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89th Infantry Division
"Middle West Division"
"Rolling W Division"
The division insignia consists of a black "W" within a circular black
tower. The division personnel, during World War I, was drawn primarily from
the Middle West, and the "W" indicates its western origin; when inverted,
the letter becomes "M" and thus the name, "Middle West"
Division. On its side, the letter represents the Greek letter "sigma",
the symbol of summation that is, coordination or single effort. The circle is
that geometrical figure which can come to stability in any position, yet move
rapidly in answer to a change of forces.
Motto: "Get It Done!"
[page 325]
COMMAND AND STAFF
Commanding General
22 January 1945 |
Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Finley |
Assistant Division Commander
22 January 1945 |
Brig. Gen. John N. Robinson |
Artillery Commander
22 January 1945 |
Brig. Gen. John T. Bissel |
Chief of Staff
22 January 1945 |
Col. Norman M. Winn |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
22 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. Harold E. Sanford |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
22 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. Charles M. Myrick |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
22 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. George H. Gerhart |
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
22 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. James A. Wilson |
Adjutant General
22 January 1945 |
Lt. Col. Vernon J. Blondell |
Commanding Officer, 353d Infantry
22 January 1945 |
Col. Frank R. Maerdian |
Commanding Officer, 354th Infantry
22 January 1945 |
Col. Robert C. Aloe |
17 April 1945 |
Col. Curtis D. Renfro |
Commanding Officer, 355th Infantry
22 January 1945 |
Col. Jesse T. Harris |
[page 326]
STATISTICS
Chronology
Activated |
15 July 1942 |
Arrived ETO |
22 January 1945 |
Arrived Continent (D+230) |
22 January 1945 |
Entered Combat |
12 March 1945 |
Days in Combat |
57 |
Casualties (Tentative)
Killed |
222 |
Wounded |
692 |
Missing |
91 |
Captured |
1 |
Battle Casualties |
1,006 |
Non-Battle Casualties |
1,074 |
Total Casualties |
2,080 |
Percent of T/O Strength |
14.6 |
Campaigns
Individual Awards
Legion of Merit |
5 |
Silver Star |
45 |
Soldiers Medal |
1 |
Bronze Star |
164 |
Prisoners of War Taken 43,512
COMPOSITION
- 353d Infantry
- 354th Infantry
- 355th Infantry
- 89th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
- 314th Engineer Combat Battalion
- 314th Medical Battalion
- 89th Division Artillery
- 340th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 341st Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 914th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer)
- 563d Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer)
- Special Troops
- 714th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
- 405th Quartermaster Company
- 89th Signal Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Headquarters Company
- Band
[page 327]
ATTACHMENTS
Antiaircraft Artillery
550th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) |
5 Mar 45-31 May 45 |
Armored
748th Tk Bn |
25 Mar 45-6 Apr 45 |
707th Tk Bn |
6 Apr 45-31 Apr 45 |
Chemical
Co A, 91st Cml Mort Bn |
9 Mar 45-23 Mar 45 |
Co B, 93d Cml Mort Bn |
4 Apr 45-20 Apr 45 |
Tank Destroyer
811th TD Bn (SP) |
6 Mar 45-12 Mar 45 |
602d TD Bn (SP) |
12 Mar 45-29 May 45 |
[page 328]
DETACHMENTS
(Attached to)
Infantry
355th CT |
11th Armd Div |
17 Mar 45-21 Mar 45 |
914th FA Bn |
11th Armd Div |
17 Mar 45-21 Mar 45 |
Co C, 314th Engr C Bn |
11th Armd Div |
17 Mar 45-21 Mar 45 |
355th CT |
4th Armd Div |
3 Apr 45-6 Apr 45 |
914th FA Bn |
4th Armd Div |
3 Apr 45-6 Apr 45 |
Co C, 314th Engr C Bn |
4th Armd Div |
3 Apr 45-6 Apr 45 |
[page 328]
ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS
DATE |
CORPS |
ARMY |
ARMY GROUP |
Assigned |
Attached |
Assigned |
Attached |
18 Jan 45 |
|
|
|
ETOUSA; 12th |
|
21 Jan 45 |
|
Fifteenth |
|
12th |
|
4 Mar 45 |
XII |
Third |
|
12th |
|
23 Mar 45 |
VIII |
Third |
|
12th |
|
22 Apr 45 |
VIII |
First |
|
12th |
|
(-) Indicates relieved from assignment.
[page 329]
COMMAND POSTS
DATE |
TOWN |
REGION |
COUNTRY |
22 Jan 45 |
Fecamp (vic) (Camp Lucky Strike) |
Seine-Inferieure |
France |
22 Feb 45 |
Blangy |
Seine-Inferieure |
France |
6 Mar 45 |
Mersch |
|
Luxembourg |
10 Mar 45 |
Ralingen |
Rhineland |
Germany |
10 Mar 45 |
Speicher |
Rhineland |
Germany |
13 Mar 45 |
Gillenfeld |
Rhineland |
Germany |
15 Mar 45 |
Bad Bertrich |
Rhineland |
Germany |
18 Mar 45 |
Peterswald |
Rhineland |
Germany |
20 Mar 45 |
Rhaunen |
Rhineland |
Germany |
22 Mar 45 |
Soberheim |
Rhineland |
Germany |
24 Mar 45 |
Lingerhahn |
Rhineland |
Germany |
25 Mar 45 |
Badenhard |
Rhineland |
Germany |
28 Mar 45 |
Weisel |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
29 Mar 45 |
Bad Schwalbach |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
3 Apr 45 |
Hersfeld |
Hessen-Nassau |
Germany |
4 Apr 45 |
Nesselroden |
Thuringia |
Germany |
8 Apr 45 |
Waltershausen |
Thuringia |
Germany |
11 Apr 45 |
Arnstadt |
Thuringia |
Germany |
13 Apr 45 |
Bad Berka |
Thuringia |
Germany |
15 Apr 45 |
Kahla |
Thuringia |
Germany |
16 Apr 45 |
Weida |
Thuringia |
Germany |
18 Apr 45 |
Werdau |
Saxony |
Germany |
[page 330]
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