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17th Airborne Division
The division insignia is a golden talon on a circular black background. The black background signifies surprise. The talon signifies the seizing of golden opportunity through surprise.
[page 94]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
| 25 Aug 44 |
Maj. Gen. William M. Miley |
Assistant Division Commander
| 25 Aug 44 |
Brig. Gen. John L. Whitelaw |
Artillery Commander
| 25 Aug 44 |
Brig. Gen. Joseph V. Phelps |
Chief of Staff
| 25 Aug 44 |
Col. Willard K. Liebel |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
| 25 Aug 44 |
Lt. Col. Lewis R. Good |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
| 25 Aug 44 |
Lt. Col. Lyle N. McAlister |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
| 25 Aug 44 |
Lt. Col. Edwin J. Messinger |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
| 25 Aug 44 |
Lt. Col. Charles W. Koester |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
| 29 Sep 44 |
Lt. Col. Richard A. Norton |
Adjutant General
| 25 Aug 44 |
Lt. Col. Gabe W. Lewis, Jr. |
Commanding Officer, 507th Parachute Infantry
| 25 Aug 44 |
Col. Edson D. Raff |
Commanding Officer, 513th Parachute Infantry
| 25 Aug 44 |
Col. James W. Coutts |
| 9 Apr 45 |
Lt. Col. Ward Ryan |
Commanding Officer, 194th Glider Infantry
| 25 Aug 44 |
Col. James R. Pierce |
[page 95]
STATISTICS
Chronology
| Activated |
15 April 1943 |
| Arrived ETO |
25 August 1944 |
| Arrived Continent (D+201) |
24 December 1944 |
| Entered Combat |
25 December 1944 |
| Days in Combat |
45 |
Casualties (Tentative)
| Killed |
564 |
| Wounded |
1,473 |
| Missing |
129 |
| Captured |
|
| Battle Casualties |
2,166 |
| Non-Battle Casualties |
854 |
| Total Casualties |
3,020 |
| Percent of T/O Strength |
23.2 |
Campaigns
- Rhineland
- Ardennes
- Central Europe
Individual Awards
| Distinguished Service Cross |
4 |
| Legion of Merit |
8 |
| Silver Star |
177 |
| Soldiers Medal |
5 |
| Bronze Star |
695 |
| Air Medal |
16 |
Prisoners of War Taken 17,344
COMPOSITION
- 507th Parachute Infantry [assigned 1 Mar 45 reorganization]
- 513th Parachute Infantry
- 193d Glider Infantry
- 194th Glider Infantry [disbanded 1 Mar 45 reorganization]
- 17th Parachute Maintenance Company
- 139th Airborne Engineer Battalion
- 224th Medical Company
- 155th Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
- 17th Airborne Division Artillery
- 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion
- 681st Glider Field Artillery Battalion
- 464th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion [assigned 1 Mar 45 reorganization]
- 466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
- Special Troops [Headquarters activated 1 Mar 45 reorganization]
- 717th Airborne Ordnance Company
- 411th Airborne Quartermaster Company
- 517th Airborne Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Reconnaissance Platoon [assigned 1 Mar 45 reorganization]
- Band
[page 96]
ATTACHMENTS
Armored
| 761st Tk Bn |
