34th Infantry Division (United States)

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34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division
Shoulder Sleeve InsigniaDistinctive Unit Insignia
Active August 1917 - Present
Country United States of America
Allegiance United States of America
Branch National Guard
Type Division
Role Infantry
Size approx 15,000 Soldiers
Garrison/HQ Rosemount, MN
Nickname Red Bull
Motto "Attack, Attack, Attack!"
Engagements World War II
*Tunisia
*Naples-Foggia#History
*Rome#20th_century-Arno River
*North Apennines
*Po Valley
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		 Major General Richard Nash
U.S. Infantry Divisions
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33rd Infantry Division 35th Infantry Division

The 34th Infantry Division is an Army division of the United States National Guard that participated in World War I, World War II and continues to serve today, with most of the Division part of the Minnesota and Iowa National Guard. It holds the distinctions of being the first US Division deployed to Europe in World War II, and having spent more days in combat and having taken more enemy-defended hills than any other US Army Division in that war.

The United States Army Rangers also trace their lineage back to the 34th Division. The modern incarnation of the Rangers were developed from 34th Infantry volunteers in Ireland under the command of Major William O. Darby. Of the original five hundred twenty WWII Rangers, two hundred eighty one came from the 34th Infantry Division.

The 34ID has deployed sizable elements to both Afghanistan and Iraq, returning the 34ID's SSI to combat for the first time since WWII, where they once again earned the respect and envy of their Regular Army comrades, for their toughness and preference for "old-school Army" way of doing things, both in garrison and out in the bush on operations. The 34ID's cadre of NCOs can be credited for this.

The 34ID has not experienced recruiting and retention problems, like other ARNG and AR units, such as the MAARNG's 26th Brigade of the 29ID, have experienced since 2004.[citation needed] Assignment to the 34ID is considered a coveted assignment in the mid-West United States from which it draws it's personnel. Prior to 1917 this division was officially known as the 13th Division of the U. S. National Guard.

The 34th replaced the 47th "Viking" Infantry Division when the 47th was deactivated in 1991.

During the Civil War, the First Minnesota Regiment, today the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment (2/135) was the first volunteer regiment to offer its services to President Lincoln. The men of the 1st Minnesota are most remembered for their actions on the late afternoon of July 2, 1863, during the second day's fighting at Gettysburg, resulting in the prevention of a serious breach in the Union defensive line on Cemetery Ridge. Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, commander of the II Corps of the Army of the Potomac, ordered the regiment to assault a much larger, oncoming enemy force (a brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox) in an effort to buy time while other forces could be brought up to secure the line. During the charge, 215 members of the 262 men who were present at the time became casualties, including the regimental commander, Col. William Colvill, and all but three of his officers. The unit's flag fell five times and rose again each time. The 47 survivors rallied back to General Hancock under the senior surviving officer, Captain Henry C. Coates. The 82 percent casualty rate stands to this day as the largest loss by any surviving military unit in American history during any single engagement. The Color Sergeant, as he fell dying on the field of battle on July 2, passed the Colors to another soldier to carry, saying, "They never touched the ground!" The fight of the 1st Minnesota inspired the motto of the 2/135, "To the last man!" The unit's flag is now in the Minnesota Capitol's rotunda.

Ironically, Colonel Colvill had been placed under arrest by Hancock several days before the battle when the 1st Minnesota paused to remove their shoes before crossing a creek on the desperate route march to Gettysburg. It would appear that this matter was never subsequently pursued.

Despite the horrendous casualties the 1st Minnesota had incurred, it continued the fight the next day, helping to repulse Pickett's Charge. The surviving Minnesotans just happened to have been positioned at one of the few places where Union lines were breached during that engagement, and, as a result, charged the advancing Confederate positions one last time as a unit.


Contents

[edit] World War I

The division was established as the 13th Division of the National Guard in early 1917, consisting of units from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. By the end of that same year, the 13th Division became the 34th Division.

  • Overseas: Most of the division personnel was sent to other organizations.
  • Commanders:
    • Maj. Gen. A. P. Blacksom (25 August 1917)
    • Brig. Gen. F. G. Mauldin (18 September 1917)
    • Maj. Gen. A. P. Blacksom (10 December 1917)
    • Brig. Gen. F. G. Mauldin (8 May 1918)
    • Brig.. Gen. John A. Johnston (26 October 1918).
  • Returned to U. S. and inactivated: December 1918.

[edit] World War II

  • Commanders:
    • Maj. Gen. Ellard A. Walsh (February–August 1941)
    • Maj. Gen. Russell P. Hartle (August 1941 – May 1942)
    • Maj. Gen. Charles W. Ryder (May 1942 – July 1944)
    • Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte (July 1944 to inactivation).
  • Returned to U. S.: 3 November 1945.
  • Inactivated: 3 November 1945.

