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.
28th INFANTRY DIVISION
Bloody Bucket Division, Keystone Division
The red keystone, the official emblem of the State of Pennsylvania, is the official shoulder sleeve insignia of the 28th Infantry Division which was originally a Pennsylvania National Guard organization. The Germans called it Bloody Bucket because of the blood-red keystone insignia and vicious fighting tactics during the Normandy Campaign.
The Motto of the 28-ID is Fire and Movement.
Commanding Generals
Maj Gen Lloyd D. Brown – Oct 18, 1943 – Aug 13, 1944.
Brig Gen James E. Wharton – Aug 13, 1944 – Aug 14, 1944.
Brig Gen Norman D Cota – Aug 14, 1944 – Sept 26, 1944.
Maj Gen Norman D Cota – Sept 26, 1944 – Deactivation.
Assistant Division Commanders
Brig Gen Kenneth Buchanan – Oct 18, 1943 – Aug 31, 1944.
Brig Gen George A. Davis – Aug 31, 1944 – Mar 1, 1945.
Brig Gen Edmund B. Sebree – Mar 1, 1945 – Deactivation.
Artillery Division Commander
Brig Gen Basil H. Perry – Oct 18, 1943 – Deactivation.
CofS – Col Charles H. Valentine – Oct 18, 1943 – Dec 7, 1943.
CofS – Col Jesse L. Gibney – Dec 7, 1943 – Deactivation.
ACofS (G1) – Lt Col Forrest Caraway – Dec 15, 1943 – Apr 14, 1945.
ACofS (G1) – Lt Col Lauren W. Merriam – Apr 14, 1945 – Deactivation.
ACofS (G2) – Lt Col Harry S. Messec – Dec 15, 1943 – Apr 17, 1945.
ACofS (G2) – Maj David Y. Hurwitz – Apr 17, 1945 – Deactivation.
ACofS (G3) – Lt Col Thomas E. Briggs – Dec 15, 1943 – Nov 1, 1944.
ACofS (G3) – Lt Col Benjamin J. Tarpani – Nov 1, 1944 – Dec 1, 1944.
ACofS (G3) – Lt Col Thomas E. Briggs – Dec 1, 1944 – Dec 27, 1944.
ACofS (G3) – Maj Carl W. Plitt – Dec 27, 1944 – Mar 7, 1945.
ACofS (G3) – Lt Col Carl W. Plitt – Mar 7, 1945 – May 7, 1945.
ACofS (G3) – Lt Col William F. Train – May 7, 1945 – Deactivation.
ACofS (G4) – Lt Col John C. Davis – Dec 15, 1943 – Nov 1, 1943.
ACofS (G4) – Maj Harry S. Manry – Nov 1, 1943 – Aug 31, 1945.
ACofS (G4) – Lt Col Harry S. Manry – Aug 31, 1945 – Deactivation.
ACofS (G5) – Maj John M. Gregory – May 31, 1944 – June 15, 1944.
ACofS (G5) – Maj Norman R. S. Thompson – June 15, 1944 – Mar 7, 1945.
ACofS (G5) – Lt Col Norman R. S. Thompson – Mar 7, 1945 – Deactivation.
Adjutant General – Lt Col Paul M. Kienzie – Dec 15, 1943 – Deactivation.
CO 109th Infantry Regiment – Col James E. Rudder – May 1945*.
CO 110th Infantry Regiment – Col Daniel B. Sticker – May 1945*.
CO 112th Infantry Regiment – Col Gustin M. Nelson – May 1945*.
(*) Unable to obtain regimental Commanders prior to May 1945.
STATISTICS – CHRONOLOGY
Inducted: Feb 17, 1941.
Arrived ETO: Oct 18, 1943.
Combat (1st Element): Jul 22, 1944.
Combat (Entire Division): Jul 27, 1944.
Days in Combat: 196.
