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65th Infantry Division
The 65th Infantry Division shoulder patch is a white halbert on a blue shield.
The halbert, a sharp pointed battle-ax, was a potent weapon of the 15th Century
foot soldier, being suitable either for a powerful cutting smash or a quick
thrust. It was selected by Major General S. E. Reinhart, Commanding General
of the 65th, as an emblem that would signify both the shock action and the speed
of the modern infantry division.
[page 196]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
21 January 1945 |
Maj. Gen. Stanley E. Reinhart |
Assistant Division Commander
21 January 1945 |
Brig. Gen. John E. Copeland |
Artillery Commander
21 January 1945 |
Brig. Gen. Ronald C. Brock |
Chief of Staff
21 January 1945 |
Col. William J. Epes |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
21 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. David H. Arp |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
21 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. James N. Robertson |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
21 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. George T. Duncan |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
21 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. Joseph S. Hardin |
Adjutant General
21 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. Burnett J. Brown |
Commanding Officer, 259th Infantry
21 January 1945 |
Col. Louis B. Rutte |
23 April 1945 |
Col. Julian H. George |
Commanding Officer, 260th Infantry
21 January 1945 |
Col. Frank Dunkley |
Commanding Officer, 261st Infantry
21 January 1945 |
Col. William E. Carraway |
[page 197]
STATISTICS
Chronology
Activated |
16 August 1943 |
Arrived ETO |
21 January 1945 |
Arrived Continent (D+234) |
26 January 1945 |
Entered Combat |
9 March 1945 |
Days in Combat |
55 |
Casualties (Tentative)
Killed |
186 |
Wounded |
757 |
Missing |
99 |
Captured |
10 |
Battle Casualties |
1,052 |
Non-Battle Casualties |
1,250 |
Total Casualties |
2,302 |
Percent of T/O Strength |
16.3 |
Campaigns
Individual Awards
Legion of Merit |
11 |
Silver Star |
67 |
Soldiers Medal |
4 |
Bronze Star |
690 |
Air Medal |
19 |
Prisoners of War Taken
COMPOSITION
- 259th Infantry
- 260th Infantry
- 261st Infantry
- 65th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
- 265th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 365th Medical Battalion
- 65th Division Artillery
- 867th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 868th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 869th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 720th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
- Special Troops
- 765th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
- 65th Quartermaster Company
- 565th Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Band
[page 198]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
546th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
4 Mar 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
Armored
Co C, 778th Tk Bn |
7 Mar 45-11 Mar 45 |
Co C, 748th Tk Bn |
13 mar 45-21 Mar 45 |
749th Tk Bn |
29 Mar 45-6 Apr 45 |
707th Tk Bn |
6 Apr 45 |
748th Tk Bn |
7 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
Cavalry
3d Cav Gp |
19 Mar 45-21 Mar 45 |
Chemical
Co A, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
7 Mar 45-11 Mar 45 |
Co C, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
27 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
Co A, 93d Cml Mort Bn |
4 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
Co C, 81st Cml Mort Bn |
20 Apr 45-25 Apr 45 |
94th Cml Mort Bn |
25 Apr 45-29 Apr 45 |
Co A, 94th Cml Mort Bn |
1 May 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
Engineer
1258th Engr C Bn |
7 Mar 45-16 Mar 45 |
Field Artillery
176th FA Bn (4.5" Gun) |
11 Mar 45-14 Mar 45 |
744th FA Bn (8" How) |
11 Mar 45-14 Mar 45 |
Btry C, 243d FA Bn (8" Gun) |
11 Mar 45-14 Mar 45 |
Tank Destroyer
691st TD Bn (T) |
4 Mar 45-6 Apr 45 |
808th TD Bn (SP) |
5 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
[page 199]
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)
Infantry
261st CT |
11th Armd Div |
28 Mar 45-29 Mar 45 |
261st CT |
6th Armd Div |
29 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
869th FA Bn |
6th Armd Div |
29 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
65th Rcn Tr |
6th Armd Div |
29 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
1 plat Co C, 265th Engr C Bn |
6th Armd Div |
29 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
[page 199]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
3 Jan 45 |
|
|
UK Base |
ETOUSA |
|
18 Jan 45 |
|
|
(-) |
12th |
|
25 Jan 45 |
|
Fifteenth |
|
12th |
|
1 Mar 45 |
XX |
Third |
|
12th |
|
4 Apr 45 |
VIII |
Third |
|
12th |
|
17 Apr 45 |
XX |
Third |
|
12th |
|
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
[page 200]
COMMAND POSTS
DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
21 Jan 45 |
Le Havre |
Seine-Inferieure |
France |
22 Jan 45 |
Camp Luck Strike (vic. St-Valery-en-Caux) |
Seine-Inferieure |
France |
3 Mar 45 |
Ennery |
Moselle |
France |
7 Mar 45 |
Boulay-Moselle |
Moselle |
France |
17 Mar 45 |
Villing |
Moselle |
France |
20 Mar 45 |
Saarlautern |
Saarland |
Germany |
20 Mar 45 |
Reisweiler |
Saarland |
Germany |
21 Mar 45 |
Neunkirchen |
Saarland |
Germany |
27 Mar 45 |
Rockenhausen |
Pfalz |
Germany |
28 Mar 45 |
Schwabenheim |
Hessen |
Germany |
31 Mar 45 |
Laubach |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
1 Apr 45 |
Hattenbach |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
2 Apr 45 |
Ersrode |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
3 Apr 45 |
Berneberg |
Kurhessen |
Germany |
5 Apr 45 |
Treffurt |
Thuringia |
Germany |
9 Apr 45 |
Berka |
Thuringia |
Germany |
12 Apr 45 |
Waltershausen |
Bavaria |
Germany |
14 Apr 45 |
Arnstadt |
Bavaria |
Germany |
17 Apr 45 |
Breitengussbach |
Bavaria |
Germany |
20 Apr 45 |
Altdorf |
Bavaria |
Germany |
23 Apr 45 |
Velburg |
Bavaria |
Germany |
24 Apr 45 |
Deuerling |
Bavaria |
Germany |
27 Apr 45 |
Regensburg |
Bavaria |
Germany |
1 May 45 |
Platting |
Bavaria |
Germany |
2 May 45 |
Furstenzell |
Bavaria |
Germany |
3 May 45 |
Neuhaus |
Bavaria |
Germany |
4 May 45 |
Scharding |
Ober-Oesterreich |
Austria |
4 May 45 |
Raab |
Ober-Oesterreich |
Austria |
5 May 45 |
Linz |
Ober-Oesterreich |
Austria |
[pages 201 (through 24 Apr)-202]
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