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The 38th Infantry Division is an
infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...
division Division or divider may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication *Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...
of the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
and part of the
Indiana National Guard The Indiana National Guard (INNG) is a component of the United States Armed Forces, the United States National Guard and the Military Department of Indiana (MDI). It consists of the Indiana Army National Guard, the Indiana Air National Guard, ...
. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and contains Army National Guard units from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan and West Virginia. Formed in 1917, the division earned the special designation Cyclone Division after the division's training camp at
Camp Shelby Camp Shelby is a military post whose North Gate is located at the southern boundary of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on United States Highway 49. It is the largest state-owned training site in the nation. During wartime, the camp's mission is to s ...
, Mississippi, was damaged by a springtime tornado. Deployed to France in the closing days of the Great War, the 38th Division was broken up to fill vacancies in units already in combat. After the war, the 38th Division demobilized. After a brief period of inactivity, it was reconstituted and reorganized in the National Guard on 16 March 1923. The 38th Division was inducted into federal service on 17 January 1941 as the United States prepared for entry into World War II. The Division returned to Camp Shelby to reorganize as a triangular infantry division and train for combat. The 38th Infantry Division deployed to the Pacific theater in January 1944, initially to New Guinea where the division saw limited combat after final training. In December, the division deployed into
Leyte Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census. Since the accessibility of land has be ...
, Philippines to support clearing and security operations. On 29 January 1945, the 38th Infantry Division took part in the combat landing against the Japanese held Southern Zambales Province on the island of
Luzon Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
. Afterwards, the 38th Infantry Division took part in the operations to clear Zig Zag Pass and the
Bataan Bataan (), officially the Province of Bataan ( fil, Lalawigan ng Bataan ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the enti ...
peninsula, and to secure Corregidor and Manila Bay. In recognition of their contributions in clearing the Philippines, the 38th Infantry Division received the nickname "The Avengers of Bataan". Quickly demobilized after World War II, the 38th Infantry Division was reorganized and federally recognized on 5 March 1947 at Indianapolis, Indiana. During the intervening years, the 38th Infantry Division underwent numerous reorganizations while still retaining the designation as an infantry division. The 38th Infantry Division headquarters mobilized in support of Hurricane Katrina relief operations in 2005, exercising command and control over all National Guard elements deployed in the state of Mississippi. Since 11 September 2001, units of the division have participated in Operation Enduring Freedom (in Kuwait, Afghanistan, the Balkans, Cuba, and the Horn of Africa) and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009, the 38th Infantry Division provided a headquarters element (designated Task Force Cyclone) to command and control
counterinsurgency Counterinsurgency (COIN) is "the totality of actions aimed at defeating irregular forces". The Oxford English Dictionary defines counterinsurgency as any "military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionari ...
operations in
Regional Command East In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
, Afghanistan from August 2009 through June 2010. The 38th Infantry Division headquarters had responsibility for the domestic all-hazards response team (DART) mission in support of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Ex ...
(FEMA) in the event of a major incident in the eastern half of the United States. Most recently the 38th Infantry Division headquarters deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield (OSS) in 2019 and 2020. Operation Spartan Shield includes operations in Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE). 38th Infantry Division Soldiers have also supported COVID-19 relief operations, as well as civil disturbance operations in Indianapolis and Washington, D.C.


Insignia

The division's shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) is a spade shaped shield, bordered in green, with the right half red, the left half blue. Superimposed on the shield is a white monogram "CY" which alludes to the divisional nickname "the Cyclone Division." The distinctive unit insignia (DUI) is in the shape of a clover leaf in memory of the original badge for non-color bearing divisional units. The lightning flashes represent the unit's participation in three World War II campaigns, with the Luzon assault landing recognized by the arrowhead tip in the center flash. The cloud and lightning flashes are an allusion to the cyclone. The colors blue, white and red refer to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the unit for their part in liberating the country.