15 Jan 45-27 Jan 45 |
| Co C, 15th Tk Bn (6th Armd Div) |
31 Jan 45-7 Feb 45 |
| Br 6th Guards Armd Brig (Non-Div) |
27 Mar 45-3 Apr 45 |
Field Artillery
| 802d FA Bn (105mm How) |
3 Jan 45-5 Jan 45 |
Infantry
| 507th Parachute Infantry (Non-Div) |
27 Aug 44-1 Mar 45 (when became organic part
of division) |
| 345th CT (87th Div) |
15 Jan 45-16 Jan 45 |
Tank Destroyer
| 811th TD Bn (SP) |
17 Jan 45-27 Jan 45 |
[page 97]
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)
Field Artillery
| 681st Gli FA Bn |
95th Div |
5 Apr 45-13 Apr 45 |
Infantry
| 193d Gli Inf |
101st Abn Div |
3 Jan 45-7 Jan 45 |
| 193d Gli Inf |
101st Abn Div |
14 Jan 45-18 Jan 45 |
| 507th Prcht Inf |
XIX Corps |
31 Mar 45-2 Apr 45 |
| 194th Gli Inf |
95th Div |
5 Apr 45-13 Apr 45 |
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
| DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
| Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
| 30 Jul 44 |
|
|
Ninth |
ETOUSA |
|
| 12 Aug 44 |
XVIII Abn |
|
(-) |
|
|
| 25 Dec 44 |
XVIII Abn |
|
|
12th |
|
| 1 Jan 45 |
VIII |
|
Third |
12th |
|
| 26 Jan 45 |
III |
|
Third |
12th |
|
| 6 Feb 45 |
III |
First Allied Airborne |
Third |
(-) |
|
| 10 Feb 45 |
(-) |
First Allied Airborne |
|
|
|
| 15 Feb 45 |
XVIII Abn |
First Allied Airborne |
|
|
|
| 24 Mar 45 |
XVIII Abn |
First Allied Airborne |
|
|
12th |
| 30 Mar 45 |
XVIII Abn |
First Allied Airborne |
Ninth |
|
12th |
| 31 Mar 45 |
XIII |
First Allied Airborne |
Ninth |
|
12th |
| 4 Apr 45 |
XIII |
First Allied Airborne |
Ninth |
12th |
(-) |
| 6 Apr 45 |
XVI |
First Allied Airborne |
Ninth |
12th |
|
| 7 Apr 45 |
XVI |
Ninth |
(-) |
12th |
|
| 25 Apr 45 |
(-) |
Ninth |
Fifteenth |
12th |
|
| 27 Apr 45 |
XXII |
Ninth |
Fifteenth |
12th |
|
[page 98]
COMMAND POSTS
| DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
| 30 Aug 44 |
Camp Chiseldon |
Wiltshire |
England |
| 24 Dec 44 |
Camp Mourmellon |
Marne |
France |
| 28 Dec 44 |
Charleville |
Ardennes |
France |
| 3 Jan 45 |
Morhet |
Luxembourg |
Belgium |
| 15 Jan 45 |
Celli |
Luxembourg |
Belgium |
| 17 Jan 45 |
Bertogne |
Luxembourg |
Belgium |
| 19 Jan 45 |
Compegne |
Luxembourg |
Belgium |
| 22 Jan 45 |
Lavigny |
Luxembourg |
Belgium |
| 24 Jan 45 |
Steinbach |
Luxembourg |
Belgium |
| 27 Jan 45 |
Eschweiler |
|
Luxembourg |
| 29 Jan 45 |
Enscherange |
|
Luxembourg |
| 11 Feb 45 |
Chalon-sur-Marne |
Marne |
France |
| 24 Mar 45 |
Wesel (2 kilometers north) |
Rhineland |
Germany |
| 28 Mar 45 |
Peddenburg |
Rhineland |
Germany |
| 29 Mar 45 |
Vulffen |
Rhineland |
Germany |
| 30 Mar 45 |
Haltern |
Rhineland |
Germany |
| 1 Apr 45 |
Dulmen |
Westphalia |
Germany |
| 3 Apr 45 |
Appelhulsen |
Westphalia |
Germany |
| 4 Apr 45 |
Munster |
Westphalia |
Germany |
| 6 Apr 45 |
Marxloh |
Rhineland |
Germany |
| 8 Apr 45 |
Bottrop |
Rhineland |
Germany |
| 10 Apr 45 |
Essen |
Rhineland |
Germany |
| 21 Apr 45 |
Marxloh |
Rhineland |
Germany |
[page 99]
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