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8th Infantry Division
"Pathfinder Division"
"Arrow Division"
Its nickname is represented by the golden arrow piercing the white "8" on a blue shield.
Motto: "These are my credentials"
[page 64]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
15 Dec 1943 |
Maj Gen William C McMahon |
12 Jul 1944 |
Brig Gen Donald A Stroh |
30 Aug 1944 |
Maj Gen Donald A Stroh |
28 Nov 1944 |
Brig Gen WG Weaver |
8 Jan 1945 |
Brig Gen James A Pickering (Actg) |
14 Jan 1945 |
Brig Gen WG Weaver |
6 Feb 1945 |
Maj Gen WG Weaver |
25 Feb 1945 |
Brig Gen Bryant E Moore |
Assistant Div Commdr
15 Feb 1944 |
Brig Gen Nelson M Walker |
12 Jul 1944 |
Col Cyrus H Searcy |
26 Jul 1944 |
Col Charles DW Canham |
1 Sep 1944 |
Brig Gen Charles DW Canham |
Arty Comdr
15 Dec 1943 |
Brig Gen James A Pickering |
CofS
15 Feb 1944 |
Col Thomas J Cross |
27 Nov 1944 |
Lt Col Thomas B Whitted Jr |
9 Feb 1945 |
Col Thomas B Whitted Jr |
22 Mar 1945 |
Lt Col Joseph K Gibson |
ACofS G-1
1 Feb 1944 |
Maj Edwin W Grenelle |
31 Mar 1944 |
Lt Col Edwin W Grenelle |
ACofS G-2
15 Dec 1943 |
Lt Col Joseph K Gibson |
22 Mar 1945 |
Maj Laban G Lively |
1 May 1945 |
Lt Col Laban G Lively |
ACofS G-3
16 Feb 1944 |
Lt Col Thomas H Beck |
1 Apr 1945 |
Lt Col Fielder P Greer |
ACofS G-4
15 Feb 1944 |
Lt Col Thomas B Whitted Jr |
27 Nov 1944 |
Maj Jacob Shacter |
20 Dec 1944 |
Lt Col Jacob Shacter |
ACofS G-5
31 May 1944 |
Maj Richard G Croft |
6 Nov 1944 |
Lt Col Richard G Croft |
16 Apr 1944 |
Maj Lester A Ahroon |
Adj Gen
15 Feb 1944 |
Lt Col James D C Breckinridge |
3 Feb 1945 |
Maj Cromartie |
CO 13th Inf
8 Jul 1944 |
Col Robert A Griffin |
25 Nov 1944 |
Lt Col Earle L Lerette |
1 Dec 1944 |
Col Numa A Watson |
CO 28th Inf
8 Jul 1944 |
Col Lester A Webb |
9 Jul 1944 |
Lt Col Henry B Kunzig (Actg) |
14 Jul 1944 |
Col Kenneth E Anderson |
31 Aug 1944 |
Col Merrith E Olmstead |
4 Mar 1945 |
Col Thomas H Beck |
[page 65]
CO 121st Inf
8 Jul 1944 |
Col Albert H Peyton |
9 Jul 1944 |
Col John R Jeter |
25 Nov 1944 |
Col T J Cross |
22 Mar 1945 |
Lt Col Earl L Lerette |
[page 66]
STATISTICS
Chronology
Activated |
1 Jul 40 |
Arrived ETO |
15 Dec 43 |
Arrived Continent (D/28) |
4 Jul 44 |
Entered Combat: |
|
First Elements |
6 Jul 44 |
Entire Division |
8 Jul 44 |
Days in Combat |
266 |
Casualties (Tentative)
Killed |
2,239 |
Wounded |
10,370 |
Missing |
514 |
Captured |
335 |
Battle Casualties |
13,458 |
Non-Battle Casualties |
7,598 |
Total Casualties |
21,056 |
Percent of T/O Strength |
149.4 |
Campaigns
- Normandy
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Central Europe
Individual Awards
DSC |
32 |
Legion of Merit |
11 |
Silver Star |
709 |
Soldiers Medal |
30 |
Bronze Star |
2,287 |
Air Medal |
106 |
PWs Taken 316,187
COMPOSITION
ORGANIC UNITS
- 13th Infantry
- 28th Infantry
- 121st Infantry
- 8th Reconnaissance Troop (Mecz)
- 12th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 8th Medical Battalion
- 8th Division Artillery
