| 3rd Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
3rd Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia |
|
| Active | 21 November 1917 – present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Allegiance | United States Army |
| Branch | Regular Army |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Mechanized |
| Part of | Forces Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Stewart |
| Nickname | Marne Division |
| Motto | "Rock of the Marne" |
| Colors | Blue and White
Brown and Gold |
| Mascot | Rocky the Bulldog |
| Engagements | World War I * Aisne-Marne Offensive * Second Battle of the Marne World War II * North African campaign *Italian Campaign * Western Front 1944 – 1945 Korean War Iraq Campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Major General Robert B. Abrams[1][2] |
| Notable commanders |
MG Tony Cucolo MG Joseph T. Dickman MG John P. Lucas MG Lucian Truscott LTG John W. O'Daniel |
| Insignia | |
| 3rd ID Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
| US infantry divisions (1939–present) | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| 2nd Infantry Division | 4th Infantry Division |
The 3rd Infantry Division (nicknamed the Marne Division[3]) is a United States Army infantry division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. It is a direct subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps and U.S. Army Forces Command
The division fought in France in World War I. In World War II, it fought in North Africa, then Italy before fighting in France and finally Germany.
The 3rd Infantry Division was the first conventional U.S. unit to enter Baghdad during the 2003 invasion, and the first division to serve four tours in Iraq. Its current organization includes four brigade combat teams, one aviation brigade, and support elements.
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The 3rd Infantry Division has one of the most successful combat records of any U.S. Army division. It has paid a high price for this distinction, suffering more than 50,000 wartime casualties. Fifty-one members of the 3rd Infantry Division have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
The 3rd Infantry Division was activated in November 1917 during World War I at Camp Greene, North Carolina. Eight months later, it saw combat for the first time in France. At midnight on 14 July 1918, the Division earned lasting distinction. Engaged in the Aisne-Marne Offensive as a member of the American Expeditionary Force to Europe, the Division was protecting Paris with a position on the banks of the Marne River. The 7th Machine Gun Battalion of the 3rd Division rushed to Château-Thierry amid retreating French troops and held the Germans back at the Marne River. While surrounding units retreated, the 3rd Infantry Division, including the 30th and 38th Infantry Regiments, remained rock solid and earned its reputation in the Second Battle of the Marne as the "Rock of the Marne". The rest of the division was absorbed under French command until brought back together under the command of General Joseph T. Dickman and by 15 July 1918 they took the brunt of what was to be the last German offensive of the war. General "Black Jack" Pershing said the Division's performance one of the most brilliant of the United States' military history. During the war two members of the division were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Casualties during the war were 3,177 killed in action with 12,940 wounded.
The 3rd Division is one of the few American divisions that fought the Axis on all European fronts and was among the first U.S. combat units to engage in offensive ground combat operations during World War II.
The Division first saw action as a part of the Western Task Force in the invasion of North African, landing at Fedala on 8 November 1942, and captured half of French Morocco. Eight months later, on 10 July 1943, the Division made an assault landing on Sicily, Licata town on the beach, to west, called Torre di Gaffi and Mollarella and on the beach, to east, called Falconara. Fought its way into Palermo before the armor could get there, and raced on to capture Messina, thus ending the Sicilian campaign. Nine days after the invasion of mainland Italy, on 18 September 1943, the 3rd landed at Salerno and in intensive action drove to and across the Volturno River and to Cassino. After a brief rest, the Division was part of the amphibious landing at Anzio, 22 January 1944, as part of VI Corps of British and American units. It would remain there for four months in a toe-hold against furious German counterattacks. On 29 February 1944, the 3rd fought off an attack by three German Divisions. The divisions former commander Lucas, was replaced as head of VI Corps by the 3rd divisions then commander Lucian Truscott.
