"Thunderbolt Division"
"Ohio Division"
The 83rd Division insignia consists of a monogrammatic design in gold spelling out the word "O-H-I-O" on a black triangular background. The insignia was selected during World War I because the division contained mostly Ohio draftees. Even though the division changed from an Ohio outfit to one representing the 48 States, the insignia still remains; however, a new nickname "Thunderbolt", was selected while the division was holding on the Rhine opposite Dusseldorf.
[page 289]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
| 19 Apr 1944 | Brig Gen Robert C Macon |
| 1 Jun 1944 | Maj Gen Robert C Macon |
Assistant Div Commdr
| 19 Apr 1944 | Col Claude B Ferenbaugh |
| 27 May 1944 | Brig Gen Claude B Ferenbaugh |
Arty Comdr
| 19 Apr 1944 | Brig Gen Robert M Montague |
CofS
| 19 Apr 1944 | Col Samuel V Krauthoff |
| 1 Feb 1945 | Lt Col Shelly G Hughes (Actg) |
| 6 Feb 1945 | Col Conrad L Boyle (Actg) |
| 10 Feb 1945 | Col Conrad L Boyle |
ACofS G-1
| 19 Apr 1944 | Maj Alan F S Mackenzie |
| 15 Jun 1944 | Lt Col Alan F S Mackenzie |
| 8 May 1945 | Lt Col Robert G Harrell |
ACofS G-2
| 19 Apr 1944 | Lt Col Jules H Deshotels Jr |
ACofS G-3
| 19 Apr 1944 | Maj Robert T Hering |
| 15 Jun 1944 | Lt Col Robert T Hering |
| 9 Jul 1944 | Col Conrad L Boyle (Actg) |
| 10 Feb 1945 | Lt Col Robert W Duke |
ACofS G-4
| 19 Apr 1944 | Lt Col Shelly G Hughes |
ACofS G-5
| 15 May 1944 | Maj James C Hanrahan |
| 1 Dec 1944 | Lt Col James C Hanrahan |
Adj Gen
| 1 Apr 1944 | Lt Col Robert G Harrell |
| 8 May 1945 | Maj Norman P Cowden |
CO 329th Inf
| 19 Apr 1944 | Col Edwin B Crabill |
CO 330th Inf
| 19 Apr 1944 | Col Ernest L McLendon |
| 13 Jul 1944 | Col Robert T Foster |
| 12 Dec 1944 | Col Russell F Walthour |
| 22 Dec 1944 | Col Robert T Foster |
CO 331st Inf
| 19 Apr 1944 | Col Martin D Barndollar Jr |
| 4 Jul 1944 | Lt Col William E Long |
| 7 Jul 1944 | Col John C Whitcomb |
| 10 Jul 1944 | Col James D Bender |
| 11 Jul 1944 | Col Robert T Foster |
| 13 Jul 1944 | Col Robert H York |
| 21 Dec 1944 | Lt Col William E Long |
| 22 Dec 1944 | Col Russell F Walthour |
| 20 Jan 1945 | Col Robert H York |
| 2 May 1945 | Lt Col Henry Nielsen |
STATISTICS
Chronology
| Activated |
15 Aug 42
|
| Arrived ETO |
19 Apr 44
|
| Arrived Continent (D/13) |
19 Jun 44
|
| Entered Combat |
27 Jun 44
|
| Days in Combat |
244
|
Casualties (Tentative)
| Killed |
2,735
|
| Wounded |
11,678
|
| Missing |
547
|
| Captured |
288
|
| Battle Casualties |
15,248
|
| Non-Battle Casualties |
8,732
|
| Total Casualties |
23,980
|
| Percent of T/O Strength |
170.2
|
Campaigns
Normandy
Northern France
Ardennes
Rhineland
Central Europe
Individual Awards
| DSC |
3
|
| Legion of Merit |
1
|
| Silver Star |
653
|
| Soldiers Medal |
24
|
| Bronze Star |
5,078
|
| Air Medal |
107
|
PW's Taken 93,200
COMPOSITION
ORGANIC UNITS
329th Infantry
330th Infantry
331st Infantry
83rd Reconnaissance Troop (Mecz)
308th Engineer Combat Battalion
308th Medical Battalion
83rd Division Artillery
322nd Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
323rd Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
908th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
324th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
Special Troops
783rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
83rd Quartermaster Company
83rd Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
Headquarters Company
Band
[page 291]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