- 43d Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
- 45th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
- 56th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
- 28th Field Artillery Battalion (155 Howitzer)
- Special Troops
- 708th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
- 8th Quartermaster Company
- 8th Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Band
[page 67]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
445th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
11 Jul 44-12 May 45 |
Armored
709th Tk Bn |
13 Jul 44-26 Jan 45 |
CC R (5th Armd Div) |
20 Nov 44-16 Dec 44 |
740th Tk Bn |
6 Feb 45-13 Mar 45 |
740th Tk Bn |
6 Apr 45-12 May 45 |
CC R (13th Armd Div) |
14 Apr 45-17 Apr 45 |
Cavalry
89th Cav Rcn Sq (-Trs C & D) (9th Armd Div) |
23 Oct 44-1 Nov 44 |
89th Cav Rcn Sq (-Trs A & D) (9th Armd Div) |
1 Nov 44-10 Nov 44 |
13th Cav Gp |
25 Dec 44-5 Feb 45 |
Chemical
86th Cml Mort Bn |
7 Jul 44-20 Sep 44 |
86th Cml Mort Bn |
19 Nov 44-24 Dec 44 |
Cos C&D 87th Cml Bn |
9 Feb 45-10 Mar 45 |
Cos C&D 95th Cml Mort Bn |
4 Apr 45-18 Apr 45 |
Cos B&C 89th Cml Mort Bn |
29 Apr 45-12 May 45 |
Field Artillery
174th FA Gp |
16 Aug 44-20 Sep 44 |
196th FA Gp |
20 Aug 44-20 Sep 44 |
402d FA Gp |
13 Sep 44-20 Sep 44 |
969th FA Gp |
2 Oct 44-10 Nov 44 |
687th FA Gp |
2 Oct 44-10 Nov 44 |
76th FA Bn (105 How) |
19 Nov 44-21 Dec 44 |
18th FA Bn (105 How) |
20 Nov 44-6 Dec 44 |
188th FA Bn (155 How) |
26 Nov 44-11 Dec 44 |
987th FA Bn (155 Gun) |
26 Nov 44-11 Dec 44 |
188th FA Bn (155 How) |
8 Feb 45-28 Feb 45 |
210th FA Gp |
2 May 45-12 May 45 |
548th FA Gp |
2 May 45-12 May 45 |
965th FA Gp |
2 May 45-12 May 45 |
Infantry
2d Ranger Inf Bn |
17 Sep 44-20 Dec 44 |
52d Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div) |
23 Oct 44-30 Oct 44 |
60th Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div) |
2 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
112th CT (28th Div) |
4 Feb 45-11 Feb 45 |
2d Ranger Inf Bn |
19 Nov 44-16 Dec 44 |
311th Inf (78th Div ) |
9 Dec 44-23 Dec 44 |
[page 68]
Infantry (Contd)
16th CT (1st Div) |
6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45 |
7th FA Bn (1st Div)(105 How) |
6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45 |
Co A 1st Engr C Bn (1st Div) |
6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45 |
Co A 745th Tk Bn |
6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45 |
Co C 634th TD Bn (SP) |
6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45 |
1st Bn 343d Inf (86th Div) |
6 Apr 45-7 Apr 45 |
Tank Destroyer
644th TD Bn (SP) |
15 Jul 44-28 Apr 45 |
893d TD Bn (SP) |
19 Nov 44-10 Dec 44 |
817th TD Bn (T) |
9 Dec 44-8 Feb 45 |
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)Engineer
Co C 12th Engr C Bn |
82d Abn Div |
1 May 45-1 May 45 |
Field Artillery
28th FA Bn |
4th Armd Div |
27 Jul 44-3 Aug 44 |
45th Fa Bn |
6th Armd Div |
18 Aug 44-21 Aug 44 |
28th FA Bn |
6th Armd Div |
18 Aug 44-21 Aug 44 |
43d FA Bn |
82d Abn Div |
29 Apr 45-1 May 45 |
56th FA Bn |
