1945
- Battery B, 486th AAA Bn (SP) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
- Battery A, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
- Battery A, 129th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 14 July 1944 – 18 July 1944
- Battery C, 557th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 10 September 1944 – 8 October 1944
- Battery B, 438th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 20 September 1944 – 4 October 1944
- 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 20 December 1944 – 24 December 1944
- 2 btrys, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 24 December 1944 – 3 January 1945
- 2d Plat, Battery C, 226th AAA SL Bn 8 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
- Armored
- 746th Tk Bn (- Co A) 13 June 1944 – 28 June 1944
- Hq, 6th Armd Go 15 June 1944 – 16 June 1944
- 746th Tk Bn 28 June 1944 – 10 July 1945
- CC A (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
- …32d Armd Regt (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
- …3d Bn, 36th Armd Inf (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
- …83d Armd Rcn Bn (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
- …Cos A & C, 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
- …Co A, 703d TD Bn (SP) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
- …Btry D, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
- Co C, 745th Tk Bn 17–18 August 1944
- Task Force King, CC B (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
- …1st Bn, 33d Armd Regt (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
- …Co F, 36th Armd Inf (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
- …3d Plat, Rcn Co, 3d Armd Inf (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
- …2d Plat, Co B, 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
- …2d Plat, Co B, 703d TD Bn (SP) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
- Co H, 32d Armd Regt (3d Armd Div) 13 October 1944 – 17 October 1944
- CC B (9th Armd Div) 3 March 1945 – 5 March 1945
- CC A (7th Armd Div) 7 March 1945 – 8 March 1945
- CC R (7th Armd Div) 8 March 1945
- CC B (9th Armd Div) 9 March 1945 – 12 March 1945
- CC A (7th Armd Div) 4 April 1945 – 6 April 1945
- Co B, 17th Tk Bn (7th Armd Div) 6 April 1945 – 8 April 1945
- CC A (3d Armd Div) 24 April 1945 – 25 April 1945
- CC R (3d Armd Div) 24 April 1945 – 25 April 1945
- Cavalry
- 4th Cav Gp 20 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
- 113th Cav Gp 10 July 1944
- 24th Cav Rcn Sq 10 July 1944 – 17 July 1944
- 4th Cav Gp 21 August 1944 – 23 August 1944
- 4th Cav Rcn Sq 7 December 1944 – 13 December 1944
- …1 plat, Co C, 297th Engr C Bn 7 December 1944 – 13 December 1944
- …1 plat, Co C, 635th TD Bn (T) 7 December 1944 – 13 December 1944
- 38th Cav Rcn Sq (- Tr A) 20 December 1944 – 27 January 1945
- …Tr A, 38th Cav Rcn Sq 8 January 1945 – 27 January 1945
- …Tr A, 102d Cav Rcn Sq 25 January 1945 – 27 January 1945
- …Co A, 47th Armd Inf Bn (5th Armd Div) 20 December 1944 – 27 January 1945
- …Co A, 10th Tk Bn (5th Armd Div) 20 December 1944 – 25 January 1945
- …Co A, 47th AT Bn 20 December 1944 – 20 January 1945
- …1 plat, Co A, 12th Engr C Bn 20 December 1944 – 4 January 1945
- …Co C, 893d TD Bn (SP) 20 December 1944 – 27 January 1945
- 1st Plat, 99th Rcn Tr (99th Div) 22 December 1944 – 14 January 1945
- 3d Plat, 99th Rcn Tr (99th Div) 22 December 1944 – 25 January 1945
- 2d Plat, 99th Rcn Tr (99th Div) 22 December 1944 – 26 January 1945
- 1st Plat, 99th Rcn Tr (99th Div) 25 January 1945 – 26 January 1945
- 32d Cav Rcn Sq (- 2 plats of Tr C) 27 March 1945 – 31 March 1945
- 32d Cav Rcn Sq 5 April 1945 – 9 April 1945
- …Co F, 18th Cav Rcn Sq 7 April 1945 – 9 April 1945
- 4th Cav Gp 17 April 1945 – 22 April 1945