[edit] Combat chronicle

The first contingent embarked at Brooklyn on 14 January 1942 and sailed from New York the next day. The initial group of 4,508 stepped ashore at 12:15 hrs on 26 January 1942 at Dufferin Quay, Belfast commanded by Major-General Russell P. Hartle. They were met by a delegation including the Governor General (Duke of Abercorn), the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland (John Miller Andrews), the Commander of British Troops in Ulster (General G. E. W. Franklyn), and the Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair).

After continuing its training in Northern Ireland, the 34th Infantry Division saw its first combat in the North African invasion, 8 November 1942, landing at Algiers and seizing the port and outlying airfields. Elements of the Division took part in numerous subsequent engagements in Tunisia during the Allied build-up, notably at Sened Station, Faid Pass, Sbeitla, and Fondouk Gap. In April 1943 the Division assaulted Hill 609, capturing it on 1 May 1943, and then drove through Chouigui Pass to Tebourba and Ferryville.

The Division then trained for the Salerno landing. The 151st FA Bn. went in on D-day, 9 September 1943, at Salerno, while the rest of the Division followed on 25 September. Contacting the enemy at the Calore River, 28 September 1943, the 34th, part of U.S. II Corps, drove north to take Benevento, crossed the winding Volturno three times in October and November, assaulted Mount Patano and took one of its four peaks before being relieved, 9 December 1943. In January 1944, the Division was back in II Corps front line battering at the Bernhardt Line defenses. Thankfully, after bitter fighting through the Mignano Gap, they were able to take Mount Trocchio without resistance as the German defenders withdrew to the main prepared defenses of the Gustav Line. On 24 January 1944, during the First Battle of Monte Cassino they pushed across the Rapido River into the hills behind and attacked Monastery Hill which dominated the town of Cassino. While they nearly captured the objective, in the end their attacks on the monastery and the town failed. The performance of 34 Division in the mountains is considered to rank as one of the finest feats of arms carried out by any soldiers during the war. In return they sustained losses of about 80% in the Infantry battalions. They were relieved from their positions 11-13 February 1944. Eventually, it took the combined force of five allied infantry divisions to finish what the 34th nearly accomplished on its own.

After rest and rehabilitation, it landed in the Anzio beachhead, 25 March 1944, maintaining defensive positions until the offensive of 23 May, when it broke out of the beachhead, took Cisterna, and raced to Civitavecchia and Rome. After a short rest, the Division drove across the Cecina River to liberate Livorno, 19 July 1944, and continued on to take Mount Belmonte in October during the fighting on the Gothic Line. Digging in south of Bologna for the winter, the 34th jumped off, 15 April 1945, and captured Bologna on 21 April. Pursuit of the routed enemy was halted, 2 May, with the German surrender in Italy.

The Division participated in six major Army campaigns in North Africa and Italy. The Division is credited with amassing 517 days of front line combat, more than any other U.S. division. One or more 34th Division units were engaged in actual combat with the enemy on 611 days. This would have been 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, the IRONMAN battalion. This battalion still holds the record over the rest of the United States Army for days in combat. The division was credited with more combat days than any other division in the war. The 34th Division suffered 3,737 killed in action, 14,165 wounded in action, and 3,460 missing in action, for a total of 21,362 battle casualties. Casualties of the division are considered to be the highest of any division in the theater when daily per capita fighting strengths are considered. There is little doubt the division took the most enemy-defended hills of any division in the European Theater. The division's men were awarded 10 Medals of Honor, 98 Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal, 1,153 Silver Stars, 116 Legion of Merit medals, one Distinguished Flying Cross, 2,545 Bronze Stars, 54 Soldier Medals, 34 Air Medals, with duplicate awards of 52 oak leaf clusters, and 15,000 Purple Hearts. More recently, in 2000 the Minnesota Legislature renamed all of Interstate 35 in Minnesota the "34th Division (Red Bull) Highway," in honor of the Division and its service in the World Wars.[1]

[edit] Post WWII

Full Color Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) worn on a unit member's dress uniform
Full Color Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) worn on a unit member's dress uniform
Subdued Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) currently worn on a unit member's Army Combat Uniform
Subdued Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) currently worn on a unit member's Army Combat Uniform

The 34th Infantry Division was inactivated on 3 November 1945. The Division was reformed within the Iowa and Nebraska National Guards in 1946–7, but it disbanded again in 1963, being replaced in part by the 67th Infantry Brigade. It also retained its Division HQ as a Command HQ to supervise training of combat and support units in the former division area for some years. The 47th Infantry Division (which had never seen combat) was active at St Paul, Minn., by 1963, as the National Guard combat division covering the former 34th's area.

