Cavalry
38th Cav Rcn Sq (-Troop B) – 14 Jul 44 – 18 Jul 44
Troop B, 38th Cav Rcn Sq – 14 Jul 44 – 30 Jul 44
Troop C, 3rd Cav Rcn Sq – 7 Sep 44 – 11 Sep 44
3rd Cav Rcn Sq, 11 Sep 44 – 14 Sep 44
6th Cav Gp – 1 Dec 44 – 16 Dec 44
6th Cav Rcn Sq – 1 Dec 44 – 16 Dec 44
Troop E, 28th Cav Rcn Sq – 1 Dec 44 – 16 Dec 44
Troop C, 2d Cav Rcn Sq – 26 Mar 45 – 28 Mar 45
32nd Cav Rcn Sq – 8 Apr 45 – 13 Apr 45
Troop F, 18th Cav Rcn Sq – 8 Apr 45 – 13 Apr 45
Chemical
D Co, 81st Cml Mort Bn – 13 Jul 44 – 1 Aug 44
84th Cml SG Co – 7 Sep 44 – 20 Sep 44
Cos C&D, 81st Cml Mort Bn – 19 Sep 44 – 20 Oct 44
C Co, 81st Cml Mort Bn – 1 Nov 44 – 10 Nov 44
D Co, 81st Cml Mort Bn – 1 Nov 44 – 22 Nov 44
A Co, 81st Cml Mort Bn – 16 Dec 44 – 21 Dec 44
C Co, 91st Cml Mort Bn – 22 Dec 44 – 15 Jan 45
D Co, 91st Cml Mort Bn – 22 Dec 44 – 1 Feb 45
C Co, 91st Cml Mort Bn – 4 Feb 45 – 22 Feb 45
2 Secs, 81st Cml Mort Bn – 6 Feb 45 – 12 Feb 45
84th Cml SG Co – 12 Feb 45 – 28 Feb 45
84th Cml SG Co – 2 Mar 45 – 5 Mar 45
2 Secs, 84th Cml SG Co – 13 Mar 45 – 24 Mar 45
84th Cml SG Co (-2 secs) – 21 Mar 45 – 24 Mar 45
B Co, 90th Cml Mort Bn – 8 Apr 45 – 15 Apr 45
C Co, 90th Cml Mort Bn – 12 Apr 45 – 15 Apr 45
Engineer
150th Engr Cbt Bn – 9 Aug 44 – 13 Aug 44
1 plat, 994th Engr Treadway Br Co – 9 Aug 44 – 13 Aug 44
537th Engr Light Pon Co – 9 Aug 44 – 13 Aug 44
1 plat, 537th Engr Light Pon Co – 24 Aug 44 – 27 Aug 44
160th Engr Cbt Bn – 25 Aug 44 – 27 Aug 44
989th Engr Treadway Br Co – 25 Aug 44 – 27 Aug 44
160th Engr Cbt Bn – 29 Aug 44 – 30 Aug 44
989th Engr Treadway Br – 29 Aug 44 – 30 Aug 44
509th Engr Light Pon Co – 29 Aug 44 – 30 Aug 44
B Co, 293d Engr C Bn – 1 Dec 44 – 16 Dec 44
Field Artillery
187th FAB (155-MM How) – 30 Jul 44 – 1 Aug 44
204th FAB (155-MM How) – 9 Aug 44 – 13 Aug 44
B Btry, 7th FAOB – 10 Aug 44 – 13 Aug 44
282d FAB (105-MM How) – 25 Aug 44 – 5 Sep 44
241st FAB (105-MM How) – 25 Aug 44 – 29 Sep 44
284th FAB (105-MM How) – 25 Aug 44 – 21 Oct 44
434th FAB – 10 Sep 44 – 15 Sep 44
284th FAB (105-MM How) – 8 Nov 44 – 22 Nov 44
244th FAB (155-MM Gun) – 22 Nov 44 – 7 Dec 44
1 sec, B Btry, 558th FAB (155-MM Gun) – 28 Nov 44 – 7 Dec 44
284th FAB (105-MM How) – 16 Dec 44 – 21 Dec 44
B Btry, 558th FAB (155-MM Gun) – 16 Dec 44 – 21 Dec 44
1 plat, C Btry, 558th FAB (155-MM Gun) – 11 Feb 45 – 21 Feb 45
Infantry
5th Ranger Bn – 1 Dec 44 – 16 Dec 44
Task Force Riley (10-AD) – 22 Dec 44 – 23 Dec 44
3rd Bn, 8-IF (4-ID) – 15 Jan 45 – 17 Jan 45
417th RCT (76-ID) – 4 Feb 45 – 11 Feb 45
2d Bn, 101-IR (26-ID) – 23 Mar 45 – 21 Mar 45
357-IR (90-ID) – 23 Mar 45 – 24 Mar 45
Task Force Satt – 2 Apr 45 – 4 Apr 45
16 Belgian Fusilliers – 18 Apr 45 – 19 Apr 45
Tank Destroyer
818-TDB (SP) – 13 Jul 44 – 20 Dec 44
774-TDB (T) – 14 Sep 44 – 24 Sept 44
B Co, 774-TDB (T) – 26 Sep 44 – 15 Oct 44
A Co, 774-TDB (T) – 26 Sep 44 – 22 Oct 44
705-TDB (SP) – 1 Nov 44 – 2 Nov 44
773-TDB (SP) – 1 Nov 44 – 2 Nov 44
774-TDB (T) – 5 Nov 44 – 22 Nov 44
C Co, 602-TDB (SP) – 1 Dec 44 – 16 Dec 44
807-TDB (SP) – 17 Dec 44 – 21 Dec 44
C Co, 808-TDB (SP) – 21 Dec 44 – 23 Dec 44
654-TDB (SP) – 22 Dec 44 – 25 Dec 44
C Co, 808-TDB (SP) – 23 Dec 44 – 28 Dec 44
803-TDB (SP) – 25 Dec 44 – 13 Jun 45
