[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 Portions of the information may be out of date.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.]
Pre-World War II
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Activated: In 1924 as a National Guard Division in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
World War II
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Activated: 16 September 1940.
Overseas: 8 June 1943.
Campaigns: Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France,
Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, Central Europe.
Days of combat: 511.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 7.
Awards: MH-8; DSC-61; DSM-3; SS-1,848; LM-38; SM-59; BSM-5,744; AM-52.
Commanders: Maj, Gen. William S. Key (September 1940-October 1942),
Maj. Gen. Troy H. Middleton (October 1942-December 1943),
Maj. Gen. William W. Eagles (December 1943-December 1944),
Maj. Gen. Robert T. Frederick (December 1944-September 1945),
Brig. Gen. Henry J. D. Meyer (September 1945 to inactivation).
Returned to U.S.: 14 September 1945.
Inactivated: 7 December 1945.
Combat Chronicle
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The 45th Division landed in North Africa, 22 June 1943, and trained at Arzew, French
Morocco. It landed in Sicily, 10 July, in its first major amphibious operation and
moved inland under minor opposition. The enemy resisted fiercely at Motta Hill, 26 July,
before losing the four day battle of "Bloody Ridge." On 1 August, the Division
withdrew for rest and patrols. On 10 September 1943, the second landing at
Salerno occurred. Against stiff resistance, the 45th pushed to the
Calore River, 27 September, crossed the Volturno River, 3 November, and took
Venafro. Until 9 January 1944, the Division inched forward into the mountains
reaching St. Elia north of Cassino before moving to a rest area. The 45th landed
at Anzio, 22 January 1944, and for 4 months stood its ground against violent
assaults. It went over to the attack, 23 May, crossed the Tiber River, 4 June,
outflanking Rome and withdrew for rest and training on the 16th. The 45th
participated in its fourth assault landing, 15 August 1944, at St. Maxime
in Southern France. Against slight opposition, it spearheaded the drive for
the Belfort Gap. It took the strongly defended city of Epinal, 24 September, crossed
the Moselle River and entered the western foothills of the Vosges, taking
Rambervillers on the 30th, and crossing the Mortagne River, 23 October. After
a brief rest the 45th cracked the forts north of Mutzig, an anchor of the
Maginot Line, 25 November, crossed the Zintzel River and pushed through
the Maginot defenses. From 2 January 1945, the Division fought defensively
along the German border, withdrawing to the Moder River. On 17 February, it
went back for rest and training. The 45th moved north to the Sarreguemines
area and smashed at the Siegfried Line, 17 March, taking Homburg on the 21st
and crossing the Rhine between Worms and Hamm on the 26th. The advance
continued, Aschaffenburg falling, 3 April, and Nurnberg on the 20th. The
Division crossed the Danube, 27 April, took Munich on the 30th and as war
ended was stationed near Dachau.
Assignments in the ETO
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15 September 1944: VI Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. // 1 November 1944: Seventh
Army, 6th Army Group. // 22 November 1944: XV Corps. // 31 December 1944: VI
Corps. // 15 March 1944: XV Corps. // 6 May 1945: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
General
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Nickname: Thunderbird Division.
Slogan: Semper Anticus (Always Forward).
Shoulder patch: A red square containing a golden bird with outstretched wings.
Publications: 45th; by unit members; distributor, 45th Infantry
Division Association; 1945. The Fighting Forty Fifth, the Combat Report
of an Infantry Division; by Historical Board; Army & Navy Publishing
Co., Baton Rouge, La.; 1947. 45th Division News; published monthly
by the 45th Infantry Division Association. News of the 45th; by
Don Robinson; University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Okla.; 1944; 158 pp.
• 45th Infantry Division Links
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• 45th Infantry Division Medal of Honor Recipients
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