[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 Portions of the information may be out of date.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: July 1917 (National Guard Division from Texas and Oklahoma).
Overseas: July 1918.
Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne.
Casualties: Total - 2,584 (KIA - 466; WIA - 2,118).
Commanders: Maj. Gen. E. St. J. Greble (25 August 1917),
Brig. Gen. George Blakely (18 September 1917),
Maj. Gen. E. St. J. Greble (6 December- 1917),
Brig. Gen. John A. Hulen (8 July 1918),
Maj. Gen. William R. Smith (13 July 1918).
Returned to U.S. and inactivated: June 1919.
World War II
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Activated:. 25 November 1940 (National Guard Division from Texas).
Overseas: 2 April 1943.
Campaigns: Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Central Europe.
Days of combat: 400.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 12.
Awards: MH-14; DSC-80; DSM-2; SS-2,354; LM-49; SM-77; BSM-5,407; AM-88.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Claude V. Birkhead (November 1940-September 1941),
Maj. Gen. Fred L. Walker (September 1941-June 1944),
Maj. Gen. John E. Dablquist (July 1944-1 November 1945),
Brig. Gen. Robert I. Stack (November 1945 to inactivation).
Returned to U.S.: 15 December 1945.
Inactivated: 15 December 1945.
Combat Chronicle
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The 36th Infantry Division landed in North Africa, 13 April 1943, and
trained at Arzew and Rabat. It first saw action, 9 September 1943, when
it landed at Paestum on the Gulf of Salerno. The waiting enemy launched
counterattacks, but the 36th advanced slowly, securing the area from
Agropoli to Altavilla. After a brief rest the 36th returned to combat,
15 November. It captured Mount Maggiore, Mount Lungo, and the village
of San Pietro despite strong enemy positions and severe winter weather. This
grueling campaign was marked by futile attempts to establish a secure
bridgehead across the Rapido River, 1 January to 8 February 1944. After
assisting the
34th Division
in the attack on Cassino and fighting defensively
along the Rapido River, the 36th withdrew, 12 March 1944, for rest and
rehabilitation. On 25 May, the Division landed at Anzio, drove north to
capture Velletri, 1 June, and entered Rome on the 5th. Pushing up from
Rome, the 36th encountered sharp resistance at Magliano, but reached
Piombino, 26 June, before moving back to Paestum for rest and rehabilitation. On
15 August, the Division made another assault landing against light opposition
in the Raphael-Frejus area of Southern France. A lightning dash opened the
Rhone River Valley. Montelimar fell, 28 August, and large Nazi units were
trapped. The 36th advanced to the Moselle River at Remiremont and the
foothills of the Vosges. In a grinding offensive, the Division crossed
the Meurthe River, breached the Ste. Marie Pass and burst into the
Alsatian Plains. The enemy counterattacked, 13 December, and the 36th
held in the Colmar Pocket. On the 20th the Division resumed the
attack, advancing northward along the Rhine River to Mannheim meeting
heavy resistance at Haguenau, Oberhofen, and Wissembourg. The 36th moved
to the Danube, 22 April 1945, and attacked the "National Redoubt" at
Kunzelsau on the 30th in its final action.
Assignments in the ETO
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13 July 1944: VI Corps, Seventh Army, but attached to SOS, NATOUSA, for supply. //
15 September 1944: VI Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. //
5 December 1944: VI Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group, but attached to
the French First Army. // 15 December 1944: VI Corps, Seventh Army,
6th Army Group. // 27 December 1944: XXI Corps. //
30 December 1944: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. // 3 January 1945: XV Corps.
// 18 January 1945: VI Corps. // 29 March 1945: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
// 27 April 1945: XXI Corps.
General
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Nickname: Texas Division; sometimes referred to as
Panther Division or the Lone Star Division.
Shoulder patch: A blue fling arrowhead pointed downward, bearing
the letter "T" in green.
Publications: 36th Division History; by unit members; Newsfoto
Publishing Co., San Angelo, Tex.; distributor, 36th Infantry
Division Association; 1947. Story of the 36th Infantry Division
and Campaigns in France, Germany, and Austria; by unit
members, TI&E, ETOUSA; distributor, 36th Infantry Division
Association; 1945. Campaigns of the 36th Infantry Division
in World War II, U.S. Army; 36th Division; 1945.
• 36th Infantry Division Links
• 36th Infantry Division Components
• 36th Infantry Division Medal of Honor Recipients
• 36th Infantry Division Commanders
• 36th Infantry Division Videos
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