| 453rd AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 1 Jul 44-still atchd 9 May 45 |
| 473rd AAA AW Bn (SP) | 22 Aug 44-17 Sep 44 |
| Btry A 226th AAA SL Bn | 3 Mar 45-9 Mar 45 |
| 3 secs Btry A 226th AAA SL Bn | 3 Mar 45-9 Mar 45 |
| 6 secs Btry A 226th AAA SL Bn | 10 Mar 45-12 Mar 45 |
| 1 plat BtryA 226th AAA SL Bn | 13 Mar 45-13 Mar 45 |
| 1 plat (-3 SLs) Btry A 226th AAA SL Bn | 14 Mar 45-20 Mar 45 |
Armored
| 1st Bn 66th Armd Regt (2nd Armd Div) | 28 Jun 44-5 Jul 44 |
| 746th Tk Bn | 5 Jul 44-16 Jul 44 |
| 70th Tk Bn | 17 Jul 44-18 Jul 44 |
| Co C 749th Tk Bn | 20 Jul 44-29 Jul 44 |
| Co A 709th Tk Bn | 6 Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| Co C 709th Tk Bn | 12 Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| 1 plat 709th Tk Bn | 13 Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| 774th Tk Bn | 28 Aug 44-24 Dec 44 |
| 774th Tk Bn | 26 Jan 45-3 Feb 45 |
| 736th Tk Bn (-Co C) | 6 Feb 45-9 May 45 |
| Co C 736th Tk Bn | 28 Mar 45-9 May 45 |
| CC R (2nd Armd Div) | 14 Apr 45-19 Apr 45 |
| 3rd Bn 67th Armd Regt (2nd Armd Div) | 19 Apr 45-30 Apr 45 |
Cavalry
| 106th Cav Rcn Sq | 16 Jul 44-28 Jul 44 |
| 24th Cav Rcn Sq | 18 Jul 44-19 Jul 44 |
| Task Force A (15th Cav Gp) | 3 Aug 44-5 Aug 44 |
| Task Force Polk | 23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| Hq & Hq Tr 3rd Cav Gp | 23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| 3rd Cav Rcn Sq (-1 det) | 23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| 43rd Cav Rcn Sq | 23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| dets 6th Cav Gp | 23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| 135th Engr C Bn | 23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| dets Fr 1st Regt of Paris | 23 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| 32nd Cav Rcn Sq | 9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| Task Force Polk | 9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| 3rd Cav Gp | 9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| 3rd Cav Rcn Sq | 9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| Co A 135th Engr C Bn | 9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| 705th TD Bn (SP) | 9 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| Tr A 89th Cav Rcn Sq (9th Armd Div) | 22 Nov 44-28 Nov 44 |
| Tr B 89th Cav Rcn Sq (9th Armd Div) | 22 Nov 44-7 Dec 44 |
| Tr C 89th Cav Rcn Sq (9th Armd Div) | 22 Nov 44-7 Dec 44 |
| Tr A 89th Cav Rcn Sq (9th Armd Div) | 5 Dec 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 4th Cav Gp | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| Tr A 24th Cav Rcn Sq | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| 759th Tk Bn (-Co C) | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| 2 plats Co C 297th Engr C Bn | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| 635th TD Bn (T) (-Co A & 1 plat Co C) | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| 24th Cav Rcn Sq (-Tr A) | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| 15th Cav Gp | 31 Mar 45-3 Apr 45 |
| 15th Cav Rcn Sq | 31 Mar 45-3 Apr 45 |
| 17th Cav Rcn Sq | 31 Mar 45-3 Apr 45 |
| 113th Cav Gp | 3 Apr 45-6 May 45 |
| 113th Cav Rcn Sq | 3 Apr 45-6 May 45 |
| 125th Cav Rcn Sq | 3 Apr 45-6 May 45 |
Chemical
| Co A 87th Cml Bn | 5 Jul 44-16 Jul 44 |
| Co C 87th Cml Bn | 5 Jul 44-16 Jul 44 |
| Co B 86th Cml Mort Bn | 19 Jul 44-29 Jul 44 |