1 plat, B Co, 808-TDB (SP) – 10 Feb 45 – 16 Feb 45
B Co, 691-TDB (T) – 23 Mar 45 – 24 Mar 45
5-ID – Detachment to
Cavalry
5th Recon Troop to 4-ID – 23 Dec 44 – 24 Dec 44
Field Artillery
5th Div Arty to 95-ID – 23 Nov 44 – 27 Nov 44
Infantry
2-RCT to 2-AD – 10 Sep 44 – 15 Sep 44
3/10-IR to 95-ID – 26 Nov 44 – 28 Nov 44
10-RCT to 95-ID – 30 Nov 44 – 1 Dec 44
3/2-IR to 95-ID – 12 Dec 44 – 17 Dec 44
10-RCT to 4-ID – 22 Dec 44 – 24 Dec 44
46-FAB to 4-ID – 22 Dec 44 – 24 Dec 44
B/7-ECB to 4-ID – 22 Dec 44 – 24 Dec 44
11-RCT to 4-AD – 8 Mar 45 – 1 Mar 45
1/11-IR to 7-AD – 15 Apr 45 – 7 Apr 45
Narrative
The 5th Infantry Division, now commanded by Gen Stafford LeRoy Irwin, left Iceland in early August 1943 and was sent to England to prepare and train for the eventual invasion of the northwestern part of Europe, then scheduled for the spring of 1944. After two years of training the Red Diamond Division landed in Normandy on Utah Beach on July 9, 1944, and four days later took up defensive positions in the vicinity of Caumont. Launching a successful attack at Vidouville on July 26, the division drove on the southeast of St-Lô, attacking and capturing Angers on August 9/10. Assisted by the 7-AD, thre 5-ID captured Chartres on August 18, pushed to Fontainebleau, crossed the Seine River at Montereau on August 24, crossed then the Marne River and seized Reims on August 30. Halted for a regroup and refitting in the area east of Verdun, the 5-ID prepared for the assault on Metz for September 7. In mid-September, after numerous casualties and two attempts, a bridgehead was finally secured across the Moselle River south of Metz at Dornot and Arnaville. The first attempt (11-IR in Dornot) failed. The German-held Fort Driant played a role in repulsing this crossing. A second crossing by the 10-IR at Arnaville was successful.
The division continued the operations against Metz from September 16 to October 16, withdrew, then returned to the assault on November 9. Metz finally fell on November 22. The division crossed the German Border on December 4, captured Lauterbach (vicinity of Völklingen) on December 5, and elements reached the west bank of the Saar River on December 6 before the division moved to assembly areas. On December 16, the Germans launched their winter offensive in the Ardennes Forest, and on December 18, the 5-ID was thrown in against the southern flank of the Bulge, helping to reduce it by the end of January 1945. In February and March, the division drove across and northeast of the Sauer River, where it smashed through the Siegfried Line and later took part in the Allied invasion of Germany.
The Red Diamond’s Soldiers crossed the Rhine River on the night of March 22, 1945. After capturing some 19.000 German soldiers, the division continued to Frankfurt-am-Main, clearing and policing the town and its environs, March 27/29. In April the 5th Infantry Division, now commanded by Gen Albert E. Brown (Maj Gen Irwin being promoted to take over the XII Corps) took part in clearing the Ruhr Pocket and then drove across the Czechoslovak Border on May 1 reaching Volary and Vimperk as the war in Europe ended.
