The Army Almanac/1st Infantry Division (United States)

1st Infantry Division

World War I

 * Activated: June 8, 1917.
 * Overseas: Move completed December 22,1917.

Major Operations:

 * 1) Aisne-Marne,
 * 2) St. Mihiel,
 * 3) Meuse-Argonne,
 * 4) Montidier-Noyons.
 * Casualties: Total-22,320 (KIA-3,730; WIA-18,590).

Commanders:

 * 1) Maj. Gen. William L. Sibert (18 June 1917)
 * 2) Maj. Gen. R. L. Bullard (14 December 1917)
 * 3) Brig. Gen. Beaumond B. Buck (5 April 1918)
 * 4) Maj. Gen. R. L. Bullard (13 April 1918)
 * 5) Maj. Gen. C. P. Summerall, II (15 July 1918)
 * 6) Brig. Gen. F. E. Bamford (12 October 1918)
 * 7) Brig. Gen. Frank Parker (18 October 1918)
 * 8) Maj. Gen. E. F. McGlachlin, Jr. (21 November 1918).
 * Returned to U. S.: September 1919.

World War II

 * Overseas: August 7, 1942.

Campaigns:

 * 1) Algeria-French Morocco,
 * 2) Tunisia,
 * 3) Sicily,
 * 4) Normandy,
 * 5) Northern France,
 * 6) Rhineland,
 * 7) Ardennes-Alsace,
 * 8) Central Europe.
 * Days of Combat: 443.
 * Distinguished Unit Citations: 20.

Awards:

 * 1) Medals of Honor-16 ;
 * 2) Distinguished Service Crosses-130 ;
 * 3) Distinguished Service Medals-5 ;
 * 4) Silver Star-6,019 ;
 * 5) Legions of Merit-31 ;
 * 6) Soldier's Medals-162 ;
 * 7) Bronze Star Medals-15,021 ;
 * 8) Air Medals-76.

Commanders:

 * 1) Maj. Gen. Donald Cubbison (February 1941)
 * 2) Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen (2 August 1942)
 * 3) Maj. Gen. Clarence R. Huebner, July 1943)
 * 4) Maj. Gen. Clift Andrus (December 1944)
 * 5) Maj. Gen. Frank Milburn (August 1946).

Combat Chronicle
===Assignments in the ETO ===
 * The 1st Infantry Division saw its first combat in World War II in North Africa, landing at Oran and taking part in the initial fighting, 8-10 November 1942. Elements then took part in seesaw combat at Maktar, Medjez el Bab, Kasserine Pass, Gafsa, El Guettar, Beja, and Mateur, 21 January-9 May 1943, helping secure Tunisia.
 * The First was the first ashore in the invasion of Sicily, 10 July 1943 ; it fought a series of short, fierce battles on the island's tortuous terrain.
 * When that campaign was over, the Division returned to England to prepare for the Normandy invasion.
 * The First Division assaulted Omaha Beach on D-day, 6 June 1944, some units suffering 30 percent casualties in the first hour, and secured Formigny and Caumont in the beachhead.
 * The Division followed up the St. Lo break-through with an attack on Marigny, 27 July 1944, and then drove across France in a continuous offensive, reaching the German border at Aachen in September.
 * The Division laid siege to Aachen, taking the city after a direct assault, 21 October 1944.
 * The First then attacked east of Aachen through Hurtgen Forest, driving to the Roer, and moved to a rest area 7 December for its first real rest in 6 months' combat, when the von Rundstedt offensive suddenly broke loose, 16 December.
 * The Division raced to the Ardennes, and fighting continuously from 17 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, helped blunt and turn back the German offensive.
 * Thereupon, the Division attacked and again breached the Siegfried Line, fought across the Roer, 23 February 1945, and drove on to the Rhine, crossing at the Remagen bridgehead, 15-16 March 1945.
 * The Division broke out of the bridgehead, took part in the encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket, captured Paderborn, pushed through the Harz Mountains, and was in Czechoslovakia, at Kinsperk, Sangerberg, and Mnichov, when the war in Europe ended.
 * 1) 1 November 1943: First Army.
 * 2) 6 November 1943: VII Corps.
 * 3) 2 February 1944: V Corps.
 * 4) 14 July 1944: First Army.
 * 5) 15 July 1944: VII Corps.
 * 6) 1 August 1944: VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
 * 7) 16 December 1944: V Corps.
 * 8) 20 December 1944: Attached, with the entire First Army, to the British 21st Army Group.
 * 9) 26 January 1945: XVIII (Abn) Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
 * 10) 12 February 1945: III Corps.
 * 11) 8 March 1945: VII Corps.
 * 12) 27 April 1945: VIII Corps.
 * 13) 30 April 1945: V Corps.
 * 14) 6 May 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group.

General

 * Nicknames: The Red One; The Fighting First.
 * Slogan: No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great, duty first.
 * Shoulder patch: Red Arabic numeral "I" on solid olive drab background.
 * Association: Society of the First Division, Box 13, Station C, Grand Rapids,, Mich. (executive secretary, Robert J. Riekse).

Publications:

 * 1) First; by the Division TI&E Officer: F. Guhl & Co., Frankfurt am Main, Germany; 1945.
 * 2) First, The Story of the 1st Infantry Division; by unit members TI&E, ETOUSA ; distributor, Society of the First Division; 1945.
 * 3) History of the 1st Infantry Division ("Danger Forward"); by unit historian; Albert Love Enterprises, Atlanta 2, Ga. ; 1948.