45th INFANTRY DIVISION
"Thunderbird Division"
The division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. The thunderbird is a symbol of the Southwestern Indians meaning sacred bearer of unlimited happiness. The Spanish colors, red and gold, indicate that the four States (Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona) represented by National Guard units in the division were settled by the Spaniards. Each side of the square represents a State.
[page 178]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
| 15 August 1944 | Maj. Gen. William W. Eagles |
| 3 December 1944 | Maj. Gen. Robert T. Frederick |
Assistant Division Commander
| 15 August 1944 | Brig. Gen. Frederick D. Butler |
| 22 December 1944 | Col. Paul D. Adams |
| 24 March 1945 | Brig. Gen. Paul D. Adams |
Artillery Commander
| 15 August 1944 | Brig. Gen. Henry J. D. Meyer |
Chief of Staff
| 15 August 1944 | Col. George E. Martin |
| 5 December 1944 | Col. Kenneth G. Wickham |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
| 15 August 1944 | Capt. Frank J. Glasgow |
| 1 January 1945 | Maj. Frank J. Glasgow |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
| 15 August 1944 | Lt. Col. Francis J. Reichmann |
| 3 December 1944 | Maj. Leo V. Bishop |
| 5 March 1945 | Lt. Col. Francis J. Reichmann |
| 1 May 1945 | Maj. Leo V. Bishop (Acting) |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
| 15 August 1944 | Lt. Col. James A. Reynolds |
| 25 December 1944 | Lt. Col. Emil P. Eschenburg |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
| 15 August 1944 | Lt. Col. Walter Schlotzhauer |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
| 15 August 1944 | Maj. Orwin W. Campbell |
Adjutant General
| 15 August 1944 | Lt. Col. Henry B. Roach |
Commanding Officer, 157th Infantry
| 30 August 1944 | Col. Walter P. O'Brien |
Commanding Officer, 179th Infantry
| 7 October 1944 | Lt. Col. Preston J. C. Murphy |
| 7 December 1944 | Col. Preston J. C. Murphy |
| 16 April 1945 | Lt. Col. William P. Grace |
Commanding Officer, 180th Infantry
| 15 August 1944 | Col. Robert L. Dulaney |
| 6 January 1945 | Lt. Col. Everett W. Duvall |
[page 179]
STATISTICS
Chronology
| Inducted | 6 September 1940 |
| Arrived ETO | 15 August 1944 |
| Arrived Continent (D Day [Southern France]) | 15 August 1944 |
| Entered Combat [Previous combat in NATOUSA] | 15 August 1944 |
| Days in Combat | 230 |
Casualties (Tentative)
| Killed | 1,510 |
| Wounded | 7,246 |
| Missing | 1,436 |
| Captured | 266 |
| Battle Casualties | 10,458 |
| Non-Battle Casualties | 15, 991 |
| Total Casualties | 26,449 |
| Percent of T/O Strength | 187.7 |
Campaigns
Southern France
Rhineland
Central Europe
Individual Awards
| Distinguished Service Cross | 54 |
| Legion of Merit | 30 |
| Silver Star | 1,230 |
| Soldiers Medal | 36 |
| Bronze Star | 3,314 |
| Air Medal | 53 |
Prisoners of War Taken
COMPOSITION
157th Infantry
179th Infantry
180th Infantry
45th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
120th Engineer Combat Battalion
120th Medical Battalion
45th Division Artillery
158th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
160th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
