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13th Airborne Division

"Black Cat Division"

The division insignia is a winged Unicorn in golden orange placed on an ultramarine blue shield. The Unicorn is associated, by tradition, with the qualities of virtue, courage and strength. The division is commonly known as the "Black Cat Division: because of the flaunting of superstition by its activation on Friday, 13 August 1943.

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COMMAND AND STAFF

Commanding General

6 Feb 45 Maj. Gen. Elbridge G. Chapman

Assistant Division Commander

6 Feb 45 Brig. Gen. Hammond M. Monroe

Artillery Commander

6 Feb 45 Brig. Gen. Eric S. Molitor

Chief of Staff

6 Feb 45 Col. Hugh P. Harris

Assistant Chief of Staff G-1

6 Feb 45 Lt. Col. Bernard G. Teeters

Assistant Chief of Staff G-2

6 Feb 45 Lt. Col. William J. Blythe

Assistant Chief of Staff G-3

6 Feb 45 Lt. Col. Frederick O. Hartel

Assistant Chief of Staff G-4

6 Feb 45 Lt. Col. Sigfried E. Carlson

Adjutant General

6 Feb 45 Lt. Col. Samuel A. Lewis

Commanding Officer, 515th Parachute Infantry

6 Feb 45 Lt. Col. Harley N. Trice
12 Feb 45 Col. Harvey J. Jablonsky

Commanding Officer, 517th Parachute Infantry

1 Mar 45 (Regiment assigned) Col. Rupert D. Graves

Commanding Officer, 88th Glider Infantry*

6 Feb 45 Col. Samuel Roth

Commanding Officer, th Infantry

6 Feb 45 Col. William O. Poindexter

* Regiment disbanded 1 Mar 45.

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STATISTICS

Chronology

Activated 13 August 1943
Arrived ETO 6 February 1945
Arrived Continent (D+249) 10 February 1945
Entered Combat No Combat
Days in Combat 0

Casualties (Tentative)

Campaigns

Individual Awards

Legion of Merit 6
Bronze Star 39

Prisoners of War Taken None

COMPOSITION

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ATTACHMENTS

None

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DETACHMENTS

None

[page 91]

ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS

DATE CORPS ARMY ARMY GROUP
Assigned Attached Assigned Attached
6 Feb 45 XVIII Abn First Allied Abn   ETOUSA  
2 Apr 45 (-) (-)      
3 Apr 45   First Allied Abn Oise Sect., Com Z (Sup & Admin)    

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COMMAND POSTS

DATE TOWN REGION COUNTRY
6 Feb 45 Camp Lucky Strike (vic. Fecamp) Seine-Inferieure France
24 Feb 45 Auxerre Yonne France
4 Apr 45 Airfield A-48 (vic. Arpajon) Seine-et-Oise France

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