66th INFANTRY DIVISION
The division's insignia is a black panther's head on a circular orange background within a red border. The black panther was chosen to symbolize the attributes of a good infantryman: ability to kill, to be aggressive, alert, stealthy, cunning, agile, and strong.
[page 203]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
| 26 Nov 44 | Maj. Gen. Herman F. Kramer |
Assistant Division Commander
| 26 Nov 44 | Brig. Gen. George J. Forster |
Artillery Commander
| 26 Nov 44 | Brig. Gen. Francis Rollins |
Chief of Staff
| 26 Nov 44 | Col. John W. Keating |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
| 26 Nov 44 | Lt. Col. Elisha A. Crary |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
| 26 Nov 44 | Lt. Col. Edmond M. Rowan |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
| 26 Nov 44 | Lt. Col. Kelsie L Reaves |
| 24 Jan 45 | Capt. Frederick W. Gilbert (Acting) |
| 5 Feb 45 | Lt. Col. Kelsie L Reaves |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
| 26 Nov 44 | Lt. Col. Harold W. Browning |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
| 23 Feb 45 | Maj. James P. Brown |
Adjutant General
| 26 Nov 44 | Lt. Col. Henry C. Springer |
Commanding Officer, 262d Infantry
| 26 Nov 44 | Col. Leander D. Syme |
Commanding Officer, 263d Infantry
| 26 Nov 44 | Col. Frederick L, Knudsen, Jr. |
Commanding Officer, 264th Infantry
| 26 Nov 44 | Col. James R. Hamilton |
[page 204]
STATISTICS
Chronology
| Activated | 15 April 1943 |
| Arrived ETO | 26 November 1944 |
| Arrived Continent (D+203) | 26 December 1944 |
| Entered Combat | 1 January 1945 |
| Days in Combat | 91 |
Casualties (Tentative)
| Killed | 804 |
| Wounded | 268 |
| Missing | 7 |
| Captured | 19 |
| Battle Casualties | 1,098 |
| Non-Battle Casualties | 849 |
| Total Casualties | 1,947 |
| Percent of T/O Strength | 13.8 |
Campaigns
Northern France
Individual Awards
| Legion of Merit | 9 |
| Silver Star | 17 |
| Soldiers Medal | 15 |
| Bronze Star | 120 |
| Air Medal | 32 |
Prisoners of War Taken
COMPOSITION
262d Infantry
263d Infantry
264th Infantry
66th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
266th Engineer Combat Battalion
366th Medical Battalion
66th Division Artillery
870th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
871st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
872d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
721st Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
Special Troops
766th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
66th Quartermaster Company
566th Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
Headquarters Company
Band
[page 205]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
| Fr 125th AAA Gp Forces Terrestres Anti-Aeriennes | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
Cavalry
| 15th Cav Gp | 1 Jan 45-15 Feb 45 |
| 15th Cav Rcn Sq | 1 Jan 45-17 Feb 45 |
| 101st Cav Gp | 1 Jan 45-17 Feb 45 |
| 116th Cav Rcn Sq | 1 Jan 45-17 Feb 45 |
| Fr 17th Bataillon de Chasseurs Portes | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 19th Dragoons | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 1st Hussards | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 8th Cuirassiers | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| 115th Cav Gp | 10 Feb 45-24 Apr 45 |
| 104th Cav Rcn Sq (- Tr A) | 21 Mar 45-29 Apr 45 |
| 107th Cav Rcn Sq | 31 Mar 45-24 Apr 45 |
| 106th Rcn Tr (106th Div) | 15 Apr 45-15 May 45 |
Engineer
| 287th Engr C Bn | 27 Dec 44-21 Mar 45 |
| 283d Engr C Bn | 27 Dec 44-31 Mar 45 |
| Fr 81st Engr Bn | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
Field Artillery
| 199th FA Bn (4.5" Gun) | 1 Jan 45-12 May 45 |
| 688th FA Bn (105mm How) | 1 Jan 45-12 May 45 |
| Fr 10th Regt d'Artillerie Divisionnaire | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 20th Regt d'Artillerie Divisionnaire | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| 115th FA Bn (105mm How) | 31 Mar 45-12 May 45 |
| 657th FA Bn (8" How) | 14 Apr 45-12 May 45 |
| 540th FA Bn (155mm Gun) | 14 Apr 45-12 May 45 |
| 293d FA Obsn Bn | 14 Apr 45-12 May 45 |
| 589th FA Bn (106th Div) (105mm How) | 15 Apr 45-15 May 45 |
| 590th FA Bn (106th Div) (105mm How) | 15 Apr 45-15 May 45 |
Infantry
| Fr 19th Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 21st Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 32d Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 41st Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 63d Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 65th Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 67th Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 71st Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 93d Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 118th Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 125th Inf Regt | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 1st Marche Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 2d Marche Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 3d Marche Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 7th Marche Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 4th Fusilliers Marins Bn | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 2d Ranger Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 4th Ranger Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 10th Ranger Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 14th Ranger Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 15th Ranger Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 16th Ranger Bn (FFI) | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 1st Corps Francs d'Afrique | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr 4th Regt de Fusilliers Marins | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| Fr Volunteer Co of Morbihan | 1 Jan 45-23 May 45 |
| 422d Inf (106th Div) | 15 Apr 45-15 May 45 |
| 423d Inf (106th Div) | 15 Apr 45-15 May 45 |
[pages 206-207]
DETACHMENTS
None
[page 207]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
| DATE | CORPS | ARMY | ARMY GROUP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assigned | Attached | Assigned | Attached | ||
| 25 Nov 44 | UK Base | ETOUSA | |||
| 27 Dec 44 | (-) | 12th | |||
| 31 Mar 45 | Fifteenth | 12th | |||
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
[page 208]
COMMAND POSTS
| DATE | TOWN | REGION | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec 44 | Dorchester | Oxfordshire | England |
| 24 Dec 44 | Cherbourg | Manche | France |
| 26 Dec 44 | Chateaubriant | Loire-Inferieure | France |
[page 209]