[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 Portions of the information may be out of date.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
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Campaigns: New Guinea, South Philippines, Luzon.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 8.
Awards: MH-3; DSC-15; DSM-2; SS-625; LM- 23; DFC-1; SM-38; BSM-2,197; AM-50.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Durward S. Wilson (October 1941-August 1942),
Maj. Gen. Frederick A. Irving (August 1942-November 1944),
Maj. Gen. Roscoe B. Woodruff (November 1944-10 November 1945),
Brig. Gen. Kenneth F. Cramer (November 1945-December 1945),
Maj. Gen. James A. Lester (December 1945-16 January 1948),
Maj. Gen. A. C. Smith (January 1948-).
Combat Chronicle
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The 24th Infantry Division was among the first to see combat in World War II and
among the last to stop fighting. The Division was on Oahu, with Headquarters at
Schofield Barracks, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, and
suffered minor casualties. Charged with the defense of northern Oahu, it built an
elaborate system of coastal defenses. In May 1943 it was alerted for movement to
Australia and by September 19, 1943 had completed the move to Camp Caves, near
Rockhampton, on the eastern coast of Australia. After a period of intensive
training, the Division moved to Goodenough Island, 31 January 1944, to stage
for the Hollandia-Tanahmerah campaign. The 24th landed on Dutch New Guinea, 22 April 1944, and
smashed its way to and seized the important Hollandia Airdrome despite torrential rains and
marshy terrain. Shortly after the Hollandia landing, the 34th Infantry Regiment
moved to Biak, 18 June, to reinforce the 41st Infantry Division, and captured Sorido
and Borokoe airdromes before returning to the Division on Hollandia in July. After
occupation duty in the Hollandia area, the 24th Division landed on Red Beach on
Leyte, 20 October 1944, as part of the X Corps, Sixth Army, and driving
up Leyte Valley advanced to Jaro and took Breakneck Ridge, 12 November 1944, in
heavy fighting. While mopping up continued on Leyte, the 19th RCT moved to Mindoro Island as
part of the Western Visayan Task Force, landing in the San Jose
area, 15 December 1944. Airfields and a PT base were secured for operations on
Luzon. Divisional elements effected a landing on Marinduque Island. Other elements
supported the 11th Airborne Division drive from Nasugbu to Manila. The 34th RCT, landing
at San Antonio, Luzon, 29 January 1945, ran into a furious battle on Zig Zag Pass and
suffered heavy casualties. On 16 February 1945 the 3rd Bn. of the 24th Infantry took
part in the amphibious landing on Corregidor and fought Japanese under a hot sun on the
well-defended Rock. After numerous mopping up actions in March, the Division landed on
Mindanao, 17 April 1945, cut across the island to Digos, 27 April, stormed into
Davao, 3 May, and cleared Libby airdrome, 13 May. Although the campaign
closed officially on 30 June, the Division continued to mop up Japanese resistance
during July and August 1945. Patrolling continued after the official surrender
of Japan. On 15 October 1945, the Division left Mindanao for Japan.
General
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Nickname: Victory Division.
Shoulder patch: A green taro leaf bordered in yellow, superimposed on a red circle
which is bordered in black.
Association: 24th Infantry (Victory) Division Association.
Publications: Children of Yesterday; by unit members; The Infantry Journal, Washington, D.C.; 1947.
See Also:
6th Infantry Division,
7th Infantry Division,
25th Infantry Division,
27th Infantry Division,
31st Infantry Division,
32nd Infantry Division,
33rd Infantry Division,
37th Infantry Division,
38th Infantry Division,
40th Infantry Division,
41st Infantry Division,
43rd Infantry Division,
77th Infantry Division,
81st Infantry Division,
93rd Infantry Division,
96th Infantry Division,
98th Infantry Division,
11th Airborne Division,
1st Cavalry Division,
Americal Division,
Philippine Division
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