5-ID – Command Posts
26 Jan 1944 – Tidworth Barracks – Wiltshire – England
15 Feb 1944 – Bryansford – North Ireland
10 Jul 1944 – Montebourg – Manche – France
15 Jul 1944 – Balleroy – Calvados – France
24 Jul 1944 – Corisy-la-Foret – Manche – France
29 Jul 1944 – Litteau – Manche – France
1 Aug 1944 – Aux Malles – Calvados – France
4 Aug 1944 – Cerisy-la-Salle – Manche – France
5 Aug 1944 – Lafrense Vitry – Manche – France
11 Aug 1944 – Angers – Maine-et-Loire – France
13 Aug 1944 – St Calais – Sarthe – France
14 Aug 1944 – Authon – Eure-et-Loire – France
15 Aug 1944 – Harville – Eure-et-Loire – France
17 Aug 1944 – Pezy – Eure-et-Loire – France
18 Aug 1944 – Levesville – Eure-et-Loire – France
22 Aug 1944 – Thionville – Seine-et-Marne – France
23 Aug 1944 – Malesherbes – Seine-et-Marne – France
23 Aug 1944 – Nemours – Seine-et-Marne – France
24 Aug 1944 – Villecerf – Seine-et-Marne – France
26 Aug 1944 – Goumery – Seine-et-Marne – France
27 Aug 1944 – Suzanne – Marne – France
29 Aug 1944 – Charmoye – Marne – France
29 Aug 1944 – Sermier – Marne – France
30 Aug 1944 – Reims – Marne – France
31 Aug 1944 – Somme-Suippe – Marne – France
1 Sep 1944 – Verdun – Meuse – France
6 Sep 1944 – Vionville – Meuse – France
13 Sep 1944 – Chambley – Meurthe-et-Moselle – France
27 Sep 1944 – Villers-sur-le-Preny – Meurthe-et-Moselle – France
20 Oct 1944 – Piennes – Meurthe-et-Moselle – France
1 Nov 1944 – Villers-sur-le-Preny – Meurthe-et-Moselle – France
11 Nov 1944 – Lesmenils – Meurthe-et-Moselle – France
16 Nov 1944 – Ft Leisne (vic Verny) – Moselle – France
2 Dec 1944 – Zimming (adv) – Moselle – France
6 Dec 1944 – Mine de Huille (Creutzwald) – Moselle – France
16 Dec 1944 – Saarlautern – Rhineland – Germany
21 Dec 1944 – Neudorf – Luxembourg
23 Dec 1944 – Metz – Moselle – France
24 Dec 1944 – Junglinster – Luxembourg
30 Dec 1944 – Fels – Luxembourg
21 Jan 1945 – Schieren (vic) – Luxembourg
4 Feb 1945 – Junglinster – Luxembourg
6 Feb 1945 – Scheidgen – Luxembourg
18 Feb 1945 – Chateau – Luxembourg
25 Feb 1945 – Nusbaum – Rhineland – Germany
28 Feb 1945 – Messerich – Rhineland – Germany
8 Mar 1945 – Dudeldorf – Rhineland – Germany
10 Mar 1945 – Daun – Rhineland – Germany
12 Mar 1945 – Kaisersesch – Rhineland – Germany
16 Mar 1945 – Treis – Rhineland – Germany
17 Mar 1945 – Kastellaum – Rhineland – Germany
18 Mar 1945 – Simmern – Rhineland – Germany
19 Mar 1945 – Winterburg – Rhineland – Germany
21 Mar 1945 – Wendelsheim – Hessen – Germany
22 Mar 1945 – Undenheim – Hessen – Germany
26 Mar 1945 – Trebur – Hessen – Germany
27 Mar 1945 – Waldorf – Hessen – Germany
27 Mar 1945 – Frankfurt (adv) – Hessen – Germany
29 Mar 1945 – Frankfurt – Hessen – Germany
5 Apr 1945 – Lich – Hessen – Germany
9 Apr 1945 – Bigge – Hessen – Germany
11 Apr 1945 – Merschede – Westphalia – Germany
13 Apr 1945 – Sundern – Westphalia – Germany
15 Apr 1945 – Menden (adv) – Westphalia – Germany
16 Apr 1945 – Menden – Westphalia – Germany
25 Apr 1945 – Langenselvold (adv) – Hessen – Germany
26 Apr 1945 – Langenselvold – Hessen – Germany
26 Apr 1945 – Bamberg – Bavaria – Germany
27 Apr 1945 – Grafenau (adv) – Bavaria – Germany
29 Apr 1945 – Grafenau – Bavaria – Germany
2 May 1945 – Waldkirchen – Bavaria – Germany
5 May 1945 – Bischofsreut – Bavaria – Germany
