45th Infantry Division (United States)
| 45th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
.svg) 45th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia. | |
| Active | October 19, 1920—December 7, 1945 September 10, 1946—February 1, 1968 |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Allegiance |  United States Army |
| Branch | Army National Guard |
| Type | Infantry Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | Oklahoma Army National Guard |
| Nickname(s) | Thunderbird[1] |
| Motto(s) | Semper Anticus Latin: "Always Forward"[2] |
| Engagements | World War II Korean War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Mark Wayne Clark Troy H. Middleton Raymond S. McLain Dwight E. Beach Philip De Witt Ginder |
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The 45th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army. As a major formation of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, it was headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for most of its history. The division traces its lineage to the Oklahoma state militia activated in the late 19th century.
The 45th Infantry Division first saw action as a division in World War II fighting in the Mediterranean. Making amphibious landings at Sicily, Anzio, and Salerno, the division played a key role in the liberation of Italy before making a fourth amphibious landing in Europe to liberate France. Eventually, the division advanced into Germany itself.
After a brief deactivation, the division returned to duty in the Korean War on the UN lines against repeated attacks from Chinese forces. Fighting in numerous raids and bigger battles such as the Battle of Old Baldy, the 45th Infantry Division was decorated several times for its actions during both wars. Following its service, the division was deactivated and formed into the 45th Infantry Brigade.
History
The history of the 45th Infantry Division can be traced back to 1890 with the formation of the Militia of the Territory of Oklahoma.[3] That militia was mobilized in 1898 during the Spanish American War but was never deployed. In 1916 the First Oklahoma Infantry Regiment deployed for border security duty during the Mexican Border Conflict. In 1917, the First Oklahoma Infantry Regiment, redesignated as part of the 142nd Infantry Regiment of the 36th Division fought in the final month of World War I.[3]
On October 19, 1920, the Oklahoma State militia was organized as the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma Army National Guard and organized with troops from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.[4] The division was organized and federally recognized on August 3, 1923 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[5] It was assigned the 89th Infantry Brigade of the Colorado and Arizona National Guards, and the 90th Infantry Brigade of the Oklahoma National Guard.[6]
The division's original shoulder sleeve insignia featured a swastika, a common Native American symbol, as a tribute to the south-western United States region which had a large population of Native Americans.[2] However, with the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, which overtook the use of the symbol, the 45th Division stopped using the insignia. A new shoulder sleeve insignia featuring the Thunderbird, another Native American symbol, was approved in 1939.[2]
World War II
On September 16, 1940, the 45th Infantry Division was federalized into the Active duty force.[5] The division's two combat commands, the 89th and 90th Brigades were not activated, as the Army favored smaller and more versitile regimental commands for the new conflict.[6] The Division was based around the 157th Infantry Regiment, the 179th Infantry Regiment, and the 180th Infantry Regiment.[7] Also assigned to the division were the 158th, 160th, 171st, and 189th Field Artillery Battalions, the 46th Signal Company, the 700th Ordinance Company, the 45th Quartermaster Company, the 45th Reconnaissance Troop, the 120th Engineer Combat Battalion, and the 120th Medical Battalion.[7]
Sicily
After activation, the division trained in amphibious assault techniques at Fort Devens, Massachusetts in preparation for the invasion of Italy. On June 8, 1943, it sailed for the Mediterranean region.[8] The 45th Division landed in North Africa on June 22, 1943, and trained at Arzew, French Morocco.[8]
On July 10, the division was one of the leading units in the amphibious assault on Sicily, and moved inland, encountering minor opposition.[8] The enemy resisted fiercely at Motta Hill on July 26, and the 45th Infantry Division fought for four days to defeat Italian and German forces.[8] On August 1, the division withdrew from the front line for rest and rear-guard patrol duty.[8] The division was assigned to VI Corps of the Fifth United States Army, in preparation for the invasion of mainland Italy.[9]
Salerno
