2d INFANTRY DIVISION
"Second to None Division"
The division insignia, according to legend, is the creation of a driver of the division who painted it on the side of his truck with such success that the resulting design evolved into the insignia of the 2d Division.
[page 15]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
19 Oct 43 |
Maj. Gen. Walter M. Robertson |
22 Nov 43 |
Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Martin |
2 Dec 43 |
Maj. Gen. Walter M. Robertson |
Assistant Division Commander
19 Oct 43 |
Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Martin |
4 Jul 44 |
Col. James A. Van Fleet |
1 Aug 44 |
Brig. Gen. James A. Van Fleet |
5 Sep 44 |
Col. John H. Stokes, Jr. (Acting) |
21 Mar 45 |
Brig. Gen. John H. Stokes, Jr. |
Artillery Commander
19 Oct 43 |
Brig. Gen. George P. Hays |
12 Nov 44 |
Col. Richard Sears |
14 Nov 44 |
Brig. Gen. John H. Hinds |
Chief of Staff
19 Oct 43 |
Col. John H. Stokes, Jr. |
15 Oct 44 |
Col. Ralph W. Zwicker (Acting) |
18 Nov 44 |
Col. Ralph W. Zwicker |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
19 Oct 43 |
Lt. Col. Reuben N. Hansen |
5 Apr 44 |
Maj. Arthur M. Sherwood, III |
21 Jul 44 |
Lt. Col. Arthur M. Sherwood, III |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
19 Oct 43 |
Lt. Col. Donald P. Christensen |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
19 Oct 43 |
Lt. Col. Jay B. Loveless |
4 Dec 43 |
Lt. Col. John H. Chiles |
13 Dec 44 |
Maj. Daniel Webster |
26 Jan 45 |
Lt. Col. Daniel Webster |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
19 Oct 43 |
Lt. Col. Homer S. Reese |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
31 May 44 |
Lt. Col. Ellis O. Keller |
Adjutant General
19 Oct 43 |
Lt. Col. Morris Braveman |
Commanding Officer, 9th Infantry
19 Oct 43 |
Col. Chester J. Hirschfelder |
10 Jan 45 |
Col. P. D. Ginder |
Commanding Officer, 23d Infantry
19 Oct 43 |
Col. Hurley E. Fuller |
11 Jul 44 |
Lt. Col. Jay B. Loveless |
13 Sep 44 |
Col. Jay B. Loveless |
Commanding Officer, 38th Infantry
19 Oct 43 |
Col. Walter A. Elliot |
5 Jul 44 |
Col. Ralph W. Zwicker |
18 Nov 44 |
Lt. Col. Francis H. Boos |
28 Nov 44 |
Col. Francis H. Boos |
[page 16]
STATISTICS
Chronology
Activated |
18 Nov 1917 |
Arrived ETO |
19 Oct 1943 |
Arrived Continent (D+2) |
8 Jun 1944 |
Entered Combat (First Elements) |
7 Jun 1944 |
Entered Combat (Entire Division) |
12 Jun 1944 |
Days in Combat |
303 |
Casualties (Tentative)
Killed |
2,999 |
Wounded |
10,924 |
Missing |
109 |
Captured |
1,034 |
Battle Casualties |
15,066 |
Non-Battle Casualties |
10,818 |
Total Casualties |
25,884 |
Percent of T/O Strength |
183.7 |
Campaigns
- Normandy
- Northern France
- Ardennes
- Rhineland
- Central Europe
Individual Awards
Distinguished Service Cross |
34 |
Legion of Merit |
25 |
Silver Star |
637 |
Soldiers Medal |
14 |
Bronze Star |
5,484 |
Air Medal |
82 |
Prisoners of War Taken 51,055
COMPOSITION
- 9th Infantry
- 23d Infantry
- 38th Infantry
- 2d Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
- 2d Engineer Combat Battalion
- 2d Medical Battalion
- 2d Division Artillery
