Document Source: United States Army Order of Battle (1945). (Marne Division) The three white stripes represent the number of the division and the three major operations in which the division participated during World War One. The clear field of blue stands for loyalty, steadfastness, and undying devotion to the principles of right and justice by the American soldiers.

WW-1, a wounded doughboy

3-IDThe 3rd Division was activated in November 1917 during World War One at Camp Greene (North Carolina). Eight months later, it saw combat for the first time in France. At midnight, on July 14, 1918, the division earned the lasting distinction. Engaged in the Aisne-Marne Offensive as a member of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) 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 Division, including the 4th, 30th, and 38th Infantry Regiments, remained steadfast throughout the Second Battle of the Marne, and Col Ulysses G. McAlexander’s dogged defense earned the Division its nickname as the ‘Rock of the Marne’. The rest of the division was absorbed under French command until brought back together under the command of Gen Joseph T. Dickman and by July 15, 1918, they took the brunt of what was to be the last German offensive of the war. General of the Armies John ‘Black Jack’ Pershing, who commanded the entire American Expeditionary Force, called this stand: one of the most brilliant pages in the annals of military history. During the war, two members of the division were awarded the Medal of Honor.

Stationed at Fort Lewis (Washington) the 3rd Division moved to Fort Ord (California) on January 22, 1940, and returned to Fort Lewis, on May 19, 1940. It moved again to Hunter-Liggett Military Reservation (California) on May 25, 1941, for the IX Corps California Maneuvers and returned to Fort Lewis on July 1, 1941. The division participated in the Fourth Army Maneuvers from August 15 to August 30, 1941, was sent back to Fort Ord, on May 1, 1942, and was re-designated 3rd Infantry Division on August 1, 1942. Sent to Camp Pickett (Virginia) on September 22, 1942, it staged at Camp Patrick Henry (Virginia), and, on October 27, departed Hampton Roads POE for the North African Theater.

Mortar crewmen drop another round down the tube near the Rapido River on Jan 24, 1944. Before the attack, the 36-ID commander, Gen Fred L. Walker, had scribbled in his diary, we are undertaking the impossible, but I shall keep it to myself

US Cross3-ID WW2 Casualties

Killed in Action 2742
Wounded in Action 9489
Missing in Action 1070
Captured 70
Battle Casualties 13.101
Non-Battle Casualties 15.299
Total Casualties: 28.400

Commanding Generals

Maj Gen Charles F. Thompson, Jul 1940 – Aug 1941
Brig Gen Charles P. Hall, Aug 1941 – Sep 1941
Maj Gen John P. Lucas, Sept 1941 – Mar 1942
Maj Gen Jonathan W. Anderson, Mar 1942 – Mar 1943
Maj Gen Lucian K. Truscott, Jr., Mar 1943 – Feb 1944
Maj Gen John W. O’Daniel, Feb 1944 – Dec 1944
Brig Gen Robert N. Young (Acting), Dec 1944 – Jan 1945
Maj Gen John W. O’Daniel, Jan 1945 – July 1945
Maj Gen William R. Schmidt, Jul 1945 – Aug 1946

Chiao Bella & a glass of wine in Italy

Assistant Division Commander

Brig Gen Whitfield P. Shepard, Aug 15, 1944 – Aug 29, 1944
Vacant Aug 30, 1944 – Oct 8, 1944
Brig Gen Robert N. Young, Oct 9, 1944 – Dec 13, 1944
Col Lionel C. McGarr (Acting), Dec 13, 1944 – Jan 8, 1945
Brig Gen Robert N. Young, Jan 8, 1945 – Feb 16, 1945
Maj Robert C. Shaw (Acting), Feb 16, 1945 – Apr 14, 1945
Col Dick A. King, Apr 14, 1945.

Assistant Chief of Staff – G-5

Maj Donald E. Long, Aug 15, 1944 – Dec 15, 1944
Col Donald E. Long, Dec 16, 1944 – VEDay

Adjutant General

Capt Stephen J. Rogers, Aug 15, 1944 – Sept 17, 1944
Maj Stephen J. Rogers, Sept 17, 1944 – Apr 1, 1945
Col Stephen J. Rogers, Apr 1, 1945 – VEDay

Major General John O'Daniel attaching the Presidential Unit Citation streamer on the 3rd Battalion unit flagpole