On September 3, Italy surrendered to the Allied powers. Hoping to occupy as much of the country as possible before the German army could react, the Fifth Army prepared to attack Salerno.[9] On September 10, 1943, the division conducted its second landing at Agropoli and Paestrom with the 36th Infantry Division, on the southernmost beaches of the attack.[9] Opposing them were elements of the German 29th Panzergrenadier Division and XVI Panzer Corps.[9] Against stiff resistance, the 45th pushed to the Calore River after a week of heavy fighting.[10] The Fifth Army was battered and pushed back by German forces until September 20, when American forces were finally able to break out and establish a more secure beachhead.[9] On November 3 it crossed the Volturno River and took Venafro.[10] The division had great difficulty moving across the rivers and through mountainous terrain, and the advance was slow. After linking up with the British Eighth Army that had advanced from the south, the combined force, under the Fifteenth Army Group was stalled when coming on the Gustav Line.[11] Until January 9, 1944, the division inched forward into the mountains reaching St. Elia, north of Cassino, before moving to a rest area.[10]
Anzio
Allied forces conducted a frontal assault on the Gustav Line stronghold at Monte Cassino, and VI Corps was assigned Operation Shingle, detached from the Army Group to land behind enemy lines at Anzio.[12] The VI Corps landed on schedule, surprising German forces, however General Mark Clark's decision to consolidate the beachhead instead of attack gave the Germans time to bring the LXXVI Panzer Corps to oppose the landings.[12] On January 30, when VI Corps moved out, it encountered heavy resistance from German armored units which inflicted heavy casualties.[12] The fight became a war of attrition, and for the next four months the division stood its ground during repeated German counterattacks.[10] The 45th Infantry Division was mostly stuck in its place as the Pimlott Line was bombarded with aircraft and artillery fire. It was May before the Germans, reeling from heavy bombing and repeated attack from the Fifteenth Army Group, began to withdraw.[13] On May 23 the division went on the offensive, crossing the Tiber River by June 4, outflanking Rome. On June 16, it withdrew for rest in preparation for another assault.[10] During this time, VI Corps was attached to the Seventh United States Army, Sixth United States Army Group,[14] part of a buildup in preparation for an invasion of mainland Europe in southern France, called Operation Anvil, which was to coincide with Operation Overlord in the north.[15] The 45th Infantry Division, along with the 36th and 3rd Infantry Divisions were pulled from the line in Italy to conduct Operation Anvil, however the attack was delayed until August due to a shortage of landing craft.[15]
France and Germany
The 45th Infantry Division participated in its fourth assault landing during Operation Dragoon on August 15, 1944, at St. Maxime, in Southern France.[10] The German Army, reeling from the Battle of Normandy pulled back after a short fight, part of an overall German withdrawal to the east following the landings.[16] The Seventh Army, along with Free French forces, were able to advance north quickly. By September 12, the Seventh Army linked up with the Third United States Army, advancing from Normandy, joining the two forces.[15] Against slight opposition, it spearheaded the drive for the Belfort Gap. It took the strongly defended city of Epinal on September 24.[10] The division was then reassigned to V Corps for its next advance.[14] On September 30 the division crossed the Moselle River and entered the western foothills of the Vosges, taking Rambervillers.[10] It would remain in the area for a month waiting for other units to catch up before crossing the Mortagne River on October 23.[10] The division remained on the line with the Sixth United States Army Group, the southernmost of three Army Groups advancing through France.[17]
After the crossing was complete, the division was relieved from V Corps and assigned to XV Corps.[14] The division was allowed a one-month rest, resuming its advance on November 25, attacking the forts north of Mutzig (forts Kaiser Wilhelm II designed in 1893 to block access to the plain of Alsace) and crossed the Zintzel River and pushed through the Maginot defenses.[10] During this time much of the division's artillery assets were attached to the 44th Infantry Division to provide additional support.[18] The 45th Infantry Division was reassigned to VI Corps on New Year's day.[14] From January 2, 1945, the division fought defensively along the German border, withdrawing to the Moder River.[10] It sent half of its artillery to support the 70th Infantry Division.[18] On February 17 the division was pulled off the line for rest and training. Once this rest period was complete, the division was assigned to XV Corps for the final push into German territory.[14] The 45th moved north to the Sarreguemines area and smashed through the Siegfried Line, on March 17 taking Homburg on the 21st and crossing the Rhine between Worms and Hamm on the 26th.[10] The advance continued, with Aschaffenburg falling on April 3, and Nuremberg on the 20th.[10] The division crossed the Danube River on April 27, and liberated 32,000 captives of the Dachau concentration camp on 29 April 1945. The division captured Munich during the next two days, occupying the city until V-E Day and the surrender of Germany.[10] During the next month, the division remained in Munich and set up collection points and camps for the massive numbers of surrendering troops of the German armies. The number of POWs taken by the 45th Division, during its almost two years of fighting, totalled 124,840 men.
