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65th Infantry Division

The 65th Infantry Division shoulder patch is a white halbert on a blue shield. The halbert, a sharp pointed battle-ax, was a potent weapon of the 15th Century foot soldier, being suitable either for a powerful cutting smash or a quick thrust. It was selected by Major General S. E. Reinhart, Commanding General of the 65th, as an emblem that would signify both the shock action and the speed of the modern infantry division.

[page 196]

COMMAND AND STAFF

Commanding General

21 January 1945 Maj. Gen. Stanley E. Reinhart

Assistant Division Commander

21 January 1945 Brig. Gen. John E. Copeland

Artillery Commander

21 January 1945 Brig. Gen. Ronald C. Brock

Chief of Staff

21 January 1945 Col. William J. Epes

Assistant Chief of Staff G-1

21 January 1945 Lt. Col. David H. Arp

Assistant Chief of Staff G-2

21 January 1945 Lt. Col. James N. Robertson

Assistant Chief of Staff G-3

21 January 1945 Lt. Col. George T. Duncan

Assistant Chief of Staff G-4

21 January 1945 Lt. Col. Joseph S. Hardin

Adjutant General

21 January 1945 Lt. Col. Burnett J. Brown

Commanding Officer, 259th Infantry

21 January 1945 Col. Louis B. Rutte
23 April 1945 Col. Julian H. George

Commanding Officer, 260th Infantry

21 January 1945 Col. Frank Dunkley

Commanding Officer, 261st Infantry

21 January 1945 Col. William E. Carraway

[page 197]

STATISTICS

Chronology

Activated 16 August 1943
Arrived ETO 21 January 1945
Arrived Continent (D+234) 26 January 1945
Entered Combat 9 March 1945
Days in Combat 55

Casualties (Tentative)

Killed 186
Wounded 757
Missing 99
Captured 10
Battle Casualties 1,052
Non-Battle Casualties 1,250
Total Casualties 2,302
Percent of T/O Strength 16.3

Campaigns

Individual Awards

Legion of Merit 11
Silver Star 67
Soldiers Medal 4
Bronze Star 690
Air Medal 19

Prisoners of War Taken

COMPOSITION

[page 198]

ATTACHMENTS

Antiaircraft Artillery

546th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 4 Mar 45-still attached 9 May 45

Armored

Co C, 778th Tk Bn 7 Mar 45-11 Mar 45
Co C, 748th Tk Bn 13 mar 45-21 Mar 45
749th Tk Bn 29 Mar 45-6 Apr 45
707th Tk Bn 6 Apr 45
748th Tk Bn 7 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45

Cavalry

3d Cav Gp 19 Mar 45-21 Mar 45

Chemical

Co A, 81st Cml Mort Bn 7 Mar 45-11 Mar 45
Co C, 81st Cml Mort Bn 27 Mar 45-4 Apr 45
Co A, 93d Cml Mort Bn 4 Apr 45-16 Apr 45
Co C, 81st Cml Mort Bn 20 Apr 45-25 Apr 45
94th Cml Mort Bn 25 Apr 45-29 Apr 45
Co A, 94th Cml Mort Bn 1 May 45-still attached 9 May 45

Engineer

1258th Engr C Bn 7 Mar 45-16 Mar 45

Field Artillery

176th FA Bn (4.5" Gun) 11 Mar 45-14 Mar 45
744th FA Bn (8" How) 11 Mar 45-14 Mar 45
Btry C, 243d FA Bn (8" Gun) 11 Mar 45-14 Mar 45

Tank Destroyer

691st TD Bn (T) 4 Mar 45-6 Apr 45
808th TD Bn (SP) 5 Apr 45-still attached 9 May 45

[page 199]

DETACHMENTS

(Attached to)

Infantry

261st CT 11th Armd Div 28 Mar 45-29 Mar 45
261st CT 6th Armd Div 29 Mar 45-4 Apr 45
869th FA Bn 6th Armd Div 29 Mar 45-4 Apr 45
65th Rcn Tr 6th Armd Div 29 Mar 45-4 Apr 45
1 plat Co C, 265th Engr C Bn 6th Armd Div 29 Mar 45-4 Apr 45

[page 199]

ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS

DATE CORPS ARMY ARMY GROUP
Assigned Attached Assigned Attached
3 Jan 45     UK Base ETOUSA  
18 Jan 45     (-) 12th  
25 Jan 45   Fifteenth   12th  
1 Mar 45 XX Third   12th  
4 Apr 45 VIII Third   12th  
17 Apr 45 XX Third   12th  

(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.

[page 200]

COMMAND POSTS

DATE TOWN REGION COUNTRY
21 Jan 45 Le Havre Seine-Inferieure France
22 Jan 45 Camp Luck Strike (vic. St-Valery-en-Caux) Seine-Inferieure France
3 Mar 45 Ennery Moselle France
7 Mar 45 Boulay-Moselle Moselle France
17 Mar 45 Villing Moselle France
20 Mar 45 Saarlautern Saarland Germany
20 Mar 45 Reisweiler Saarland Germany
21 Mar 45 Neunkirchen Saarland Germany
27 Mar 45 Rockenhausen Pfalz Germany
28 Mar 45 Schwabenheim Hessen Germany
31 Mar 45 Laubach Hessen-Nassau Germany
1 Apr 45 Hattenbach Hessen-Nassau Germany
2 Apr 45 Ersrode Hessen-Nassau Germany
3 Apr 45 Berneberg Kurhessen Germany
5 Apr 45 Treffurt Thuringia Germany
9 Apr 45 Berka Thuringia Germany
12 Apr 45 Waltershausen Bavaria Germany
14 Apr 45 Arnstadt Bavaria Germany
17 Apr 45 Breitengussbach Bavaria Germany
20 Apr 45 Altdorf Bavaria Germany
23 Apr 45 Velburg Bavaria Germany
24 Apr 45 Deuerling Bavaria Germany
27 Apr 45 Regensburg Bavaria Germany
1 May 45 Platting Bavaria Germany
2 May 45 Furstenzell Bavaria Germany
3 May 45 Neuhaus Bavaria Germany
4 May 45 Scharding Ober-Oesterreich Austria
4 May 45 Raab Ober-Oesterreich Austria
5 May 45 Linz Ober-Oesterreich Austria

[pages 201 (through 24 Apr)-202]

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