8th Infantry Division

"Pathfinder Division"
"Arrow Division"

Its nickname is represented by the golden arrow piercing the white "8" on a blue shield.

Motto: "These are my credentials"

[page 64]

COMMAND AND STAFF

Commanding General

15 Dec 1943	Maj Gen William C McMahon
12 Jul 1944	Brig Gen Donald A Stroh
30 Aug 1944	Maj Gen Donald A Stroh
28 Nov 1944	Brig Gen WG Weaver
8 Jan 1945	Brig Gen James A Pickering (Actg)
14 Jan 1945	Brig Gen WG Weaver
6 Feb 1945	Maj Gen WG Weaver
25 Feb 1945	Brig Gen Bryant E Moore

Assistant Div Commdr

15 Feb 1944	Brig Gen Nelson M Walker
12 Jul 1944	Col Cyrus H Searcy
26 Jul 1944	Col Charles DW Canham
1 Sep 1944	Brig Gen Charles DW Canham

Arty Comdr

15 Dec 1943

Brig Gen James A Pickering

CofS

15 Feb 1944	Col Thomas J Cross
27 Nov 1944	Lt Col Thomas B Whitted Jr
9 Feb 1945	Col Thomas B Whitted Jr
22 Mar 1945	Lt Col Joseph K Gibson

ACofS G-1

1 Feb 1944	Maj Edwin W Grenelle
31 Mar 1944	Lt Col Edwin W Grenelle

ACofS G-2

15 Dec 1943	Lt Col Joseph K Gibson
22 Mar 1945	Maj Laban G Lively
1 May 1945	Lt Col Laban G Lively

ACofS G-3

16 Feb 1944	Lt Col Thomas H Beck
1 Apr 1945	Lt Col Fielder P Greer

ACofS G-4

15 Feb 1944	Lt Col Thomas B Whitted Jr
27 Nov 1944	Maj Jacob Shacter
20 Dec 1944	Lt Col Jacob Shacter

ACofS G-5

31 May 1944	Maj Richard G Croft
6 Nov 1944	Lt Col Richard G Croft
16 Apr 1944	Maj Lester A Ahroon

Adj Gen

15 Feb 1944	Lt Col James D C Breckinridge
3 Feb 1945	Maj Cromartie

CO 13th Inf

8 Jul 1944	Col Robert A Griffin
25 Nov 1944	Lt Col Earle L Lerette
1 Dec 1944	Col Numa A Watson

CO 28th Inf

8 Jul 1944	Col Lester A Webb
9 Jul 1944	Lt Col Henry B Kunzig (Actg)
14 Jul 1944	Col Kenneth E Anderson
31 Aug 1944	Col Merrith E Olmstead
4 Mar 1945	Col Thomas H Beck

[page 65]

CO 121st Inf

8 Jul 1944	Col Albert H Peyton
9 Jul 1944	Col John R Jeter
25 Nov 1944	Col T J Cross
22 Mar 1945	Lt Col Earl L Lerette

[page 66]

STATISTICS

Chronology

Activated	1 Jul 40
Arrived ETO	15 Dec 43
Arrived Continent (D/28)	4 Jul 44
Entered Combat:
First Elements	6 Jul 44
Entire Division	8 Jul 44
Days in Combat	266

Casualties (Tentative)

Killed	2,239
Wounded	10,370
Missing	514
Captured	335
Battle Casualties	13,458
Non-Battle Casualties	7,598
Total Casualties	21,056
Percent of T/O Strength	149.4

Campaigns

Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Central Europe

Individual Awards

DSC	32
Legion of Merit	11
Silver Star	709
Soldiers Medal	30
Bronze Star	2,287
Air Medal	106

PWs Taken 316,187

COMPOSITION

ORGANIC UNITS

13th Infantry
28th Infantry
121st Infantry
8th Reconnaissance Troop (Mecz)
12th Engineer Combat Battalion
8th Medical Battalion
8th Division Artillery
43d Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
45th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
56th Field Artillery Battalion (105 Howitzer)
28th Field Artillery Battalion (155 Howitzer)
Special Troops
708th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
8th Quartermaster Company
8th Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
Headquarters Company
Band