- 15th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 37th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 38th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 12th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
- Special Troops
- 702d Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
- 2d Quartermaster Company
- 2d Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Band
[page 17]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
462d AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
17 Jun-17 Aug 44 |
Btry A, 116th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) |
30 Jul-4 Aug 44 |
462d AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
3 Oct 44-8 May 45 |
Hq, 18th AAA Gp |
20-21 Dec 44 |
Armored
Co B, 747th Tk Bn |
8-15 Jun 44 |
Co D, 747th Tk Bn |
11-15 Jun 44 |
741st Tk Bn |
15 Jun-17 Aug 44 |
759th Tk Bn |
18-28 Jun 44 |
Hq, 3d Armd Gp |
17-29 Jul 44 |
744th Tk Bn |
18-29 Jul 44 |
759th Tk Bn |
27 Jul-5 Aug 44 |
Co D, 709th Tk Bn |
22 Aug-21 Sep 44 |
741st Tk Bn |
8 Oct 44-8 May 45 |
Cavalry
102d Cav Rcn Sq (- Tr C) |
11 Jun-29 Jul 44 |
Tr C, 102d Cav Rcn Sq |
14 Jun-29 Jul 44 |
102d Cav Gp |
16-29 Jul 44 |
38th Cav Rcn Sq (- Tr B) |
16-29 Jul 44 |
102d Cav Gp |
2-5 Aug 44 |
102d Cav Rcn Sq |
2-5 Aug 44 |
38th Cav Rcn Sq |
2-5 Aug 44 |
102d Cav Gp |
9-14 Aug 44 |
102d Cav Rcn Sq (- Tr A) |
9-14 Aug 44 |
Tr A, 102d Cav Rcn Sq |
9-15 Aug 44 |
38th Cav Rcn Sq |
9-15 Aug 44 |
18th Cav Rcn Sq |
22 Oct-11 Dec 44 |
Tr D, 89th Cav Rcn Sq (9th Armd Div) |
28 Oct-8 Nov 44 |
99th Rcn Tr (99th Div) |
13-22 Dec 44 |
Tr A, 102d Cav Rcn Sq |
9-13 Mar 45 |
102d Cav Rcn Sq (- Tr A) |
10-13 Mar 45 |
Chemical
Co C, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
11 Jun-1 Aug 44 |
Co A, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
11 Jun-5 Aug 44 |
Co B, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
5 Jul-5 Aug 44 |
Co D, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
1-5 Aug 44 |
Co B, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
9-16 Aug 44 |
Co C, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
9-16 Aug 44 |
Co C, 86th Cml Mort Bn |
22 Aug-19 Sep 44 |
Co C, 86th Cml Mort Bn |
12 Dec 44-13 Jan 45 |
Co D, 86th Cml Mort Bn |
27 Jan-16 Feb 45 |
Co B, 86th Cml Mort Bn |
1-14 Mar 45 |
Co C, 86th Cml Mort Bn |
1 Mar-28 Apr 45 |
Engineer [page 19]
1340th Engr C Bn |
13-14 Jun 44 |
112th Engr C Bn |
8-13 Jul 44 |
454th Engr C Bn |
17-28 Jul 44 |
2 plats, Co B, 9th Armd Engr Bn (9th Armd Div) |
29 Oct-4 Nov 44 |
1 plat, Co B, 103d Engr C Bn (28th Div) |
8-10 Mar 45 |
Field Artillery
953d FA Bn (155 How) |
13 Jun-5 Jul 44 |
62d Armd FA Bn |
8-13 Jul 44 |
65th Armd FA Bn |
8-13 Jul 44 |
953d FA Bn (155 How) |
29 Jul-5 Aug 44 |
196th FA Bn (105 How) |
30 Jul-5 Aug 44 |
76th FA Bn (105 How) |
15-17 Aug 44 |
687th FA Bn (105 How) |
21 Aug-11 Sep 44 |
275th Armd FA Bn |
23 Oct-11 Dec 44 |
16th Armd FA Bn (9th Armd Div) |
12-16 Dec 44 |
18th FA Bn (105 How) |
12-18 Dec 44 |
196th FA Bn (105 How) |
12-18 Dec 44 |
Btry C, 987th FA Bn (155 Gun) |
12-19 Dec 44 |
Btry A, 987th FA Bn (155 Gun) |
16-19 Dec 44 |