World War I

The division was activated in August 1917 as a National Guard Division composed of units drawn from Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. In keeping with new naming conventions issued by the War Department, Guard regiments were given three digit numbers (for example, the 1st Regiment, Indiana Infantry became the 151st Infantry), while Guard divisions were numbered from 26 through 42. Guard units began movement to Camp Shelby Mississippi starting in late September 1917. Once there the Guard units redesignated and reorganized into a "square" division of two brigades ( 75th Infantry Brigade with the 149th and 150th Infantry Regiments and the 76th Infantry Brigade comprised the 151st and 152nd Regiments), three field artillery regiments, with separate signal, engineer, and medical battalions. After hastily building up a base camp at Camp Shelby, the soldiers of the 38th Division began training in October 1917. Equipment for training was chronically short, forcing leaders to fabricate dummy artillery pieces from wood and iron scrap, while the soldiers drilled with pieces of wood simulating rifles and machine guns. In April 1918, a springtime tornado struck Camp Shelby with enough force to damage the tent city and kill one soldier. On his assumption of command of the 38th Division on 30 August 1918, Major General Robert L. Howze commemorated the tornado by announcing the division would be known in the future as the "Cyclone Division". The division deployed overseas to Europe in October 1918, where it landed in France at the height of the German "Peace Offensives". Because the division was not combat ready, it was largely stripped of officers and men, who served as replacements for units already in combat. However, several of the regiments remained intact (for example the 138th and 139th Field Artillery) and were involved in collective training when the Armistice took effect on 11 November 1918. The only Divisional unit to see significant action in the World War was the 150th Field Artillery, which was organized from the prewar First Regiment Field Artillery. The 150th Field Artillery was attached to the 42nd Infantry Division, and gave good service during the six major phases of the autumn 1918 offensives. Of the officers and men from the 38th Division detailed to other units, 301 died during the Great War: 105 died in combat; 47 died from wounds; 68 from non-combat accidents or incidents; and 81 from complications arising from influenza or pneumonia. *Commanders: Maj. Gen. William H. Sage (25 August 1917), Brig. Gen.
Edward Mann Lewis Major General Edward Mann Lewis, KCMG, (December 10, 1863 – July 27, 1949) was a highly decorated United States Army officer who served his nation for 46 years. During the First World War, he led the 30th Infantry Division when they broke the H ...
(19 September 1917), Brig. Gen. H. H. Whitney (8 November 1917), Maj. Gen. William H. Sage (12 December 1917), Brig. Gen. William Sage (15 March 1918), Brig. Gen. William V. Judson (15 April 1918), Brig. Gen. Augustine McIntyre Jr. (12 July 1918), Brig. Gen. F. M. Caldwell (18 July 1918), Maj. Gen. Robert L. Howze (30 August 1918), Brig. Gen. F. M. Caldwell (18 October 1918), Maj. Gen. Robert L. Howze (27 October 1918). *Inactivated: June 1919.


Interwar period (1919-41)

After the end of the World War, the National Guard divisions briefly remained inactive while the United States rapidly demobilized and returned to a peacetime footing. The experiences of the war convinced the War Department and Congress to retain a reserve structure in the event of a future war. A series of amendments to the
National Defense Act of 1916 The National Defense Act of 1916, , was a United States federal law that updated the Militia Act of 1903, which related to the organization of the military, particularly the National Guard. The principal change of the act was to supersede prov ...
codified the structure of the Army of the United States to include the National Guard when in federal service. Within the text of the final amendment of August 1921 was the provision to "preserve the names, numbers and other designations, flags and records of the divisions...that served in the World War". At the company level, the first units were organized by spring 1921; by November 1921 the Indiana National Guard had approximately 4,000 soldiers in an active drilling status. Higher-level actions took longer, with the 38th Division headquarters not organized and federally recognized until March 1923, with Major General Robert H. Tyndall as the division commander. Tyndall well embodied the citizen-soldier concept. During the World War, Tyndall earned the Distinguished Service Medal and Croix de Guerre for his successful combat leadership of the 150th Field Artillery. In peacetime, he served as a bank vice-president and was deeply engaged in the organization of the American Legion. The majority of the divisional structure was allotted to Indiana, with the divisional headquarters established in Indianapolis. Besides the headquarters, the 76th Infantry Brigade (with the 151st and 152nd Infantry Regiments), 139th and 150th Field Artillery Regiments, and the 113th Engineer Regiment were allotted solely to Indiana. Kentucky organized the 75th Infantry Brigade (149th Infantry Regiment; the 150th Infantry was earmarked for West Virginia) and the 138th Field Artillery Regiment. The medical, quartermaster, and division special troops elements were divided among Indiana and Kentucky.