171st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
189th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
Special Troops
700th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
45th Quartermaster Company
45th Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
Headquarters Company
Band
[page 180]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 15 Aug 44 |
| Hq & Hq Btry, 105th AAA Gp | 15 Aug 44-23 Aug 44 |
| 107th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 15 Aug 44- |
| 216th AAA AW Gun Bn (Mbl) | 15 Aug 44- |
| 103d AA Bln Btry (VLA) | 15 Aug 44- |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 31 Aug 44-10 Nov 44 |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 23 Nov 44- |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 18 Feb 45- |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 5 Mar 45-15 Mar 45 |
| 1st Plat, Btry A, 353d AAA SL Bn | 11 Mar 45-15 Mar 45 |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 20 Mar 45-25 Mar 45 |
| 106th AAA AW Bn (SP) | 11 Apr 45-10 May 45 |
Armored
| 101st Tk Bn | 15 Aug 44-25 Aug 44 |
| 191st Tk Bn | 15 Aug 44-28 Nov 44 |
| 101st Tk Bn | 30 Aug 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 101st Tk Bn | 24 Nov 44-14 Feb 45 |
| 191st Tk Bn (- Co A & 3d Plat, Co D) | 29 Nov 44-21 Dec 44 |
| 47th Tk Bn (14th Armd Div) | 1 Dec 44-2 Dec 44 |
| 47th Tk Bn (- Co A) (14th Armd Div) | 3 Dec 44-6 Dec 44 |
| 191st Tk Bn | 22 Dec 44-27 Dec 44 |
| 191st Tk Bn (- Co B) | 28 Dec 44-31 Dec 44 |
| 191st Tk Bn | 1 Jan 45-16 Feb 45 |
| 191st Tk Bn | 4 Mar 45-9 May 45 |
| 101st Tk Bn | 5 Mar 45-15 Mar 45 |
| 101st Tk Bn | 20 Mar 45-22 Mar 45 |
Cavalry
| Tr B, 117th Cav Rcn Sq | 15 Aug 44-18 Aug 44 |
| Tr A, 117th Cav Rcn Sq | 25 Aug 44-30 Sep 44 |
| 117th Cav Rcn Sq | 2 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 100th Rcn Tr (100th Div) | 28 Nov 44-5 Dec 44 |
| Tr C, 117th Cav Rcn Sq | 4 Jan 45-7 Jan 45 |
| 106th Cav Gp | 23 Apr 45-4 May 45 |
Chemical
| Co A, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 15 Aug 44-9 Nov 44 |
| Co C, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 15 Aug 44-9 Nov 44 |
| Co B, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 15 Aug 44-24 Nov 44 |
| Co D, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 1 Oct 44-5 Oct 44 |
| 3d Cml Mort Bn (- Co B) | 6 Dec 44-24 Dec 44 |
| Co B, 3d Cml Mort Bn | 7 Dec 44-24 Dec 44 |
| Co A, 83d Cml Mort Bn | 24 Dec 44- |
| Co A, 7th Cml Bn | 17 Mar 45-18 Mar 45 |
| 2d Cml Mort Bn (- Co A) | 18 Mar 45-22 Mar 45 |
| Cos B & C, 2d Cml Mort Bn | 18 Mar 45-1 May 45 |
| Co A, 2d Cml Mort Bn | 22 Mar 45-30 Apr 45 |
Engineer
| 2d Bn, 36th Engr C Gp | 11 Oct 44-24 Oct 44 |
| 36th Engr C Gp (- 2d & 3d Bns) | 15 Oct 44-24 Oct 44 |
| 3d Bn, 36th Engr C Gp | 21 Oct 44-24 Oct 44 |
| 3d Bn, 36th Engr C Gp | 1 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| Co B, 325th Engr C Bn (100th Div) | 7 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 257th Engr C Bn | 19 Apr 45-23 Apr 45 |
Field Artillery
| 59th Armd FA Bn | 15 Aug 44-18 Aug 44 |
| Hq & Hq Btry, 938th FA Bn (155mm How) | 15 Aug 44-4 Sep 44 |
| 976th FA Bn (155mm Gun) | 15 Aug 44-4 Sep 44 |