STATISTIC – CAMPAIGNS
Normandy
Northern France
Ardennes
Rhineland
Central Europe
STATISTIC – CASUALTIES (1945 Tentative)
Killed in Action: 1901
Wounded in Action: 9151
Missing in Action: 2599
Captured: 2247
Battle Casualties: 15.904
Non-Battle Casualties: 8936
Total Casualties: 24.840
Percent of T/O Strength: 176.3%
STATISTIC – INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Distinguished Service Cross: 16
Legion of Merit: 4
Silver Stars: 258
Soldiers Medals: 15
Bronze Stars: 2099
Air Medal: 92
Prisoners Taken: 8661
28-ID COMPOSITION – ORGANIC UNITS
109th Infantry Regiment
110th Infantry Regiment
112th Infantry Regiment
28th Reconnaissance troop (MECZ)
103d Engineer Combat Battalion
103d Medical Battalion
28th Division Artillery
107th Field Artillery Battalion (105-MM HOW)
109th Field Artillery Battalion (105-MM HOW)
229th Field Artillery Battalion (105-MM HOW)
108th Field Artillery Battalion (155-MM HOW)
Special Troops
728th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
28th Quartermaster Company
28th Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
Headquarters Company
Band
ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY ATTACHEMENTS
447th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) -27 Jul 44 – 30 Jul 44
18th AAA Gp – 28 Jul 44 – 25 Aug 44
447th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) – 26 Aug 44 – 30 Sep 44
447th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) – 19 Jan 45 – 4 Jul 45br>
321st AAA Gp – 18 Apr 45 – 22 Apr 45
446th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) – 18 Apr 45 22 Apr 45
ARMORED ATTACHEMENTS
744th Tk Bn – 30 Jul 44 – 27 Aug 44
707th Tk Bn – 6 Oct 44 – 8 Jan 45
CCB (9th Armd Div) – 9 Jan 45 – 10 Jan 45
2 plats Co B 709th Tk Bn – 1 Feb 45 – 3 Feb 45
777th Tk Bn – 28 Feb 45 – 26 Mar 45
Able Co, 801st TD Bn (SP) – 6 Now 44 – 10 Now 44
CAVALRY ATTACHEMENTS
113th Cav Gp – 29 Jul 44 – 2 Aug 44
113th Cav Gp – 2 Aug 44 – 4 Aug 44
85th Cav Rcn Sq (5th Armd Div) – 7 Sep 44 – 9 Sep 44
32d Cav Rcn Sq – 19 Nov 44 – 10 Dec 44
CHEMICAL ATTACHEMENTS
Dog Co, 87th Cml Bn – 26 Oct 44 – 4 Nov 44
Charlie Co, 86th Cml Mort Bn – 28 Oct 44 – 15 Nov 44
86th Cml Mort Bn (less Charlie Co) – 28 Oct 44 – 19 Noy 44
Able Co, 86th Cml Mort Bn – 1 Mar 45 – 14 Mar 45
ENGINEER ATTACHEMENTS
1t Plat, Baker Co, 4th Engr Cbt Bn, (4th Div) – 6 Nov 44 – 10 Nov 44
20th, 1340th Engr Cbt Bns & 1171st Engr Cbt Gp – 24 Oct 44 – 19 Nov 44
146th Engr Cbt Bn (less Baker Co) – 30 Oct 44 – 19 Nov 44
44th Engr Cbt Bn – 17 Dec 44 – 22 Dec 44
209th Engr Cbt Bn – 20 Jan 45 – 5 Feb 45
1282d Engr Cbt Bn – 27 Apr 45 – 20 May 45
1158th Engr Cbt Gp – 28 Apr 45 – 20 May 45
288th Engr Cbt Bn – 28 Apr 45 – 20 May 45
1286th Engr Cbt Bn – 28 Apr 45 20 May 45
1 Plat Bake Co, 319th Engr Cbt Bn – 8 Jan 45 – 10 Jan 45
FIELD ARTILLERY ATTACHEMENTS
42d FA Bn (4th Div) (105 HOW) – 6 Nov 44 – 10 Nov 44
18th FA Bn (105 HOW) – 1 Aug 44 – 6 Aug 44
187th FA Bn (155 HOW) – 30 Aug 44 – 3 Sep 44
Btry A, 987th FA Bn (155 GUN) – 7 Oct 44 – 9 Nov 44
76th FA Bn (105 HOW) – 28 Oct 44 – 19 Nov 44
687th FA Bn (105 HOW) – 19 Nov 44 – 1 Jan 45
58th Armd FA Bn – 17 Dec 44 – 23 Dec 44
770th FA Bn (4.5″ GUN) – 24 Dec 44 – 29 Dec 44
73d Armd FA Bn (9th Armd Div) – 24 Dec 44 – 29 Dec 44
Fr 20th Mule Co – 20 Jan 45 – 1 Feb 45
Fr 14th Mule Co – 20 Jan 45 – 7 Feb 45
283d FA Bn (105 HOW) – 28 Jan 45 – 11 Feb 45
494th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) – 4 Feb 45 – 9 Feb 45
495th Armd FA Bn (12th Armd Div) – 7 Feb 45 – 10 Feb 45
773d FA Bn (4.5″ GUN) – 12 Feb 45 – 17 Feb 45
253d Armd FA Bn – 19 Mar 45 – 21 Apr 45
658th FA Bn (8″ HOW) – 18 Apr 45 – 22 Apr 45
761st FA Bn (155 HOW) – 18 Apr 45 – 22 Apr 45
790th FA Bn (8″ HOW) – 18 Apr 45 – 22 Apr 45
356th FA Bn (94th Div) (105 HOW) – 8 Jan 45 – 10 Jan 45
