[Webmaster Note: The following division information is reproduced
from the public domain publication, The Army Almanac: A Book of
Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office,
1950. Portions of the information may be out of date. Only minor formatting changes and
typographical corrections have been made.]
World War II
-
Activated: 15 March 1943.
Overseas: 10 November 1944.
Campaigns: Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace.
Days of combat: 63.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 1.
Awards: DSC-6; DSM-1; SS-77; LM-9; SM-26; BSM-352; AM-10.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Alan W. Jones (15 March 1943-22 December 1944),
Brig. Gen. Herbert T. Perrin (22 December 1944-8 February 1945),
Maj. Gen. Donald A. Stroh (February 1945-August 1945),
Brig. Gen. Francis A. Woolfley (August 1945 to inactivation).
Returned to U.S.: 1 October 1945.
Inactivated: 2 October 1945.
Combat Chronicle
-
The 106th Infantry Division arrived in England, 17 November 1944, and trained
briefly, then moved to France, 6 December. It relieved the
2nd Infantry Division
in the Schnee Eifel on the 11th. The Von Rundstedt attack was thrown in force
at the 106th on 16 December. The 422nd and 423rd Infantry Regiments were encircled
and cut off from the remainder of the Division by a junction of enemy forces in the
vicinity of Schonberg. They regrouped for a counterattack but were blocked by the
enemy and lost to the Division, 18 December. The rest of the Division withdrew from
St. Vith on the 21st under constant enemy fire and pulled back over the Saint River
at Vielsalm, 23 December. On the 24th, the 424th Regiment attached to the
7th Armored Division
fought a delaying action at Manhay until ordered to an assembly area. From
25 December 1944 to 9 January 1945, the Division received reinforcements and supplies
at Anthisnes, Belgium, and returned to the struggle, securing objectives along the
Ennal-Logbierme line on the 15th after heavy fighting. After being pinched out by
advancing divisions, the 106th assembled at Stavelot on the 18th for rehabilitation
and training. It moved to the vicinity of Hunningen, 7 February, for defensive
patrols and training. In March, the 424th advanced along tile high ground between
Berk and the Simmer River and was again pinched out at Olds on the 7th. A period
of training and patrolling followed until 15 March when the Division moved to
St. Quentin for rehabilitation and the reconstruction of lost units. For the
remainder of its stay in Europe, the 106th handled prisoners of war enclosures
and engaged in occupational duties.
Assignments in the ETO
-
29 November 1944: VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. // 20 December 1944: XVIII
(Abn) Corps, First Army (attached to the British 21st Army Group), 12th Army
Group. // 18 January 1945: XVIII (Abn) Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. //
6 February 1945: V Corps. // 10 March 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group.
// 15 April 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to the
Advanced Section, Communications Zone.
General -
Nickname: Golden Lion Division.
Shoulder patch: A golden lion's face on a blue circular background
encircled by white and then red borders respectively.
Publications: History of the 106th Infantry Division; by unit
members; The Infantry Journal, Washington, D.C.; 1947. Pictorial
Review; by unit members; Albert Love Enterprises, Atlanta, Ga.;
1944. CUB, published in newspaper form in training after VE-day
overseas, and resumed in magazine form by the 106th Infantry
Division Association after inactivation of the division.
The 106th; U.S. Army Forces in the European Theater;
Paris, P. Dupont, 1945. 31 pp.
• 106th Infantry Division Links
• 106th Infantry Division Components
• 106th Infantry Division Medal of Honor Recipients
• 106th Infantry Division Commanders
• 106th Infantry Division Videos
|
|
|
|