[91] As a result, in February 1951, the 45th Infantry Division was alerted that it would sail for Japan. Each of the four sides of the patch represents one of those four states. You can not post a blank message. Error: You don't have JavaScript enabled. Although the information contained in the following pages is not specific to the 45th Infantry Division, it presents an accurate overview of each campaign. [39] It sent half of its artillery to support the 70th Infantry Division. Rosters. The 45th Infantry Division was reassigned to VI Corps on New Year's day. Thank you so much!Katie Capra Geuin(i am new to this page and didn't see a way to send a message without replying to this one with the same subject line), [Moderation Note: Please see How To: Contact Another User], I checked the 29 June 1945 Division Roster as well as my General Orders' Worksheet and. [113] 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. [citation needed]. His discharge of course just general information, various theaters served in, listing him attached to HQ CO 290 INF, 75th DIV, but that didn't explain the 3rd DIV patch on his uniform. Hoping to occupy as much of the country as humanly possible before the German Army could react, the U.S. Fifth Army prepared to attack Salerno. The number of POWs taken by the 45th Division during its almost two years of fighting totalled 124,840 men. Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 105th [105], The 45th Infantry Division, along with the 7th Infantry Division, fought off repeated Chinese attacks all along the front line throughout 1952, and Chinese forces frequently attacked Old Baldy Hill into the fall of that year. PFC Donald E. Thompson, member of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, per the 29 June 1945 Roster of the. The 45th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army, most associated with the Oklahoma Army National Guard, from 1920 to 1968. Documents: All of the files from The 45th Division in World War II: The Thunderbirds Facebook Group in searchable PDF format plus other documents. Raymond B Company, 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion 382. Please turn JavaScript back on and reload this page. The proximity of the US Army gave hope to the prisoners in the camp and to anti-Nazis outside it. [37] Opposing them were elements of the German 29th Panzergrenadier Division and XVI Panzer Corps. The 45th Infantry Division was formed in 1924 from National Guard units in the southwestern United States. [117] One soldier from the division, Charles George, was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving in Korea. Detachments On 30 January 1944, when VI Corps advanced from the beaches, it encountered heavy resistance and took heavy casualties. In March 1945, the "Thunderbird" division crossed the Rhine River and headed southward. 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division | American Battle Monuments Commission Cemeteries & Memorials Burial Search Education About Us News Data Multimedia Contact Us 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division Home 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division Legacy ID 27959 Legacy Alias ", It appears that most of the regiment remained in the Dachau vicinity until, 20 July, when the regiment embarked by train for Camp St. Louis. As the 45th Infantry Division completed its drive on Munich, the unit was ordered to liberate the Dachau concentration camp. They took part in intense fighting during the invasion of Sicily and the attack on Salerno in the 1943 Italian Campaign. In Section 1, Item 1, where it asks which items you are requesting, please check Other and specify that you want the entire file. While Sheeran's unit was climbing the Harz Mountains, they came upon a Wehrmacht mule train carrying food and drink up the mountainside. Please be aware that NPRC is prioritizing the requests for separation documents needed by veterans and their dependents to prove eligibility for a variety of benefits. [26] Nine soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during their service with the 45th Infantry Division: Van T. Barfoot,[72] Ernest Childers,[73] Almond E. Fisher,[74] William J. Johnston,[75] Salvador J. Lara,[76] Jack C. Montgomery,[77] James D. Slaton,[73] Jack Treadwell,[78] and Edward G. I checked the 1944 and 1945 Division rosters (45th Div. In the Dachau camp itself, an international committee composed of representatives of the various nationalities imprisoned there was established to organize resistance. Each car was loaded with emaciated human corpses . I also examined the lists of names in the History of the Third Infantry Division without success. [82], During this time, the U.S. Army underwent a drastic reduction in size. In the first two cases, dubbed the Biscari massacre, occurred on 14 July 1943, American troops from C Company, 180th Infantry Regiment, were alleged to have shot 74 Italian and two German prisoners in Acate following the capture of an airfield in the area. [122][123], The 45th Infantry Division was awarded eight campaign streamers and one foreign