92nd Infantry Division (United States)
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| 92nd Infantry Division (colored) | |
|---|---|
 Shoulder sleeve insignia |
|
| Active | October 1917 - November 1945 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname | Buffalo Soldiers Division |
| Motto | "Deeds, not words" |
| Battles/wars | World War I, World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond (October 1942 - August 1945) |
The 92nd Infantry Division (colored) was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. Nicknamed the "Buffalo Soldiers Division", this segregated unit was the only African American infantry division to see combat in Europe during WWII, as part of the 5th Army.
Contents |
[edit] World War I
- Activated: October 1917.
- Overseas: 18 July 1918.
- Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne (less FA).
- Casualties: Total-1,647 (KIA-120; WIA-1,527).
- Commanders: Maj. Gen. Charles C. Ballou (29 October 1917), Maj. Gen. Charles H. Martin (19 November 1918), Brig. Gen. James B. Erwin (16 December 1918).
- Returned to U. S. and inactivated: February 1919.
[edit] World War II
- Activated: 15 October 1942.
- Overseas: 22 September 1944.
- Campaigns: North Apennines, Po Valley.
- Awards: MOH-2; DSC-2; DSM-1; SS-208; LM-8; SM-10; BSM-1,166.
- Commanders: Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond (October 1942-August 1945), Brig. Gen. John E. Wood (August 1945 to inactivation).
- Returned to U. S.: 26 November 1945.
- Inactivated: 28 November 1945,
[edit] Combat chronicle
The 370th Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 1st Armored Division, arrived in Naples, Italy, 1 August 1944 and entered combat on the 24th. It participated in the crossing of the Arno River, the occupation of Lucca and the penetration of the Gothic Line. Enemy resistance was negligible in its area. As Task Force 92, elements of the 92nd attacked on the Ligurian coastal flank toward Massa, 5 October. By the 12th, the slight gains achieved were lost to counterattacks. On 13 October, the remainder of the Division concentrated for patrol activities.
Elements of the 92nd moved to the Serchio sector, 3 November 1944, and advanced in the Serchio River Valley against light resistance, but the attempt to capture Castelnuovo did not succeed. Patrol activities continued until 26 December when the enemy attacked (Operation Winter Storm), forcing units of the 92nd to withdraw. The attack ended on 28 December: attacking forces was mainly Italian of Alpine Division "Monte Rosa" (4 battalions) whit the support of 3 German battalions. Aside from patrols and reconnaissance, units of the 92d attacked in the Serchio sector, 5-8 February 1945, against Italian Bersaglieri Division "Italia", but enemy counterattacks nullified Division advances. On 1 April, the 370th RCT and the attached 442nd RCT (Nisei) attacked in the Ligurian coastal sector and drove rapidly north against light opposition of German 148th Infantry Division supported by Italian coastal units.
The 370th took over the Serchio sector and pursued a retreating enemy from 18 April until the collapse of enemy forces, 29 April 1945. Elements of the 92nd Division entered La Spezia and Genoa on the 27th and took over selected towns along the Ligurian coast until the enemy surrendered, 2 May 1945.
[edit] Medal of Honor recipients
- John R. Fox, 1st Lt, Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division, nr. Sommocolonia, Italy, December 26, 1944.
- Vernon J. Baker, 1st Lt, 92nd Infantry Division, nr. Viareggio, Italy, April 5-6, 1945.
[edit] General
- Nickname: Buffalo Soldiers Division.
- Slogan: "Deeds, not words".
- Shoulder patch: Black-bordered circular patch, black buffalo on olive drab field.
[edit] Units during World War II
- 365 Infantry Regiment
- 366 Infantry Regiment
- 370 Infantry Regiment
- 371 Infantry Regiment
- 597 Field Artillery Battalion
- 598 Field Artillery Battalion
- 599 Field Artillery Battalion
- 600 Field Artillery Battalion
- 317 Engineer Combat Battalion
- 317 Medical Battalion
- 92nd Military Police Platoon
- 92nd Quartermaster Company
- 92nd Signal Company
- 792nd Ordinance (LM) Company
- 92nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Combat Chronicles of U.S. Army Divisions in World War II. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
- Truman K. Gibson, Jr. (2005). Knocking Down Barriers: My Fight for Black America. Northwestern University Press. ISBN 0-8101-2292-8.
- Hondon B. Hargrove (1985). Buffalo Soldiers in Italy: Black Americans in World War II. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-89950-116-8.