- Chemical
- 87th Cml Bn (- 1 co) 16 June 1944 – 19 June 1944
- Co A, 87th Cml Bn 28 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
- Co B, 87th Cml Bn 28 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
- Cos C & D, 87th Cml Bn 20 July 1944 – 25 October 1944
- Co C, 87th Cml Bn 10 December 1944 – 18 December 1944
- Co A, 87th Cml Bn 27 January 1945 – 3 February 1945
- Co B, 87th Cml Bn 27 January 1945 – 16 February 1945
- 2 plats, Co C, 90th Cml Bn 18 February 1945 – 31 March 1945
- 1 plat, Co C, 90th Cml Bn 22 February 1945 – 31 March 1945
- Co B, 90th Cml Bn 16 March 1945 – 12 April 1945
- Co C, 90th Cml Bn 3 April 1945 – 12 April 1945
- 9th Chemical Company
- Engineer
- Co A, 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
- Co D, 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 11 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
- 297th Engr C Bn 24 September 1944 – 29 September 1944
- 1 co, 298th Engr C Bn 26 September 1944 – 29 September 1944
- Co A, 294th Engr C Bn 26 September 1944 – 29 September 1944
- 298th Engr C Bn 29 September 1944 – 30 September 1944
- 298th Engr C Bn 1 October 1944 – 19 October 1944
- 294th Engr C Bn 19 October 1944 – 25 October 1944
- Field Artillery
- Btrys A, B, C (- 1 plat each), 915th FA Bn (90th Div) (105 mm How) 15 June 1944 – 17 July 1944
- 957th FA Bn (155 mm How) 16 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
- 172d FA Bn (4.5" Gun) 19 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
- Hq, 188th FA Gp 19 June 1944 – 17 July 1944
- Btry C, 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 28 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
- 54th Armd FA Bn (3d Armd Div) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
- 196th FA Bn (105 mm How) 9 July 1944 – 28 July 1944
- 690th FA Bn (105 mm How) 14 July 1944 – 28 July 1944
- 987th FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 2 August 1944 – 6 August 1944
- 183d FA Bn (155 mm How) 6 August 1944 – 11 August 1944
- Btry A, 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 6 August 1944 – 20 August 1944
- 951st FA Bn (155 mm How) 6 August 1944 – 20 August 1944
- 18th FA Bn (105 mm How) 20 August 1944 – 24 August 1944
- 951st FA Bn (155 mm How) 23 August 1944 – 25 August 1944
- Btry A, 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 26 August 1944 – 31 August 1944
- Btry A, 951st FA Bn (155 mm How) 1 September 1944 – 5 September 1944
- Btry A, 13th FA Obsn Bn 1 September 1944 – 17 September 1944
- 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 5 September 1944 – 17 September 1944
- Hq & Hq Btry, 188th FA Gp 7 September 1944 – 18 September 1944
- Btry B, 991st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 13 September 1944
- 188th FA Bn (155 mm How) 19 September 1944 – 1 October 1944
- Btry C, 195th FA Bn (8" How) 28 September 1944 – 23 October 1944
- Hq & Hq Btry, 188th FA Gp 28 September 1944 – 23 October 1944
- 172d FA Bn (4.5" Gun) 28 September 1944 – 23 October 1944
- 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 29 September 1944 – 23 October 1944
- 1 plat, Btry A, 987th FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 7 December 1944 – 10 December 1944
- 186th FA Bn (155 mm How) 20 December 1944 – 26 January 1945
- 196th FA Bn (105 mm How) 20 December 1944 – 8 February 1945
- Btry B, 987th FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 27 January 1945 – 14 February 1945
- 76th FA Bn76th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)The 76th Field Artillery Regiment is an Field Artillery regiment of the United States Army. first Constituted 1916 in the Regular Army.-Lineage:Constituted 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as the 18th Cavalry...
