[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 Portions of the information may be out of date.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: 1 August 1940.
Overseas: 11 December 1942. (Three organic combat teams participated
in North African landings 8 November 1942.)
Campaigns: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, North France,
Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.
Days of combat: 304.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 24.
Awards: MH-4; DSC-76; DSM-3; SS-2,282; LM-19; DFC-2; SM-100; BSM-6,593; AM-129.
Commanders: Col. Charles B. Elliott (August 1940),
Brig. Gen. Francis W. Honeycutt (September 1940),
Maj. Gen. Jacob L. Devers (October 1940-July 1941),
Maj. Gen. Rene E. DeR. Hoyle (August 1941-July 1942),
Maj. Gen. Manton S. Eddy (August 1942-August 1944),
Maj. Gen. Louis A. Craig (August 1944-May 1945),
Brig. Gen. Jesse A. Ladd (May 1945-February 1946),
Maj. Gen. Horace L. McBride (March 1946 to inactivation),
Maj. Gen. William W. Eagles (15 July 1947-26 April 1948),
Maj. Gen. Arthur A. White (27 April 1948-).
Inactivated: 15 January 1947.
Reactivated: 15 July 1947.
Combat Chronicle
-
The 9th Infantry Division saw its first combat in the North African
invasion, 8 November 1942, when its elements landed at Algiers, Safi,
and Port Lyautey. With the collapse of French resistance, 11 November 1942, the
Division patrolled the Spanish Moroccan border. The 9th returned to Tunisia in
February and engaged in small defensive actions and patrol activity. On
28 March 1943 it launched an attack in southern Tunisia and fought its
way north into Bizerte, 7 May. In August the 9th landed at Palermo, Sicily,
and took part in the capture of Randazzo and Messina. After returning to
England for further training, the Division hit Utah Beach
on 10 June 1944 (D plus 4), cut off the Cotentin Peninsula, drove on
to Cherbourg and penetrated the port's heavy defenses. After a brief
rest in July, the Division took part in the St. Lo breakthrough and
in August helped close the Falaise Gap. Turning east, the 9th crossed
the Marne, 28 August, swept through Saarlautern, and in November and
December held defensive positions from Monschau to Losheim. Moving
north to Bergrath, Germany, it launched an attack toward the
Roer, 10 December, taking Echtz and Schlich. From mid-December
through January 1945, the Division held defensive positions from
Kalterherberg to Elsenborn. On 30 Jannary the Division jumped off
from Monschau in a drive across the Roer and to Rhine, crossing at
Remagen, 7 March. After breaking out of the Remagen bridgehead, the
9th assisted in the sealing and clearing of the Ruhr Pocket, then
moved 150 miles east to Nordhausen and attacked in the
Harz Mountains, 14-20 April. On 21 April the Division relieved the
3rd Armored along
the Mulde River, near Dessau, and held that line
until VE-day.
Assignments in the ETO -
20 November 1943: First Army. //
25 November 1943: VII Corps. //
1 August 1944: VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. //
26 October 1944: V Corps. //
6 December 1944: VII Corps. //
18 December 1944: V Corps. //
20 December 1944: Attached, with the entire First Army, to the
British 21st Army Group. //
18 January 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. //
17 February 1945: III Corps. //
31 March 1945: VII Corps. //
4 April 1945: III Corps. //
14 April 1945: VII Corps.
General -
Shoulder patch: An octofoil - a design of eight petals on a khaki background. Upper
part of the octofoil is red, lower part blue, and there is a white disk in
center.
Publications: Eight Stars to Victory; by Lt. Joseph B. Mittelman, unit
historian; F. J. Heer Printing Co., Columbus, Ohio; 1947. The
Octofoil, monthly Association paper (editor: Paul S. Plunkett, Columbus,
Ohio).
Hitler's Nemesis, The 9th Infantry Division; Stars and Stripes;
Paris, Desfosses; 1944; 32 pp. Hold Fast!; 9th Division; 59 pp.
The Final Thrust; History of the 9th Infantry Division in Germany, September
1941 to May 1945; 9th Division Historian's Office; by Lt. Joseph D. Mittelman; 1948; 73 pp.
• 9th Infantry Division Links
• 9th Infantry Division Components
• 9th Infantry Division Medal of Honor Recipients
• 9th Infantry Division Commanders
• 9th Infantry Division Videos
|
|
|
|