1 btry, 987th FA Bn (155 Gun) |
27 Jan-4 Feb 45 |
76th FA Bn (25 pounders) |
27 Jan-12 Feb 45 |
187th FA Gp |
4-23 Feb 45 |
187th FA Bn (155 How) |
4-23 Feb 45 |
953d FA Bn (155 How) |
4-23 Feb 45 |
Btry A, 285th FA Obsn Bn |
4-23 Feb 45 |
196th FA Bn (105 How) |
8-12 Feb 45 |
34th FA Bn (9th Div) (155 How) |
8-12 Feb 45 |
26th FA Bn (9th Div) (105 How) |
8-12 Feb 45 |
26th FA Bn (9th Div) (105 How) |
17-22 Feb 45 |
76th FA Bn (105 How) |
23 Feb-9 Mar 45 |
955th FA Bn (155 How) |
23 Feb-13 Mar 45 |
62d Armd FA Bn |
9-14 Mar 45 |
187th FA Bn (155 How) |
28 Mar-28 Apr 45 |
1 btry, 987th FA Bn (155 Gun) |
23-28 Apr 45 |
190th FA Bn (155 Gun) |
23-28 Apr 45 |
Btry A, 953d FA Bn (155 How) |
23-28 Apr 45 |
17th FA Obsn Bn |
23-28 Apr 45 |
187th FA Gp |
23-28 Apr 45 |
Infantry
Cos A, C & E, 5th Ranger Inf Bn |
29 Aug-4 Sep 44 |
27th Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div) |
26 Oct-8 Nov 44 |
99th Div |
18 Dec 44-7 Jan 45 |
39th CT (9th Div) |
8-12 Feb 45 |
26th FA Bn (9th Div) (105 How) |
8-12 Feb 45 |
1 plat, Co A, 15th Engr C Bn (9th Div) |
8-12 Feb 45 |
Co C, 746th Tk Bn [page 20] |
8-12 Feb 45 |
2 plats, 746th Tk Bn |
8-12 Feb 45 |
Co A, 899th TD Bn (SP) |
8-12 Feb 45 |
39th CT (9th Div) |
18-22 Feb 45 |
26th FA Bn (9th Div) (105 How) |
18-22 Feb 45 |
1 plat, Co A, 15th Engr C Bn (9th Div) |
18-22 Feb 45 |
Co A, 899th TD Bn (SP) |
18-22 Feb 45 |
Btry A, 367th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
18-22 Feb 45 |
271st CT (69th Div) |
18-19 Apr 45 |
879th FA Bn (69th Div) (105 How) |
18-19 Apr 45 |
1 plat, Co A, 269th Engr C Bn (69th Div) |
18-19 Apr 45 |
Co A, 777th Tk Bn |
18-19 Apr 45 |
1 plat, Co A, 661st TD Bn (SP) |
18-19 Apr 45 |
Tank Destroyer
Co A, 635th TD Bn (T) |
8-17 Jun 44 |
803d TD Bn (SP) |
13-14 Jun 44 |
612th TD Bn (SP) |
14 Jun 44-9 May 45 |
893d TD Bn (SP) |
17 Jul-5 Aug 44 |
893d TD Bn (SP) (- Co B) |
13-17 Aug 44 |
Co B, 705th TD Bn (SP) |
23 Aug-19 Sep 44 |
629th TD Bn (SP) |
30 Oct-2 Dec 44 |
644th TD Bn (SP) |
12 Dec 44-27 Jan 45 |
Co B, 801st TD Bn (SP) |
5 Jan-3 Feb 45 |
[pages 18-20]
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)
Cavalry
2d Rcn Tr |
99th Div |
11-13 Dec 44 |
Engineer
Co B, 2d Engr C Bn |
1st Div |
14-24 Jan 45 |
Field Artillery
38th FA Bn |
9th Armd Div |
2-5 Apr 45 |
Infantry
38th CT |
VIII Corps |
21-30 Aug 44 |
38th FA Bn |
VIII Corps |
21-30 Aug 44 |
Co C, 2d Engr C Bn |
VIII Corps |
21-30 Aug 44 |
2d Bn, 38th Inf [page 21] |
Com Z |
27 Sep-13 Nov 44 |
1st & 3d Bns, 23d Inf |
99th Div |
16-18 Dec 44 |
23d CT |
1st Div |
13-24 Jan 45 |
37th FA Bn |
1st Div |
13-24 Jan 45 |
2d Bn, 23d Inf |
9th Div |
12 Feb 45 |
38th CT |
78th Div |
8 Mar 45 |
38th FA Bn |
78th Div |
8 Mar 45 |
Co C, 2d Engr C Bn |
78th Div |
8 Mar 45 |
38th CT |
9th Armd Div |
25 Mar-5 Apr 45 |
Co C, 2d Engr C Bn |
9th Armd Div |
25 Mar-5 Apr 45 |
1st Bn, 23d Inf |
9th Armd Div |
2-5 Apr 45 |
3d Bn, 38th Inf |
9th Armd Div |
9-21 Apr 45 |
[pages 20-21]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
25 Sep 43 |
V |
|
|
|
|
22 Oct 43 |
|
|
First |
ETOUSA |
|
24 Dec 43 |
XV |
|
First |
|
|
2 Jan 44 |
XV |
|
First |
|
|
