70th INFANTRY DIVISION 

"Trailblazers"

The division insignia consists of a white ax, a snowy mountain, and a green fir tree on a red background. The white ax is in recognition of the pioneers who travelled the Oregon Trial to the Willamette Valley, site of Camp Adair where the greater part of the division's training was accomplished' the snowy mountain represents Oregon's Mt. Hood; and the green fir tree finds its origin in the insignia of the 91st Division, from which the cadre of the 70th Division was drawn.

[page 217]

Commanding General

10 December 1944 Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Herren

3 February 1945 Maj. Gen. Allison J. Barnett

Assistant Division Commander

3 February 1945 Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Herren

Division Artillery Commander

3 February 1945 Brig. Gen. P. P. Rodes

Chief of Staff

10 December 1944 Col. Leo H. Bessette

Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1

10 December 1944 Capt. Charles R. Smith

3 February 1945 Lt. Col. Elmer J. Willson

1 April 1945 Lt. Col. Duane M. Witt

Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2

10 December 1944 Maj. Robert G. Seely

3 February 1945 Lt. Col. Elias C. Townsend

12 February 1945 Maj. Robert G. Seely (Acting)

8 March 1945 Lt. Col. Elias C. Townsend

Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3

10 December 1944 Lt. Col. James L. Richardson

12 February 1945 Lt. Col. Elias C. Townsend (Acting)

8 March 1945 Lt. Col. James L. Richardson

16 April 1945 Col. James L. Richardson

Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4

10 December 1944 Capt. Joseph J. Schmidt

3 February 1945 Lt. Col. Daniel F. Munster

Adjutant General

10 December 1944 Lt. Col. Bernard V. Merrick

Commanding Officer, 274th Infantry

10 December 1944 Col. Samuel G. Conley

Commanding Officer, 275th Infantry

10 December 1944 Col. Charles S. Pettee

7 January 1945 Col. John H. McAleer

Commanding Officer, 276th Infantry

10 December 1944 Col. Albert C. Morgan

[page 218]

STATISTICS

Activated 15 June 1943

Arrived in European Theater of Operations 18 January 1945

[Task Force HERRON arrived 10 December 1945; entire

division arrived 18 January 1945]

Arrived Continent 18 January 1945 (D+156)

[Southern France D-Day is 15 August 1944]

Entered Combat:

First Elements 26 December 1944

Entire Division 3 February 1945

Days in Combat 83

Rhineland

Central Europe

Killed 605

Wounded 2,674

Missing 666

Captured 21

Battle Casualties 3,966

Non-Battle Casualties 4,235

Total Casualties 8,201

Percent of Table of Organization Strength 58.2

Distinguished Service Cross 10

Legion of Merit 7

Silver Star 185

Soldier's Medal 9

Bronze Star 886

Air Medal 18

Prisoners of War Taken 8,694

COMPOSITION

274th Infantry

275th Infantry

276th Infantry

70th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)

270th Engineer Combat Battalion

370th Medical Battalion

882d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm howitzer)

883d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm howitzer)

884th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm howitzer)

725th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm howitzer)

770th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company

70th Quartermaster Company

570th Signal Company

Military Police Platoon

Headquarters Company

Band

[page 219]

ATTACHMENTS

433d AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 12 Feb 45-20 Jul 45

Co C, 753d Tk Bn 28 Dec 44-2 Jan 45

Co B, 191st Tk Bn 29 Dec 44-1 Jan 45

3d Plt, 636th Tk Bn 29 Dec 44-1 Jan 45 [sic]

Co A, 753d Tk Bn 29 Dec 44-2 Jan 45

781st Tk Bn (less Cos A and D) 3 Jan 45-16 Jan 45

714th Tk Bn (12th Armd Div) 12 Feb 45-17 Feb 45

749th Tk Bn (less Co A) 16 Feb 45-15 Mar 45

Combat Command A, 12th Armd Div 2 Mar 45-8 Mar 45

740th Tk Bn 15 Mar 45-16 Mar 45

772d Tk Bn 22 Mar 45-24 Mar 45

Co C, 83d Cml Mort Bn 13 Jan 45-15 Feb 45

99th Cml Mort Bn (less Co A) 16 Feb 45-15 Mar 45

2755th Engr Combat Bn 18 Jan 45-8 Feb 45

69th Armd FA Bn 1 Jan 45-5 Jan 45

160th FA Bn (45th Div)(105mm how) 5 Jan 45-7 Jan 45

158th FA Bn (45th Div)(105mm how) 8 Jan 45-12 Jan 45

499th FA Bn 8 Jan 45-12 Jan 45

17th FA Obsn Bn 8 Jan 45-13 Jan 45

501st Armd FA Bn (14th Armd Div) 10 Jan 45-13 Jan 45

93d Armd FA Bn 13 Jan 45-8 Feb 45

69th Armd FA Bn 15 Jan 45-8 Feb 45

494th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 10 Feb 45-13 Feb 45

495th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 11 Feb 45-12 Feb 45

494th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 17 Feb 45-9 Mar 45

495th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 17 Feb 45-9 Mar 45

493d Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 13 Mar 45-17 Mar 45

494th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 13 Mar 45-17 Mar 45

495th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) 13 Mar 45-17 Mar 45

Co C, 822d TD Bn (SP) 8 Feb 45-19 Feb 45

648th TD Bn (T) 20 Feb 45-31 Mar 45

[page 220]

DETACHMENTS

274th Inf 1 Jan 45-2 Jan 45 (to 79th Div)

2d Bn, 276th Inf 1 Jan 45-2 Jan 45 (to 79th Div)

275th Inf 1 Jan 45-8 Jan 45 (to 45th Div)

274th Inf 3 Jan 45-17 Jan 45 (to 45th Div)

2d Bn, 276th Inf 5 Jan 45-9 Jan 45 (to 79th Div)

2d Bn, 276th Inf 9 Jan 45-13 Jan 45 (to 45th Div)

274th Inf 17 Jan 45-22 Jan 45 (to 103d Div)

274th Inf 22 Jan 45-29 Jan 45 (to 45th Div)

274th Inf 29 Jan 45-8 Feb 45 (to 100th Div)

[page 221]

ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS

Note: (-) Indicates relieved from assignment.

[page 222]

COMMAND POSTS

[page 223]