In late-May, VI Corps broke out of the beachhead with the 3rd Division in the main thrust. Instead of defeating the Germans, Clark sent the division on to Rome. This had the misfortune of allowing the enemy forces, which would otherwise have been trapped, to escape. The division was then removed from the front line and went into training for the invasion of Southern France. On 15 August 1944, another D-Day, the Division landed at St. Tropez, advanced up the Rhone Valley, through the Vosges Mountains, and reached the Rhine at Strasbourg, 26-27 November 1944. After maintaining defensive positions it took part in clearing the Colmar Pocket on 23 January, and on 15 March struck against Siegfried Line positions south of Zweibrücken. The Division advanced through the defenses and crossed the Rhine, 26 March 1945; then drove on to take Nuremberg in a fierce battle, capturing the city in block-by-block fighting, 17-20 April. The 3rd pushed on to take Augsburg and Munich, 27-30 April, and was in the vicinity of Salzburg when the war in Europe ended.[4]
Elements of the 7th Infantry Regiment serving under the 3rd Infantry Division had the honor of capturing Hitler's retreat at Berchtesgaden.[5]
The 3rd Division suffered more combat deaths in World War II than any other U.S. division, and the third highest among modern U.S. Divisions, behind only the 2nd Infantry Division in the Korean War and the 1st Cavalry Division in the Vietnam War. During the war, 4,922 were killed in action, and 18,766 wounded with a further 636 who died of wounds.
Commanders:
During the Korean War, the Division was known as the "Fire Brigade" for its rapid response to crisis. 3rd Infantry Division had been headquartered at Fort Benning along with its 15th Infantry Regiment. The 7th Infantry Regiment was located at Fort Devens. 3rd Infantry Division initially arrived in Japan where, as the Far East Command Reserve,[6] it planned post conflict occupation missions in northern Korea.[7] In Japan their strength was increased by augmentation from South Korean soldiers. They landed at Wonson and received the 65th Infantry Regiment as their third maneuver element before moving north to Hungnam and Majon-dong. At Majon-dong they established a defensive position with the 65th Infantry and began their baptism of fire. 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 7th Infantry were on the left flank. The 15th Infantry was between the 7th and 65th Regiments. 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry was set as the nucleus for Task Force Dog which was commanded by Brigadier General Armistead D. Mead, assistant 3rd Division Commander and sent north to conduct a relief in place with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment at Chinhung-ni; the south end of the 1st Marine Division and support the withdrawal of 1st Marine Division and Regimental Combat Team 31 from the Chosin Reservoir. 3rd Infantry Division's TF Dog was the rear guard keeping the pressure off of the Marine column. The Division established, along with the 7th Infantry Division a collapsing perimeter around the port of Hungnam until the last of X Corps was off the beach. The port of Hungnam was blown up to deprive the enemy the use of those facilities as the last of the 7th, 15th, and 65th Infantry units boarded ships.
The Division went on to support combat missions of the Eighth Army until 1953 when it was withdrawn. Notably, the Division fought valiantly, besides its extremely essential and able contribution during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, at the Chorwon-Kumwha area, Jackson Heights and Arrowhead outposts, and blocked a CCF push in the Kumsong Area in July 1953.
3rd Infantry Division received ten Battle Stars. Eleven more MOH recipients were added to the division's list of heroes during the Korean War. Eight were from the 7th Infantry Regiment: Jerry K. Crump (6 and 7 September 1951), John Essebagger, Jr. (25 April 1951), Charles L. Gilliland (25 April 1951), Clair Goodblood (24 and 25 April 1951), Noah O. Knight (23 and 24 November 1951), Darwin K. Kyle (16 February 1951), Leroy A. Mendonca (4 July 1951), and Hiroshi H. Miyamura, whose award was classified Top Secret until his repatriation (24 and 25 April 1951). Three more recipients were with the 15th Infantry Regiment: Emory L. Bennett (24 June 1951), Ola L. Mize (10 and 11 June 1953) and Charles F. Pendleton (16 and 17 July 1953).
During the Korean War, the division had 2,160 killed in action and 7,939 wounded.
Commanders:
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From April 1958 to April 1996, the Marne Division was stationed with the VII Corps in West Germany from near the Czech border westward throughout various towns including Wūrzburg (Div. Hq. & Support Command), Schweinfurt (1st Brigade), Kitzingen (2nd Brigade), and Aschaffenburg (3rd Brigade). In August 1961, a few days after the Berlin Wall was erected, a reinforced company from the 7th Infantry Regiment (a unit of the 3rd Infantry Division) in full battle gear, was ordered to travel along the Autobahn (a major highway) from Aschaffenburg in Bavaria to West Berlin. This was to assert the right of US forces to travel unhindered from West Germany across the western part of East Germany to West Berlin. After the Berlin Wall was built, it was not known if the East German forces would attempt to impede or restrict the movement of US troops when crossing East Germany while trying to reach West Berlin. The unit arrived in West Berlin without incident confirming the right of free passage.
