Return to Table of Contents
97th Infantry Division
The division insignia consists of a white trident on a blue shield within a
white border. Neptune's trident was originally adopted to represent the coastal
states of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, from which personnel for the division
was draw in 1918. The three prongs of the trident represent the three states;
the blue symbolizes the states numerous fresh water lakes; and, the white of
the border and trident represents the snow that covers these states' picturesque
mountains.
[page 358]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
1 Mar 45 |
Brig. Gen. Milton B. Halsey |
Assistant Division Commander
1 Mar 45 |
Brig. Gen. Frank H. Partridge |
Artillery Commander
1 Mar 45 |
Brig. Gen. Sherman V. Hasbrouck |
Chief of Staff
1 Mar 45 |
Col. Edward O. Wolf |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
10 Mar 45 |
Maj. Wilbert Allen |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
10 Mar 45 |
Lt. Col. Henry H. Kilpatrick |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
10 Mar 45 |
Lt. Col. Gustave E. Kidde |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
10 Mar 45 |
Lt. Col. Joseph O. Gerot |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
10 Mar 45 |
Maj. James S. Kelley |
2 Apr 45 |
Maj. Joseph R. Reed (Acting) |
Adjutant General
1 Mar 45 |
Lt. Col. Julian R. Alford |
Commanding Officer, 303d Infantry
1 Mar 45 |
Col. William B. Forse |
Commanding Officer, 386th Infantry
1 Mar 45 |
Col. Samuel M. Lansing |
Commanding Officer, 387th Infantry
1 Mar 45 |
Col. William D. Long |
[page 359]
STATISTICS
Chronology
Activated |
25 February 1943 |
Arrived ETO |
3 March 1945 |
Arrived Continent (D+272) |
5 March 1945 |
Entered Combat--First Elements |
31 March 1945 |
Entered Combat--Entire Division |
1 April 1945 |
Days in Combat |
31 |
Casualties (Tentative)
Killed |
178 |
Wounded |
669 |
Missing |
87 |
Captured |
|
Battle Casualties |
934 |
Non-Battle Casualties |
384 |
Total Casualties |
1,318 |
Percent of T/O Strength |
9.4 |
Campaigns
Central Europe
Individual Awards
Legion of Merit |
1 |
Silver Star |
33 |
Bronze Star |
87 |
Prisoners of War Taken
COMPOSITION
- 303d Infantry
- 386th Infantry
- 387th Infantry
- 97th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
- 322d Engineer Combat Battalion
- 322d Medical Battalion
- 97th Division Artillery
- 303d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 386th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 922d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 389th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
- Special Troops
- 797th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
- 97th Quartermaster Company
- 97th Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Band
[page 360]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
542d AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
2 Apr 45-4 Apr 45 |
Btry D, 839th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
6 Apr 45-9 Apr 45 |
444th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
20 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
Armored
782d Tk Bn |
20 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
Chemical
95th Cml Mort Bn |
18 Apr 45-20 Apr 45 |
Engineer
1 plat, Co A, 311thEngr C Bn (86th Div) |
5 Apr 45-9 Apr 45 |
1262d Engr C Bn |
8 Apr 45-14 Apr 45 |
Field Artillery
331st FA Bn (86th Div) (105mm How) |
5 Apr 45-8 Apr 45 |
762d FA Bn (155mm How) |
6 Apr 45-18 Apr 45 |
660th FA Bn (8" How) |
18 Apr 45-20 Apr 45 |
768th FA Bn (155mm How) |
18 Apr 45-20 Apr 45 |
Hq & Hq Btry, 188th FA Gp |
18 Apr 45-20 Apr 45 |
Btry A, 17th FA Obsn Bn |
30 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
190th FA Gp |
30 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
187th FA Bn (155mm How) |
30 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
987th FA Bn (155mm How) |
30 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45 |
656th FA Bn (8" How) |
3 May 45-4 May 45 |
Infantry
341st Inf (86th Div) |
5 Apr 45-9 Apr 45 |
Tank Destroyer
630th TD Bn (T) |
18 Apr 45-20 Apr 45 |
820th TD Bn (SP) |
20 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 1945 |
[page 361]
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)
Infantry
303d CT |
78th Div |
3 Apr 45-6 Apr 45 |
387th Inf |
78th Div |
4 Apr 45-6 Apr 45 |
386th CT |
78th Div |
5 Apr 45-6 Apr 45 |
3d Bn, 386th Inf |
17th Armd Gp |
25 Apr 45-1 May 45 |
[pages 361-362]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
30 Jan 45 |
|
Fifteenth |
|
ETOUSA; 12th |
|
28 Mar 45 |
XXII |
Fifteenth |
|
12th |
|
1 Apr 45 |
(-) |
First |
|
12th |
|
10 Apr 45 |
XVIII Abn |
First |
|
12th |
|
19 Apr 45 |
(-) |
Third |
|
12th |
|
22 Apr 45 |
XII |
Third |
|
12th |
|
28 Apr 45 |
(-) |
First |
|
12th |
|
30 Apr 45 |
V |
First |
|
12th |
|
6 May 45 |
(-) |
Third |
|
12th |
|
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
[page 363]
COMMAND POSTS
DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
2 Mar 45 |
Fecamp (vic., Camp Lucky Strike) |
Seine-Inferieure |
France |
28 Mar 45 |
Lovenich |
Rhineland |
Germany |
31 Mar 45 |
Glehn |
Rhineland |
Germany |
4 Apr 45 |
Oberpleis |
Rhineland |
Germany |
12 Apr 45 |
Siegburg |
Rhineland |
Germany |
14 Apr 45 |
Rosrath |
Rhineland |
Germany |
15 Apr 45 |
Bergish-Gladbach |
Rhineland |
Germany |
17 Apr 45 |
Solingen |
Rhineland |
Germany |
21 Apr 45 |
Hof |
Rhineland |
Germany |
23 Apr 45 |
Wunsidel |
Bavaria |
Germany |
29 Apr 45 |
Weiden |
Bavaria |
Germany |
5 May 45 |
Tachov |
Bohemia |
Czechoslovakia |
7 May 45 |
Konstantinovy Lazne |
Bohemia |
Czechoslovakia |
[page 364]
Return to Table of Contents