| Co A 86th Cml Mort Bn | Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| Co C 86th Cml Mort Bn | Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| Co B 86th Cml Mort Bn | 13 Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| Co C 81st Cml Mort Bn | 11 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| Co A 87th Cml Bn | 9 Dec 44-21 Dec 44 |
| Co C 87th Cml Bn | 31 Dec 44-25 Jan 45 |
| Co B 87th Cml Bn | 2 Jan 45-25 Jan 45 |
| 2 secs 83rd Cml SG Co | 1 Mar 45-2 Mar 45 |
| 92d Cml Mort Bn | 15 Apr 45-4 May 45 |
| 27th Cml SG Co | 18 Apr 45-30 Apr 45 |
| 83rd Cml SG Co | 18 Apr 45-30 Apr 45 |
Engineer
| 1 plat Co B 297th Engr C Bn | 7 Dec 44-9 Dec 44 |
| Co C 297th Engr C Bn (-2 plats) | 11 Dec 44-18 Dec 44 |
Field Artillery
| 65th Armd FA Bn | 27 Jun 44-4 Jul 44 |
| 400th Armd FA Bn | 31 Jul 44-2 Aug 44 |
| 250th FA Bn (105 How) | 31 Jul 44-4 Aug 44 |
| 174th FA Gp | Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| 12th FA Obsn Bn (-Btry A) | 7 Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| 196th FA Gp | 7 Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| 202d FA Gp | 7 Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| 333d FA Gp | 15 Aug 44-18 Aug 44 |
| 739th FA Bn (8" How) | 29 Aug 44-3 Sep 44 |
| 751st FA Bn (155 How) | 30 Aug 44-11 Sep 44 |
| 268th FA Bn (8" Gun) | 30 Aug 44-11 Sep 44 |
| 241st FA Bn (105 How) | 29 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| 689th FA Bn (155 How) | 29 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| 81st FA Bn (155 How) | 13 Oct 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 174th FA Bn (155 Gun) | 25 Oct 44-7 Dec 44 |
| Hq & Hq Btry 422d FA Gp | 6 Nov 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 81st FA Bn (155 How) | 6 Nov 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 174th FA Bn (155 Gun) | 6 Nov 44-7 Dec 44 |
| Btry A 285th FA Obsn Bn | 6 Nov 44-7 Dec 44 |
| Btry C 558th FA Bn (155 Gun) | 11 Nov 44-11 Nov 44 |
| Btry A 285th FA Obsn Bn | 21 Nov 44-4 Dec 44 |
| Btry C 559th FA Bn (155 Gun) | 27 Nov 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 951st FA Bn (155 How) | 7 Dec 44-21 Dec 44 |
| 193d FA Bn (105 How) | 13 Dec 44-21 Dec 44 |
| 25th FA Bn (105 How) | 22 Dec 44-24 Dec 44 |
| 24th FA Bn (105 How) | 1 Mar 45-1 Mar 45 |
| 25th FA Bn (105 How) | 2 Mar 45-11 Mar 45 |
| 751st FA Bn (155 How) | 2 Mar 45-12 Apr 45 |
| 351st FA Bn (155 How) | 9 Mar 45-12 Apr 45 |
| Btry B 8th FA Obsn Bn | 16 Mar 45-20 Apr 45 |
| 25th FA Bn (105 How) | 28 Mar 45-5 May 45 |
| 967th FA Bn (155 How) | 28 Mar 45-5 May 45 |
| 65th Armd FA Bn | 21 Apr 45-5 May 45 |
| 696th Armd FA Bn | 21 Apr 45-5 May 45 |
| 280th FA Bn (105 How) | 17 May 45-31 May 45 |
Infantry
| 121st CT (8th Div) | 6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44 |
| 121st Inf (8th Div) | 6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44 |
| 56th FA Bn (8th Div) (105 How) | 6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44 |
| Co B 168th Engr C Bn | 6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44 |
| 1 plat 513th Engr Light Pon Co | 6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44 |
| Fr Group Latique Lorraine | 2 Oct 44-11 Oct 44 |
| Fr 1st & 2d Regts of Paris | 2 Oct 44-11 Oct 44 |
| Co B 52d Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div) | 22 Nov 44-29 Nov 44 |
| Co C 52d Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div) | 28 Nov 44-7 Dec 44 |
| Co B 629th TD Bn (SP) | 2 Dec 44-31 Dec 44 |