In November 1990, soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division were once again called into action. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, more than 6,000 Marne men and women deployed with the 1st Armored Division on Operation Desert Storm as part of the Allied Coalition. Later nearly 1,000 soldiers deployed to southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq to provide comfort to Kurdish refugees. In late Spring of 1991, the Division supplied senior ranking officers and non-commissioned officers, along with a military police company to Task Force Victory (Forward). Stationed in Kuwait the Task Force was to provide division level support to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (which shared the same duty station). Those elements of 5th Corps attached to the task force (including those of Division) returned to their home units in early September 1991.
As part of the Army's reduction to a ten-division force, the 24th Infantry Division was inactivated on 15 February 1996, and reflagged to become the 3rd Infantry Division.
In 1996 the division was restationed at Fort Stewart, Fort Benning, and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. The division repeatedly demonstrated its deployability since then by maintaining a battalion, and later a brigade task force presence in Kuwait. It has also moved sizable forces to Egypt, Bosnia and Kosovo in partnership training and peacekeeping missions.
In 1996–97, the 3rd Infantry Division Detachment, Rear Tactical Operations Center (RTOC), which is a unit manned by the Georgia Army National Guard was mobilized and served in Operation Joint Endeavor. During this time, the 3rd ID RTOC served under the 1st Infantry Division and later the 1st Armored Division. Respectively serving in Bosnia, at Camps Dallas and Angela, near Tuzla under the 1ID, and then in Croatia at Slavonski Brod, under the 1AD, serving the Assistant Division Commander for Support, then BG George Casey.
Early in 2003 the deployability and fighting capability of the Marne Division was highly visible worldwide when the entire division deployed in weeks to Kuwait. It was called on subsequently to spearhead Coalition forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom, fighting its way to Baghdad in early April, leading to the end of the Saddam Hussein government. The First Brigade captured the Baghdad International Airport and cleared and secured the airport, which also resulted in the Division's first Medal of Honor since the Korean War, awarded to SFC Paul Ray Smith. Second Brigade, Third Infantry division made the much-publicized "Thunder Run" into downtown Baghdad. The Second Brigade was redeployed to Fallujah, Iraq during the summer of 2003. The division returned to the United States in September 2003.
Beginning in 2004, the 3rd began re-organizing. The division shifted from three maneuver brigades to four "units of action", which are essentially smaller brigade formations, with one infantry, one armor, one cavalry, and one artillery battalion in each. The former Engineer Brigade became the 4th Brigade at Fort Stewart. Each of these units of action engaged in several mock battles at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), and preparation for a second deployment to Iraq.
In January 2005, the Third Infantry Division became the first Army Division to serve a second tour in Iraq. The division headquarters took control of the Multi-National Division Baghdad, MND-B, headquartered at Camp Liberty and with responsibility for the greater Baghdad area. First and Third Brigades of the Third Infantry Division were placed under control of the 42nd Infantry Division, and later under the 101st Airborne Division, in MND-North. In preparation of this deployment a Fourth Brigade was organized and became the first cohesive "Brigade Combat Team" sent into a combat zone by the US Army, cohesive in that it fulfilled the Table of Organization requirement of such a unit. The California Army National Guard's 1st Battalion 184th Infantry Regiment served as one of the brigade's two infantry battalions, as well as the detachment from the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team, the 2/299th Infantry,also the 48th Brigade Combat Team from Ga.Army National Guard and the Charlie Company 1/295th Infantry Battalion from Puerto Rico Army National Guard served in this Operation.
The Division redeployed to Fort Stewart and Fort Benning in January 2006. On 17 November 2006, the Army announced that the Third Infantry Division is scheduled to return to Iraq in 2007 and thus become the first Army division to serve three tours in Iraq. The division headquarters became the leadership organization of MND-C (Multi-National Division Central), a new command established south of Baghdad as part of the Iraq War troop surge of 2007.
In support of operations in Baghdad, the unit 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry was detached from 3ID and assigned by General Petraeus to 3rd BCT, 82nd Airborne who was under the command of the 1st Cavalry Division. In 2008, 82nd Airborne and 1st CAV would redeploy back home, and 3–7 CAV would be handed over to 3rd BCT, 4th Infantry Division under the command of the 25th Infantry Division. They would remain uder this command until 3–7 CAV's redeployment back to Fort Stewart, being reattached to the 3rd Infantry Division.