[page 67]

ATTACHMENTS

Antiaircraft Artillery

445th AAA AW Bn (Mbl)

11 Jul 44-12 May 45

Armored

709th Tk Bn	13 Jul 44-26 Jan 45
CC R (5th Armd Div)	20 Nov 44-16 Dec 44
740th Tk Bn	6 Feb 45-13 Mar 45
740th Tk Bn	6 Apr 45-12 May 45
CC R (13th Armd Div)	14 Apr 45-17 Apr 45

Cavalry

89th Cav Rcn Sq (-Trs C & D) (9th Armd Div)	23 Oct 44-1 Nov 44
89th Cav Rcn Sq (-Trs A & D) (9th Armd Div)	1 Nov 44-10 Nov 44
13th Cav Gp	25 Dec 44-5 Feb 45

Chemical

86th Cml Mort Bn	7 Jul 44-20 Sep 44
86th Cml Mort Bn	19 Nov 44-24 Dec 44
Cos C&D 87th Cml Bn	9 Feb 45-10 Mar 45
Cos C&D 95th Cml Mort Bn	4 Apr 45-18 Apr 45
Cos B&C 89th Cml Mort Bn	29 Apr 45-12 May 45

Field Artillery

174th FA Gp	16 Aug 44-20 Sep 44
196th FA Gp	20 Aug 44-20 Sep 44
402d FA Gp	13 Sep 44-20 Sep 44
969th FA Gp	2 Oct 44-10 Nov 44
687th FA Gp	2 Oct 44-10 Nov 44
76th FA Bn (105 How)	19 Nov 44-21 Dec 44
18th FA Bn (105 How)	20 Nov 44-6 Dec 44
188th FA Bn (155 How)	26 Nov 44-11 Dec 44
987th FA Bn (155 Gun)	26 Nov 44-11 Dec 44
188th FA Bn (155 How)	8 Feb 45-28 Feb 45
210th FA Gp	2 May 45-12 May 45
548th FA Gp	2 May 45-12 May 45
965th FA Gp	2 May 45-12 May 45

Infantry

2d Ranger Inf Bn	17 Sep 44-20 Dec 44
52d Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div)	23 Oct 44-30 Oct 44
60th Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div)	2 Nov 44-9 Nov 44
112th CT (28th Div)	4 Feb 45-11 Feb 45
2d Ranger Inf Bn	19 Nov 44-16 Dec 44
311th Inf (78th Div )	9 Dec 44-23 Dec 44

[page 68]

Infantry (Contd)

16th CT (1st Div)	6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45
7th FA Bn (1st Div)(105 How)	6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45
Co A 1st Engr C Bn (1st Div)	6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45
Co A 745th Tk Bn	6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45
Co C 634th TD Bn (SP)	6 Feb 45-7 Feb 45
1st Bn 343d Inf (86th Div)	6 Apr 45-7 Apr 45

Tank Destroyer

644th TD Bn (SP)	15 Jul 44-28 Apr 45
893d TD Bn (SP)	19 Nov 44-10 Dec 44
817th TD Bn (T)	9 Dec 44-8 Feb 45

DETACHMENTS

(Attached to)Engineer

Co C 12th Engr C Bn

82d Abn Div

1 May 45-1 May 45

Field Artillery

28th FA Bn	4th Armd Div	27 Jul 44-3 Aug 44
45th Fa Bn	6th Armd Div	18 Aug 44-21 Aug 44
28th FA Bn	6th Armd Div	18 Aug 44-21 Aug 44
43d FA Bn	82d Abn Div	29 Apr 45-1 May 45
56th FA Bn	82d Abn Div	30 Apr 45-1 May 45