| 22d Inf (4th Div) | 3 Dec 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 8th CT (4th Div) | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| 29th FA Bn (4th Div) (105 How) | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| Co A 4th Engr C Bn (4th Div) | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| Co A 1 plat Co D & G Plat 70th Tk Bn | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| Co A 803d TD Bn (SP) | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| Btry A 377th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 7 Dec 44-11 Dec 44 |
| 290th CT (75th Div) | 31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45 |
| 898th FA Bn (75th Div) (105 How) | 31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45 |
| Co B 750th Tk Bn | 31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45 |
| 1st Plat Co B 275th Engr C Bn (75th Div) | 31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45 |
| Btry B 440th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) | 31 Dec 44-2 Jan 45 |
| 320th Inf (35th Div) | 15 Mar 45-21 Mar 45 |
Tank Destroyer
| 802d TD Bn (T) | 1 Jul 44-7 Dec 44 |
| Co A 634th TD Bn (SP) | 10 Jul 44-13 Jul 44 |
| Co A 813th TD Bn (SP) | 17 Jul 44-29 Jul 44 |
| Co B 705th TD Bn (SP) | 6 Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| Co C 644th TD Bn (SP) | 9 Aug 44-16 Aug 44 |
| 807th TD Bn (SP) | 29 Sep 44-11 Oct 44 |
| 629th TD Bn (SP) | 9 Dec 44-23 Dec 44 |
| 772d TD Bn (T) | 22 Dec 44-1 Jan 45 |
| 629th TD Bn (SP) | 1 Jan 45-30 Jan 45 |
| 643d TD Bn (SP) | 2 Feb 44-9 May 45 |
| 801st TD Bn (SP) | 10 Apr 45-12 Apr 45 |
DETACHMENTS
(Attached To)
Cavalry
| 83d RCN Tr | Ninth Army | 25 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
Field Artillery
| Btry C 323d FA Bn (105 How) | Task Force A | 5 Aug 44-22 Sep 44 |
| 83d Div Art | 34th Div | 21 Jan 45-27 Jan 45 |
| 83d Div Art | 29th Div | 6 Feb 45-27 Feb 45 |
| Co B 308th Engr C Bn | 29th Div | 6 Feb 45-27 Feb 45 |
| 1 plat Co A 308th Engr C Bn | 29th Div | 6 Feb 45-27 Feb 45 |
Infantry
| 330th CT Co B 308th Engr C Bn | 29th Div | 14 Jul 44-17 Jul 44 |
| 3d Bn 330th Inf | Task Force A | 5 Aug 44-25 Sep 44 |
| 330th CT | 4th Div | 3 Dec 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 323d FA Bn | 4th Div | 3 Dec 44-7 Dec 44 |
| Co B 308th Engr C Bn | 4th Div | 3 Dec 44-7 Dec 44 |
| 329th CT | 4th Div | 7 Dec 44-10 Dec 44 |
| 322d FA Bn | 4th Div | 7 Dec 44-10 Dec 44 |
| 329th CT | 9th Div | 13 Dec 44-13 Dec 44 |
| 2d Bn 330th Inf | 5th Armd Div | 13 Dec 44-23 Dec 44 |
| 1st Bn 329th Inf | Ninth Army | 23 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
| 2d Bn 329th Inf | Ninth Army | 23 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
| 2d Bn 331st Inf | Ninth Army | 23 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
| 3d Bn 329th Inf | Ninth Army | 24 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
| 2d Bn 330th Inf | Ninth Army | 25 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
| 1st Bn 331st Inf | Ninth Army | 25 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
| 3d Bn 331st Inf | Ninth Army | 25 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
| 1st Bn 330th Inf | Ninth Army | 26 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
| 3d Bn 330th Inf | Ninth Army | 26 Dec 44-26 Dec 44 |
| 330th CT (-1st Bn) | VII Corps | 27 Dec 44-1 Jan 45 |
| 1st Bn 330th Inf | 84th Div | 27 Dec 44-1 Jan 45 |
| 331st Inf | 3d Armd Div | 29 Dec 44-31 Dec 44 |
| 330th Inf | 3d Armd Div | 1 Jan 45-7 Jan 45 |
| 2d Bn 330th Inf | 3d Armd Div | 7 Jan 45-19 Jan 45 |
| 3d Bn 330th Inf | 3d Armd Div | 7 Jan 45-19 Jan 45 |
