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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

[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

[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]

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