In the fall of 2008, the 3rd Infantry Division's 1st Brigade was assigned to serve as the on-call federal response force under the control of NORTHCOM, the combatant command assigned responsibility for the continental United States. The brigade remained at its home station of Fort Stewart, Georgia, and "is training to deploy domestically in response to terrorist attacks or other national emergencies."[8] The brigade will be trained in responding to WMD attacks, crowd control, and dealing with civil unrest.[9]
The force was renamed Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive Consequence Management Response Force. Its acronym, CCMRF, is pronounced "see-smurf",[10] and the unit is now under the daily control of United States Northern Command's Army North, whose mission is to "protect the United States homeland and support local, state, and federal authorities."[11] It should be noted that the unit is a multi-branch force with Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines from the four branches of the United States Department of Defense.
In March 2009, 4th Brigade reorganized from a mechanized or heavy brigade to a light infantry brigade. As part of this reorganization, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor was reflagged as 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry.[12]
The 3rd Infantry Division assumed command of the Multi-National Division-North, now United States Division-North, in October 2009. This milestone marked the division’s fourth tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (I, III, V, and VII). The Marne Division has elements operating in every area of Iraq, from North, Center and South, as the mission changes from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn on 1 Sept. 2010. With the advent of Operation New Dawn, the focus will shift from combat operations to stability and Advise & Assist operations throughout all Iraq’s provinces.
In the course of Operation Iraqi Freedom up 24 September 2010, 436 members of the division were killed in action[13]
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Unit Citation (Army) | 1945 | Streamer embroidered COLMAR | |
| Presidential Unit Citation (Army) | 2003 | Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003 | |
| Meritorious Unit Commendation | 2007–2008 | Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2007-2008 | |
| Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France) with Palm | 1945 | Streamer embroidered COLMAR | |
| French Croix de guerre Fourragère | 1945 | Fourragère | |
| Presidential Unit Citation (Korea) | 1951 | Streamer embroidered UIJONGBU CORRIDOR | |
| Presidential Unit Citation (Korea) | 1953 | Streamer embroidered IRON TRIANGLE | |
| Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece) |
1950-1953 | Streamer embroidered KOREA |
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Unit Citation (Army) | 1945 | Streamer embroidered COLMAR | |
| Meritorious Unit Commendation | 2007–2008 | Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2007-2008 | |
| French Croix de guerre with Palm | 1945 | Streamer embroidered COLMAR | |
| French Croix de guerre Fourragère | 1945 | Fourragère | |
| Presidential Unit Citation (Korea) | 1951 | Streamer embroidered UIJONGBU CORRIDOR | |
| Presidential Unit Citation (Korea) | 1953 | Streamer embroidered IRON TRIANGLE | |
| Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece) |
1950-1953 | Streamer embroidered KOREA |
Constituted 16 March 1985 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and activated in Germany. [23]
| Ribbon | Award | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Unit Citation (Army) | 1945 | Streamer embroidered COLMAR | |
| Presidential Unit Citation (Army) | 2003 | Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003 | |
| Meritorious Unit Commendation | 1951–1952 | Streamer embroidered KOREA 1951–1952 | |
| French Croix de guerre with Palm | 1945 | Streamer embroidered COLMAR | |
| French Croix de guerre Fourragère | 1945 | Fourragère | |
| Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | 1951 | Streamer embroidered UIJONGBU CORRIDOR | |
| Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | 1953 | Streamer embroidered IRON TRIANGLE | |
| Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece) |
1950-1953 | Streamer embroidered KOREA |
| Name | Rank | Unit | Engagement | Notabability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert B. Abrams | Major General | 3rd Division | Iraq | Son of General Creighton Abrams |
| Lucian Adams | Staff Sergeant | 30th Infantry | WWII | Medal of Honor |
| Sylvester Antolak | Sergeant | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| James Arness | Private | 7th Infantry | WW II | Actor |
| John L. Barkley | Private First Class | 4th Infantry | WW I | Medal of Honor |
| Stanley Bender | Staff Sergeant | 7th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Emory L. Bennett | Private First Class | 15th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| Maurice L. Britt | Captain | 3d Division | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Edward H. Brooks | Lieutenant General | 76th Field Artillery | WW I | Distinguished Service Cross |
| Preston Brown | Brigadier General | 3d Division | WW I | Distinguished Service Medal |
| Frank Burke | Major | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Agustín Ramos Calero | Sergeant First Class | 65th Infantry | WW II | Most decorated Hispanic soldier of WW II |