| Hq & Hq Btry, 35th FA Gp | 15 Aug 44-6 Sep 44 |
| 141st FA Bn (155mm How) | 18 Aug 44-21 Aug 44 |
| 59th Armd FA Bn | 19 Sep 44-27 Oct 44 |
| 925th FA Bn (100th Div) (105mm How) | 1 Nov 44-10 Nov 44 |
| 59th Armd FA Bn | 2 Nov 44- |
| 693d FA Bn (105mm How) | 1 Dec 44-3 Dec 44 |
| 501st FA Bn | 1 Dec 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 59th Armd FA Bn | 5 Dec 44-28 Dec 44 |
| 693d FA Bn (105mm How) | 20 Jan 45-7 Feb 45 |
| 44th Div Arty | 12 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
| 283d FA Bn (105mm How) | 12 Mar 45-1 May 45 |
| 63d Div Arty | 24 Mar 45-26 Mar 45 |
| 44th Div Arty | 30 Mar 45-1 Apr 45 |
| 250th FA Bn (105mm How) | 12 Apr 45-27 Apr 45 |
Infantry
| 399th Inf (100th Div) | 2 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 398th Inf (100th Div) | 6 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 397th Inf (100th Div) | 6 Nov 44-9 Nov 44 |
| 100th Bn, 442d Inf (Non-Div) | 9 Nov 44-12 Nov 44 |
| 397th Inf (100th Div) | 28 Nov 44-5 Dec 44 |
| 275th Inf (70th Div) | 31 Dec 44-8 Jan 45 |
| 313th Inf (- 3d Bn) (79th Div) | 1 Jan 45-14 Jan 45 |
| 314th Inf (79th Div) | 1 Jan 45-14 Jan 45 |
| 1st Bn, 315th Inf (79th Div) | 2 Jan 45-15 Jan 45 |
| 274th Inf (70th Div) | 3 Jan 45-17 Jan 45 |
| 19th Armd Inf Bn (14th Armd Div) | 4 Jan 45-10 Jan 45 |
| 2d Bn, 276th Inf (70th Div) | 9 Jan 45-13 Jan 45 |
| 409th Inf (103d Div) | 15 Jan 45-17 Jan 45 |
| 2d Bn, 411th Inf (103d Div) | 18 Jan 45-21 Jan 45 |
| 274th Inf (70th Div) | 22 Jan 45-29 Jan 45 |
Tank Destroyer
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 15 Aug 44-30 Sep 44 |
| Co C, 601st TD Bn (SP) | 6 Oct 44-25 Oct 44 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 6 Oct 44-26 Oct 44 |
| 636th TD Bn (- Co C & 1 plat, Rcn Co) (SP) | 6 Oct 44-27 Oct 44 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Nov 44-10 Nov 44 |
| Co B, 824th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Dec 44-2 Dec 44 |
| Co A, 824th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Dec 44-3 Dec 44 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Dec 44-14 Feb 45 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 5 Mar 45-22 Mar 45 |
| 645th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Apr 45-10 May 45 |
[pages 181-182
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)
Cavalry
| 45th Rcn Tr | 44th Div | 20 Nov 44-22 Nov 44 |
Field Artillery
| 45th Div Arty | 44th Div | 10 Nov 44-18 Nov 44 |
| 160th FA Bn | 70th Div | 5 Jan 45-7 Jan 45 |
| 158th FA Bn | 70th Div | 8 Jan 45-12 Jan 45 |
Infantry
| 179th Inf | 36th Div | 23 Aug 44-24 Aug 44 |
| 3d Bn, 157th Inf | 36th Div | 25 Aug 44-29 Aug 44 |
| 1st & 2d Bns, 157th Inf | VI Corps | 26 Aug 44-30 Aug 44 |
| 179th Inf (-) | VI Corps | 3 Sep 44-7 Sep 44 |
| 157th Inf | 44th Div | 25 Nov 44-27 Nov 44 |
[page 183]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
| DATE | CORPS | ARMY | ARMY GROUP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assigned | Attached | Assigned | Attached | ||
| 1 Jul 44 | Seventh (Adm) | AFHQ | SoS NATOUSA (Sup) | ||
| 13 Jul 44 | VI | Seventh (Adm) | AFHQ | SoS NATOUSA (Sup) | |
| 15 Sep 44 | V | Seventh | 6th | ||
| 1 Nov 44 | Seventh | 6th | |||
