SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA
Symbolism: The predecessor of the brigade (the 45th Division) was composed of Army National Guard troops from Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona. As the territory was originally explored and settled by the Spanish, the insignia is gold and red, the Spanish colors. The "Thunderbird" is an Indian symbol meaning sacred bearer of happiness unlimited. The four sides of the insignia represent the four states comprising the former division.
Symbolism: The Indian appears on the seal of the state of Oklahoma. The colors gold and blue are representative of the Territory of Oklahoma, a portion of the Louisiana Purchase.
| LINEAGE |
ARNG
(Oklahoma)
|
Constituted 19 October 1920 in the National Guard as Headquarters, 45th Division (to be organized with troops from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma). Organized and federally recognized 3 August 1923 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Headquarters Detachment organized and federally recognized 1 July 1924 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Headquarters and Headquarters
[663]
Detachment, 45th Division, inducted into federal service 16 September 1940 at Oklahoma City. Reorganized and redesignated 23 February 1942 as Headquarters, 45th Infantry Division. Inactivated 7 December 1945 at Camp Bowie, Texas. Reorganized and federally recognized 5 September 1946 in the Oklahoma National Guard at Oklahoma City. Ordered into active federal service 1 September 1950 at Oklahoma City. (Headquarters, 45th Infantry Division [NGUS], organized and federally recognized 15 September 1952 at Oklahoma City.) Released 30 April 1954 from active federal service and reverted to state control; federal recognition concurrently withdrawn from Headquarters, 45th Infantry Division (NGUS).
Reorganized and redesignated 1 February 1968 as Headquarters, 45th Infantry Brigade, and location changed to Edmond (Headquarters Company, 45th Infantry Brigade, concurrently reorganized and redesignated from Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry [see ANNEX]). Location changed 1 October 1996 to Oklahoma City.
ANNEX
Organized and federally recognized 31 August 1918 in the Oklahoma National Guard at Edmond as Headquarters Company, 2d Infantry. Redesignated 14 October 1921 as Headquarters Company, 179th Infantry, an element of the 45th Division (later redesignated as the 45th Infantry Division). Inducted into federal service 16 September 1940 at Edmond. Inactivated 21 September 1945 at Camp Bowie, Texas. Reorganized and federally recognized 10 September 1946 at Edmond. Ordered into active federal service 1 September 1950 at Edmond. (Headquarters Company, 179th Infantry [NGUS], organized and federally recognized 15 September 1952 at Edmond.) Released 30 April 1954 from active federal service and reverted to state control; federal recognition concurrently withdrawn from Headquarters Company, 179th Infantry (NGUS). Reorganized and redesignated 1 May 1959 as Headquarters Company, 1st Battle Group, 179th Infantry. Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1963 as Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry.
Home Station: Oklahoma City
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
World War II
Sicily (with arrowhead)
Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead)
Anzio
Rome-Arno
Southern France (with arrowhead)
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
Korean War
Second Korean Winter
Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
Third Korean Winter
Korea, Summer 1953
[665]
DECORATIONS
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered ACQUAFONDATA (Headquarters, 45th Infantry Division, and 179th Infantry cited; DA GO 43,1950)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA (Headquarters, 45th Infantry Division, and 179th Infantry cited; DA GO 30, 1954).
Bishop, Leo V, et al., eds. The Fighting Forty-Fifth: The Combat Record of an Infantry Division. Baton Rouge: Army and Navy Publishing Co., 1946. Reprint. Nashville: Battery Press, 1978.
Blumenson, Martin. Salerno to Cassino. United States Army in World War II. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1969.
Brown, Bernard F. Thunderbird: A History of the 45th Infantry Division. Oklahoma City, 1954.
Clarke, Jeffrey J., and Smith, Robert Ross. Riviera to the Rhine. United States Army in World War II. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1993.
Clyma, Carleton B., ed. Connecticut Men - 45th -Thunderbird-Division, August 1945. Hartford, 1945.
Embry, John. The 45th Infantry Division at Anzio. Oklahoma City: 45th Infantry Division Museum, 1986.
Farrier, Frank. Thunderbird: 45th Infantry Division. Tokyo: Toppan Printing Co., 1953.
Fisher, Ernest E, Jr. Cassino to the Alps. United States Army in World War II. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1977.
The 45th: The Story of the 45th Infantry Division. G.I. Stories ... Paris, 1945.
45th Infantry Division, Summer Camp 1962. Baton Rouge: Army and Navy Publishing Co., 1962.
Gabel, Christopher R. The US. Army GHQ Maneuvers of 1941. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1991.
Garland, Albert N., and Smyth, Howard McGaw. Sicily and the Surrender of Italy. United States Army in World War II. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1965.
Greiner, John. "45 Division Parades in Oklahoma." National Guard 44 (November 1990):15.
Harr, William. Combat Boots, Tales of Fighting Men, Including the Anzio Derby. New York: Exposition Press, 1952.
Harrison, Walter M. Log of the 45th. Oklahoma City, 1941.
Hermes, Walter G. Truce Tent and Fighting Front. United States Army in the Korean War. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1966.
Historical and Pictorial Review, 45th Infantry Division, Camp Barkeley, Texas, 1942. Baton Rouge: Army and Navy Publishing Co., 1942.
Historical Annual, National Guard of the State of Oklahoma, 1938. Baton Rouge: Army and Navy Publishing Co., 193 8.
[666]
Historical Section, Department of the Army. Anzio Beachhead (22 January-25 May 1944). American Forces in Action. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1948.
______. From the Volturno to the Winter Line (6 October-15 November 1943). American Forces in Action. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1945.
______. Salerno: American Operations From the Beaches to the Volturno (9 September-6 October 1943). American Forces in Action. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1944.
Kahn, E. J., Jr., and McLemore, H. Fighting Divisions. Washington: Infantry Journal Press, 1945. Reprint. Washington: Zenger Publishing Co., 1980.
MacDonald, Charles B. The Last Offensive. United States Army in World War II. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1973.
Military Intelligence Division, War Department. Fifth Army at the Winter Line (15 November 1943-15 January 1944). American Forces in Action. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1945.
"National Guard Mobilized Five Years After 'Big One,' 45th Infantry Division Goes to Korea." National Guard 44 (September 1990):64-68.
Nelson, Guy. Thunderbird: A History of the 45th Infantry Division. Oklahoma City: 45th Division Association, 1970.
O'Connell, William R., ed. The Thunderbird, A 45th Division History, The Story of the 45th Division ~ Actions in the Korean Conflict. Tokyo: Toppan Printing Co., 1953.
Reforger 87, Defending the Border The Thunderbirds, 45th Infantry Brigade, Oklahoma Army National Guard. n.p., 1987.
Robinson, Don. News of the 45th. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1944.
"The 'Thunderbird' Division: A Condensed History of the 45th Infantry Division." The National Guardsman 3 (November 1949):24-25.
Thunderbird Review. Atlanta: Albert Love Enterprises, 1952.
"Thunderbirds Return to Germany: the 45th Infantry Displays Light Infantry Skills." National Guard 42 (March 1988):30-34.
Whitlock, Flint. The Rock ofAnzio: The 45th Infantry Division in World War II. Westview, 1998.
Williamson, Kenneth D. Tales of a Thunderbird in World War Hfrom
Oklahoma to Munich and Back Again with Detour Through Paris. St. Albans,
WVa.: Kendall Publication, 1994.