| Herbert F. Christian | Private | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| James P. Connor | Sergeant | 7th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Robert Craig | Second Lieutenant | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Jerry K. Crump | Master Sergeant | 7th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| Michael J. Daly | Captain | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Rudolph B. Davila | First Lieutenant | 7th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Joseph T. Dickman | Major General | 3d Division | WW I | First commander of the 3d Division |
| Russell E. Dunham | Technical Sergeant | 30th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| John W. Dutko | First Sergeant | 3d Division | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | General of the Army | 15th Infantry | WW I | President of the United States |
| John Essebagger, Jr. | Corporal | 7th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| Eric G. Gibson | Technician Fifth Grade | 3d Division | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Shawn Gibson | Staff Sergeant | 64th Armor | Iraq | Accused for the murder of José Couso. |
| Charles L. Gilliland | Corporal | 7th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| Clair Goodblood | Corporal | 7th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| John R. Guthrie | General | 3d Division | Korea | General officer |
| Charles P. Hall | Lieutenant General | 3d Division | WW II | Principal commander during the Battle of Bataan |
| Lloyd C. Hawks | Sergeant First Class | 30th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| George Price Hays | Lieutenant General | 10th Field Artillery | WW I | Medal of Honor |
| Robert Lee Howze | Major General | 3d Division | WW I | Medal of Honor (while in 6th U.S. Cavalry) |
| Elden H. Johnson | Private | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Harold Keith Johnson | General | 7th Infantry | Korea | Army Chief of Staff |
| Victor L. Kandle | First Lieutenant | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Gus Kefurt | Staff Sergeant | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Patrick L. Kessler | Private First Class | 30th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Richard D. Kisling | Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force | 3d Division | WW II | Third Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force |
| Alton W. Knappenberger | Private First Class | 3d Division | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Noah O. Knight | Private First Class | 7th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| Darwin K. Kyle | Second Lieutenant | 7th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| Floyd K. Lindstrom | Private First Class | 7th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| John P. Lucas | Major General | 3d Division | WW II | Distinguished Service Medal |
| Robert D. Maxwell | Technician Fifth Grade | 7th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Leroy A. Mendonca | Sergeant | 7th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Joseph F. Merrell | Private | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Harold O. Messerschmidt | Sergeant | 30th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| James H. Mills | Corporal | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Hiroshi H. Miyamura | Staff Sergeant, Honorary Sergeant Major, 7th Infantry |
7th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| Ola L. Mize | Colonel | 15th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| Audie L. Murphy | Major | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor Actor |
| Charles P. Murray, Jr. | Colonel | 30th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| John W. O'Daniel | Lieutenant General | 3d Division | WW II | Distinguished Service Cross |
| Arlo L. Olson | Captain | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Truman O. Olson | Sergeant | 7th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Forrest E. Peden | Technician Fifth Grade | 10th Field Artillery | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Charles F. Pendleton | Corporal | 15th Infantry | Korea | Medal of Honor |
| Wilburn K. Ross | Master Sergeant | 350th Infantry Regiment | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Henry Schauer | Technical Sergeant | 3d Division | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| William R. Schmidt | Major General | 3d Division | WW II | Instructor at the United States Military Academy |
| Paul Ray Smith | Sergeant First Class | 11th Engineer | Iraq | Medal of Honor |
| John C. Squires | Sergeant | 30th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| John J. Tominac | Colonel | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Lucian Truscott | General | 3d Division | WW II | General officer |
| Jose F. Valdez | Private First Class | 7th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Keith L. Ware | Major General | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| David C. Waybur | First Lieutenant | 3d Division | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| Frederick C. Weyand | General | 7th Infantry | Korea | Army Chief of Staff |
| Eli Whiteley | Captain | 15th Infantry | WW II | Medal of Honor |
| John A. Wickham, Jr. | General | 1st Brigade 3d Division |
Korea | Army Chief of Staff |
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