33rd Infantry Division (United States)
| 33d Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
 33d Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia |
|
| Active | 1917–1919 1941–1946 |
| Country | USA |
| Branch | U.S. Army |
| Nickname | Illinois Division Prairie Division |
| Engagements | World War I World War II |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation (6) |
| US infantry divisions (1939–present) | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| 32nd Infantry Division (Inactive) | 34th Infantry Division |
The 33d Infantry Division was a unit in the Army National Guard in World War I and World War II. It was briefly active as the 12th Division before becoming the 33rd Division.
Contents |
[edit] World War I
- Activated: July 1917 (National Guard Division from Illinois).Camp Logan, Texas[1]
- Overseas: May 1918.
- Major operations: Le Hamel (four companies), Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Somme offensive.St. Mihiel
- Casualties: Total-6,864 (KIA-691, WIA-6,173).
- Commanders: Maj. Gen. George Bell, Jr. (25 August 1917), Brig. Gen. H. D. Todd, Jr. (19 September 1917), Maj. Gen. George Bell, Jr. (7 December 1917).
- Returned to U.S. and inactivated: May 1919. Camp Grant, Illinois
[edit] World War II
- Activated: 5 March 1941 (National Guard Division from Illinois).
- Overseas: 7 July 1943.
- Campaigns: New Guinea, Luzon.
- Presidential Unit Citation: 6.
- Awards: MH-3 ; DSC-31 ; DSM-2 ; SS-470 ; LM-34; SM-49 ; BSM-2,251 ; AM-36.
- Commanders: Maj. Gen. Samuel T. Lawton (March 1941 – May 1942), Maj. Gen. Frank Mahin (May–July 1942), Maj. Gen. John Millikin (August 1942 – September 1943), Maj. Gen. Percy W. Clarkson (October 1943 – November 1945) ; Brig. Gen. W. G. Skelton (November 1945 to inactivation).
- Inactivated: 3 February 1946 in Japan.
[edit] Afghanistan
- Activated: August 21, 2008 (National Guard Division from Illinois).
- Overseas: September 2008.
- Campaigns: Afghanistan (OEF)
- Presidential Unit Citation: 1.
- Returned Home August 21, 2009
[edit] Combat Chronicle
When the US Army reorganised from the "square" (4 Regiments to a Division) to "triangular" (3) concept, the 132nd Infantry Regiment was separated and was sent to New Caledonia as part of Task Force 6814 where it became part of the Americal Division. The division was left with the 123rd, 130th, and 136th Infantry Regiments. The 33rd Tank Company was sent to the Philippines as Company B of the 192nd Tank Battalion prior to Pearl Harbor where it was captured at Bataan.
The 33d Infantry Division arrived in Hawaii on 12 July 1943. While guarding installations, it received training in jungle warfare. On 11 May 1944, it arrived in New Guinea where it received additional training. The 123d Infantry Regiment arrived at Maffin Bay, 1 September, to provide perimeter defense by aggressive patrolling for Wakde Airdrome and the Toem-Sarmi sector. The 123d was relieved on 26 January 1945. Elements of the 33d arrived at Morotai, 18 December 1944. Landings were made on the west coast of the island, 22 December, without opposition and defensive perimeters were established. Aggressive patrols encountered scattered resistance. The 33rd landed at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, 10 February 1945, and relieved the 43d Infantry Division in the Damortis-Rosario Pozorrubio area, 13–15 February. The division drove into the Caraballo Mountains, 19 February, toward its objective, Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines and the headquarters of General Yamashita. Fighting against a fanatical enemy entrenched in the hills, the 33d took Aringay, 7 March, Mount Calugong, 8 April, and Mount Mirador, 25 April. Baguio and Camp John Hay fell on 26 April, under the concerted attack of the 33d and the 37th Infantry Divisions. Manuel Roxas, later President of the Philippines, was freed during the capture of Baguio. Between the Filipino soldiers of the 66th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFIP-NL on 27 April that combined with the American forces in liberating the city in Baguio. After mopping up isolated pockets of resistance, the Division broke up the last organized resistance of the enemy by capturing the San Nicholas-Tebbo-Itogon route, 12 May, by inside in Luzon by defenders between the military forces of the Philippine Commonwealth and the local guerrilla fighters against the Japanese from 1945. All elements went to rest and rehabilitation areas on 30 June 1945. The division landed on Honshū Island, Japan, 25 September, and performed occupation duties until inactivated.
The Division was active in the Illinois Army National Guard for a time after the war and was scaled back to a separate brigade during the late 1960s.
The numerical designation and shoulder patch are currently active as the 33rd Brigade Combat Team of the 35th Infantry Division.
[edit] References
- The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at CMH.
