The 26th Infantry Division was 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 marine i ...
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 service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
. A major formation of the
Massachusetts Army National Guard
The Massachusetts National Guard is the National Guard component for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, it contains the oldest units in the United States Army. What is toda ...
, it was based in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, Massachusetts for most of its history. Today, the division's heritage is carried on by the
26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
The 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade ("Yankee") is a combat support brigade of the United States Army. Its headquarters is maintained by the Massachusetts Army National Guard. It draws its lineage from the Headquarters Company 26th Infantry D ...
.
Formed on 18 July 1917 and activated 22 August 1917 at Camp Edwards, MA, consisting of units from the
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
area, the division's commander selected the nickname "Yankee Division" to highlight the division's geographic makeup. Sent to Europe in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
as part of the
American Expeditionary Forces
The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...
, the division saw extensive combat in France. Sent to Europe once again for
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the division again fought through France, advancing into Germany and liberating the
Gusen concentration camp
Gusen was a subcamp of Mauthausen concentration camp operated by the SS () between the villages of Sankt Georgen an der Gusen and Langestein in the Reichsgau Ostmark (currently Perg District, Upper Austria). Primarily populated by Polish priso ...
before the end of the war.
Following the end of World War II, the division remained as an active command in the National Guard, gradually expanding its command to contain units from other divisions which had been consolidated. However, the division was never called up to support any major contingencies or see major combat, and was eventually deactivated in 1993, reorganized as a brigade under the
29th Infantry Division.
History
World War I
Organization
The 26th Infantry Division was first constituted on 18 July 1917, three months after the
American entry into World War I
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry
...
, as the 26th Division. It was formally activated on 22 August of that year in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, Massachusetts,
[Wilson, p. 327.] and it was celebrated by Boston writers and by composers in pieces such as "
The Yankee Division March" and "
Battery A March." Shortly thereafter, the division commander,
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
C. R. Edwards, called a
press conference
A press conference or news conference is a media event in which notable individuals or organizations invite journalists to hear them speak and ask questions. Press conferences are often held by politicians, corporations, non-governmental organ ...
to determine a nickname for the newly formed division. Edwards decided to settle on the suggestion of "
Yankee
The term ''Yankee'' and its contracted form ''Yank'' have several interrelated meanings, all referring to people from the United States. Its various senses depend on the context, and may refer to New Englanders, residents of the Northern United St ...
Division" since all of the subordinate units of the division were from the
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
states of
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
,
,
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
,
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...
, and
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
. Shortly thereafter, the division approved a
shoulder sleeve insignia
A shoulder sleeve insignia (often abbreviated SSI) is an embroidered patch worn on some uniforms of the United States Army. It is used by major formations of the U.S. Army; each formation has a unique formation patch. The U.S. Army is unique amon ...
with a "YD"
monogram
A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series o ...
to reflect this.
Order of battle
* Headquarters, 26th Division
*
51st Infantry Brigade
**
101st Infantry Regiment (9th Massachusetts Infantry, 175 men from
6th Massachusetts Infantry, and 1,400 men from
5th Massachusetts Infantry)
**
102nd Infantry Regiment (2nd Connecticut Infantry, 1,617 men from
1st Connecticut Infantry, 50 men from
1st Vermont Infantry
The 1st Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, in and around Fortress Monroe, Virginia.
History
Responding to President Abraham Lincoln's ...
, and 100 men from 6th Massachusetts Infantry)
** 102nd Machine Gun Battalion (Squadron, Massachusetts Cavalry less Troop B, and 216 men from 1st Vermont Infantry)
* 52nd Infantry Brigade
**
103rd Infantry Regiment (2nd Maine Infantry 1,630 men from
1st New Hampshire Infantry, and detachments from Companies F, H, K, and M,
8th Massachusetts Infantry)
**
104th Infantry Regiment (812 men from 6th Massachusetts Infantry, 812 men from 8th Massachusetts Infantry, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry, and detachments from Companies F, H, K, and M, 8th Massachusetts Infantry)
** 103rd Machine Gun Battalion (Squadron, Rhode Island Cavalry less Troops B and M, Separate Machine Gun Troop, New Hampshire Cavalry, 232 men from 1st Vermont Infantry)
* 51st Field Artillery Brigade
**
101st Field Artillery Regiment
The 101st Field Artillery ("Boston Light Artillery") regiment is the oldest field artillery regiment in the United States Army with a lineage dating to 13 December 1636 when it was organized as the South Regiment. It is one of several National ...
