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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

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

[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)]

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