(105 mm How) 12 February 1945 – 17 February 1945 - 955th FA Bn (155 mm How) 13 February 1945 – 17 February 1945
- 400th Armd FA Bn 19 February 1945 – 28 February 1945
- 987th FA Bn (- Btrys A & C) (155 mm Gun) 19 February 1945 – 8 March 1945
- 254th FA Bn (155 mm How) 19 February 1945 – 31 March 1945
- 1 plat, 987th FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 24 March 1945 – 31 March 1945
- 489th Armd FA Bn (7th Armd Div) (105 mm How) 3 April 1945 – 6 April 1945
- 809th FA Bn (155 mm How) 4 April 1945 – 7 April 1945
- 965th FA Bn (155 mm How) 7 April 1945 – 10 April 1945
- 183d FA Bn (155 mm How) 24 April 1945 – 29 April 1945
- Infantry
- 359th Inf (90th Div) 15 June 1944 – 17 June 1944
- 1st Bn, 359th Inf (90th Div) 20 June 1944 – 21 June 1944
- 330th CT (83d Div) 14 July 1944 – 17 July 1944
- …Co B, 308th Engr C Bn (83d Div) 14 July 1944 – 17 July 1944
- …2 plats, Co A, 802d TD Bn (T) 14 July 1944 – 17 July 1944
- 8th CT (4th Div) 10 August 1944 – 11 August 1944
- …29th FA Bn (4th Div) (105 mm How) 10 August 1944 – 11 August 1944
- …Co B, 87th Cml Bn 10 August 1944 – 11 August 1944
- Prov Ranger Gp 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
- …Hq, Prov Ranger Gp 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
- …2d Ranger Inf Bn 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
- …5th Ranger Inf Bn 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
- …18th FA Bn (105 mm How) 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
- …196th FA Bn (105 mm How) 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
- 1st Bn, 36th Armd Inf (3d Armd Div) 13 October 1944 – 17 October 1944
- 395th Inf395th Infantry Regiment (United States)The 395th Infantry Regiment was a unit of the United States 99th Infantry Division. It was organized with the rest of the 99th on 16 November 1942 at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. During the Battle of the Bulge, the Regiment—at times virtually surrounded by Germans—was one of the few units that did...
(99th Div) 9 November 1944 – 13 November 1944 - 393d Inf (99th Div) 10 November 1944 – 14 November 1944
- 394th Inf (99th Div) 10 November 1944 – 14 November 1944
- 329th CT (83d Div) 13 December 1944
- 3d Bn, 395th Inf (99th Div) 20 December 1944 – 31 January 1945
- 2d Bn, 395th Inf (99th Div) 24 December 1944 – 5 January 1945
- 2d Ranger Inf Bn 6 February 1945 – 8 February 1945
- 309th Inf (78th Div) 8 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
- 1st Bn, 311th Inf (78th Div) 10 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
- 2d Bn, 23d Inf (2d Div) 12 February 1945
- 310th CT (- 1st Bn) (78th Div) 10 March 1945 – 14 March 1945
- 394th Inf (99th Div) 11 March 1945
- 395th Inf (99th Div) 11 March 1945 – 12 March 1945
- 52d Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div) 16 March 1945 – 18 March 1945
- 2d Bn, 413th Inf (104th Div) 15 April 1945 – 16 April 1945
- Tank Destroyer
- 607th TD Bn (T)607th Tank Destroyer BattalionThe 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion was a tank destroyer battalion of the United States Army active during the Second World War.-Early service:...