(75 mm) (1st Massachusetts F.A. and 180 men from New England Coast Artillery)
**
102nd Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm) (2nd Massachusetts F.A. and 150 men from New England Coast Artillery)
**
103rd Field Artillery Regiment
The 103rd Field Artillery Regiment (103rd FAR) is a regiment of the United States Army. The only currently existing component is the 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment (1-103rd FAR), a unit of the Rhode Island National Guard. The regim ...
(155 mm) (Battery A, New Hampshire F.A., three batteries Rhode Island F.A., two batteries Connecticut F.A., Troop M, Rhode Island Squadron of Cavalry, and detachment from New England Coast Artillery)
**101st Trench Mortar Battery (detachments of 1st Maine F.A.)
* 101st Machine Gun Battalion (Squadron, Connecticut Cavalry and 196 men from 1st Vermont Infantry)
* 101st Engineer Regiment (1st Massachusetts Engineers, 100 men from 1st Maine F.A., 479 men from New England Coast Artillery)
* 101st Field Signal Battalion (1st Massachusetts Field Signal Battalion)
* Headquarters Troop, 26th Division (Troop B, Massachusetts Cavalry)
* 101st Train Headquarters and Military Police (326 men from 6th Massachusetts Infantry)
** 101st Ammunition Train (713 men from 1st Vermont Infantry, 240 men from Massachusetts Coast Artillery)
** 101st Supply Train (Troop B, Rhode Island Cavalry, 364 men from 8th Massachusetts Infantry, and 62 men from Company M, 6th Massachusetts Infantry)
** 101st Engineer Train (82 men from 6th Massachusetts Infantry)
** 101st Sanitary Train
*** 101st, 102nd, 103rd, and 104th Ambulance Companies and Field Hospitals (1st and 2nd Massachusetts Ambulance Companies, 1st and 2nd Massachusetts Field Hospitals, 1st Connecticut Field Hospital, 1st Rhode Island Ambulance Company, 1st New Hampshire Field Hospital)
Overseas
On 21 September 1917, the division arrived at
Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire (; ; Gallo: ''Saint-Nazère/Saint-Nazaer'') is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France, in traditional Brittany.
The town has a major harbour on the right bank of the Loire estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean ...
, France.
[''Almanac'', p. 528.] It was the second division of the
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alon ...
(AEF) to arrive on the
Western Front at the time, and the first division wholly organized in the United States, joining the
1st Division. Two additional divisions completed the first wave of American troop deployment, with the
2nd Division formed in France and the
42nd Division arriving at St. Nazaire on 29 October.
[Stewart, p. 25.] The division immediately moved to
Neufchâteau for training, as most of the division's soldiers were raw recruits, new to
military service
Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job (volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription).
Some nations (e.g., Mexico) require a ...
.
Because of this, much of the division's force was trained by the experienced French forces. It trained extensively with the other three US divisions, organized as the
U.S. I Corps
I Corps is a corps of the United States Army headquartered in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is a major formation of United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) and its current mission involves administrative oversight of Army units in the ...
in January 1918,
before being moved into a quiet sector of the trenches in February.
The 26th Infantry Division remained in a relatively quiet region of the lines along the
Chemin des Dames
In France, the Chemin des Dames (; literally, the "ladies' path") is part of the route départementale (local road) D18 and runs east and west in the Aisne department, between in the west, the Route Nationale 2 (Laon to Soissons), and in the eas ...
for several months before it relieved the 1st Division near
Saint-Mihiel
Saint-Mihiel () is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
Geography
Saint-Mihiel lies on the banks of the river Meuse.