Alleged war crimes
After the War, accounts of war crimes allegedly committed by the division began to surface. The first incident was of American troops from the 180th Regimental Combat Team who shot 74 Italian and two German POWs when the division was in Sicily, the Biscari massacre. The killings occurred in two separate incidents between July and August 1943.[19] General George S. Patton attempted to dismiss the case, telling General Omar Bradley to write the executed prisoners off in order to prevent bad press for American forces, but Bradley refused. Courtsmartial later found one NCO guilty and acquitted one officer.[20]
In a second incident, soldiers of the 45th Division were accused of massacring surrendering guards at the Dachau concentration camp during the Dachau massacre in 1945.[21] After investigating the incident, the Army considered court martialing several officers involved, but General Patton chose to dismiss the charges.[22]
Post-War
During World War II, the 45th Division fought in 511 days of combat.[8] Soldiers of the division won eight Medals of Honor, 61 Distinguished Service Crosses, three Distinguished Service Medals, 1,848 Silver Star Medals, 38 Legion of Merit medals, 59 Soldiers Medals, 5,744 Bronze Star Medals, and 52 Air Medals. The division received seven distinguished unit citations and eight campaign streamers during the conflict.[8] The division suffered 1,510 killed in action, 7,246 wounded in action, 1,436 missing in action, 266 captured, and 15,991 non-battle casualties for a total of 26,449 casualties during the war.[23]
The division returned to New York in early June of 1945, and from there went to Camp Bowie, Texas. On December 7, 1945, the division was deactivated from the active duty force and its members reassigned to other Army units.[3] The 45th Infantry Division was reconstituted as a National Guard unit following the war, on September 10, 1946.[24] Instead of comprising units from several states, the post-war 45th was an all-Oklahoma organization.[3] During this time the US Army underwent a drastic reduction in size. At the end of World War II it contained 89 divisions, but by 1950, only 10 divisions were active in the force. These divisions were under strength and armed with antiquated equipment due to reductions in defense spending.[25]
Korean War
At the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, the US Army looked to expand its force again to prepare for major conflict. While the undermanned active divisions moved into the war suffered from lack of reinforcements and high casualties, the Army looked to the National Guard to provide additional troops to the region. On September 1 of that year, the 45th Infantry Division was activated as the first National Guard division to be deployed to the theater.[26] The 157th Infantry was removed from the unit and replaced with the 279th Infantry Regiment.[27] The 40th Infantry Division of the California Army National Guard would follow in April, 1951.[28] The 45th Infantry Division was sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana to begin training and fill its ranks in preparation for deployment.[26] The division was sent to Japan in April, 1951 after its basic training was complete, for advanced training and to act as a reserve force for the Eighth United States Army, currently fighting in Korea.[27] It was not deployed to Korea until December of 1951, when its advanced training was complete.[27] The division moved to replace the 1st Cavalry Division on the front line. The 1st Cavalry Division was delegated to the Far East reserve, having suffered over 16,000 casualties in less than 18 months of fighting.[29]
By the time the division was in place, the battle lines on both sides had largely solidified, leaving the 45th Infantry Division in a stationary position as it conducted attacks and counterattacks for the same ground.[30] The division was put under the command of I Corps, Eighth Army for most of the conflict.[31] During its first few months of service in combat, the division did not fare well, though it improved quickly.[27] In its first few months on the line, Chinese forces conducted three raids in the division's sector. In retaliation, the 245th Tank Battalion sent nine tanks to raid Agok.[30] Two companies of Chinese forces ambushed and devastated a patrol from the 179th Infantry a short time later.[30] In the spring, the division launched Operation Counter, an effort to establish 11 patrol bases around Old Baldy Hill. The division defended the hill against a series of Chinese assaults from the Chinese 38th Army.[30]