(- 2 cos) 19 June 1944 – 20 June 1944 - 899th TD Bn (SP) (- 2 cos) 19 June 1944 – 20 June 1944
- 899th TD Bn (SP) 20 June 1944 – 24 July 1944
- Co A, 703d TD Bn (SP) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
- Co C, 703d TD Bn (SP) 11 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
- 629th TD Bn (SP) 16 August 1944 – 25 August 1944
- Co A, 612th TD Bn (SP) 20 December 1944 – 29 December 1944
- Co A, 801st TD Bn (SP) 29 December 1944 – 3 February 1945
- Co C, 644th TD Bn (SP) 3 January 1945 – 27 January 1945
- Co A, 814th TD Bn (SP) 6 April 1945 – 9 April 1945
Detachments
- (Attached to)
- Engineer
- 15th Engr C Bn 4th Div 8 August 1944 – 9 August 1944
- 1st Plat, Co B, 15th Engr C Bn 3d Armd Div 27 October 1944 – 11 November 1944
- Co B, 15th Engr C Bn 3d Armd Div 11 November 1944 – 1 December 1944
- Field Artillery
- 26th FA Bn 1st Div 4 August 1944 – 7 August 1944
- 26th FA Bn 4th Div 7 August 1944 – August 1944
- 60th FA Bn 3d Armd Div 13 August 1944 – 15 August 1944
- 84th FA Bn 3d Armd Div 27 October 1944 – 10 November 1944
- 84th FA Bn 1st Div 10 November 1944 – 1 December 1944
- 60th FA Bn 1st Div 6 December 1944 – 8 December 1944
- 60th FA Bn 104th Div 19 December 1944 – 22 December 1944
- 84th FA Bn 2d Div 8 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
- 26th FA Bn 2d Div 8 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
- 26th FA Bn 2d Div 17 February 1945 – 22 February 1945
- 60th FA Bn 9th Armd Div 3 March 1945 – 6 March 1945
- 26th FA Bn 7th Armd Div 7 March 1945 – 8 March 1945
- 84th FA Bn 9th Armd Div 7 March 1945 – 9 March 1945
- 26th FA Bn 78th Div 11 March 1945 – 16 March 1945
- Infantry
- 39th Inf 4th Div 11 June 1944 – 15 June 1944
- 1st Bn, 60th Inf 3d Armd Div 9 July 1944 – 11 July 1944
- 2d Bn, 60th Inf 3d Armd Div 10 July 1944 – 11 July 1944
- 2d Bn, 60th Inf 4th Div 1 August 1944 – 25 August 1944
- 39th Inf 1st Div 4 August 1944 – 7 August 1944
- 39th CT 4th Div 7 August 1944 – 9 August 1944
- …2d Plat, 9th Rcn Tr 4th Div 7 August 1944 – 9 August 1944
- 3d Bn, 60th Inf 3d Armd Div 13 August 1944 – 15 August 1944
- 2d & 3d Bns, 60th Inf 3d Armd Div 15 August 1944 – 19 August 1944
- 1st Bn, 60th Inf 4th Cav Gp 3 September 1944 – 4 September 1944
- 47th Inf 3d Armd Div 8 September 1944 – 10 September 1944
- 2d Bn, 60th Inf 298th Engr C Bn 2 October 1944
- 47th CT 3d Armd Div 25 October 1944 – 10 November 1944
- …84th FA Bn 3d Armd Div 25 October 1944 – 10 November 1944
- …1 plat, Co B, 15th Engr C Bn 3d Armd Div 25 October 1944 – 10 November 1944
- 47th Inf 1st Div 10 November 1944 – 1 December 1944
- 2d Bn, 47th Inf 3d Armd Div 24 November 1944 – 26 November 1944
- 1st Bn, 60th Inf 102d Cav Gp 1 December 1944 – 4 December 1944
- 1st Bn, 60th Inf 3d Armd Div 10 December 1944 – 12 December 1944
- 47th Inf V Corps 17 December 1944 – 25 December 1944
- 60th Inf 104th Div 18 December 1944 – 21 December 1944
- 60th CT 2d Armd Div 22 December 1944 – 23 December 1944
- Co C, 1st Bn, 60th Inf 38th Cav Rcn Sq 20 January 1945 – 25 January 1945
- 39th CT 2d Div 8 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
- …26th FA Bn 2d Div 8 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