History
A Benedictine abbey was established here in 708 or 709 by Count Wulfoalde and his wif ...
on 3 April. The line here taken over extended from the vicinity of Apremont, on the west, in front of Xivray-Marvoisin, Seicheprey, and Bois de Remieres, as far as the Bois de Jury, on the right, where the French line joined the American line. Division Headquarters were at Boucq.
The stay of the division in this sector was marked by several serious encounters with the enemy, where considerable forces were engaged. There were furthermore almost nightly encounters between patrols or ambush parties, and the harassing fire of the artillery on both sides was very active.
On 10, 12 and 13 April, the lines held by the 104th Infantry in Bois Brule (near Apremont), and by the French to the left, were heavily attacked by the Germans. At first the enemy secured a foothold in some advanced trenches which were not strongly held, but sturdy counterattacks succeeded in driving the enemy out with serious losses, and the line was entirely re-established.
In late April, German infantry conducted a raid on positions of the 26th Division, one of the first attacks on Americans during the war. At 0400 on 20 April, German field artillery bombarded the 102nd Infantry's positions near
Seicheprey
Seicheprey () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine
Lorraine Regional Natural Park (French: ''Parc naturel région ...
before German
Stormtroopers (german: Stoßtruppen) moved against the village. The artillery
box barrage
In military usage, a barrage is massed sustained artillery fire (shelling) aimed at a series of points along a line. In addition to attacking any enemy in the kill zone, a barrage intends to suppress enemy movements and deny access across tha ...
, continuing 36 hours, isolated American units. The Germans overwhelmed
a machine gun company and two infantry companies of the 102nd and temporarily breached the trenches before elements of the division rallied and recaptured the village. The Germans withdrew before the division could counterattack but inflicted 634 casualties, including 80 killed, 424 wounded, and 130 captured, while losing over 600 men, including 150 killed of their own. Similar raids struck the 101st infantry at
Flirey
Flirey () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
Birthplace of Rin Tin Tin
Following advances made by American forces during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, Corporal Lee Duncan, an aerial gunner of the U.S. Army A ...
on 27 May, and the 103rd Infantry at
Xivray-et-Marvoisin
Xivray-et-Marvoisin is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
Geography
The Rupt de Mad forms part of the commune's southern border, then flows northeastward through its eastern part.
Population
See also
*Comm ...
on 16 June, but were repulsed. The 26th Division was relieved by the
82nd Division on 28 June, moved by train to
Meaux
Meaux () is a commune on the river Marne in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is east-northeast of the centre of Paris.
Meaux is, with Provins, Torcy and Fontainebleau, ...
, and entered the line again northwest of
Chateau Thierry, relieving the 2nd Division on 5 July.
As the size of the AEF grew, the division was placed under command of I Corps in July. When the
Aisne-Marne
The Third Battle of the Aisne (french: 3e Bataille de l'Aisne) was a battle of the German spring offensive during World War I that focused on capturing the Chemin des Dames Ridge before the American Expeditionary Forces arrived completely in ...
campaign began shortly thereafter, the division, under I Corps was placed under command of the
French Sixth Army
The Sixth Army (french: 6eme Armée) was a field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II.
World War I
The Sixth Army was formed 26 August 1914, composed of troops from various disparate French armies: two active army corps, th ...
protecting its east flank. When the offensive began, the division advanced up the spine of the Marne salient for several weeks, pushing through
Belleau Wood, moving 10 miles from 18 to 25 July. On 12 August it was pulled from the lines near
Toul
Toul () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
It is a sub-prefecture of the department.
Geography
Toul is between Commercy and Nancy, and the river Moselle and Canal de la Marne au Rhin.
Climate
Toul h ...
to prepare for the next offensive. The division was then a part of the offensive at
Saint-Mihiel
Saint-Mihiel () is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
Geography
Saint-Mihiel lies on the banks of the river Meuse.
History
A Benedictine abbey was established here in 708 or 709 by Count Wulfoalde and his wif ...
, during the
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States against ...
. The division then moved in position for the last major offensive of the war, at
Meuse-Argonne. This campaign was the last of the war, as an
armistice
An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the La ...
was signed shortly thereafter.