14 Apr 44 |
V |
First |
- |
|
|
1 Aug 44 |
V |
First |
|
12th |
|
17 Aug 44 |
XIX |
First |
|
12th |
|
18 Aug 44 |
VIII |
First |
Third |
12th |
|
5 Sep 44 |
VIII |
Ninth |
- |
12th |
|
22 Oct 44 |
VIII |
First |
|
12th |
|
11 Dec 44 |
V |
First |
|
12th |
|
20 Dec 44 |
V |
First |
|
12th |
Br 21st |
18 Jan 45 |
V |
First |
|
12th |
- |
28 Apr 45 |
VII |
First |
|
12th |
|
1 May 45 |
V |
First |
|
12th |
|
6 May 45 |
- |
Third |
|
12th |
|
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
[page 22]
COMMAND POSTS
DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
1943 |
20 Oct |
Armagh |
Armagh |
Northern Ireland |
1944 |
19 Apr |
Tenby |
Pembrokeshire |
Wales |
15 May-3 Jun |
St Donats Castle |
Glamorganshire |
Wales |
7 Jun |
St Laurent-sur-Mer (vic west) |
Calvados |
France |
9 Jun |
Formigny |
Calvados |
France |
10 Jun |
Le Molay |
Calvados |
France |
15 Jun |
Cerisy-la-Foret (½ mile south) |
Manche |
France |
29 Jun |
St Jean-des-Baisants (1 mile NW) |
Manche |
France |
2 Aug |
Laveniere |
Calvados |
France |
5 Aug |
Les Rairies |
Calvados |
France |
10 Aug |
Coutances |
Calvados |
France |
13 Aug |
Maisoncelles-la-Jourdan |
Calvados |
France |
19 Aug |
Ploudaniel (¼ mile east) |
Finistere |
France |
22 Aug |
Kersaint Plebennec (1 mile west) |
Finistere |
France |
30 Sep |
St Vith |
Liege |
Belgium |
12 Dec |
Wirzfeld |
Liege |
Belgium |
18 Dec |
Camp Elsenborn |
Liege |
Belgium |
1945 |
5 Feb |
Wahlerscheid |
Rhineland |
Germany |
21 Feb |
Erkensruhr |
Rhineland |
Germany |
5 Mar |
Kloster Mariawald |
Rhineland |
Germany |
6 Mar |
Vlatten |
Rhineland |
Germany |
7 Mar |
Mechernich |
Rhineland |
Germany |
8 Mar |
Munstereifel |
Rhineland |
Germany |
9 Mar |
Bruck |
Rhineland |
Germany |
10 Mar |
Bad Neuenahr |
Rhineland |
Germany |
21 Mar |
Honningen |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
25 Mar |
Nieder Bieber |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
27 Mar |
Hohr-Grenzhausen |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
29 Mar |
Hademar |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
30 Mar |
Homberg |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
1 Apr |
Sachsenhausen |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
5 Apr |
Oberlistingen |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
6 Apr |
Grebenstein |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
7 Apr |
Veckerhagen |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
8 Apr |
Dransfeld |
Westphalia |
Germany |
9 Apr |
Wollmarshausen (½ mile SE) |
Westphalia |
Germany |
11 Apr |
Ober Gebra (1 mile east) |
Saxony |
Germany |
12 Apr |
Bad Frankenhausen |
Saxony |
Germany |
13 Apr |
Barnstadt |
Saxony |
Germany |
17 Apr |
Schladebach |
Saxony |
Germany |
19 Apr |
Markranstadt |
Saxony |
Germany |
21 Apr |
Bad Lausick |
Saxony |
Germany |
2 May |
Ober Viechtach |
Bavaria |
Germany |
4 May |
Rotz |
Bavaria |
Germany |
5 May |
Klenec |
Bohemia |
Czech |
6 May |
Horsovsky Tyn |
Bohemia |
Czech |
7 May |
Pilsen |
Bohemia |
Czech |
[pages 23 (to 7Mar45)-25 (from 6 May 45)]
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