Source Documents: 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, and Danny S. Parker, Battle of the Bulge, Hitler’s Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945, 1991, Combined Book Inc, Hong Kong and Shelby S. Stanton, Order of Battle US Army, Presidio Press, Novato, California, 1984; different additional sources.
16th Armored Division. The mixture of insignia and distinctive colors of several arms incorporated in the Armored Force symbolize integrity and esprit. It is an interlocked ornament, found in Nordic monuments, composed of three torques: red for Artillery; blue for Infantry; and yellow for Cavalry. The symbols represent the characteristics of Armored Divisions: the tank track, mobility, and armor protection; the cannon, fire power; and the red bolt of lightning, shock action.
The 16th Armored Division was activated at Camp Chaffee (Arkansas) on July 15, 1943, and staged at Camp Shanks (New York) on January 28, 1945, until it departed the New York (POE) on February 5, 1945; arrived in France February 17; entered Germany on Aril 19, and Czechoslovakia on May 8, 1945. The division then returned to the New York (POE) on October 13, 1945, and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer (New Jersey) on October 15, 1945.
Casualties
Killed in Action, none
Wounded in Action, 12
Missing in Action, none
Captured, none
Battle Casualties, 12
Non-Battle Casualties, 231
Total Casualties, 243
Campaigns
Central Europe
Chronology
Activated 15 July 1943
Arrived ETO 11 February 1945
Arrived Continent (D+250) 11 February 1945
Entered Combat (First Elements) 28 April 1945
Entered Combat (Entire Division) 5 May 1945
Days in Combat 3
Awards
Distinguished Service Cross, 1
Silver Star, 2
Soldiers Medal, 1
Bronze Star, 85
Air Medal, 1
Prisoners of War Taken 26.283
Commanding General
Maj Gen Douglass T. Greene, Jul 43
Brig Gen John L. Pierce, Sep 44 – VEDay
Artillery Commander
Col Barksdale Hamlett, Feb 45
Chief of Staff
Col Thomas V. Webb, Feb 45
Col Edwin C. Greiner (Acting), Mar 21, 45
Col Edwin C. Greiner, April 4, 45
Assistant Chief of Staff G-1
Lt Col Ralph W. Gontrum, Feb 45
Assistant Chief of Staff G-2
Maj George T. Rolan, Feb 45
Lt Col Everett G. Hahney, Mar 45
Assistant Chief of Staff G-3
Lt Col Shelby F. Williams, Feb 45
Lt Col James M. Worthington, Mar 45
Assistant Chief of Staff G-4
Lt Col Elbert M. Sleeker, Feb 45
Lt Col Philip L. Elliott, Mar 45
Assistant Chief of Staff G-5
Maj Julian P. Anderson, Mar 45
Adjutant General
Lt Col Leo E. Schulten Jr, Feb 45
Commanding Officer, Combat Command A
Col William T. Hamilton, Feb 45
Lt Col Thoss B. Beck (Acting), Mar 45
Lt Col Shelby F. Williams, Apr 45
Commanding Officer, Combat Command B
Col Charles H. Noble, Feb 45
Commanding Officer, Reserve Command
Col Charles F. Howard, Feb 45
Lt Col Shelby F. Williams, Apr45
Lt Col Thoss B. Beck, Apr 45
Attachments
Antiaircraft Artillery
571st AAA AW Bn (SP) 20 Apr 45 – 19 May 45
Engineer
1 platoon, 994th Engr Treadway Br Co – 6 May 45 – 10 May 45
Field Artillery
Btry B, 987th FA Bn (155-MM Gun) – 6 May 45 – 15 May 45
Tank Destroyer
633d TD Bn (SP) – 1 May 45 – 14 Jun 45
Detachments
Cavalry
23d Cav Rcn Sq 86th Div – 28 Apr 45 – 3 May 45
Infantry
69th Armd Inf Bn (- Co B) Third Army – 1 May 45 – 3 May 45
Co B, 26th Tk Bn Third Army – 1 May 45 – 3 May 45
1 platoon, Co C, 216th Armd Engr Bn Third Army – 1 May 45 – 3 May 45
Order of Battle
Headquarters Company
Combat Command A
Combat Command B
Reserve Command
5th Tank Battalion
16th Tank Battalion
26th Tank Battalion
18th Armored Infantry Battalion
64th Armored Infantry Battalion
69th Armored Infantry Battalion
23d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized)
216th Armored Engineer Battalion
156th Armored Signal Company
16th Armored Division Artillery
393d Armored Field Artillery Battalion
396th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
397th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
16th Armored Division Trains
137th Ordnance Maintenance Battalion
216th Armored Medical Battalion
Military Police Platoon
Band
.
Command Posts
18 Feb 45, Elbeuf-en-Bray, Seine-Inferieure, France
16 Apr 45, Reims, Marne, France
17 Apr 45, Kaiserslautern, Pfalz, Germany
18 Apr 45, Mainz, Pfalz, Germany
27 Apr 45, Wurzburg, Bavaria, Germany
28 Apr 45, Nurnberg, Bavaria, Germany
5 May 45, Waidhaus, Bavaria, Germany
6 May 45, Pilsen, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia
The 16th Armored Division arrived in France during the period of February 11/17 1945 and moved to Nuremberg where it relieved the 71-ID on April 28. Its reconnaissance squadron participated in combat from the Isar River to Wasserburg with the 86-ID until April 30. The division performed security duty at Nuremberg until May 5, 1945, when it assembled in the Waidhaus area. The division attacked through the lines of the 97-ID on May 6 and CCB, making the main effort, advanced along the Bor-Pilsen Road to capture Pilsen and the Skoda Munitions Plant the same day. CCR advanced through Pilsen to capture the high ground east of the city. The division mopped up in that vicinity until hostilities were declared ended on May 7, 1945.