During World War I the 26th Division spent 210 days in combat, and suffered 1,587
killed in action and 12,077
wounded in action
Wounded in Action (WIA) describes combatants who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during wartime, but have not been killed. Typically, it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing ...
.
The division returned to the United States and was demobilized on 3 May 1919 at
Camp Devens
Fort Devens is a United States Army Reserve military installation in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, in Middlesex County and Harvard in Worcester County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Due to extensive environmental contamination it was l ...
, Massachusetts.
Between the wars
In the years following World War I, the division remained in the
National Guard
National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards.
Nat ...
and was reorganized as an all-Massachusetts outfit; many of its subordinate units were reassigned to the
43rd Infantry Division, a new unit containing troops from Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont. In 1921, the 102nd Infantry Regiment, from Connecticut, was replaced by the
182nd Infantry Regiment. In 1923, the 103rd Infantry Regiment, from Maine, was replaced with the
181st Infantry.
[McGrath, p. 168.]
At some point the 26th Infantry Division moved to Plattsburgh, New York and occupied what would eventually become Plattsburgh Air Force Base, a significant Strategic Air Command base for the duration of the cold war with the USSR. The Division deployed to World War II from Plattsburgh, NY.
World War II
Order of battle
The 26th Division was available to the
Eastern Defense Command
The Eastern Defense Command was first established as the Northeast Defense Command on 17 March 1941 as one of four U.S. Army continental defense commands to plan and prepare for and execute defense against enemy attack in the months before Americ ...
(EDC) from December 1941 through early 1942 for mobile defense; the
104th Infantry
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
remained on this duty through January 1943.
['Massachusetts own 104th U.S. Infantry Regiment', published and distributed under the Auspices of the 104th U.S. Infantry Regiment Veterans' Association.]
As a part of an army-wide reorganization, the division's two brigade headquarters that controlled four regiments between them were disbanded in favor of a structure containing three separate regimental commands; the division was reorganized under the "triangular" structure and redesignated as the 26th Infantry Division on 12 February 1942.
[Stanton, pp. 101-102] On 14 January 1942, the 182nd Infantry Regiment was sent to
New Caledonia
)
, anthem = ""
, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
, mapsize = 290px
, subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
to help form the
Americal Division
The Americal Division was an infantry division of the United States Army during World War II and the Vietnam War.
The division was activated 27 May 1942 on the island of New Caledonia. In the immediate emergency following Pearl Harbor, the U ...
, while on 27 January 1942, the 181st Infantry Regiment was relieved from the 26th Division and reassigned to the Eastern Defense Command. On 27 January 1943, the
328th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 26th Infantry Division to replace its two lost regiments.
[
* Headquarters, 26th Infantry Division
* 101st Infantry Regiment
* 104th Infantry Regiment
* 328th Infantry Regiment
* Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 26th Infantry Division Artillery
** 101st Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
** 102nd Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
** 180th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm)
** 263rd Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
* 101st Engineer Combat Battalion
* 114th Medical Battalion
* 26th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
* Headquarters, Special Troops, 26th Infantry Division
** Headquarters Company, 26th Infantry Division
** 726th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
** 26th Quartermaster Company
** 26th Signal Company
** Military Police Platoon
** Band
* 26th Counterintelligence Corps Detachment][''Almanac'', p. 592.]
In August 1943, Major General Willard Stewart Paul
Lieutenant General Willard Stewart Paul (February 28, 1894 – March 21, 1966) was a senior United States Army officer who commanded the 26th Infantry Division during World War II.
Early life and military career
He was born in Worcester, Ma ...
took command of the division, which he would lead through the rest of the war. Before deploying overseas to the European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA) was a Theater of Operations responsible for directing United States Army operations throughout the European theatre of World War II, from 1942 to 1945. It commanded Army Ground For ...
(ETO), the 26th Infantry Division trained at Camp Campbell, Kentucky, and prepared to depart for the Western Front in late August 1944.