Infantry

13th Inf	4th Armd Div	27 Jul 44-3 Aug 44
121st CT	83d Div	6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44
56th FA Bn	83d Div	6 Aug 44-15 Aug 44
1st Bn 28th Inf	6th Armd Div	8 Aug 44-18 Aug 44
28th Inf	6th Armd Div	18 Aug 44-21 Aug 44
3d Bn 121st Inf	Com Z	26 Sep 44-19 Nov 44
3d Bn 121st Inf	5th Armd Div	17 Dec 44-21 Dec 44
13th Inf	3d Armd Div	26 Feb 45-17 Mar 45
3d Bn 13th Inf	3d Armd Div	17 Mar 45-19 Mar 45
13th Inf	82d Abn Div	28 Apr 45-30 Apr 45
121st Inf	82d Abn Div	29 Apr 45-30 Apr 45

[page 69]

ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACHMENT TO HIGHER UNITS

DATE	CORPS	ARMY		ARMY GROUP
DATE	CORPS	Assigned	Attached	Assigned	Attached
30 Nov 43			First	ETOUSA
24 Dec 43	XV		First
11 Jan 44	XV		-
1 Jul 44	VIII		First
1 Aug 44	VIII	Third	-	12th
5 Sep 44	VIII	Ninth		12th
22 Oct 44	VIII	First		12th
19 Nov 44	V	First		12th
18 Dec 44	VII	First		12th
20 Dec 44	XIX	Ninth		12th	Br 21st
22 Dec 44	XIX	Ninth		12th	Br 21st
3 Feb 45	VII	First		12th	-
2 Apr 45	XVIII Abn	First		12th
26 Apr 45	XVIII Abn	Ninth	Br (Opns) Second	12th	Br 21st

[page 70]

COMMAND POSTS

DATE	TOWN	REGION	COUNTRY
1943
15 Dec	Belfast		N Ire
1944
26 Jan 1 Mar	Knockmore		N Ire
15 Mar	Omagh	Tyrone	N Ire
30 Jun	Afloat
4 Jul	Utah Beach (landed)	Manche	France
9 Jul	La Fosseraie	Manche	France
25 Jul	La-Haye-du-Puits	Manche	France
27 Jul	St-Patrice-de-Claids	Manche	France
28 Jul	La-Haye-du-Puits (vic SE)	Manche	France
5 Aug	Betton (vic E)	Ille-et-Vilaine	France
18 Aug	Lesneven	Finistere	France
30 Aug	Plouvien	Finistere	France
14 Sep	La Fontaine Blanche	Ille-et-Vilaine	France
20 Sep	La Bosere	Ille-et-Vilaine	France
22 Sep	Lanviguer	Ille-et-Vilaine	France
30 Sep	Grosbous	--	Luxembg
3 Oct	Wiltz	--	Luxembg
19 Nov	Rott	Rhineland	Germany
17 Dec	Germeter	Rhineland	Germany
27 Dec	Zweifall	Rhineland	Germany
1945
16 Jan	Groshau	Rhineland	Germany
10 Feb	Merode	Rhineland	Germany
25 Feb	Duren	Rhineland	Germany
2 Mar	Bergerhausen	Rhineland	Germany
28 Mar	Hachenburg	Hessen-Nassau	Germany
31 Mar	Haiger	Hessen Nassau	Germany
7 Apr	Siegen	Westphalia	Germany
9 Apr	Buschhutten	Westphalia	Germany
11 Apr	Olpe	Westphalia	Germany
12 Apr	Kierspe	Westphalia	Germany
13 Apr	Meinerzhagen	Westphalia	Germany
14 Apr	Filde	Westphalia	Germany
15 Apr	Milspe	Westphalia	Germany
23 Apr	Elberfeld	Westphalia	Germany
27 Apr	Gerdau	Mecklenburg	Germany
2 May	Hagenow	Mecklenburg	Germany
3 May	Schwerin	Mecklenburg	Germany

[pages 71-72]

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