- …1 plat, Co A, 15th Engr C Bn 2d Div 8 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
- 39th CT 2d Div 17 February 1945 – 22 February 1945
- …26th FA Bn 2d Div 17 February 1945 – 22 February 1945
- …1 plat, Co A, 15th Engr C Bn 2d Div 17 February 1945 – 22 February 1945
- 60th CT 9th Armd Div 4 March 1945 – 5 March 1945
- 39th Inf 7th Armd Div 7 March 1945 – 8 March 1945
- 47th CT 9th Armd Div 7 March 1945 – 9 March 1945
- 1st Bn, 60th Inf 9th Armd Div 8 March 1945 – 9 March 1945
- 60th CT (- 1st Bn) 7th Armd Div 8 March 1945 – 9 March 1945
- 39th Inf 78th Div 11 March 1945 – 16 March 1945
- 47th Inf Task Force Birks 4 April 1945 – 9 April 1945
- 3d Bn, 47th Inf 3d Armd Div 11 April 1945 – 25 April 1945
- 60th Inf 3d Armd Div 22 April 1945 – 24 April 1945
Assignment and Attachment to Higher Units
- DATE CORPS ARMY ARMY GROUP
- Assigned Attached Assigned Attached
- 20 November 1943 First ETOUSA
- 25 November 1943 VII First
- 1 August 1944 VII First 12th
- 26 October 1944 V First 12th
- 6 December 1944 VII First 12th
- 18 December 1944 V First 12th
- 20 December 1944 V First 12th Br 21st
- 18 January 1945 V First 12th (-)
- 17 February 1945 III First 12th
- 31 March 1945 VII First 12th
- 4 April 1945 III First 12th
- 14 April 1945 VII First 12th
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
Command Posts
- DATE TOWN REGION COUNTRY
- 27 November 1943 Winchester Hampshire England
- 3 June 1944 Hursley Camp Hampshire England
- 7 June 1944 Southampton Hampshire England
- 10 June 1944 Utah Beach (Tare Green) Manche France
- 11 June 1944 Flauville (vic) Manche France
- 13 June 1944 Plaux (vic) Manche France
- 16 June 1944 Le Honet (vic) Manche France
- 17 June 1944 St-Saver-le-Vicomte (vic) Manche France
- 18 June 1944 St-Jacques-de-Nehou (vic) Manche France
- 20 June 1944 Quetto Manche France
- 22 June 1944 Benoiville (1 mi NE) Manche France
- 24 June 1944 Vasteville (2 mi E) Manche France
- 2 July 1944 Flamanville (3 mi S) Manche France
- 9 July 1944 Carentan (61 mi SE) Manche France
- 13 July 1944 St-Jean-de-Daye (11 mi NW) Manche France
- 21 July 1944 Le Champs-de-Losque (11 mi N) Manche France
- 28 July 1944 La Chapelle-en-Juger (H mi SW) Manche France
- 30 July 1944 Marigny (11 mi SE) Manche France
- 2 August 1944 La Vanterie (3 mi SE) Manche France
- 5 August 1944 St-Aubin-des-Bois Calvados France
- 8 August 1944 La Tuilerie (1 mi SE) Calvados France
- 9 August 1944 Forien Manche France
- 13 August 1944 Châtillon-sur-Colmont (2H mi SE) Mayenne France
- 15 August 1944 Couptrain (21 mi NE) Mayenne France
- 17 August 1944 Le Grais (1 mi SE) Orne France
- 21 August 1944 Mortange-au-Perche (2 mi NE) Orne France
- 24 August 1944 La Ferte Vidame (2H mi SE) Eure-et-Loir France
- 25 August 1944 Arpajon (1 mi SE) Seine-et-Oise France
- 26 August 1944 Brinville Seine-et-Marne France
- 27 August 1944 Guignes (1 mi SE) Seine-et-Marne France
- 28 August 1944 St-Augustin (1 mi NW) Seine-et-Marne France
- 29 August 1944 Marigny-en-Orxois Aisne France
- 30 August 1944 Cerseuil Aisne France
- 31 August 1944 Hannogne Ardennes France
- 1 September 1944 Plomion Ardennes France