Overseas
The division was assigned to III Corps 3rd Corps, Third Corps, III Corps, or 3rd Army Corps may refer to:
France
* 3rd Army Corps (France)
* III Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* III Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of th ...
of the U.S. Ninth Army, under Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
William Hood Simpson
General William Hood Simpson (May 18, 1888 – August 15, 1980) was a senior United States Army officer who served with distinction in both World War I and World War II. He is best known for being the Commanding General of the Ninth United Stat ...
, part of the 12th Army Group
The Twelfth United States Army Group was the largest and most powerful United States Army formation ever to take to the field, commanding four field armies at its peak in 1945: First United States Army, Third United States Army, Ninth United Stat ...
, commanded by Lieutenant General Omar Bradley
Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893April 8, 1981) was a senior Officer (armed forces), officer of the United States Army during and after World War II, rising to the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. Bradley ...
.[''Order of Battle'', p. 105.] It was shipped from the United States directly to France, and was not sent through Britain. The 26th ID landed in France at Cherbourg
Cherbourg (; , , ), nrf, Chèrbourg, ) is a former commune and subprefecture located at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French department of Manche. It was merged into the commune of Cherbourg-Octeville on 28 Feb ...
and Utah Beach
Utah, commonly known as Utah Beach, was the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), during World War II. The westernmost of the five code-named la ...
on 7 September 1944, but did not enter combat as a division until a month later. Elements were on patrol duty along the coast from Carteret to Siouville from 13 to 30 September.[''Almanac'', p. 529.] The 328th Infantry saw action with the 80th Infantry Division from 5 to 15 October. The division was then reassigned to XII Corps 12th Corps, Twelfth Corps, or XII Corps may refer to:
* 12th Army Corps (France)
* XII Corps (Grande Armée), a corps of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* XII (1st Royal Saxon) Corps, a unit of the Imperial German Army
* XII ...
of Lieutenant General George S. Patton
George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II, and the Third United States Army in France ...
's U.S. Third Army
The United States Army Central, formerly the Third United States Army, commonly referred to as the Third Army and as ARCENT, is a military formation of the United States Army which saw service in World War I and World War II, in the 1991 Gulf Wa ...
. On 7 October, the 26th relieved the 4th Armored Division in the Salonnes
Salonnes (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments of France, department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
See also
* Communes of the Moselle department
References
External links
*
Com ...
- Moncourt- Canal du Rhine au Marne sector, and maintained defensive positions. The division launched a limited objective attack on 22 October, in the Moncourt woods. On 8 November, the 26th then went on the offensive, along with first all Black tank Battalion, the 761st, who spearheaded the assault, the 26th Division took Dieuze
Dieuze (; ) is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
People
Dieuze was the birthplace of:
*Charles Hermite, mathematician
*Edmond François Valentin About, novelist, publicist and journalist
*Émile Friant, pain ...
on 20 November, advanced across the Saar River
The Saar (; french: Sarre ) is a river in northeastern France and western Germany, and a right tributary of the Moselle. It rises in the Vosges mountains on the border of Alsace and Lorraine and flows northwards into the Moselle near Trier. It ...
to Saar Union, and captured it on 2 December, after house-to-house fighting
Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and city, cities. Urban combat differs from combat in the open at both the Military operation, operational and the Military tactics, tactical levels. Complicating factors in urban war ...
. Reaching Maginot fortifications on 5 December, it regrouped, entering Saareguemines on 8 December. Around this time it was reassigned to III Corps.
Rest at Metz was interrupted by the German offensive in the Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive (military), offensive military campaign, campaign on the Western Front (World War II), Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted fr ...
. The division moved north to Luxembourg
Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
from 19 to 21 December, to take part in the battle of the Ardennes
The Ardennes (french: Ardenne ; nl, Ardennen ; german: Ardennen; wa, Årdene ; lb, Ardennen ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Be ...
break-through. It attacked at Rambrouch
Rambrouch ( lb, Rammerech or (locally) ; german: Rambruch) is a commune and small town in western Luxembourg, in the canton of Redange. It lies close to the border with Belgium.
Rambrouch was formed on 1 January 1979 from the former communes of ...
and Grosbous
Grosbous ( lb, Groussbus or (locally) ; german: Grosbous) is a commune and small town in northwestern Luxembourg, in the canton of Redange.