Order of battle, 1939

* Headquarters, 38th Division (
Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...
) * Headquarters, Special Troops (Indianapolis, Indiana) ** Headquarters Company (Indianapolis, Indiana) ** 38th Military Police Company (
Jackson, Kentucky Jackson is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Breathitt County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 2,231 according to the 2010 U.S. census. It was the home of the Jackson Academy, which became Lees College. Histo ...
) ** 38th Signal Company (Indianapolis, Indiana) ** 113th Ordnance Company (Medium) (
Bardstown, Kentucky Bardstown is a home rule-class city in Nelson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 11,700 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nelson County. Bardstown is named for the pioneering Bard brothers. David Bard obtained a l ...
) ** 38th Tank Company (Light) ( Harrodsburg, Kentucky) * 75th Infantry Brigade (
Bowling Green, Kentucky Bowling Green is a home rule-class city and the county seat of Warren County, Kentucky, United States. Founded by pioneers in 1798, Bowling Green was the provisional capital of Confederate Kentucky during the American Civil War. As of the ...
) ** 149th Infantry Regiment (
Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
) ** 150th Infantry Regiment (
Welch, West Virginia Welch is a city located in McDowell County in the State of West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,590 at the 2020 census, however the 2021 census estimate put the population at 1,914, due to the McDowell Prison complex in the north ...
) * 76th Infantry Brigade (
Shelbyville, Indiana Shelbyville is a city in Addison Township, Shelby County, in the U.S. state of Indiana and is the county seat. The population was 20,067 as of the 2020 census. History In 1818, the land that would become Shelbyville was ceded to the U ...
) ** 151st Infantry Regiment (Indianapolis, Indiana) ** 152nd Infantry Regiment (Indianapolis, Indiana) * 63rd Field Artillery Brigade (Louisville, Kentucky) ** ''113th Ammunition Train (Kentucky National Guard (inactive)'' ** 138th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm) (Louisville, Kentucky) ** 139th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm) (Indianapolis, Indiana) ** 150th Field Artillery Regiment (155 mm) (Indianapolis, Indiana) * 113th Engineer Regiment (
Gary, Indiana Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city has been historically dominated by major industrial activity and is home to U.S. Steel's Gary Works, the largest steel mill complex in North America. Gary is located along the sou ...
) * 113th Medical Regiment (Indianapolis, Indiana) * 113th Quartermaster Regiment (Indianapolis, Indiana)


World War II

*Ordered into federal service: 17 January 1941 (National Guard Division from Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia). *Overseas: 3 January 1944. *Campaigns: New Guinea, Southern Philippines, Luzon. *Distinguished Unit Citations: 1. *Awards: MH -1 ; Distinguished Service Cross (United States)-6; Distinguished Service Medal (United States)-1 ; Silver Star-225; Legion of Merit-9; Silver Star-25 ;
Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...
-1,283 ;
Air Medal The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establish ...
-66. *Commanders: Maj. Gen. Robert H. Tyndall (January–April 1941), Maj. Gen. Daniel I. Sultan (April 1941 – April 1942), Maj. Gen. Henry L. L. Jones (April 1942 – February 1945), Maj. Gen. William C. Chase (February–July 1945), Maj. Gen. Frederick A. Irving (August 1945 to inactivation). *Returned to U.S.: 30 October 1945. *Inactivated: 10 November 1945 at Camp Anza, California.


