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

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

[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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