| 1st Bn 330th Inf | 3d Armd Div | 11 Jan 45-19 Jan 45 |
| 329th CT | 84th Div | 21 Jan 45-22 Jan 45 |
| 330th Inf | 29th Div | 23 Feb 45-27 Feb 45 |
| 331st CT | 2d Armd Div | 27 Feb 45-1 Mar 45 |
| 908th FA Bn | 2d Armd Div | 27 Feb 45-1 Mar 45 |
| Co C 308th Engr C Bn | 2d Armd Div | 27 Feb 45-1 Mar 45 |
| 330th CT | XIX Corps | 5 Apr 45-7 Apr 45 |
| 323d FA Bn | XIX Corps | 5 Apr 45-7 Apr 45 |
| 331st CT | XIX Corps | 10 Apr 45-11 Apr 45 |
| 908th FA Bn | XIX Corps | 10 Apr 45-11 Apr 45 |
| 330th CT | XIX Corps | 13 Apr 45-20 Apr 45 |
| 323d FA Bn | XIX Corps | 13 Apr 45-20 Apr 45 |
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT
To Higher Units
| DATE | CORPS | ARMY | ARMY GROUP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assigned | Attached | Assigned | Attached | ||
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[page 297]
COMMAND POSTS
| DATE | TOWN | REGION | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | |||
| 19 Apr | Newcastle-under-Lyme (Keele-Hall) | Staffordshire | England |
| 16 Jun | Stonehenge | England | |
| 17 Jun | Hursley | Hampshire | England |
| 17 Jun | Southampton | Hampshire | England |
| 25 Jun | Omaha Beach | Calvados | France |
| 26 Jun | Bricqueville | Manche | France |
| 28 Jun | Carentan | Manche | France |
| 5 Jul | Carentan (vic SW) | Manche | France |
| 14 Jul | Hotat | Manche | France |
| 28 Jul | Feugeres | Manche | France |
| 29 Jul | Feugeres | Manche | France |
| 3 Aug | Pontorson | Manche | France |
| 4 Aug | Pontorson (vic E) | Manche | France |
| 5 Aug | Chateau Goulion | Ille & Vilaine | France |
| 7 Aug | Chateauneuf | Ille & Vilaine | France |
| 10 Aug | Dinan | Ille & Vilaine | France |
| 20 Aug | Sesson | Loire Infre | France |
| 25 Aug | Chateaubriant | Loire Infre | France |
| 15 Sep | Vendome | Loire et Cher | France |
| 20 Sep | Orleans | Loiret | France |
| 24 Sep | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | |
| 9 Nov | Mondorff | Luxembourg | |
| 12 Nov | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | |
| 6 Dec | Krewinkel | Rhineland | Germany |
| 26 Dec | Eilendorf | Rhineland | Germany |
| 27 Dec | Havelange | Liege | Belgium |
| 27 Dec | Nettine | Luxembourg | Belgium |
| 31 Dec | Barvaux | Luxembourg | Belgium |
| 1945 | |||
| 1 Jan | Izier | Luxembourg | Belgium |
| 8 Jan | Jevigne | Luxembourg | Belgium |
| 15 Jan | Ottre | Luxembourg | Belgium |
| 21 Jan | Hamoir | Luxembourg | Belgium |
| 6 Feb | Dalhem | Liege | Belgium |
| 22 Feb | Schaufenberg | Rhineland | Germany |
| 28 Feb | Hasselsweiler | Rhineland | Germany |
| 1 Mar | Aldenhoven | Rhineland | Germany |
| 2 Mar | Buttgen | Rhineland | Germany |
| 21 Mar | Echt | Limburg | Neth |
| 28 Mar | Schiefbahn | Westphalia | Germany |
| 29 Mar | Hunxe (vic W) | Westphalia | Germany |
| 30 Mar | Stockweise | Westphalia | Germany |
| 31 Mar | Ludinghausen | Westphalia | Germany |
| 1 Apr | Walstedde | Westphalia | Germany |
| 1 Apr | Beckum | Westphalia | Germany |
| 3 Apr | Delbruck | Westphalia | Germany |
| 4 Apr | Bad Lippspringe | Westphalia | Germany |
| 5 Apr | Horn | Westphalia | Germany |
| 5 Apr | Steinheim | Westphalia | Germany |
| 7 Apr | Rischenau | Westphalia | Germany |
| 8 Apr | Escherhausen | Westphalia | Germany |
| 10 Apr | Gross Freden | Westphalia | Germany |
| 10 Apr | Langelsheim | Westphalia | Germany |
| 11 Apr | Heudeber | Westphalia | Germany |
| 12 Apr | Cochstedt | Westphalia | Germany |
| 13 Apr | Calbe | Magdeburg | Germany |
| 7 May | Wernigerode | Magdeburg | Germany |