Combat chronicle

The 38th Infantry Division arrived in Hawaii on 17 January 1944. It received further training and the duty of the defense of
Oahu Oahu () ( Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The island of O� ...
. The division embarked from Hawaii to New Guinea, where the combat elements conducted final combat rehearsals (made realistic by the presence of bypassed Japanese troops) from July to November 1944. Once rehearsals were complete, the 38th Infantry Division sailed for
Leyte Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census. Since the accessibility of land has be ...
, landing in December 1944. Enemy paratroops attempted to capture the Buri, Bayug, and San Pablo airstrips on 6 December. The 149th Infantry Regiment destroyed organized resistance, 11 December, and defended the strips until relieved, 4 January 1945. The division landed in the San Narciso area in Southern
Zambales Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales ( fil, Lalawigan ng Zambales; ilo, Probinsia ti Zambales; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Zambales''; xsb, Probinsya nin Zambales), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon re ...
Province,
Luzon Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
, 29 January 1945, without opposition. The San Marcelino airstrip was secured on the same day and the port facilities at
Olongapo Olongapo, officially the City of Olongapo ( fil, Lungsod ng Olongapo; ilo, Siudad ti Olongapo; xsb, Siyodad nin Olongapo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Located in the province of Zambales ...
were captured on the 30th as well as
Grande Island Fort Wint was part of the harbor defenses of Manila and Subic Bays built by the Philippine Department of the United States Army between 1907 and 1920 in response to recommendations of the Taft Board prior to the non-fortification clause of the Wa ...
in
Subic Bay Subic Bay is a bay on the west coast of the island of Luzon in the Philippines, about northwest of Manila Bay. An extension of the South China Sea, its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility, U.S. Naval Base Sub ...
after an amphibious landing. Driving west of Olongapo the 38th destroyed an intricate maze of enemy fortifications in Zig-Zag Pass. While elements landed at
Mariveles Mariveles, officially the Municipality of Mariveles ( tl, Bayan ng Mariveles), is a first class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 149,879 people. History Founded as a ''p ...
on the southern tip of the peninsula, 15 February, other units pushed down the east coast road to Pilar and across the neck of land to Bagac along the route of the March of Death. The Bataan Peninsula was secured on 21 February, although mopping-up activities remained. The 38th Infantry Division's rapid drive across the peninsula was critical to MacArthur's campaign plan by preventing a Japanese withdrawal into Bataan - thereby avoiding a costly siege operation. 2nd Battation of the 151st Infantry, along with elements from the Cannon and anti-tank companies, moved to Corregidor, 24 February, to clear the remaining Japanese defenders from the Rock. The same battalion assaulted and captured Caballo Island, 27 March, and Fort Drum on El Fraile Island, 13 April. 1st Battalion 151st Infantry captured Carabao Island on 16 April. Supporting operations in March included a major push against dug-in Japanese defenders in the mountainous terrain between
Fort Stotsenburg Fort Stotsenburg, during the World War II era, was the location of the Philippine Department's 26th Cavalry Regiment, 86th Field Artillery Battalion, and 88th Field Artillery Regiment; along with the Philippine Division's 23rd and 24th Fie ...
and
Mount Pinatubo Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano in the Zambales Mountains, located on the tripoint boundary of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga, all in Central Luzon on the northern island of Luzon. Its eruptive histor ...
by the 38th Division Advance (consisting of the 149th Regimental Combat Team (RCT), the 169th RCT, and all the 38th Division's artillery). Once the enemy was broken, combat elements of the 152nd Infantry pushed north from San Felipe to Palauig Bay and east from Botolan along the Capas Trail cutting the enemy's withdrawal route. The Division moved to the area east of
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
, 1 May, and attacked enemy forces behind the Shimbu Line. By 30 June effective enemy opposition had been broken, although the division remained engaged in active combat operations until 14 August 1945 when President Harry S. Truman announced Japan's acceptance of the
Potsdam Declaration The Potsdam Declaration, or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender, was a statement that called for the surrender of all Japanese armed forces during World War II. On July 26, 1945, United States President Harry S. Truman, Uni ...
and unconditional surrender. As of 14 August 1945, the 38th Infantry Division had completed an unbroken stretch of 198 consecutive days in combat, officially killing 26,469 enemy combatants, and taking 1411 Japanese prisoners. Although officially not "engaged in major combat" after 14 August, elements of the division continued to mop up Japanese stragglers in the Luzon area (who usually resisted to the death), until the signing of the
VJ Day Victory over Japan Day (also known as V-J Day, Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day) is the day on which Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war to an end. The term has been applied to both of the days on ...
surrender documents on 2 September 1945. Even after VJ Day, the division's combat outposts continued to net prisoners until the division was officially relieved on 5 October 1945. In the final tally, the 38th Infantry Division fought against more than 80,000 Japanese, killing 26,732 and ultimately taking more than 13,000 prisoners. For its swift clearing of the Bataan peninsula in 19 days of bloody combat, division commander Major General William C. Chase, ordered that the division would be known as the "Avengers of Bataan", a tribute often attributed to General Douglas MacArthur.


Casualties

*Total battle casualties: 3,464Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953) *Killed in action: 645 *Wounded in action: 2,814 *Missing in action: 5