| 22 Nov 44 | XV | Seventh | 6th | ||
| 31 Dec 44 | VI | Seventh | 6th | ||
| 15 Mar 45 | XV | Seventh | 6th | ||
| 6 May 45 | (-) | Seventh | 6th | ||
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
[page 184]
COMMAND POSTS
| DATE | TOWN | REGION | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Aug 44 | Ste-Maxime-sur-Mer | Var | France |
| 17 Aug 44 | Vidauban | Var | France |
| 18 Aug 44 | Salernes | Var | France |
| 19 Aug 44 | Fox Amphoux | Var | France |
| 20 Aug 44 | Espairon | Var | France |
| 21 Aug 44 | Mirabeau | Vaucluse | France |
| 23 Aug 44 | Asperes | Gard | France |
| 28 Aug 44 | Vif | Isere | France |
| 29 Aug 44 | Voiron | Isere | France |
| 31 Aug 44 | Lancin | Isere | France |
| 1 Sep 44 | Lagnieu | Ain | France |
| 2 Sep 44 | Vieux | Ain | France |
| 3 Sep 44 | Mayiat | Ain | France |
| 4 Sep 44 | Bourg | Ain | France |
| 5 Sep 44 | Lons Le Saunier | Jura | France |
| 6 Sep 44 | Ornans | Doubs | France |
| 7 Sep 44 | Aissey | Doubs | France |
| 10 Sep 44 | Baume | Jura | France |
| 11 Sep 44 | Romain | Doubs | France |
| 13 Sep 44 | Cubry | Doubs | France |
| 20 Sep 44 | Bains-les-Bains | Vosges | France |
| 24 Sep 44 | Epinal (vic W) | Vosges | France |
| 25 Sep 44 | Epinal (vic E) | Vosges | France |
| 4 Oct 44 | Girecourt | Vosges | France |
| 25 Oct 44 | Fremifontanie (La Haute Ville) | Vosges | France |
| 1 Nov 44 | Rambervillers | Vosges | France |
| 9 Nov 44 | Bains-les-Bains | Vosges | France |
| 23 Nov 44 | Baccarat | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 24 Nov 44 | Sarrebourg | Moselle | France |
| 25 Nov 44 | Gugenheim | Bas-Rhin | France |
| 26 Nov 44 | Hochfelden | Bas-Rhin | France |
| 29 Nov 44 | Bouxwiller | Bas-Rhin | France |
| 5 Dec 44 | Muhlhausen | Bas-Rhin | France |
| 11 Dec 44 | Reichshofen | Bas-Rhin | France |
| 14 Dec 44 | Langensulzbach | Bas-Rhin | France |
| 3 Jan 45 | Muhlhausen | Bas-Rhin | France |
| 6 Jan 45 | Ingwiller | Bas-Rhin | France |
| 22 Jan 45 | La Petite Pierre | Moselle | France |
| 20 Feb 45 | Luneville | Meurthe-et-Moselle | France |
| 15 Mar 45 | Sarreguemines | Moselle | France |
| 17 Mar 45 | Breitfurt | Rhineland | Germany |
| 21 Mar 45 | Homburg | Rhineland | Germany |
| 22 Mar 45 | Grunstadt | Rhineland | Germany |
| 24 Mar 45 | Westhoffen | Hessen | Germany |
| 27 Mar 45 | Zwingenberg | Hessen | Germany |
| 28 Mar 45 | Gross Ostheim | Hessen | Germany |
| 2 Apr 45 | Aufach | Bavaria | Germany |
| 4 Apr 45 | Mernes | Nassau | Germany |
| 5 Apr 45 | Bad Bruckenau | Bavaria | Germany |
| 6 Apr 45 | Gersfeld | Bavaria | Germany |
| 8 Apr 45 | Saal | Thuringia | Germany |
| 12 Apr 45 | Rattelsdorf | Bavaria | Germany |
| 13 Apr 45 | Hallstadt | Bavaria | Germany |
| 15 Apr 45 | Ebermannstadt | Bavaria | Germany |
| 16 Apr 45 | Lauf | Bavaria | Germany |
| 22 Apr 45 | Roth | Bavaria | Germany |
| 23 Apr 45 | Weissenburg | Bavaria | Germany |
| 24 Apr 45 | Langenaltheim | Bavaria | Germany |
| 28 Apr 45 | Schrobenhausen | Bavaria | Germany |
| 29 Apr 45 | Haimhausen | Bavaria | Germany |
| 30 Apr 45 | Feldmoching | Bavaria | Germany |
| 1 May 45 | Munchen | Bavaria | Germany |
[pages 185 (through 24Sep44)-187 (from 27 Mar 45)]