[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 Portions of the information may be out of date.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 (National Guard Division from Ohio).
Overseas: June 1918.
Major operations: Meuse-Argonne, Ypres-Lys.
Casualties: Total - 5,387 (KIA - 794; WIA - 4,593).
Commanders:
Brig. Gen. William R. Smith (26 August 1917),
Maj. Gen. C. G. Trent (3 September 1917),
Brig. Gen. William R. Smith (18 September 1917),
Maj. Gen. C. G. Trent (5 December 1917),
Brig. Gen. Joseph A. Gaston (25 April 1918),
Maj. Gen. C. S. Farnsworth (8 May 1918),
Brig. Gen. William M. Fassett (5 December 1918),
Maj. Gen. C. S. Farnsworth (10 Dec. 1918).
World War II
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Activated: 15 October 1940 (National Guard Division from Ohio).
Overseas: 26 May 1942.
Campaigns: Northern Solomons, Luzon.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 9.
Awards: MH-7; DSC-116; DSM-4; SS-1,008; LM-71; SM-101; BSM-6,807; AM-84.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler commanded the Division during its
entire period of Federal service in World War II.
Returned to U.S.: November 1945.
Inactivated: 18 December 1945.
Combat Chronicle
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The 37th Infantry Division arrived in the Fiji Islands in June 1942 to
fortify the islands against possible invasion. The Division continued its
training on the islands. With the end of ground fighting on Guadalcanal, the
Division moved to that island in April 1943, continued training, and
staged for the Munda campaign. Two battalions joined the Marines on
New Georgia, 5 July 1943, while the remainder of the Division
landed, 22 July, and assisted the 43rd Infantry Division in taking Munda airfield
in heavy fighting. After mopping up on New Georgia, the Division returned
to Guadalcanal, 9 September 1943, for rest and rehabilitation. The
Division's next assignment was Bougainville. Relieving Marine
units, 8-19 November 1943, the 37th took over the perimeter defense of the
area, constructed roads and bridges and engaged in extensive patrol
activity. In March 1944, two Japanese divisions made eight major attacks, but
Division lines held. In April patrols cleared the Laruma Valley area of
major enemy units. The Division remained on Bougainville and trained
for the Luzon campaign. Landing with the Sixth Army on the beaches of
Lingayen Gulf, 9 January 1945, the 37th raced inland against slight
resistance to Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg where fierce resistance
delayed capture of those objectives until 31 January. The Division
continued to drive to Manila against small delaying forces, and
entered the city's outskirts, 4 February. Upon crossing the Pasig River, it
ran into bitter Japanese opposition, and it took heavy street
fighting to clear the city by 3 March 1945. After garrison duty in
Manila, 5-26 March, the Division shifted to the hills of Northwest Luzon, where
heavy fighting culminated in the capture of Baguio, 26 April. Rest and
rehabilitation during May were followed by action in June in
the Cagayan Valley against deteriorating Japanese resistance. With the
end of hostilities, 15 August, the Division was concerned with the
collection and processing of prisoners of war, leaving November 1945 for
the States and demobilization.
General
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Nickname: Buckeye Division.
Shoulder patch: Brilliant red circle on a circular background of white.
Association: 37th Division Veterans' Association.
Publications: History of the 37th Infantry Division; by Col. Russell A. Ramsey,
unit historian; The Infantry Journal, Washington, D.C.; 1947.
See Also:
6th Infantry Division,
7th Infantry Division,
24th Infantry Division,
25th Infantry Division,
27th Infantry Division,
31st Infantry Division,
32nd Infantry Division,
33rd 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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