Post World War

After the end of World War II, the 38th Infantry Division briefly remained in the Philippines pending a decision as to whether or not the division would remain on occupation duty. Instead, the division was alerted on 15 September 1945 that it was to return to the United States and demobilize. Major General Irving and key staffers flew from Manila, while the bulk of the division elements sailed from the Philippines beginning in October. The 38th Infantry Division was directed to Camp Anza, California, for final demobilization and inactivation, which was completed on 9 November 1945. For a time, the 38th Infantry Division remained inactivated while debate raged within the federal government as to the size, scope and even the necessity for a separate Army National Guard. In October 1945, the War Department issued directives to reconstitute the Army National Guard as an integral part of the Reserve Component which still retained the unique dual nature of the pre-war Guard. First priority under the new plan was the organization and reactivation of eighteen division headquarters, one of which was the 38th Infantry Division. Within Indiana, organizational actions were already in the works led by Indiana Adjutant General Ben H. Watt. By March 1946, Watt submitted a proposed recruitment quota to the National Guard Bureau (NGB), and designated commanders in anticipation of receiving approval for the reorganizing units. Receiving approval from NGB in October 1946, Indiana began organizing and reconstituting the subordinate elements of the 38th Infantry Division. Unit strength grew quickly, swelled by large numbers of World War II veterans. The influx of tested combat leaders facilitated the activation of the Headquarters and Special Troops unit of the 38th Infantry Division, which officially organized in Indianapolis on 6 October 1946, and received federal recognition on 5 March 1947. Unlike the pre-war 38th Division, the post-war 38th Infantry Division force structure was allotted entirely to Indiana, and consisted of a triangular structure (three infantry regiments, with three line battalions per regiment) with a total authorization of 16,241 officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and soldiers. Despite an aggressive recruiting campaign, the Division's subordinate units were not sufficiently organized to permit Annual Training (AT) a
Camp Atterbury
until 1948. In 1959, the 38th Infantry Division underwent the first major reorganization since the War, with the regiments converted into
Pentomic Pentomic (cf. ''Greek pent(e)-'' +''-tome'' "of five parts") was a structure for infantry and airborne divisions adopted by the US Army between 1957 and 1963, in response to the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons, on future battlefields. ...
battle groups by the inclusion of fire support and logistics elements as organic parts of the combat formation. In 1968, the division was the first reserve organization to reorganize under the Army's Reorganization Objective of the Army Division (
ROAD A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation. There are many types of ...
) concept, which included three brigade headquarters tailored by the attachment of combat and support battalions. Accompanying the ROAD reorganization was the return to multi-state aspect of the pre-war division, with the division headquarters, divisional artillery, and the 76th Infantry Brigade stationed in Indiana, with the remaining two infantry brigades organized in Ohio and Michigan. In 1994, the division headquarters reorganized as a mechanized infantry division headquarters, a designation which it retained until 2008. During the Cold War, the 38th Infantry Division formed part of the Strategic Reserve to support the Active Army in the event of a full-scale war with the
Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
and her satellites. In 1965, the Division was designated part of the Selected Reserve Force, higher priority Reserve Component units that received better equipment and greater funding in order to maintain higher levels of readiness. In 1981, elements of the 38th Infantry Division took part in Exercise REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany) as a way of testing the United States' ability to strategically deploy reserves into
West Germany West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
in response to a
Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact (WP) or Treaty of Warsaw, formally the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, was a collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland, between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist repub ...
invasion. Other elements of the 38th Infantry Division, both company sized units as well as individual Soldiers, have participated i
Overseas Deployment for Training
missions in Germany, the United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, Japan, and in Central America. With the exception of Company D (Ranger), 151st Infantry, elements of the 38th Infantry Division were not activated for federal service in combat operations from 1945 until Operation Desert Storm in 1990. However, elements of the Division were frequently called up for State Active Duty to support civil authorities in mitigating the effects of natural disasters and civil unrest. Two of the largest callups were for the Perfect Circle strike of 1955 and the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of April 1965. Company D (Ranger), 151st Infantry was the sole divisional element (and one of a small number of National Guard units) mobilized for service in the Republic of Vietnam and was one of the most highly decorated units to serve in that conflict. In 1996, over 7,000 soldiers from the 38th Infantry Division (from
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
,
Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, and
Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
) supported the Centennial Olympic Games in
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, Georgia. In 1998, Echo Battery (Target Acquisition) 139th Field Artillery deployed to Bosnia as part of peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia. Also in 1998 the 76th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was selected to participate in a training deployment in the summer of 2000 to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, LA. The 38th Division Support Command (DISCOM) supported the JRTC rotation by operating the logistics support area (LSA), while many units within the division provided equipment and manpower to support the 76th Brigade. The equipment deployment from Indiana to JRTC was via river barge, among the largest moves of equipment for Indiana units since World War II.


