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63d Infantry Division
"Blood and Fire Division"
The division insignia is a blood-tipped golden sword on a sheet of crimson
flame. The Commanding General, Major General L. B. Hibbs, inspired by the promise
to the enemy of President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill at Casablanca
in 1943 "To bleed and burn in expiation of their crimes against humanity",
developed this emblem. A card showing the emblem explaining its significance,
and containing the signatures of 10 civil and military leaders of Great Britain
and the United States who were participants at the Casablanca Conference, has
been placed in War Department archives.
[page 188]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
8 Dec 44 |
Maj. Gen. Louis E. Hibbs |
Assistant Division Commander
8 Dec 44 |
Brig. Gen. Frederick L. Harris |
Artillery Commander
8 Dec 44 |
Brig. Gen. Edward J. McGaw |
Chief of Staff
8 Dec 44 |
Col. Earl G. Wheeler |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
8 Dec 44 |
Lt. Col. John E. Brooks, Jr. |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
8 Dec 44 |
Lt. Col. John M. Hardaway |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
8 Dec 44 |
Lt. Col. Morris O. Edwards |
6 Mar 45 |
Lt. Col. Robert S. Redfield |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
8 Dec 44 |
Lt. Col. Frank T. Ritter, Jr. |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
1 Jan 45 |
Lt. Col. Halkey K. Ross |
Adjutant General
8 Dec 44 |
Lt. Col. Ralph Lavergna |
Commanding Officer, 253d Infantry
8 Dec 44 |
Col. Edward P. Lukert |
10 Mar 45 |
Col. Morris O. Edwards |
Commanding Officer, 254th Infantry
8 Dec 44 |
Col. Joseph H. Warren |
Commanding Officer, 355th Infantry
8 Dec 44 |
Col. Edward A. Chazal |
21 Mar 45 |
Col. James F. Hatcher |
[page 189]
STATISTICS
Chronology
Activated |
15 June 1943 |
Arrived ETO |
14 January 1945 |
Arrived Continent (D+151) |
14 January 1945 |
Entered Combat--First Elements |
22 December 1944 |
Entered Combat--Entire Division |
6 February 1945 |
Days in Combat |
119 |
NOTE: Three Inf Regts and improvised Div Hq under command of Asst Div Comdr
arrived 8 Dec 44. D Day Southern France 15 Aug 44
Casualties (Tentative)
Killed |
735 |
Wounded |
3,417 |
Missing |
332 |
Captured |
63 |
Battle Casualties |
4,547 |
Non-Battle Casualties |
3,472 |
Total Casualties |
8,019 |
Percent of T/O Strength |
56.9 |
Campaigns
Individual Awards
Distinguished Service Cross |
1 |
Legion of Merit |
3 |
Silver Star |
293 |
Soldiers Medal |
9 |
Bronze Star |
2,692 |
Air Medal |
25 |
Prisoners of War Taken 21,542
COMPOSITION
- 253d Infantry
- 254th Infantry
- 255th Infantry
- 63d Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
- 263d Engineer Combat Battalion
- 363d Medical Battalion
- 63d Division Artillery
- 861st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 862d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 863d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 718th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
- Special Troops
- 861st Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
- 63d Quartermaster Company
- 563d Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Band
[page 190]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
436th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
11 Feb 45-1 May 45 |
1st Plat, Btry C, 353d AAA SL Bn |
16 Feb 45-30 Apr 45 |
Armored
Co A, 749th Tk Bn |
2 Mar 45-4 Mar 45 |
Co C, 43d Tk Bn (12th Armd Div) |
9 Mar 45-12 Mar 45 |
70th Tk Bn |
12 Mar 45-18 Mar 45 |
740th Tk Bn |
17 Mar 45-28 Mar 45 |
CC A (6th Armd Div) |
19 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
15th Tk Bn (6th Armd Div) |
19 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
9th Armd Inf Bn (6th Armd Div) |
19 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
212th Armd FA Bn (6th Armd Div) |
19 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