- 3 September 1944 Cerfontaine Namur Belgium
- 4 September 1944 Anthee (4 mi SE) Namur Belgium
- 8 September 1944 St-Forntaine (4 mi E) Namur Belgium
- 9 September 1944 Esneux (3 mi E) Namur Belgium
- 11 September 1944 Verviers (3 mi S) Namur Belgium
- 13 September 1944 Eupen (21 mi SE) Namur Belgium
- 14 September 1944 Roetgen (1 mi S) Rhineland Germany
- 4 October 1944 Zweifall Rhineland Germany
- 26 October 1944 Elsenborn (2 mi NW) Liege Belgium
- 5 November 1944 Butgenbach Liege Belgium
- 11 November 1944 Elsenborn (2 mi NW) Liege Belgium
- 5 December 1944 Nothberg Rhineland Germany
- 19 December 1944 Sourbrodt Liege Belgium
- 21 December 1944 Eupen (5 mi SE) Liege Belgium
- 26 December 1944 Eupen Liege Belgium
- 28 January 1945 Kalterherberg Rhineland Germany
- 4 February 1945 Hofen Rhineland Germany
- 5 February 1945 Einruhr Rhineland Germany
- 8 February 1945 Strauch Rhineland Germany
- 12 February 1945 Einruhr Rhineland Germany
- 18 February 1945 Hurtgen Rhineland Germany
- 28 February 1945 Rath Rhineland Germany
- 1 March 1945 Leversbach Rhineland Germany
- 2 March 1945 Muddersheim Rhineland Germany
- 6 March 1945 Lommeraum Rhineland Germany
- 7 March 1945 Niel Rhineland Germany
- 8 March 1945 Erpel Rhineland Germany
- 20 March 1945 Kretzhaus Rhineland Germany
- 26 March 1945 Obersteinbach Hessen-Nassau Germany
- 27 March 1945 Mittlehofen Hessen-Nassau Germany
- 28 March 1945 Kirchvers Hessen-Nassau Germany
- 31 March 1945 Schwarzenau Westphalia Germany
- 2 April 1945 Hallenberg Westphalia Germany
- 6 April 1945 Niedersfeld Westphalia Germany
- 13 April 1945 Uftrungen Saxony Germany
- 17 April 1945 Wippra Saxony Germany
- 19 April 1945 Pansfelde Saxony Germany
- 24 April 1945 Kothen Saxony Germany
Vietnam War
During the war the division's units often served with the Mobile Riverine ForceMobile Riverine Force
In the Vietnam War, the Mobile Riverine Force , initially designated Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Force, and later euphemistically the Riverines, were a joint US Army and US Navy force that comprised a substantial part of the Brown Water Navy...
and other US Navy units that made up the Brown Water Navy. Its area of operations was in the rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
from 1967 to 1972. Operation Speedy Express
Operation Speedy Express
Operation Speedy Express was a controversial United States military operation of the Vietnam War conducted in the Mekong Delta provinces Kien Hoa and Vinh Binh...
was one significant operation in which the division took part during the war, while the Battle of Ap Bac was one of 22 major combat engagements with North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong main force units as well as thousands of small contacts during this period during division's presence in Vietnam.
The 9th Division was reactivated on 1 February 1966, and arrived in Vietnam on 16 December 1966 from Fort Riley
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, Kansas, and its major units departed Vietnam on 27 August 1969 (HHC & 1st BDE) to Hawaii; 27 August 1969 (2nd BDE) to Fort Lewis, Washington; 12 October 1970 (3rd BDE) to Fort Lewis, Washington.