Post 9/11


Mobilizations

Since 11 September 2001, the 38th Infantry Division has provided headquarters and forces for a variety of operational rotations including Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan and Cuba),
Operation Joint Forge The Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Bosnian war. Although SFOR was led by NATO, several non-NATO countries contributed troops. I ...
(Bosnia),
Operation Joint Guardian Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Operation (game), ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * Operations (magazine ...
(Kosovo),
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Combined may refer to: * Alpine combined (skiing), the combination of slalom and downhill skiing as a single event ** Super combined (skiing) * Nordic combined (skiing), the combination of cross country skiing and ski jumping as a single event * T ...
(Djibouti),
Multinational Force and Observers The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The MFO generally operates in and around the Sinai peninsula, ensuring free navigation through ...
(Egypt),
United States Air Forces Europe United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
(USAFE)
Force Protection Force protection (FP) refers to the concept of protecting military personnel, family members, civilians, facilities, equipment and operations from threats or hazards in order to preserve operational effectiveness and contribute to mission succes ...
(England, Germany, Italy, and Belgium),
Operation Noble Eagle Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) is the United States and Canadian military operation related to homeland security and support to federal, state, and local agencies. The operation began 11 September 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks.. ...
(Continental United States) Rotations I through IV, Operation Desert Watch and Operation Desert Spring (Kuwait), and Operation Spartan Shield.


Hurricane Katrina relief efforts

On 29 August 2005, Hurricane Katrina made final landfall in Mississippi, causing tremendous damage which quickly overwhelmed state agencies. The governor of Mississippi appealed to other states for National Guard units to assist in the response. The rapid influx of Guard units from various states, although sorely needed, overwhelmed the Mississippi National Guard's ability to coordinate the military efforts. Accordingly, National Guard Bureau activated the headquarters of the 38th Infantry Division on 30 August to deploy to Mississippi and assist the Mississippi Adjutant General (TAG) with command and control efforts. Commanded by Major General (MG) Gregory Vadnais, the advanced party of the division deployed on 31 August 2005, while the main body departed Indianapolis by convoy on Saturday, 3 September 2005. Organized as Task Force (TF) Cyclone, the Division established command post operations in Gulfport Mississippi, focused on providing local security, road clearance, and delivery of essential humanitarian assistance. By the time TF Cyclone fully assumed mission on 4 September, roughly 7500 Guardsmen were on duty inside Mississippi. Final strength of TF Cyclone peaked at 15,500 on 7 September, with elements of the division engaged in missions until transfer of authority back to Mississippi began on 15 September 2005.


Operation Enduring Freedom

In 2009, the 38th Infantry Division headquarters was alerted to deploy a command and control element to Afghanistan to replace an outgoing maneuver enhancement brigade (MEB) 1-star headquarters conducting full-spectrum counterinsurgency operations (
COIN A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order t ...
) within Bamyan, Parwan, Panjshir and Kapisa provinces. In addition to the decisive COIN mission, the 38th Infantry Division would assume responsibility for operating the mayor cells a
Bagram Airbase
and five other forward operating bases ( FOBs). After a period of pre-mobilization training, the divisional element (organized as Task Force Cyclone under the command of Brigadier Genera
Joseph Lonnie Culver
deployed via Manis Airbase in
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the ea ...
to Bagram airfield and completed Transfer of Authority (TOA) on 31 August 2009. TF Cyclone assumed control of a diverse task force in
Regional Command East In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
of 4100 US military members, including Army signal, civil affairs (CA), psychological operations (PSYOPS), Military Police (MP), Embedded Training Teams (ETT), Agribusiness Development Teams (ADT); Air Force Facility/Base Engineering and Security. The task force contained units from five coalition partners: France, Mongolia, United Arab Emirates (UAE),
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
(the Bamiyan PRT), Singapore, and Mongolia. Lastly, TF Cyclone had attached representatives from the US Department of State, Agriculture, and US Agency for International Development (USAID). While engaged in COIN operations in the Bamyan, Parwan, Panjshir and Kapisa provinces, TF Cyclone worked closely with subordinate
Provincial Reconstruction Team A Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) was a unit introduced by the United States government, consisting of military officers, diplomats, and reconstruction subject matter experts, working to support reconstruction efforts in unstable states. PRT ...
s, village elders, district and provincial governors to support reconstruction efforts. By the time TF Cyclone transitioned from the COIN mission, over $5 billion in reconstruction projects had taken place with minimal interference from insurgents. In January 2010, TF Cyclone was alerted to a change of mission to establish an area support group (ASG) over the Kabul base cluster. On 1 April 2010, TF Cyclone conducted a transfer of authority (TOA) with Task Force Wolverine (
86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) ("The Vermont Brigade") is an Army National Guard light infantry brigade headquartered in Vermont. It was reorganized from an armored brigade into an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) as part o ...
) and assumed control over seven bases in the Kabul area. During the time period in control of the Kabul base cluster, TF Cyclone oversaw the construction of four new base camps, refurbishing of the seven existing camps, and the streamlining of logistics and contracting processes in Kabul. In June 2010, TF Cyclone conducted relief in place operations with the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and executed Transfer of Authority on 30 June 2010. After transiting Kyrgyzstan, TF Cyclone returned to Indianapolis, Indiana, o
02 July 2010
The unit proceeded to Camp Atterbury, Indiana and finished demobilization on the morning of 4 July 2010. Among some of TF Cyclone's major accomplishments: conduct of more than 7000 combat patrols, including 107 enemy contacts and 73 tactical vehicle recoveries, oversight of more than $3 billion in new construction, support to the Afghan National Government in conducting national elections, the saving of more than 300 Afghan civilians following a major avalanche in Parwan province, the capturing or killing of numerous insurgents, and significant improvements in local and provincial governance. The Headquarters of the 38th Infantry Division was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) in recognition Task Force Cyclone's accomplishments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Two teams from the 38th Infantry Division also mobilized in 2016–2017 in support of operations at Joint Task Force-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of contingency operations of Operation Enduring Freedom.


