[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 Portions of the information may be out of date.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 I
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Activated: August 1917.
Overseas: 7 September 1918.
Major Operations: Did not participate as a division.
Casualties: Total - 78 (KIA - 12; WIA - 66).
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Edward H. Plummer (25 August 1917),
Brig. Gen. Robert N. Getty (27 November 1917),
Maj. Gen. Edward H. Plummer (19 February 1918),
Brig. Gen. Robert N. Getty (15 March 1918),
Brig. Gen. William D. Beach (24 May 1918),
Maj. Gen. William Weigel (10 September 1918).
Inactivated: June 1919.
World War II
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Activated: 15 July 1942.
Overseas: 6 December 1943.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 3.
Campaigns: Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po Valley.
Days of combat: 307.
Awards: MH-2; DSC-12; DSM-2; SS-522; LM-32; SM-19; BSM-3,784.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. John E. Sloan (July 1942-September 1944),
Maj. Gen. Paul W. Kendall (September 1944-July 1945),
Brig. Gen. James C. Fry (July-November 1945),
Maj. Gen. B. E. Moore (November 1945 to inactivation).
Inactivated: 24 October 1947 in Italy.
Combat Chronicle
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The 88th Infantry Division arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco, 15 December 1943, and
moved to Magenta, Algeria, on the 28th for intensive training. It arrived at Naples,
Italy, 6 February 1944, and concentrated in the Piedmont d'Alife area for combat
training. An advance element went into the line before Cassino, 27 February, and
the entire unit relieved British elements along the Garigliano River in the
Minturno area, 5 March. A period of defensive patrols and training followed. On
11 May, the 88th drove north to take Spigno, Mount Civita, Itri, Fondi, and
Roccagorga, reached Anzio, 29 May, and pursued the enemy into Rome, 4 June,
after a stiff engagement on the outskirts of the city. An element of the 88th
is credited with being first to enter the Eternal City. After continuing across
the Tiber to Bassanelio the 88th retired for rest and training, 11 June. The
Division went into defensive positions near Pomerance, 5 July, and launched an
attack toward Volterra on the 8th, taking the town the next day. Laiatico fell
on the 11th, Villamagna on the 13th, and the Arno River was crossed on the 20th
although the enemy resisted bitterly. After a period of rest and training, the
Division opened its assault on the Gothic Line, 21 September 1944, and advanced
rapidly along the FirenzuolaImola road, taking Mount Battaglia on the 28th. The
enemy counterattacked savagely and heavy fighting continued on the line toward
the Po Valley. The strategic positions of Mount Grande and Farnetto were taken,
20 and 22 October. From 26 October 1944 to 12 January 1945, the 88th entered a
period of defensive patrolling in the Mount Grande-Mount Cerrere sector and the
Mount Fano area. From 24 January to 2 March 1945, the Division defended the
Loiano-Livergnano area and after a brief rest returned to the front. The
drive to the Po Valley began on 15 April. Monterumici fell on the 17th
after an intense barrage and the Po River was crossed, 24 April, as the
88th pursued the enemy toward the Alps. The cities of Verona and Vicenza
were captured on the 25th and 28th and the Brenta River was crossed,
30 April. The 88th was driving through the Dolomite Alps toward Innsbruck, Austria,
when the hostilities ended on 2 May 1945.
General -
Nickname: Blue Devil Division; sometimes called Clover Leaf Division.
Shoulder patch: An infantry blue quatrefoil, formed by two Arabic numeral "8's".
Publication: Blue Devils in Italy; by S/Sgt. Jack Delaney, historian; The
Infantry Journal, Washington, D.C.; 1947. With the 88th in
Italy; U. S. Army, 88th Division.
• 88th Infantry Division Links
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