32nd Infantry Division (United States)

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U.S. 32nd Infantry Division

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 32nd Infantry Division
Active July, 1917 - April, 1919;
October, 1940 - February, 1946
Country United States
Branch Regular Army
Type Division
Role Infantry
Nickname Red Arrow Division
Engagements World War I
World War II
U.S. Infantry Divisions
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The 32nd Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. In both wars it was made up of National Guard units from Wisconsin and Michigan. The 32nd logged a total of 654 days of combat during WWII, more than any other US Army division.

In 1967, the 32nd Infantry Division (now made up completely of units from Wisconsin) was inactivated and partially reorganized as the U.S. 32nd Infantry Brigade, the largest unit of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

Contents

[edit] World War I

  • Activated: July 1917 (National Guard Division, troops from Michigan and Wisconsin).
  • Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Battle of Aisne-Battle of Marne, Battle of Oise-Battle of Aisne.
  • Casualties: Total-13,261 (KIA-2,250; WIA-11,011).
  • Commanders: Maj. Gen. James Parker (August 26, 1917), Brig. Gen. William G. Haan (September 19, 1917), Maj. Gen. James Parker (December 7, 1917), Brig. Gen. W. G. Haan (December 8, 1917), (Maj. Gen. from February 7, 1918), Maj. Gen. William Lassiter (November 20, 1918).
  • Inactivated: April 5, 1919.

[edit] Operational history

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[edit] World War II

  • Activated: October 15, 1940 (National Guard Division from Michigan and Wisconsin).
  • Campaigns: New Guinea campaign, southern Philippines, Battle of Luzon.
  • Distinguished Unit Citations: 14.
  • Awards: MH-11 ; DSC-37 ; DSM-1 ; SS-657 ; LM-28; SM-77 ; BSM-2,403 ; A11-95.
  • Commanders: Maj. Gen. Irving A. Fish (October 1940-March 1942), Maj. Gen. Edwin F. Harding (March 1942-January 1943) Maj. Gen. William H. Gill (February 1943 to inactivation).
  • Inactivated: February 28, 1946 in Japan.

[edit] Operational history

The 32nd Infantry Division arrived in Australia on May 14, 1942. With Australian Army units in the Kokoda Track campaign under increasing pressure from Japanese forces, the first elements of the 32nd left for Port Moresby, New Guinea by air on September 16, en route to the combat zone. They were joined by other elements, by sea, on September 28 and by air on October 2. Units of the 32nd were deployed defensively along the Goldie River on the left flank of the Australian garrison force for the Port Moresby area.

The remainder of the division was flown to the Buna area, to join Australian units in an assault on the main Japanese beachheads in eastern New Guinea. The division began its attack on November 19 immediately meeting strong resistance from well entrenched and camouflaged Japanese positions manned by fresh soldiers. With the only artillery support provided by a single 25 pounder gun with limited ammunition, the division was unable to make further progress against these positions. A stalemate ensued.

Believing that Buna was held by only 1000 sick and malnourished soldiers, General Douglas MacArthur dismissed the division's commander, Maj. Gen. Edwin F. Harding. MacArthur placed General Robert Eichelberger, a member of his staff, in command. MacArthur famously said to Eichelberger, "Bob, I want you to go out there and take Buna, or don't come back alive". Upon arrival at Buna, Eichelberger sacked the regimental commanders and most battalion commanders. He then placed the members of his own staff in the vacated positions, running his HQ with a batman and radio operator.

On December 5, Staff Sergeant Herman Bottcher led a thirty-one-man platoon forward against the attacking Japanese forces. He stood up and threw hand grenades at the enemy and was able to drive a wedge between Buna and Buna village. The tide of the battle of Buna turned and Bottcher was awarded the battlefield commission of Captain and his first of two Distinguished Service Cross Medals.

The 32nd Division, reinforced by the 18th Brigade and assisted by tanks, took Buna on January 2, 1943. Two members of the division were awarded the Medal of Honor for their gallantry during the battle. The 32nd then returned to Australia for rest and training.

On January 2, 1944, elements landed at Saidor on the north coast of New Guinea and helped to end enemy resistance there on April 14, 1944. On April 23, elements took part in the landing at Aitape, the division arriving on May 3. After meeting slight initial resistance, the 32nd had to withstand savage counterattacks in the Driniumor River area. By August 31, Aitape was secured and the division rested. Elements landed on Morotai on September 15. The 32nd CP opened at Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea on October 1, to stage for the Philippines. It landed on Leyte, November 14, and went into action along the Pinamopoan-Ormoc highway, taking Limon and smashing the Yamashita line in bitter hand-to-hand combat. The division linked up with elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division in the vicinity of Lonoy, on December 22, marking the collapse of Japanese resistance in the upper Ormoc Valley.

From Leyte the Division moved to Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, on January 27, 1945. It pushed up the Villa Verde Trail, on January 30, and after more than 100 days of fighting took Imugan and met the 25th Infantry Division near Santa Fe on May 28, securing Balete, Aklan Pass, the gateway to the Cagayan Valley. While elements of the division continued mopping-up activities near Imugan, other units moved to rest and rehabilitation centers. Active elements secured the Baguio area, wiped out Japanese forces in the Agno River Valley area, and opened Highway 11 as a supply route. Operations ceased on August 15, 1945 and the division moved to Japan for occupation duty on October 20.

[edit] Notable members

[edit] General

  • Nickname: Red Arrow Division; called "Les Terribles" during World War I.
  • Shoulder patch: A line shot through with a red arrow; entire insignia in red.
  • Inscription on memorial in Arcadia, WI: "The 32nd Red Arrow Division was first formed in July 1917 at Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas of National Guard units from both Wisconsin and Michigan. Its 27,000 men arrived in Europe in January and February 1918. It was the first division to pierce the famed German Hindenburg line of defense. From a French general, then all French troops, it was given the fearsome name "Les Terribles." This is the division whose shoulder patch is the Red Arrow, shot through a line denoting that it pierced every battle line it ever faced. The 32nd division was inactivated and retired in 1967." Elements of the division were used to form the 32nd Infantry Brigade, which is active to this day.

[edit] Commemoration

Wisconsin Highway 32, as well as a portion of former U.S. Route 12 in Michigan, are named in honor of the 32nd Infantry Division.

[edit] Other

[edit] References

  • The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at CMH.


[edit] External links

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