Al Anbar Province during Operation Iraqi Freedom

From October 2006 to September 2007, a company from the 38th Infantry Division saw extensive combat in Ramadi and Fallujah, Iraq. This company and its parent battalion were administratively assigned to the 38th Infantry Division, but operationally assigned to the 76th Infantry Brigade (Separate) just prior to the mobilization and deployment of 2006–07. Originally known as Company A, 2nd Battalion (Mechanized), 152nd Infantry Regiment, the unit became an expeditionary force with members from all companies in the battalion, and was renamed Headquarters, and Headquarters Company (-), and would come to be known as "Team Gator". Upon arrival in Al Anbar Province, the unit was operationally assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division's "Ready First Combat Team" and conducted extensive joint patrols and enemy clearing operations in both the Ramadi and Fallujah AOs during some of the most intense fighting of the 2006–07 campaign. One platoon would be assigned under the tactical control of USMC Regimental Combat Teams in the Fallujah AO, with the rest of the company being assigned to the Ready First Brigade in Ramadi. The company would also have a platoon from the Minnesota National Guard under its operational control. When the Ready First Brigade departed Ramadi, the company would be assigned to a new brigade, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Raider Brigade), and it would participate in major clearing operations during the Surge of 2007. The company had many soldiers who committed numerous acts of heroism that have not been truly known to this day. The unit is second only to Company D Rangers for being the most decorated and combat experienced company sized element in the Indiana Army National Guard since World War II.


Operation Spartan Shield

The 38th Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (DHHB) mobilized over 600 Soldiers in May 2019 for rotational assignment in Operation Spartan Shield (OSS), to include a departure ceremony at the Indianapolis 500 race prior to mobilization. The 38th Infantry Division Headquarters replaced 34th Infantry Division Headquarters in July 2019, and was primarily based out of Kuwait, but also had a tactical command post (TAC) in Jordan as well as Eskan Village, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Soldiers of the 38th Infantry Division conducted multiple engagements and exercises with military partners in the
Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a mediterranean sea in Western Asia. The bod ...
. As well, the Division deterred aggression in the Persian Gulf and in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) in both Iraq and Syria. 38th Infantry Division headquarters was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for this deployment.


Headquarters structure

The 38th Infantry Division headquarters is organized as the division headquarters battalion with the following units: a headquarters and support company, an operations company, an intelligence and sustainment company, and a signal company. * 1. Headquarters and Support Company (HSC) (Indiana) * 2. A Company (Operations)(-) (Indiana) ** Detachment 1, A Company (Ohio) * 3. B Company (Intelligence and Sustainment) (Indiana) * 4. C Company (Signal) (Indiana)