COs 7th Infantry Regiment

Col Wiley H. O’Mohundro, Aug 15, 1944 – Aug 23, 1944
Col Ben Harrell, Aug 23, 1944 – Dec 5, 1944
Lt Col John A. Heintges, Dec 5, 1944 – Mar 8, 1945
Col John A. Heintges, Mar 8, 1945 – VEDay

COs 15th Infantry Regiment

Col Richard G. Thomas, Aug 15, 1944 – Oct 1, 1944
Lt Col Hallett D. Edson, Oct 1, 1944 – Mar 8, 1945
Col Hallett D. Edson, Mar 8, 1945 – VEDay

COs 30th Infantry Regiment

Col Lionel G. McGarr, Aug 15, 1944 – Dec 13, 1944
Lt Col Richard H. Nedderson, Dec 13, 1944 – Jan 8, 1945
Col Lionel C. McGarr, Jan 8, 1945 – VEDay

3-ID – Awards

Presidential Unit Citation
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
French Fourragère in the colors of the Croix de Guerre
Distinguished Service Cross, 71
Legion of Merit, 2
Silver Star Medal, 1438
Soldiers Medal, 21
Bronze Star Medal, 2385
Air Medal, 58

Operation Dragoon, a captain with the 3rd Infantry Division smiles for the camera on a road near Brignoles, Southern France in August 1944

3-ID Campaigns

Algeria-French Morocco
Tunisia
Sicily
Naples-Foggia
Anzio
Rome-Arno
Southern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace

Central Europe

Order of Battle – 3-ID 1945

7th Infantry Regiment
15th Infantry Regiment
30th Infantry Regiment
3rd Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
10th Engineer Combat Battalion
3rd Medical Battalion
3rd Division Artillery
10th Field Artillery Battalion (105-MM Howitzer)
39th Field Artillery Battalion (105-MM Howitzer)
41st Field Artillery Battalion (105-MM Howitzer)
9th Field Artillery Battalion (155-MM Howitzer)
Special Troops
703d Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
3rd Quartermaster Company
3rd Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
Headquarters Company
Band

Italy 1944 60-MM Mortar

Attachments to the 3-ID
Antiaircraft Artillery

441-AAA-AW-B (SP): 13 Jul 1944 – 29 Jun 1945
1 Plat, A Btry, 353-AAA-SL-B: 4-9 Feb 1945
B Btry, (-2d Plat), 353-AAA-SL-B: 27 Feb 1945 – 15 Mar 1945
2d Plat, B Btry, 353-AAA-SL-B: 15 Mar 1945 – 22 Apr 1945

Armored

756-TB: 13 Jul 1944 – 1 Jul 1945
CCB, (14-AD): 8-10 Apr 1945
47-TB, (14-AD): 8-10 Apr 1945
19-AIB, (14-AD): 8-10 Apr 1945
499-AFAB, (14-AD): 8-10 Apr 1945
B Troop, 94-CRS, (14-AD): 8-10 Apr 1945
B Co, 125-AEB, (14-AD): 8-10 Apr 1945
B Co, 636-TDB (SP): 8-10 Apr 1945

Cavalry

C Troop, 117-CRS: 18 Jul 1944 – 17 Aug 1944
117-CRS: 22-29 Sep 1944
106-CG: 25-27 Mar 1945
101-CRS: 28 Apr 1945
106-CG: 3-4 May 1945

3-ID Italy

Chemical

3d Cml Mort Bn: 11 Jul 1944 – 2 Sep 1944
3d Cml Mort Bn (- Cos A&B): 3 Sep 1944 – 6 Oct 1944
B Co, 3d Cml Mort Bn: 9 Sep 1944 – 14 Nov 1944
A Co, 3d Cml Mort Bn: 13 Sep 1944 – 5 Dec 1944
D Co, 3d Cml Mort Bn: 19 Oct 1944 – 14 Nov 1944
99th Cml Mort Bn: 21 Dec 1944 – 30 Jan 1945
168th Cml SG Co: 31 Jan 1945 – 12 Feb 1945
A Co, 87th Cml Bn: 14-31 Mar 1945
168th Cml SG Co: 31 Mar 1945 – 21 Apr 1945
B Co, 2d Cml Mort Bn: 2-21 Apr 1945
99th Cml Mort Bn: 26-29 Apr 1945
168th Cml SG Co: 26 Apr 1945 – 6 May 1945
2d Cml Mort Bn: 30 Apr 1945 – 5 May 1945

Getting some order in this bunch of captured Krauts, Italy



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