96th Infantry Division (United States)

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96th Infantry Division

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 96th Infantry Division
Active 1942-1946
Country United States
Branch U.S. Army
Nickname Deadeye Division
Engagements World War II
U.S. Infantry Divisions
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95th Infantry Division 97th Infantry Division

The 96th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II.

Contents

[edit] World War II

  • Activated: 15 August 1942.
  • Overseas: 23 July 1944.
  • Campaigns: Ryukyus, Southern Philippines.
  • Distinguished Unit Citations: 1.
  • Awards: MH-5; DSC-12; DSM-1; SS-232; LM-4; SM-73; BSM-4,588; AM-84.
  • Commanders: Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley commanded the division throughout its entire life in World War II.
  • Returned to U. S.: 2 February 1946.
  • Deactivated: 3 February 1946.

[edit] Division Composition

  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company
  • 381st Infantry Regiment
  • 382nd Infantry Regiment
  • 383rd Infantry Regiment
  • 361st Field Artillery Battalion
  • 362nd Field Artillery Battalion
  • 363rd Field Artillery Battalion
  • 921st Field Artillery Battalion
  • 96th Signal Company
  • 796th Ordnance Company
  • 96th Quartermaster Company
  • 96th Recon Troop
  • 321st Engineer Battalion
  • 321st Medical Battalion
  • 96th CIC Detachment

[edit] Combat Chronicle

As part of the reorganization of the US Army divisions from "square" to "triangular", the two infantry brigade headquarters were converted to provide personnel for other units and the 380th Infantry Regiment was disbanded. The 192nd Infantry Brigade headquarters company was converted into the division's 96th Reconnaissance Troop, while the 191st Infantry Brigade headquarters formed the core of the division's headquarters company. The 96th Infantry Division trained in Hawaiian Islands, July to September 1944, before entering combat in an assault landing in Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, between Tanauan and Dulag, 20 October 1944. Enemy resistance in the beachhead area was quickly broken and the division had advanced to and secured the Tanauan-Dagami-Tabontabon sector by 9 November after heavy fighting. The division continued to wipe out resistance on the island, engaging in small unit actions, patrolling, probing, and wiping out pockets of Japanese. Chalk Ridge was taken, 12 December 1944, and major organized resistance was at an end by Christmas Day. The next 3 months were spent in mopping up, security duty, training, and loading for the coming invasion of Okinawa.

The division left the Philippines, 27 March 1945, for Okinawa, making an assault landing on the island, 1 April 1945. The landing was unopposed and a beachhead was established, between 1 April to 3 April 1945. Resistance stiffened considerably as the division advanced to gakazu Ridge, where fighting was fierce, during 7 April to 16 April 1945. The 96th assaulted and cracked the fanatically defended enemy defense line, Tanabaru Nishibaru, 17-23 April, and after advancing slightly against extremely determined resistance, was relieved, 30 April, by the 77th Infantry Division. The division trained and rested, 1-9 May, while elements mopped up bypassed enemy pockets and then returned to the offensive, 10 May 1945, attacking and capturing Conical-Sugar Hill Ridge, 21 May, thus breaking the right flank of the Shuri defenses. Heavy rains the following week slowed down the advance. The offensive was resumed, 30 May, against weakening enemy resistance; Japanese north of Yonabaru-Shuri-Naha Road area were cleared out. Resistance stiffened again, 3 June, and Laura Hill was taken, 14 June 1945, only after a bloody fight; the last important Japanese defense position, the Yuza-Dake, Yaeju-Dake Hill mass, was secured by 17 June, and on 22 June all resistance was declared at an end.

The division patrolled an area from Chan to Ogusuku until 30 June. After resting in July, the division left Okinawa for Mindoro, in the Philippines, and engaged in a training program. The division left the Philippines, 17 January 1946, for the United States.

[edit] Current Assignment

The division is now known as the 96th Regional Readiness Command (RRC), acting as higher headquarters for Army Reserve units in Colorado, Montana, North and South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Geographically, it is the largest of the 12 RRC's in the Army Reserve.

  • The 96 RRC's headquarters are located on Ft. Douglas, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • The current Commanding General of the 96th RRC is BG Peter S. Cooke.
  • The current Command Sergeant Major of the 96th RRC is CSM Elwood.

[edit] Current Missions

Subordinate units of the 96th RRC have been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Djibouti in support of the current Global War on Terror. Units have also been deployed to Bosnia & Herzegovina in support of Peacekeeping Operations in the Balkans.

[edit] BRAC and the Future of the 96th Regional Readiness Command

During the most recent Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) process in 2005, the 96th RRC was identified for future realignment.[1] In response to the BRAC commission's findings the 96th RRC is scheduled to be reflagged as the 96th Sustainment Brigade on 1 October 2007.

Some of the units belonging to the former 96th RRC will be realigned and reflagged to other commands as determined by the United States Army Reserve Command USARC.

[edit] General

  • Nickname: "Deadeye" Division, due to their training as sharpshooters.
  • Shoulder patch: A white diamond and a blue diamond which overlap, both superimposed on a hexagonial patch with khaki background.

[edit] References

[edit] External links