unit award in World War II and four campaign streamers and one foreign unit award in the Korean War, for a total of twelve campaign streamers and two foreign unit decorations in its operational history. He described often witnessing similar behavior by fellow, Orders from unit commanders during a mission. See, for instructions. On Sunday, April 29th, 1945, the 3rd Battalion of the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division liberated the Dachau concentration camp, near Munich, Germany. On the second incident, Captain John T. Compton ordered Italian soldiers to be lined up and shot; the officer claimed he had only been following orders and was acquitted. The following month, the division landed in Sicily, where it engaged Axis troops in combat. A row of small cement structures near the prison entrance contained a coal-fired crematorium, a gas chamber, and rooms piled high with naked and emaciated human corpses. I also examined the lists of names in the History of the Third Infantry Division without success. [35] After this, the division was allocated to drive towards Messina, being ordered by the Seventh Army commander to cover the distance as quickly as possible. [41] Until 9 January 1944, the division, now under Major General William W. Eagles (replacing Major General Middleton who, struck down with arthritis, was sent to England to command VIII Corps in the Normandy invasion), inched forward into the mountains reaching St. Elia, north of Monte Cassino, before moving to a rest area. The following month, the division landed in Sicily, where it engaged Axis troops in combat. Just that, no other details. It's like a window back in time. [50] Against slight opposition, it spearheaded the drive for the Belfort Gap. [111], In the division's first few months on the line, Chinese forces conducted three raids in its sector. The 45th Infantry Division guardsmen saw . [92], In preparation for the deployment, the division was sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to begin training and to fill its ranks. [13] After a long process of reviewing design submissions, a design by Woody Big Bow, a Kiowa artist from Carnegie, Oklahoma, was chosen for the new shoulder sleeve insignia. The Regimental, Command Post was moved into Dachau and training began. Our History Department collects Veteran information for this website and the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. [39] The division remained on the line with the U.S. 6th Army Group the southernmost of three army groups advancing through France. [38] On 10 September, elements of the division conducted its second landing at Agropoli and Paestum with the 36th Infantry Division, on the southernmost beaches of the attack. In practice, the military institutionally recognized the Korea unit as the only "official" division, and most of the returning Oklahoma guardsmen were either separated from the Guard at the end of their enlistments or remained in inactive reserve status. After linking up with the British Eighth Army, which had advanced from the south, the combined force, under the 15th Army Group, commanded by British General Sir Harold Alexander, was stalled when it reached the Gustav Line. Divisional troops The 4th Armored Division was activated during World War II on 15 April 1941 with 3,800 men (10,000 by the end of May 1941) from various other units, at Pine Camp (Camp Drum, 1951; Fort Drum, 1974), New York under its first Commanding General, Brigadier General Henry W. Baird.. World War II. In conjunction with the reenacting unit is a Venturing Crew of the Boy Scouts of America, allowing members of the unit who are under 18 years of age to participate in events. 45th Infantry Division "Thunderbird" 1939 and before 1939 - present The 45th Infantry Division served for 511 days in Combat in the European African Middle Eastern Theater; during this time they served in the campaigns of SICILY , NAPLES-FOGGIA , ANZIO , ROME-ARNO , SOUTHERN FRANCE , RHINELAND , ARDENNES-ALSACE, and CENTRAL EUROPE. [84] Regardless, by mid-1950 the division had only 8,413 troops, less than 45 percent[n 1] of its full-strength authorization. The Dachau massacre and other reprisal killings of concentration camp guards and trustee inmates. The 45th Infantry Museum honors not just their service, but that of all Oklahomans. [101] By 1952, it was fully integrated. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience as we balance mission-critical work and the safety of our staff during the pandemic. If you havent already done so, we suggest that you request a copy of his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). We searched the National Archives Catalog and located Morning Reports, ca. In later interviews with Charles Brandt, he divided such massacres into four categories: During World War II, the 45th Division fought in 511 days of combat. [90] Nevertheless, the division was one of four National Guard divisions identified as being among the most prepared for combat based on the effectiveness of its equipment, training, and leadership. 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