The 45th Infantry Division, along with the 7th Infantry Division fought repeated Chinese attacks all along the front line throughout 1952, and Chinese forces frequently attacked Old Baldy Hill into the fall of that year.[32] Around that time, the 45th Infantry Division relinquished command of Old Baldy Hill to the 2nd Infantry Division. Almost immediately the Chinese launched a concentrated attack on the hill, overrunning the US forces.[33] Heavy rainstorms prevented the divisions from retaking the hill for around a month, and when it was finally retaken it was heavily fortified to prevent further attacks.[34] The 245th Tank Battalion was sent to assault Chinese positions throughout late 1952, but most of the Division remained stationary that year as it attempted to hold a defensive line against the Chinese.[32]
In early 1953, North Korean forces launched a large attack against Hill 812, under control of K Company, 3rd Battalion, 179th Infantry.[35] The ensuing Battle of Hill Eerie was one of a series of larger attacks by Chinese and North Korean forces which produced heavier fighting than the previous year had seen.[35] Chinese forces continued concentrated attacks on the lines of the UN forces, including the 45th Infantry Division, but the division managed to hold most of its ground, remaining stationary until the end of the war in the summer of 1953.[36]
During the Korean War the 45th Infantry Division suffered 4,004 casualties; 834 killed in action and 3,170 wounded in action.[27] The division was awarded four campaign streamers and one Presidential Unit Citation.[37]
After Korea
The Division returned home after the end of the Korean War, and reverted to National Guard status on April 30, 1954.[24] The division remained as a unit of the Oklahoma National Guard, and participated in no major actions throughout the rest of the 1950's. In 1963, the formation was reorganized in accordance with Reorganization Objective Army Divisions plan, with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigade. These brigades would see no major deployments or events, and were deactivated five years later in 1968.[38] That same year, due to the perceived lack of need for so many large formations in the Army National Guard, the 45th Infantry Division was deactivated, as part of a larger move to reduce the number of Army National Guard divisions from 15 to 8, while increasing the number of separate brigades from seven to 18.[39] In its place, the independent 45th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was established.[24][40] The 45th Infantry Brigade received all of the 45th Division's lineage and heraldry, including its shoulder sleeve insignia.[2]
Honors
The 45th Infantry Division was awarded eight campaign streamers and one unit award in World War II, four campaign streamers and two unit decorations in World War II, and four campaign streamers and one unit decoration in the Korean War, for a total of twelve campaign streamers and two unit decorations in its operational history.[5]
Unit decorations
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
French Croix de Guerre, World War II (With Palm) | 1943—1944 | Embroidered "Acquafondata" |
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|
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | 1952—1953 | For service in Korea |
Campaign streamers
| Conflict | Streamer | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| World War II | Sicily (with Arrowhead) | 1943 |
| World War II | Naples-Foggia (with Arrowhead) | 1943 |
| World War II | Anzio (wirth Arrowhead) | 1943 |
| World War II | Rome-Arno | 1944 |
| World War II | Southern France (with Arrowhead) | 1944 |
| World War II | Rhineland | 1944—1945 |
| World War II | Ardennes-Alsace | 1944—1945 |
| World War II | Central Europe | 1945 |
| Korean War | Second Korean Winter | 1951—1952 |
| Korean War | Korea, Summer-Fall 1952 | 1952 |
| Korean War | Third Korean Winter | 1952—1953 |
| Korean War | Korea, Summer 1953 | 1953 |
Legacy
People who served in the 45th Infantry Division and later went on to achieve notability in the military or other fields include cartoonist Bill Mauldin, historian Raul Hilberg,[41] alleged hitman Frank Sheeran,[42] Colorado Supreme Court justice Felix L. Sparks,[43] composer Donald O. Johnston,[44] and US Army Generals Paul D. Adams and Michael S. Davison.
