Document Source: Order of Battle of the United States Army, World War II, European Theater of Operations. Office of the Theater Historian, Paris, France, December 20, 1945.

Illustration


The 4th Armored Division was activated on April 15, 1941, at Pille Camp (New York) and moved to Camp Forrest (Tennessee), on October 2, 1942, for the 1st Corps Tennessee Maneuvers. On November 17, the unit arrived at Camp Young (California), where it participated in the Desert Training Center #1 California Maneuvers. The Division was then transferred to Camp Bowie (Texas) on June 13, 1943, staged at Camp Myles Standish (Massachusetts) on December 20, 1943, until departed the Boston POE. Sailed across the ocean and arrived in England on January 11, 1944. The 4th Armored Division landed in France on July 13, crossed into Luxembourg on February 9, 1945, and entered Germany on March 9, 1945. The Division was re-designated the 1st Constabulary Brigade on May 1, 1946.

December 1944 Sherman Cobra King, the first to breach into the besieged town of Bastogne

Lest we ForgetCasualties

Killed in Action 1238
Wounded in Action 4246
Missing in Action 503
Captured, 1
Battle Casualties 5988
Non-Battle Casualties 4508
Total Casualties 10.496

Highly mobile M-18 Hellcat (one of the fastest AFV of WW2)

Commanding Generals

Maj Gen Henry W. Baird, Apr 1941 – May 1942
Maj Gen John S. Wood, May 1942 – Dec 1943
Maj Gen John Wood, Jan 1944 – Dec 1944
Maj Gen Hugh J. Gaffey, Dec 1944 – Feb 1945
Col Walter A. Bigby, Feb 1945 – Feb 1945
Brig Gen Holmes E. Dager, Feb 1945 – Mar 1945
Maj Gen William M. Hoge, Mar 1945 – Jun 1945
Brig Gen B. L. Clarke, Jun 1945 – Jul 1945
Brig Gen W. Lyn Roberts, Jul 1945 – Sept 1945
Maj Gen Fay B. Prickett, Sept 1945.

4-AD Road to Victory

Assistant Division Commander
Col William L Roberts, Mar 16, 1945
Brig Gen William L Roberts, May 1, 1945

Artillery Commander
Col Ernest Bixby, Jan 11, 1944 – Sept 7, 1944
Lt Col Alexander Graham, Sept 7, 1944 – Jan 5, 1945
Col Alexander Graham, Jan 5, 1945 – VEDay

Chief of Staff
Col Walter A. Bigby, Jan 11, 1944 – Aug 2, 1944
Lt Col David A. Watt, Aug 2, 1944 – Sept 7, 1944
Col Ernest Bixby, Sept 7, 1944 – Sept 13, 1944
Col Walter A. Bigby, Sept 13, 1944 – deactivation

March of the 4-AD

Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
Lt Col Robert M. Connelly, Jan 11, 1944 – Aug 28, 1944
Lt Col John H. Himelick, Aug 28, 1944

Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
Lt Col Harry E Brown, Jan 11, 1944.

Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
Lt Col David A. Watt Jr, Jan 11, 1944 – May 31, 1944
Lt Col John B. Sullivan, May 31, 1944

Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
Lt Col Herbert F. Krucker, Jan 11, 1944 – Oct 5, 1944
Lt Col Bernard C. Knestrick, Oct 5, 1944

Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
Maj James H. Van Wagenen, Jun 12, 1944 – Nov 16, 1944
Lt Col James H. Van Wagenen, Nov 16, 1944

Adjutant General
Lt Col John H. Himelick, Jan 11, 1944 – Aug 28, 1944
Lt Col Robert M. Connolly, Aug 28, 1944

An M4 Sherman of 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division ready for the night after a day of fighting near Chateau Salins

CCA
Col B. C. Clarke, Jan 11, 1944
Lt Col Creighton W. Abrams, Oct 31, 1944
Col William P. Withers, Nov 18, 1944
Brig Gen Herbert L. Earnest, Dec 3, 1944
Col Hayden A. Sears, Jan 22, 1945

Medical Detachment 51st AIB Battle of the Bulge

CCB
Brig Gen Holmes E. Dager, Jan 11, 1944
Lt Col Creighton W. Abrams, Mar 8, 1945
Col Creighton W. Abrams, Apr 21, 1945

Armor in the Battle of the Bulge

CCR
Col Louis J. Storck, Jan 11, 1944
Col Walter A. Bigby, Aug 2, 1944
Col Wendell Blanchard, Sept 12, 1944

M4A3E8 tank of the US 4th Armored Division covers one of the roads towards Bastogne

Awards
Medal of Honor, 3
Distinguished Service Cross, 34
Legion of Merit, 16
Silver Star, 845
Soldiers Medal, 11
Bronze Star, 3443
Air Medal, 103

Sherman in Action



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