82d Abn Div |
30 Apr 45-1 May 45 |
Infantry
13th Inf |
4th Armd Div |
27 Jul 44-3 Aug 44 |
121st CT |
83d Div |
6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44 |
56th FA Bn |
83d Div |
6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44 |
1st Bn 28th Inf |
6th Armd Div |
8 Aug 44-18 Aug 44 |
28th Inf |
6th Armd Div |
18 Aug 44-21 Aug 44 |
3d Bn 121st Inf |
Com Z |
26 Sep 44-19 Nov 44 |
3d Bn 121st Inf |
5th Armd Div |
17 Dec 44-21 Dec 44 |
13th Inf |
3d Armd Div |
26 Feb 45-17 Mar 45 |
3d Bn 13th Inf |
3d Armd Div |
17 Mar 45-19 Mar 45 |
13th Inf |
82d Abn Div |
28 Apr 45-30 Apr 45 |
121st Inf |
82d Abn Div |
29 Apr 45-30 Apr 45 |
[page 69]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
30 Nov 43 |
|
|
First |
ETOUSA |
|
24 Dec 43 |
XV |
|
First |
|
|
11 Jan 44 |
XV |
|
- |
|
|
1 Jul 44 |
VIII |
|
First |
|
|
1 Aug 44 |
VIII |
Third |
- |
12th |
|
5 Sep 44 |
VIII |
Ninth |
|
12th |
|
22 Oct 44 |
VIII |
First |
|
12th |
|
19 Nov 44 |
V |
First |
|
12th |
|
18 Dec 44 |
VII |
First |
|
12th |
|
20 Dec 44 |
XIX |
Ninth |
|
12th |
Br 21st |
22 Dec 44 |
XIX |
Ninth |
|
12th |
Br 21st |
3 Feb 45 |
VII |
First |
|
12th |
- |
2 Apr 45 |
XVIII Abn |
First |
|
12th |
|
26 Apr 45 |
XVIII Abn |
Ninth |
Br (Opns) Second |
12th |
Br 21st |
[page 70]
COMMAND POSTS
DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
1943 |
15 Dec |
Belfast |
|
N Ire |
1944 |
26 Jan
1 Mar |
Knockmore |
|
N Ire |
15 Mar |
Omagh |
Tyrone |
N Ire |
30 Jun |
Afloat |
|
|
4 Jul |
Utah Beach (landed) |
Manche |
France |
9 Jul |
La Fosseraie |
Manche |
France |
25 Jul |
La-Haye-du-Puits |
Manche |
France |
27 Jul |
St-Patrice-de-Claids |
Manche |
France |
28 Jul |
La-Haye-du-Puits (vic SE) |
Manche |
France |
5 Aug |
Betton (vic E) |
Ille-et-Vilaine |
France |
18 Aug |
Lesneven |
Finistere |
France |
30 Aug |
Plouvien |
Finistere |
France |
14 Sep |
La Fontaine Blanche |
Ille-et-Vilaine |
France |
20 Sep |
La Bosere |
Ille-et-Vilaine |
France |
22 Sep |
Lanviguer |
Ille-et-Vilaine |
France |
30 Sep |
Grosbous |
-- |
Luxembg |
3 Oct |
Wiltz |
-- |
Luxembg |
19 Nov |
Rott |
Rhineland |
Germany |
17 Dec |
Germeter |
Rhineland |
Germany |
27 Dec |
Zweifall |
Rhineland |
Germany |
1945 |
16 Jan |
Groshau |
Rhineland |
Germany |
10 Feb |
Merode |
Rhineland |
Germany |
25 Feb |
Duren |
Rhineland |
Germany |
2 Mar |
Bergerhausen |
Rhineland |
Germany |
28 Mar |
Hachenburg |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
31 Mar |
Haiger |
Hessen Nassau |
Germany |
7 Apr |
Siegen |
Westphalia |
Germany |
9 Apr |
Buschhutten |
Westphalia |
Germany |
11 Apr |
Olpe |
Westphalia |
Germany |
12 Apr |
Kierspe |
Westphalia |
Germany |
13 Apr |
Meinerzhagen |
Westphalia |
Germany |
14 Apr |
Filde |
Westphalia |
Germany |
15 Apr |
Milspe |
Westphalia |
Germany |
23 Apr |
Elberfeld |
Westphalia |
Germany |
27 Apr |
Gerdau |
Mecklenburg |
Germany |
2 May |
Hagenow |
Mecklenburg |
Germany |
3 May |
Schwerin |
Mecklenburg |
Germany |
[pages 71-72]
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