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86th Infantry Division
"Blackhawk Division"
The division insignia consists of a small red shield with the initials "B"
and "H" in black superimposed upon a design of a blackhawk which,
in turn, is superimposed upon a red shield. The personnel of the division was
originally drawn from the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, formerly
the territory inhabited by Chief Black Hawk and his tribe. The insignia is a
tribute to the pioneers of this sector, and in recognition of their prowess
in battles with the Indians. The bird symbolizes keenness, cunning, and tenacity.
[page 310]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
3 March 1945 |
Maj. Gen. Harris M. Melasky |
Assistant Division Commander
3 March 1945 |
Brig. Gen. George V. W. Pope |
Artillery Commander
3 March 1945 |
Brig. Gen. Einar B. Gjelsteen |
Chief of Staff
3 March 1945 |
Col. Charles P. Jones |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
3 March 1945 |
Lt. Col. James R. Williams, Jr. |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
3 March 1945 |
Lt. Col. William K. Weaver, Jr. |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
3 March 1945 |
Lt. Col. Robert Outsen |
22 April 1945 |
Maj. Stanley M. Gotikov |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
3 March 1945 |
Maj. George V. Nunn |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
1 May 1945 |
Capt. Kalford K. Miazza (Acting) |
Adjutant General
3 March 1945 |
Lt. Col. Charles J. Perry |
Commanding Officer, 341st Infantry
3 March 1945 |
Col. Henry J. Hunt, Jr. |
Commanding Officer, 342d Infantry
3 March 1945 |
Col. Christian Hildebrande |
1 April 1945 |
Col. Pete T. Heffner, Jr. |
Commanding Officer, 343d Infantry
3 March 1945 |
Col. Leo F. Kengla |
22 March 1945 |
Col. George F. Bloomquist |
[page 311]
STATISTICS
Chronology
Activated |
15 December 1942 |
Arrived ETO |
3 March 1945 |
Arrived Continent (D+270) |
3 March 1945 |
Entered Combat |
29 March 1945 |
Days in Combat |
34 |
Casualties (Tentative)
Killed |
84 |
Wounded |
653 |
Missing |
21 |
Captured |
2 |
Battle Casualties |
760 |
Non-Battle Casualties |
473 |
Total Casualties |
1,233 |
Percent of T/O Strength |
8.8 |
Campaigns
Central Europe
Individual Awards
Distinguished Service Cross |
1 |
Silver Star |
8 |
Soldiers Medal |
1 |
Bronze Star |
45 |
Prisoners of War Taken 53,354
COMPOSITION
- 341st Infantry
- 342d Infantry
- 343d Infantry
- 86th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
- 311th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 311th Medical Battalion
- 86th Division Artillery
- 331st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 332d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 911th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 404th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
- Special Troops
- 786th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
- 86th Quartermaster Company
- 86th Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Band
[page 312]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
446th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
1 Apr 45-4 Apr 45 |
839th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
8 Apr 45-10 May 45 |
Armored
Cos A & B, 740th Tk Bn |
8 Apr 45-18 Apr 45 |
27th Tk Bn (20th Armd Div) |
21 Apr 45-23 Apr 45 |
787th Tk Bn |
2 May 45-10 May 45 |
Cavalry
Tr C, 33d Cav Rcn Sq |
21 Apr 45-23 Apr 45 |
23d Cav Rcn Sq (16th Armd Div) |
1 May 45-2 May 45 |
Chemical
Co A, 95th Cml Mort Bn |
8 Apr 45-18 Apr 45 |
Co A, 90th Cml Mort Bn |
21 Apr 45-23 Apr 45 |
95th Cml Mort Bn |
22 Apr 45-2 May 45 |
Field Artillery
746th FA Bn (8" How) |
28 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
417th FA Gp |
31 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
805th FA Bn (155mm How) |
31 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
672d FA Bn (155mm How) |
31 Mar 45-4 Apr 45 |
Btry B, 724th FA Obsn Bn |
1 Apr 45-4 Apr 45 |
18th FA Bn (105mm How) |
9 Apr 45-13 Apr 45 |
172d FA Bn (4.5" Gun) |
9 Apr 45-13 Apr 45 |
205th FA Gp |
9 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
190th FA Bn (155mm Gun) |
9 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
670th FA Bn (155mm How) |
14 Apr 45-16 Apr 45 |
281st FA Bn (105mm How) |
20 Apr 45-2 May 45 |
254th FA Bn (155mm How) |
1 May 45-2 May 45 |
Tank Destroyer
Co A, 644th TD Bn (SP) |
8 Apr 45-18 Apr 45 |
648th TD Bn (T) |
15 Apr 45-18 Apr 45 |
807th TD Bn (SP) |
21 Apr 45-10 May 45 |
[page 313]
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)
Engineer
1 plat, Co A, 311th Engr C Bn |
97th Div |
5 Apr 45-9 Apr 45 |
Field Artillery
331st FA Bn |
97th Div |
5 Apr 45-9 Apr 45 |
Infantry
341st Inf |
82d Abn Div |
5 Apr 45 |
341st Inf |
97th Div |
5 Apr 45-9 Apr 45 |
1st Bn, 343d Inf |
8th Div |
6 Apr 45-7 Apr 45 |
[pages 313-314]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
20 Jan 45 |
|
|
|
ETOUSA |
|
30 Jan 45 |
|
Fifteenth |
|
12th |
|
4 Mar 45 |
|
Fifteenth |
Normandy Base |
12th |
|
10 Mar 45 |
|
Fifteenth |
(-) |
12th |
|
22 Mar 45 |
VII |
First |
|
12th |
|
30 Mar 45 |
XXII |
Fifteenth |
|
12th |
|
5 Apr 45 |
XVIII Abn |
First |
|
12th |
|
19 Apr 45 |
(-) |
Third |
|
12th |
|
22 Apr 45 |
III |
Third |
|
12th |
|
2 May 45 |
XV |
Seventh |
|
6th |
|
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
[page 315]
COMMAND POSTS
DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
3 Mar 45 |
Yvetot |
Seine-Inferieure |
France |
27 Mar 45 |
Weiden (vic Cologne) |
Rhineland |
Germany |
5 Apr 45 |
Eibelshausen |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
9 Apr 45 |
Erndtebruck |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
10 Apr 45 |
Einsburg |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
11 Apr 45 |
Bilstein |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
12 Apr 45 |
Attendorn |
Westphalia |
Germany |
14 Apr 45 |
Ludenscheid |
Westphalia |
Germany |
19 Apr 45 |
Windsheim |
Bavaria |
Germany |
21 Apr 45 |
Ansbach |
Bavaria |
Germany |
24 Apr 45 |
Ellingen |
Bavaria |
Germany |
25 Apr 45 |
Eichstatt (5 mi N) |
Bavaria |
Germany |
26 Apr 45 |
Eitensheim |
Bavaria |
Germany |
27 Apr 45 |
Ingolstadt |
Bavaria |
Germany |
29 Apr 45 |
Wolnzach |
Bavaria |
Germany |
30 Apr 45 |
Freising |
Bavaria |
Germany |
1 May 45 |
Erding |
Bavaria |
Germany |
4 May 45 |
Purten (vic Aschau) |
Bavaria |
Germany |
5 May 45 |
Neu Oberndorf |
Ober Oesterreich |
Austria |
8 May 45 |
Burghausen |
Bavaria |
Germany |
[page 316]
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