[Webmaster Note: The following division information is reproduced
from the public domain publication, The Army Almanac: A Book of
Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office,
1950. Portions of the information may be out of date. Only minor formatting changes and
typographical corrections have been made.]
World War I
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Activated: 1917.
Overseas: 5 June 1918.
Major operations: Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne.
Days of combat: 69.
Casualties: Total - 12,820 (KIA - 2,160; WIA - 10,660).
Commanders: Maj. Gen. George H. Cameron (3 December 1917-14 August 1918),
Brig. Gen. Benjamin A. Poore (14 August-27 August 1918),
Maj. Gen. John L. Hines (27 August-11 October 1918),
Maj. Gen. George H. Cameron (11 October-22 October 1918),
Brig. Gen. Benjamin A. Poore (22 October-31 October 1918),
Maj. Gen. Mark L. Hersey (31 October-11 November 1918).
Returned to U.S.: July 1919.
Inactivated: 1 August 1919.
World War II
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Activated: 3 June 1940.
Overseas: 18 January 1944.
Campaigns: Normandy, Central Europe, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace.
Days of combat: 299.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 12.
Awards: MH-3; DSC-60; DSM-2; SS-1,283; LM-15; SM-22; BSM-6,795; AM-78.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Walter E. Prosser (June-October 1940),
Maj. Gen. Lloyd R. Fredendall (October 1940-July 1941),
Maj. Gen. Oscar W. Griswold (August-September 1941),
Maj. Gen. Harold R. Bull (October-November 1941),
Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen (December 1941),
Maj. Gen. Fred C. Wallace (January-June 1942),
Maj. Gen. Raymond 0. Barton (July 1942-December 1944),
Maj. Gen. Harold W. Blakeley (December 1944October 1945),
Maj. Gen. George P. Hays (November 1945-5 March 1946),
Maj. Gen. Jens A. Doe (15 July 1947-28 February 1949),
Maj. Gen. Robert T. Frederick (28 February 1949-).
Returned to U.S.: 10 July 1945.
Inactivated: 5 March 1946.
Reactivated: 15 July 1947.
Combat Chronicle
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The 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division was one of the first Allied units to
hit the beaches at Normandy on D-day, 6 June 1944. Relieving the
isolated
82nd Airborne Division
at Ste. Mere Eglise, the 4th cleared the Cotentin
peninsula and took part in the capture of Cherbourg, 25 June. After taking part
in the fighting near Periers, 6-12 July,, the Division broke through the left
flank of the German Seventh Army, helped stem the German drive toward
Avranches, and by the end of August had moved to Paris, assisting the French
in the liberation of their capital. The 4th then moved into Belgium through
Houffalize to attack the Siegfried Line at Schnee Eifel, 14 September, and
made several penetrations. Slow progress into Germany continued in October, and
by 6 November the Division reached the Hurtgen Forest, where a severe
engagement took place until early December. It then shifted to Luxembourg, only
to meet the German winter offensive head-on, 16 December 1944. Although its
lines were dented, it managed to hold the Germans at Dickweiler and
Osweiler, and, counterattacking in January across the Sauer, overran
German positions in Fouhren and Vianden. Halted at the Prum in February
by heavy enemy resistance, the Division finally crossed 28 February near
Olzheim, and raced on across the Kyll, 7 March. After a short rest, the
4th moved across the Rhine 29 March at Worms, attacked and secured Wurzburg
and by 3 April had established a bridgehead across the Main at Ochsenfurt. Speeding
southeast across Bavaria, the Division had reached Miesbach on the
Isar, 2 May 1945, when it was relieved and placed on occupation duty.
Assignments in the ETO
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10 January 1944: First Army. //
14 January 1944: V Corps, First Army. //
2 February 1944: VII Corps. //
16 July 1944: VIII Corps. //
19 July 1944: VII Corps. //
1 August 1944: VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. //
22 August 1944: V Corps. //
8 November 1944: VII Corps. //
7 December 1944: VIII Corps. //
20 December 1944: III Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group. //
21 December 1944: XII Corps. //
27 January 1945: VIII Corps. //
10 March 1945: 12th Army Group, but attached to Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. //
20 March 1945: VI Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. //
25 March 1945: XXI Corps. //
8 April 1945: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. //
2 May 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group. //
6 May 1945: III Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
General
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Nicknames: Ivy Division; Famous Fourth.
Slogan: Steadfast and loyal.
Shoulder patch: Four green ivy leaves attached at the stems and opening
at the four corners of a squadron on brown background.
Publications:
Famous Fourth, by unit members; TI&E; distributor, National
Fourth Division Association. History of the Fourth Infantry
Division, by Capt. Francis H. Fife, unit historian; Army & Navy
Publishing Co., Baton Rouge, La.; 1947.
• 4th Infantry Division Links
• 4th Infantry Division Components
• 4th Infantry Division Medal of Honor Recipients
• 4th Infantry Division Commanders
• 4th Infantry Division Videos
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