The division was reactivated as a National Guard division (renaming the 47th Division) for Minnesota and Iowa on 10 February 1991 upon the fiftieth anniversary of its federal activation for World War II. At that point the Division transitioned into a Medium Division, with a required strength of 18,062 soldiers. The 47th Division was re-flagged back to the 34th Infantry Division (Medium)in 1989.

Currently, the 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division is ranked No. 1 of the Eight National Guard Divisions with regard to key readiness indicators. The 34th Infantry Division was the first National Guard Division to transform to the Army's modular and expeditionary Brigade Combat Team Structure. The Division's force structure has grown and is now spread across several midwest states (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and Missouri). The Minnesota National Guard provides the Division Headquarters and is located in Rosemount (Main Command Post), and Inver Grove Heights (Tactical Command Post) both are southern suburbs of the Twin Cities.

Today, the division has undergone much change due to transformation. The entire division is projected to have transformed by Training Year 2010.

The 34th Infantry Division has encountered tremendous challenges within the last few years. The Division has mobilized and deployed approximately 11,000 soldiers to fight in the Global War on Terrorism.

In May 2004, the 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment (Air Assault), (augmented by Company D, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment (Air Assault)), 2nd Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, and with nearly 100 key positions filled by members of the 1st Battalion (IRONMAN), 133rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, commenced combat operations at 13 Provincial Reconstruction Team sites throughout Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, returning the Red Bull patch to combat after 59 years and earning the Battalion the distinction of becoming the first unit in the 34th Infantry Division to wear the Red Bull patch as a right-shoulder combat patch since WWII.

In March 2006, the first brigade of the 34th Infantry Division commenced combat operations in central and southern Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, marking the largest single unit deployment for the 34th Infantry Division since WWII. With its return in July 2007, the brigade became the longest serving unit (22 months total with 16 in Iraq) in Iraq of any component of the US armed forces.

[edit] Recent campaigns

34th Infantry Division personnel have been activated for the following recent operations:

[edit] Current Structure

Structure 34th Infantry Division
Structure 34th Infantry Division

The current structure of the 34th ID is:

  • Division Headquarters, 34th Inf Div, (MN NG)
    • Main Command Post (MCP)
    • Tactical Command Post (TAC CP)
    • Brigade Special Troops Battalion
    • 34th Infantry Division Band
  • 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT), (MN NG)
    • 2nd Squadron (ARS), 194th Cavalry Regiment (Armored Recon)
    • 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment (Combined Arms)
    • 1st Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment (Combined Arms)
    • 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery Regiment
    • 134th Support Battalion
    • Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1/34 HBCT
  • 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), (IA NG)
    • 1st Squadron (RSTA), 113th Cavalry Regiment, (IA NG)
    • 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, (IA NG)
    • 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, (MN NG)
    • 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery Regiment
    • 334th Support Battalion
    • Special Troops Battalion, 2/34 IBCT
  • 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), (WI NG)
    • 1st Squadron (RSTA), 105th Cavalry Regiment
    • 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment
    • 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment
    • 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery Regiment
    • 132nd Support Battalion
    • Special Troops Battalion, 32nd IBCT
  • 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (HBCT), (ID NG)
    • 2nd Squadron (RSTA), 116th Cavalry Regiment (Armed Recon), (ID NG)
    • 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment (Combined Arms) (MT NG)
    • 3rd Battalion, 186th Armor Regiment (Combined Arms) (OR NG)
    • 1st Battalion, 148th Field Artillery Regiment, (ID NG)
    • 145th Support Battalion, (ID NG)
    • Special Troops Battalion, 116th HBCT
  • Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), (MN NG)
    • 1st Battalion, 113th Aviation Regiment (S&S) (ND NG)
    • 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment (Assault), (MN NG)
    • 1st Battalion, 183rd Aviation Regiment (Attack), (ID NG)
    • 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment (General Support) (MT NG)
    • 834th Support Battalion (Aviation), (MN NG)
    • Company G (Air Traffic Services), 147th Aviation Regiment, (MN NG)
  • 115th Fires Brigade (WY NG) (Attached)
    • 1st Battalion, 151 Field Artillery Regiment (MN NG)
    • E Battery, 151 Field Artillery Regiment (TAB) (MN NG)
  • 157th Combat Support Brigade (ME) (WI NG) (Attached)
  • 67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (NE NG) (Attached)
  • 347th Regional Support Group (formerly 34th Division Support Command)
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
    • 147th Personnel Services Battalion
    • 347th Personnel Services Detachment
    • 257th Military Police Company
    • 114th Transportation Company
    • 204th Area Support Medical Company
    • 247th Finance Detachment

[edit] References

  1. ^ 2000 Minn. Laws ch. 281, codified at Minn. Stat. 161.14 subd. 46.

[edit] External links