Nine soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during their service with the 45th Infantry Division, eight of these during World War II. They include Van T. Barfoot, Ernest Childers, Almond E. Fisher, William J. Johnston, Jack C. Montgomery, James D. Slaton, Jack Treadwell, and Edward G. Wilkin. Additionally, Charles George won the medal serving with the division in Korea.[45][46]
References
- ^ "Army National Guard Special Designation Listing". Center for Military History. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ a b c d "The Institute of Heraldry: 45th Infantry Brigade". The Institute of Heraldry. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
- ^ a b c d "45th Infantry Brigade Homepage: History". 45th Infantry Brigade. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
- ^ McGrath, p. 234.
- ^ a b c Wilson 1999, p. 663.
- ^ a b McGrath, p. 171.
- ^ a b Almanac, p. 592.
- ^ a b c d e f g Almanac, p. 544.
- ^ a b c d e Pimlott, p. 140.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Almanc, p. 545.
- ^ Pimlott, p. 141.
- ^ a b c Pimlott, p. 142.
- ^ Pimlott, p. 143.
- ^ a b c d e Order of Battle, p. 184.
- ^ a b c Pimlott, p. 166.
- ^ Pimlott, p. 167.
- ^ Pimlott, p. 189.
- ^ a b Order of Battle, p. 183.
- ^ Weingartner, James (November 1989). "Massacre at Biscari: Patton and An American War Crime". The Historian. LII (1): pp. 24-39.
{{cite journal}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ Atkinson, Rick (2007). The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (The Liberation Trilogy). New York: Henry Holt and Co. p. 119. ISBN 0805062890.
- ^ "Dachau Camp liberation". Nizkor Project. Retrieved 2009-06-18..
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Albert Panebianco (ed). Dachau its liberation 57th Infantry Association, Felix L. Sparks, Secretary 15 June 1989. (backup site)
- ^ Order of Battle, p. 180.
- ^ a b c Wilson 1999, p. 665.
- ^ Stewart, p. 211.
- ^ a b Varhola, p. 101.
- ^ a b c d e Varhola, p. 102.
- ^ Varhola, p. 100.
- ^ Varhola, p. 93.
- ^ a b c d Varhola, p. 24.
- ^ Varhola, p. 86.
- ^ a b Varhola, p. 25.
- ^ Catchpole, p. 168.
- ^ Catchpole, p. 169.
- ^ a b Varhola, p. 28.
- ^ Varhola, p. 30.
- ^ Wilson 1999, p. 666.
- ^ McGrath, p. 202.
- ^ Wilson 2001, p. 338.
- ^ Wilson 2001, p. 240.
- ^ "Raul Hilberg", The Times, (London), August 8, 2007.
- ^ Charles Brandt, I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank "the Irishman" Sheeran and the inside story of the Mafia, the Teamsters, and the last ride of Jimmy Hoffa, Steerforth Press, Hanover (NH, USA) 2004 (ISBN 1-58642-077-1)
- ^ Beuchner, Emajean Jordan (1991). Sparks. Thunderbird Press, Inc.
- ^ "Composer Biography: Donald O. Johnston". Ars Nova Music. 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- ^ "Medal of Honor Recipients — Vietnam (A-L)". United States Army. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
- ^ "Medal of Honor Recipients — Vietnam (M-Z)". United States Army. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
Sources
- Catchpole, Brian (2001). The Korean War. Robinson Publishing. ISBN 978-1841194134.
- McGrath, John J. (2004). The Brigade: A History: Its Organization and Employment in the US Army. Combat Studies Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-4404-4915-4.
- Pimlott, John (1995). The Historical Atlas of World War II. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 978-0805039290.
- Stewart, Richard W. (2005). American Military History Volume II: The United States Army in a Global Era, 1917-2003. Department of the Army. ISBN 978-0160725418.
- Wilson, John B. (1999). Armies, Corps, Divisions, and Separate Brigades. Department of the Army. ISBN ASIN B000OJKX1S.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - Wilson, John B. (2001). Maneuver and Firepower: Divisions and Separate Brigades. University Press of the Pacific. ISBN 978-0898754988.
- Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States. United States Government Printing Office. 1959. ISBN ASIN B0006D8NKK.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - Order of Battle of the United States Army: World War II European Theater of Operations. Department of the Army. 1945. ISBN 978-0160019678.