Current structure

38th Infantry Division exercises command and control of four Army National Guard brigades within Indiana — one infantry brigade combat team, engineer brigade, sustainment brigade, and a combat aviation brigade—and maintains an alignment for training with four Army National Guard brigades outside of Indiana, specifically, a maneuver enhancement brigade, the division artillery brigade, two infantry brigade combat teams, and elements of the newly formed Company C, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 134th Infantry Regiment. There are units from Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and other states. * 33rd Infantry BCT ( Illinois National Guard) **33rd Infantry BCT's HHC **2nd Squadron,
106th Cavalry Regiment The 106th Cavalry Regiment (formerly organized as a group) was a mechanized cavalry unit of the United States Army in World War II recognized for its outstanding action. The group was organized in 1921 as part of the Illinois National Guard and ...
**2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment **1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment **1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment (PR NG) **2nd Battalion, 122nd FAR **766th BEB **634th BSB * 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) ( OHARNG) **
Headquarters and Headquarters Company In United States Army units, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) is a company-sized military unit, found at the battalion level and higher. Considered one unit, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company is essentially two elements within ...
(HHC) ** 2nd Squadron,
107th Cavalry Regiment The 107th Cavalry Regiment, Ohio Army National Guard, is a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, with headquarters at Hamilton, Ohio. It currently consists of the 2-107th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment, ...
(OH NG) Reconnaissance Surveillance and Target Acquisition (
RSTA Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) refers to a joint doctrine of reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition conducted by the United States Armed Forces. RSTA operations are designed to support military operatio ...
) ** 1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment (SC NG) ** 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment (MI NG) ** 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment (OH NG) ** 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) (OH NG) ** 837th Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB) (OH NG) ** 237th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) (OH NG) * 76th IBCT ( IN ARNG) ** HHC ** 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry Regiment, RSTA ** 2nd Battalion,
151st Infantry Regiment The 151st Infantry Regiment is an infantry unit in the Indiana National Guard, part of the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Separate). History The 151st Infantry Regiment traces its roots to the Indiana Territory Indiana Rangers militia. It ...
** 2nd Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment ** 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment ** 1st Battalion, 163rd FAR ** 776th BEB ** 113th BSB * Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), 38th Infantry Division ( INARNG) **HHC ** 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance), 130th Aviation Regiment (North Carolina National Guard) ** 1st Battalion (Assault), 137th Aviation Regiment (Ohio and Indiana National Guard) ** 2nd Battalion (General Support), 238th Aviation Regiment (Indiana/Delaware/Ohio National Guard) ** 2nd Battalion (Security & Support),
151st Aviation Regiment The 151st Aviation Regiment is an aviation regiment of the U.S. Army, primarily provided by the South Carolina Army National Guard. Structure * 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance) "Ghostriders" at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Eastover ** ...
(South Carolina/Virginia/Florida/North Carolina/Georgia/Alabama National Guard) **
638th Aviation Support Battalion The 638th Aviation Support Battalion (638th ASB) is a US Army National Guard battalion. The unit earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation for the period 1 May 2019 to 8 January 2020. References {{Reflist AVN 638 ...
(638th ASB) (Indiana/Ohio/North Carolina/Indiana/Massachusetts National Guard)


Attached units

* 219th Engineer Brigade, INARNG * 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, KYARNG * 38th Sustainment Brigade, INARNG * Company C, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 134th Infantry Regiment (a joint INARNG/ NEARNG airborne battalion subordinate to the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team)Nebraska stands up, hooks up airborne infantry battalion
U.S. Army, by SPC Lisa Crawford (Nebraska Army National Guard), dated 8 November 2019, last accessed 6 June 2020


See also

*
Philippines campaign (1944–45) Philippines campaign may refer to various military campaigns that have been fought in the Philippine Islands, including: Spanish colonial period (1565–1898) *Numerous revolts against Spain during the Spanish colonial period; see Philippine revol ...


References


Notes


Sources

* Fischer, Robert T. Colonel (Retired). ''Indiana's Longest Arm.'' Unpublished manuscript, 1995. * Watt, William (Editor) (1980). ''Indiana's Citizen Soldiers: The Militia and National Guard in Indiana History''. Indianapolis IN: The Indiana State Armory Board. * Webster, Leonard (1966). ''A Military History of the Indiana National Guard 1816-1966''. Indianapolis IN: Military Department of Indiana.
United States Army Center of Military History ''The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States''
- U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950
"Tell Me About the Army National Guard" "I Am The Guard: A History of the Army National Guard, 1636-2000."
Citation for Meritorious Unit Commendation. Award is for Detachment, 38th Infantry Division (Task Force Cyclone) for its 2009-2010 Afghanistan deployment.

Combat Studies Institute Point Paper on the National Guard efforts after Hurricane Katrina, which includes details on TF Cyclone.


External links


38th Infantry Division official page38th Infantry Division Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System38th Infantry Division Official Facebook page38th Infantry Division Official Twitter
from http://www.battleofthebulge.org
38th Division AssociationArmy National Guard Publications
Homepage for the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) RC-East. *Official Department of the Army Lineage for the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 38th Infantry Divisio

{{DEFAULTSORT:038 Infantry divisions of the United States Army, 038th Infantry Division, U.S. Infantry Division, U.S. 038 Divisions of the United States Army National Guard United States Army divisions of World War I History of Indianapolis Infantry divisions of the United States Army in World War II Military units and formations in Michigan Military units and formations established in 1917 Military in units based in Indiana