99th Infantry Division (United States)

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U.S. 99th Infantry Division

99th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
Active November 15, 1942 - October 15, 1945
Branch United States Army Reserve (inactive)
Type Division
Role Infantry
Nickname Battle Babies, Checkerboard Division
Engagements World War II/Ardennes Offensive
Commanders
Current
commander		 N/A
U.S. Infantry Divisions
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98th Infantry Division 100th Infantry Division


The 99th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II.

Contents

[edit] World War II

[edit] Combat Chronicle

Danube river near Eining, Germany
Danube river near Eining, Germany

The 99th Infantry Division arrived in England, 10 October 1944, moved to Le Havre, France, 3 November, and proceeded to Aubel, Belgium, to prepare for combat. The division first saw action on the 9th, taking over the defense of the sector north of the Roer River between Schmidt and Monschau. After defensive patrolling, the 99th probed the Siegfried Line against heavy resistance, 13 December.

The Ardennes Offensive caught the division on the 16th. Although cut up and surrounded in part, the 99th held as a whole until reinforcements came. Then it drew back gradually to form defensive positions east of Elsenborn on the 19th. Here it held firmly against violent enemy attacks. From 21 December 1944 to 30 January 1945, the unit was engaged in aggressive patrolling and reequipping. It attacked toward the Monschau Forest, 1 February, mopping up and patrolling until it was relieved for training and rehabilitation, 13 February.

On 2 March, 1945, the division took the offensive, moving toward Keln and crossing the Erft Canal near Glesch. After clearing towns west of the Rhine, it crossed the river at Remagen on the 11th and continued to Linz and to the Wied. Crossing on the 23d, it pushed east on the Koln-Frankfurt highway to Giessen. Against light resistance it crossed the Dill River and pushed on to Krofdorf-Gleiberg, taking Giessen 29 March. The 99th then moved to Schwarzenau, 3 April, and attacked the southeast sector of the Ruhr Pocket on the 5th. Although the enemy resisted fiercely, the Ruhr pocket collapsed with the fall of Iserlohn, 16 April.

The last drive began on 23 April. The 99th crossed the Ludwig Canal against stiff resistance and established a bridgehead over the Altmuhl River, 25 April. The Danube was crossed near Eining on the 27th and the Isar at Landshut, 1 May, after a stubborn fight. The attack continued without opposition to the Inn River and Giesenhausen when VE-day came.

[edit] Assignments in the ETO

[edit] Medal of Honor Recipients

  • Vernon McGarity: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company L, 393rd Infantry, 99th Infantry Division. Near Krinkelt, Belgium, 16 December 1944

[edit] General

  • Nickname: Battle Babies; formerly Checkerboard Division.
  • Shoulder patch: A fivesided shield of black on which is superimposed a horizontal band of white and blue squares. The black represents the iron from the mills of Pittsburgh where many of the troops were from. The blue and white are taken from the coat of arms for William Pitt for whom Pittsburgh was named.

[edit] Trivia

  • The I&R Platoon from 394th infantry regiment of the 99th division is the most decorated platoon of World War II for only one single action (4 DSC, 5 SS, 10 BSM with V (valor) device and Presidential Unit Citation).

[edit] See also

United States Army portal

[edit] References

  • The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 at http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/cc/cc.htm
  • The Longest Winter: The Battle of the Bulge and the Epic Story of World War II's Most Decorated Platoon, Alex Kershaw

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99th_Infantry_Division_%28United_States%29"
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