On deployment the division was assigned to the III Corps Tactical Zone of Vietnam where it commenced operations in the Dinh Tuong and Long An provinces (6 January-31 May 1967) in Operation Palm Beach.
The infantry units that eventually served with the 9th Infantry Division were:
- 2/39th Inf
- 3/39th Inf
- 4/39th Inf
- 2/47th Mech Inf
- 3/47th Riverine
- 4/47th Riverine
- 2/60th Inf
- 3/60th Riverine
- 5/60th Mech Inf
- 6/31st Inf
Other units included:
- Coy E/50th Inf reflagged Co. E/75th Inf (Ranger) 2 Dec 1967 – Aug 1969
- Coy E/75th Inf Oct 1969 – Oct 1970
- 3rd Sqn/5th Cavalry Feb 1967 – Nov 19713
- 9th Aviation Bn Jan 1967 – Aug 1969
- 2nd Bn/4th Art (105mm How) Jan 1967 – Oct 1970
- 1st Bn/11th Art (105mm How) Jan 1967 – Aug 1969
- 3rd Bn/34th Art (105mm How) (Riverine) Dec 1966 – Jul 1969
- 1st Bn/84th Art (155mm How/8" How) Feb 1967 – Aug 1969
- 15th Engr Bn Oct 1966 – Aug 1969
- 571st Engr Co. Oct 1969 – Oct 1970
- 9th Medical Bn 4 Jan 1967 – 18 Aug 1969
- 9th Signal Bn 19 Dec 1966 – 19 Aug 1969
- 9th Supply and Transport Bn 16 Dec 1966 – 23 Aug 1969
- 709th Maint Bn 26 Jan 1967 – 20 Aug 1969
- 9th Admin Co. 30 Dec 1966 – 26 Aug 1969
- 9th MP Co. 19 Dec 1966 – 25 Sep 1969
- 335th Army Security Agency Co. 12 Jan 1967 – 5 Apr 1971
- 99th Support Bn 1 Oct 1969 – 12 Oct 1970
One of the more unique units serving with the division was the experimental Armor Platoon (Air Cushion Vehicle) which used the specially designed hovercraft to patrol marshy terrain like the Plain of Reeds along the south Vietnamese/Cambodian border.
From 1967 on, one of the division's brigades (the 2nd Brigade) was the Army contingent of the Mobile Riverine Force. This brigade lived on the ships of Navy Task Force 117, and were transported on their infantry missions throughout the Mekong Delta on WW2 landing craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
supported by various other armored boats some of which mounted flame-throwers (called zippo after the lighter); had mortars in their holds; and even 105mm cannons on their bows (called monitors). The mobile riverine force was often anchored near the South Vietnamese city of My Tho, or near Dong Tam, the Division base camp, and they conducted operations in coordination with the Navy Seal teams, the South Vietnamese Marines, units of the ARVN 7th Division and River Assault Groups. Following the Tet offensive in 1968, General Westmoreland stated that the 9th Infantry Division and the Mobile Riverine Force saved the Delta region from falling to the North Vietnamese Army forces. In 1969, the division also operated throughout the IV Corps Tactical Zone.
In the 1994 film Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
, the eponymous main character
Forrest Gump (character)
Forrest Gump is a fictional character who first appears in the 1986 eponymous novel by Winston Groom. Forrest Gump also appeared on screen in the 1994 film of the same name directed by Robert Zemeckis. Gump was portrayed as a child by Michael Humphreys and portrayed as an adult by Tom Hanks, who...
was a member of the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, notably: 4th platoon, A Company, 2nd Bn/47INF.
9th Infantry Division (Motorized)
Following the Vietnam War the division was stationed at Fort LewisFort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
Washington until its inactivation in 1992. Beginning in the mid-1980s the division served as the high-technology test-bed for the army. This led to the division testing the concept of "motorized infantry", designed to fill the gap between light infantry and heavy mechanized forces. The idea was to create lighter, mobile units capable of rapid deployment with far less aircraft than a heavier mechanized unit. Motorized infantry doctrine concentrated on effectiveness in desert warfare.
