89th Division (United States)
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| 89th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
 89th Division Shoulder Patch |
|
| Active | August 1917 – May 1919 July 15, 1942 – December 27, 1945 |
| Branch | Regular Army |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Nickname | Rolling W |
| Motto | "Get it Done" |
| Engagements | World War I *St. Mihiel *Meuse-Argonne Offensive World War II *Rhineland *Central Europe |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Major General Leonard Wood Colonel John C. H. Lee |
| U.S. Infantry Divisions | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| 88th Infantry Division | 90th Infantry Division |
The 89th Infantry Division was an infantry unit of the United States Army that was activated for service in World War I and World War II. Known as the "Rolling W", they have not been active since 1945.
Contents |
[edit] World War I
- Activated: August 1917.
- Overseas: June 1918.
- Major Operations: St. Mihiel, MeuseArgonne.
- Casualties: Total-7,091 (KIA-980; WIA-6,111).
- Commanders: Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood (27 August 1917), Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn (26 November 1917), Brig. Gen. Thomas G. Hanson (24 December 1917), Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn (29 December 1917), Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood (12 April 1918), Brig. Gen. Frank L. Winn (1 June 1918), Maj. Gen. William M. Wright (6 September 1918), Maj. Gen. Frank L. Winn (12 November 1918).
- Inactivated: May 1919.
[edit] See:
- David B. Barkley -Medal of Honor recipient
- Marcelino Serna -the most decorated soldier from Texas in World War I.
[edit] World War II
- Activated: 15 July 1942.
- Overseas: 10 January 1945.
- Campaigns: Rhineland, Central Europe.
- Days of combat: 57.
- Awards: Distinguished Service Medal (United States)-1 ; Silver Star-46; LM-5; SM-1 ; BSM-135 ; AM-17.
- Commanders: Maj. Gen. William H. Gill (July 1942–February 1943), Maj. Gen. Thomas D. Finley (February 1943 to inactivation).
- Returned to U.S.: 16 December 1945.
- Inactivated: 27 December 1945.
[edit] Combat Chronicle
The 89th Infantry Division landed in France at Le Havre, 21 January 1945, and engaged in several weeks of precombat training before moving up to the Sauer River into jump-off positions east of Echternach, 11 March 1945. The next day, the offensive began, and the 89th plunged across the Sauer in a rapid advance to and across the Moselle, 17 March. The offensive rolled on, and the Division assaulted across the Rhine River on 26 March, 1945 under intense fire in the Wellmich-Oberwesel region. A pontoon bridge was built across the Rhine from St. Goar to St. Goarshausen. In April, the 89th attacked toward Eisenach, taking that town, 6 April. The next objective was Friedrichroda, core of the vaunted National Redoubt in Thuringia. The city was secured by 8 April. On April 4, 1945, the 89th overran Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Ohrdruf was the first Nazi concentration camp liberated by U.S. troops in Germany.
The Division continued to move eastward toward the Mulde River, capturing Zwickau by 17 April. The advance was halted, 23 April, and from then until VE-day, the Division saw only limited action, engaging in patrolling and general security. Three towns, Lossnitz, Aue, and Stollberg, were kept under constant pressure, but no attacks were launched. The 89th Infantry's casulties consisted of 292 men Killed in Action, 692 men Wounded in Action, and 33 men Died of Wounds.
[edit] Assignments in the European Theater of Operations
- 21 January 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group.
- 4 March 1945: XII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
- 23 March 1945: VIII Corps.
- 22 April 1945: VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
[edit] General
- Nickname: Rolling W ; also called Middle West Division.
- Slogan: Get it done
- Shoulder patch: A black-bordered khaki circle containing the letter "W" within a black-bordered circle.
[edit] References
- 89th Infantry Division website: http://www.89infdivww2.org/index.htm.
- The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/cc/cc.htm.