Tr A, 86th Cav Rcn Sq (6th Armd Div) |
19 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
Co B, 25th Armd Engr Bn (6th Armd Div) |
19 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
753d Tk Bn |
31 Mar 45-28 May 45 |
Cavalry
92d Cav Rcn Sq (12th Armd Div) |
15 Mar 45-16 Mar 45 |
116th Cav Rcn Sq |
15 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
101st Cav Rcn Sq |
17 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
117th Cav Rcn Sq (-) |
2 Apr 45-19 Apr 45 |
Chemical
Co A, 99th Cml Mort Bn |
22 Feb 45-7 Mar 45 |
Co A, 99th Cml Mort Bn |
8 Mar 45-22 Mar 45 |
99th Cml Mort Bn (- Co C) |
17 Mar 45-21 Mar 45 |
Co A, 83d Cml Mort Bn |
31 Mar 45-19 Apr 45 |
99th Cml Mort Bn (- Co B) |
19 Apr 45-28 May 45 |
Engineer
1271st Engr C Bn |
13 Apr 45-14 Apr 45 |
Field Artillery
18th FA Bn (105mm How) |
13 Mar 45-21 Mar 45 |
522d FA Bn (105mm How) |
13 Mar 45-22 Mar 45 |
93d Armd FA Bn |
21 Mar 45-24 Mar 45 |
59th Armd FA Bn |
31 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
36th FA Gp |
19 Apr 45-28 May 45 |
162d FA Bn (105mm How) |
8 May 45-10 Jun 45 |
Infantry
65th Inf (- Cos A&C) (Non-Div) |
30 Apr 45-12 May 45 |
Tank Destroyer
822d TD Bn (SP) |
6 Feb 45-17 Mar 45 |
776th TD Bn (SP) |
16 Mar 45-21 Mar 45 |
822d TD Bn (SP) |
21 Mar 44-28 May 45 |
692d TD Bn (SP) |
30 Mar 45-31 Mar 45 |
[pages 191-192]
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)
Field Artillery
63d Div Arty |
45th Div |
24 Mar 45-27 Mar 45 |
Infantry
254th Inf |
3d Div |
28 Dec 44-9 Feb 45 |
255th Inf |
100th Div |
31 Dec 44-19 Jan 45 |
253d Inf |
44th Div |
31 Dec 44-6 Feb 45 |
255th Inf |
44th Div |
19 Jan 45-6 Feb 45 |
254th Inf |
100th Div |
9 Feb 45-17 Feb 45 |
2d Bn, 254th Inf |
Task Force, 6th Army Group |
31 Mar 45-5 Apr 45 |
2d Bn, 253d Inf |
35th AAA Brig |
16 Apr 45-20 Apr 45 |
[page 192]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
4 Dec 44 |
|
|
|
ETOUSA; 6th |
|
10 Dec 44 |
|
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
1 Feb 45 |
XV |
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
22 Feb 45 |
XXI |
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
21 Mar 45 |
XV |
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
26 Mar 45 |
XXI |
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
1 Apr 45 |
VI |
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
19 Apr 45 |
XXI |
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
30 Apr 45 |
(-) |
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
[page 193]
COMMAND POSTS
DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
20 Jan 45 |
Sarralbe |
Moselle |
France |
4 Feb 45 |
Willerwald |
Moselle |
France |
16 Feb 45 |
Neufgrange |
Moselle |
France |
2 Mar 45 |
Sarreguemines |
Moselle |
France |
17 Mar 45 |
Bliesransbach |
Saar |
Germany |
21 Mar 45 |
Altstadt |
Saar |
Germany |
22 Mar 45 |
Spiesen |
Saar |
Germany |
25 Mar 45 |
Winnweiler |
Pfalz |
Germany |
28 Mar 45 |
Neuschloss |
Hessen |
Germany |
29 Mar 45 |
Viernheim |
Hessen |
Germany |
1 Apr 45 |
Heidelberg |
Baden |
Germany |
2 Apr 45 |
Aglasterhausen |
Baden |
Germany |
3 Apr 45 |
Mosbach |
Baden |
Germany |
6 Apr 45 |
Adelsheim |
Baden |
Germany |
13 Apr 45 |
Kunzelsau |
Wurtemberg |
Germany |
21 Apr 45 |
Hessental |
Wurtemberg |
Germany |
22 Apr 45 |
Ober Sontheim |
Wurtemberg |
Germany |
24 Apr 45 |
Leinzell |
Wurtemberg |
Germany |
25 Apr 45 |
Gerstetten |
Wurtemberg |
Germany |
25 Apr 45 |
Asselfingen |
Wurtemberg |
Germany |
27 Apr 45 |
Gunzburg |
Bavaria |
Germany |
28 Apr 45 |
Jettingen |
Bavaria |
Germany |
29 Apr 45 |
Gunzburg |
Bavaria |
Germany |
30 Apr 45 |
Bad Mergentheim |
Wurtemberg |
Germany |
NOTE: Three Infantry Regiments and an improvised Division Headquarters arrived
in European Theater of Operations 10 December 1944.
Willerwald was first operating CP of entire division.
[pages 194-195 (starting second 25 Apr 45)]
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