After the fall of Sicily, the 1-AD, part of Clark’s Fifth Army, invaded mainland Italy. It took part in the attack on the Winter Line in November 1943. It then flanked the Axis armies in the landings at Anzio, and then passed through the city of Rome, and pursued the retreating enemy northward until mid-July 1944. At that point, Gen Prichard replaced Gen Harmon, who led the 1-AD through the rest of the war. Three days after Gen Prichard took command, the division was reorganized, based on experiences in the North African Campaign. The change was drastic. It eliminated the armored and infantry regiments in favor of three separate tank and infantry battalions, disbanded the Supply Battalion, and cut the strength of the division from 14000 to 10000. The result of the reorganization was a more flexible and balanced division, with roughly equivalent infantry and tank battalions. These forces could be combined or custom-tailored by the command to meet any situation. The additional infantry strength would prove particularly useful in future campaigns in the largely mountainous combat of the Italian Campaign. The division continued in combat to the Po Valley until the German forces in Italy surrendered on May 2, 1945. In June, the division moved to Germany as part of the occupation forces.
1-AD – Casualties
Killed in Action: 1194
Wounded in Action: 5168
Died of Wounds: 234
1st Armored Division – Commanding Officers
Maj Gen Bruce Magruder: July 1940 – March 1942
Maj Gen Orlando Ward: March 1942 – April 1943
Maj Gen Ernest N. Harmon: April 1943 – July 1944
Maj Gen V. E. Prichard: July 1944 – September 1945
Maj Gen Roderick R. Allen: September 1945 – January 1946
Maj Gen Hobart R. Gay: February 1946 – to inactivation
1-AD – Order of Battle 1944 – Organic
Hqs Company 1st Armored Division
Combat Command A
Combat Command B
Reserve Command (CCR)
1st Armored Division Band
1st Engineer Assault Company
1st Tank Battalion
4th Tank Battalion
6th Armored Infantry Battalion
11th Armored Infantry Battalion
13th Tank Battalion
14th Armored Infantry Battalion
16th Armored Engineer Battalion
27th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (105-SP)
47th Armored Medical Battalion
68th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (105-SP)
81st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized
91st Armored Field Artillery Battalion (105-SP)
123rd Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
141st Armored Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
501st Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment
Order of Battle – 1-AD, April 9 1945
1-TB, 4-TB, 13-TB
6-AIB, 11-AIB, 14-AIB
81st Cav Recon Sq (Mez)
1-AD Artillery
27-AFAB, 68-AFAB, 91-AFAB
16th Armored Engineer Battalion
Order of Battle – 1-AD (IV Corps) April 23 1945
Hqs and Hqs Co – CCA
Combat Command A
Hqs and Hqs Co – CCB
Combat Command B
Hqs and Hqs Co – CCR
Reserve Combat Command
Hqs and Hqs Co 1-AD
6th Armored Infantry Battalion
11th Armored Infantry Battalion
14th Armored Infantry Battalion
1st Tank Battalion
4th Tank Battalion
13th Tank Battalion
1st Armored Division Artillery
Hqs and Hqs Battery
27th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) SP
68th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) SP
91st Armored Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer) SB
81st Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mez)
47th Armored Medical Battalion
16th Armored Engineer Battalion
1st Engineer Assault Company (Provisional)
141st Armored Signal Company
501st Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment [att]
123rd Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
Military Police Platoon
1st Armored Division Band
1st Armored Division Trains
Thomas W. Fowler, 2/Lt, 1-AD, MoH
Rank and organization: 2/Lt, US Army, 1-AD
Place and date: Near Carano Italy, May 23, 1944.
Entered service at Wichita Falls Texas
Birth Wichita Falls Texas G.O. No.: 84, Oct 28, 1944
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on May 23, 1944, in the vicinity of Carano Italy. In the midst of a full-scale armored-infantry attack, 2d Lt Fowler, while on foot, came upon 2 completely disorganized infantry platoons held up in their advance by an enemy minefield. Although a tank officer, he immediately reorganized the infantry. He then did a personal reconnaissance through the minefield, clearing a path as he went, by lifting the antipersonnel mines out of the ground with his hands. After he had gone through the 75-yard belt of deadly explosives, he returned to the infantry and led them through the minefield, a squad at a time. As they deployed, 2d Lt Fowler, despite small arms fire and the constant danger of antipersonnel mines, made a reconnaissance into enemy territory in search of a route to continue the advance. He then returned through the minefield and, on foot, he led the tanks through the mines into a position from which they could best support the infantry. Acting as scout 300 yards in front of the infantry, he led the 2 platoons forward until he had gained his objective, where he encountered several dug-in enemy infantrymen. Having taken them by surprise, 2d Lt Fowler dragged them out of their foxholes and sent them to the rear; twice, when they resisted, he threw hand grenades into their dugouts. Realizing that a dangerous gap existed between his company and the unit to his right, 2d Lt Fowler decided to continue his advance until the gap was filled. He reconnoitered to his front, brought the infantry into a position where they dug in, and, under heavy mortar and small arms fire brought his tanks forward. A few minutes later, the enemy began an armored counterattack. Several Mark IV tanks fired their cannons directly on 2d Lt Fowler’s position. One of his tanks was set afire. With utter disregard for his own life, with shells bursting near him, he ran directly into the enemy tank fire to reach the burning vehicle. For a half hour, under intense strafing from the advancing tanks, although all other elements had withdrawn, he remained in his forward position, attempting to save the lives of the wounded tank crew. Only when the enemy tanks had almost overrun him, did he withdraw a short distance where he personally rendered first aid to 9 wounded infantrymen in the midst of the relentless incoming fire. 2d Lt. Fowler’s courage, his ability to estimate the situation and to recognize his full responsibility as an officer in the Army of the United States, exemplify the high traditions of the military service for which he later gave his life.
Nicholas Minue, Pvt, 1-AD, MoH
Rank and organization: Private, US Army
Able Co, 6-AIR, 1-AD
Place and date, near MedjezelBab Tunisia Apr 28, 1943.
Entered service at Carteret New Jersey
Birth Sedden Poland G.O. No.: 24, Mar 25, 1944.
Citation: For distinguishing himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the loss of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy on 28 April 1943, in the vicinity of MedjezelBab Tunisia. When the advance of the assault elements of Company A was held up by flanking fire from an enemy machine gun nest, Pvt Minue voluntarily, alone, and unhesitatingly, with complete disregard for his own welfare, charged the enemy entrenched position with a fixed Bayonet. Pvt Minue assaulted the enemy under a withering machine gun and rifle fire, killing approximately 10 enemy machine gunners and riflemen. After completely destroying this position, Pvt Minue continued forward, routing enemy riflemen from dugout positions until he was fatally wounded. The courage, fearlessness, and aggressiveness displayed by Pvt Minue in the face of inevitable death was unquestionably the factor that gave his company the offensive spirit necessary for advancing and driving the enemy from the entire sector.