By 1989 the division had fielded two complete brigades of motorized infantry in battalions designated as "Light Attack", "Light Combined Arms" and "Heavy Combined Arms". Motorized battalions traveled in the new Humvee and generally fought as traditional light infantry once engaged. Attack battalions utilized the Fast Attack Vehicles (later re-designated the Desert Patrol Vehicle
Desert Patrol Vehicle
The Desert Patrol Vehicle , formerly called the Fast Attack Vehicle , is a high-speed, lightly armored sandrail-like vehicle first used in combat during the Gulf War in 1991. Due to their dash speed and off-road mobility, the DPVs were used extensively during Operation Desert Storm. The first U.S...
), first developed at Fort Lewis. Essentially a Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
- engined dune buggy mounted with either a 40mm Mk 19 grenade launcher
Mk 19 grenade launcher
The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher or grenade machine gun that entered U.S. military service during the Cold War, first seeing action during the Vietnam War and remaining in service today.-Overview:...
or .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun, the FAV was designed to provide highly mobile firepower that could attack the flanks of heavier mechanized units. Some variants also mounted TOW missiles
BGM-71 TOW
The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...
. All of these weapons systems were attached to the FAV by a mount designed to break away if the vehicle rolled over, which they were prone to do. The FAVs were problematic at best and were eventually replaced by various versions of the HMMWV.
The 9th Infantry Division (MTZ) tested motorized infantry doctrine at the Yakima Firing Center in Eastern Washington, at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin California and in Korea during the annual Team Spirit
Team Spirit
Team Spirit was a joint military training exercise of United States Forces Korea and the Military of South Korea held between 1976 and 1993. The exercise was scheduled from 1994 to 1996 but cancelled in each year as part of diplomacy to encourage the Government of North Korea to disable the North...
exercise. While the motorized units performed well they were vulnerable to heavier mechanized forces, particularly if forced to stand and fight. They were also extremely vulnerable to indirect (artillery) fires.
At the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
the division was identified for inactivation. By the time of the First Gulf War one brigade was nearly inactivated. However the 3rd Brigade was still at full strength. The need for mobile forces that could be more easily deployed would seem to have never been greater. However the brigade was not deployed to the Middle East, instead providing soldiers and equipment to fill out deploying units from other divisions. While the rest of the army went to war, the 9th ID focused on inactivation and training National Guard and Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The 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....
units deploying to the Persian Gulf.
Inactivation
The division was the first to undergo full inactivation following the end of the Cold War. Army leadership at first decided that inactivating units would turn in all of their equipment at "10/20" standard – in ready and reusable condition. The division struggled to meet this standard. It required both unrealistic work on the part of the division's soldiers and very high costs in repair parts. While the remaining 9th ID soldiers were ultimately successful, later inactivating units were not required to attain this difficult goal.The existing 3rd Brigade did not inactivate and was instead reflagged as the 199th Light Infantry Brigade and assigned directly to I Corps. The 199th was later reflagged as the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (Light) and was transferred to Fort Polk
Fort Polk
Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately 7 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana and 20 miles north of DeRidder, Louisiana....
, Louisiana.
By December 1991 the final units of the 9th Infantry Division had cased its colors, ending over 50 years of valorous service. If the Army decides to reactivate any divisions, most likely the 9th Infantry Division would be the second division to be activated after the 7th Infantry Division.
External links
- 9th Infantry Division Association
- 9th Infantry Division in World War 2 Tribute Page
- 9th Infantry Division Web Pages
- 9th Inf Div Society Org web Pages
- 9th INFANTRY DIVISION World War II Order of Battle
- Tribute to the 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division in World War II
- 60th Infantry Regiment
- Hitler's Nemesis: The 9th Infantry Division (World War II Stars and Stripes booklet)
- 9th Infantry Division Reenacted-California