, the town of Grosbous, which lies in the south of the commune, had a population of 619. Other towns wit ...
on 22 December, beat off strong German counterattacks, captured Arsdorf
Arsdorf ( lb, Ueschdref) is a village in the commune of Rambrouch, in western Luxembourg. , the village had a population of 261.
Arsdorf was a commune in the canton of Redange until 1 January 1979, when it was merged with the communes of Bigonvi ...
on Christmas Day after heavy fighting, attacked toward the Wiltz River
The Wiltz ( lb, Wolz, ) is a river flowing through Belgium and Luxembourg, joining the Sauer at Goebelsmuhle. The Clerve
The Clerve ( lb, Klierf) is a river flowing through Luxembourg, joining the Wiltz at Kautenbach. It flows through both ...
, but was forced to withdraw in the face of determined German resistance. After regrouping on 5–8 January 1945, it attacked again, crossing the Wiltz River on 20 January. The division continued its advance, taking Grummelscheid on 21 January, and crossed the Clerf River
The Clerve ( lb, Klierf) is a river flowing through Luxembourg, joining the Wiltz at Kautenbach. It flows through both the towns of Troisvierges and the town of Clervaux
Clervaux (; lb, Clierf or (locally) ; german: Clerf) is a commune and t ...
on 24 January. The division was reassigned to XX Corps. The division immediately shifted to the east bank of the Saar, and maintained defensive positions in the Saarlautern
Saarlouis (; french: link=no, Sarrelouis, ; formerly Sarre-Libre and Saarlautern) is a town in Saarland, Germany, capital of the district of Saarlouis (district), Saarlouis. In 2020, the town had a population of 34,409. Saarlouis, as the name imp ...
area from 29 January until 6 March 1945.
The division's drive to the Rhine River
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, sourc ...
jumped off on 13 March 1945, and carried the division through Merzig
Merzig (, french: Mercy, ''Moselle Franconian:'' ''Meerzisch''/''Miërzësch'') is a town in Saarland, Germany. It is the capital of the district Merzig-Wadern, with about 30,000 inhabitants in 17 municipalities on 108 km². It is situated o ...
from 17 March, to the Rhine by 21 March, and across the Rhine at Oppenheim
Oppenheim () is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The town is a well-known wine center, being the home of the German Winegrowing Museum, and is particularly known for the wines from the Oppenheimer Krötenbru ...
on 25–26 March. The division was then reassigned to XII Corps. It took part in the house-to-house reduction of Hanau
Hanau () is a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is located 25 km east of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main and is part of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region. Its Hanau Hauptbahnhof, station is a ...
on 28 March, broke out of the Main River
Main rivers () are a statutory type of watercourse in England and Wales, usually larger streams and rivers, but also some smaller watercourses. A main river is designated by being marked as such on a main river map, and can include any structure o ...
bridgehead
In military strategy, a bridgehead (or bridge-head) is the strategically important area of ground around the end of a bridge or other place of possible crossing over a body of water which at time of conflict is sought to be defended or taken over ...
, drove through Fulda
Fulda () (historically in English called Fuld) is a town in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district (''Kreis''). In 1990, the town hosted the 30th Hessentag state festival.
History ...
on 1 April, and helped reduce Meiningen
Meiningen () is a town in the southern part of the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is located in the region of Franconia and has a population of around 25,000 (2021). on 5 April. Moving southeast into Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
, the division assisted in the capture of Linz
Linz ( , ; cs, Linec) is the capital of Upper Austria and third-largest city in Austria. In the north of the country, it is on the Danube south of the Czech border. In 2018, the population was 204,846.
In 2009, it was a European Capital of ...
, 5 May. It had changed the direction of its advance, and was moving northeast into Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
, across the Vltava River
Vltava ( , ; german: Moldau ) is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running southeast along the Bohemian Forest and then north across Bohemia, through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice and Prague, and finally merging with the Labe at M ...
, when the cease-fire order was received. One day later, the division overran the Gusen concentration camp
Gusen was a subcamp of Mauthausen concentration camp operated by the SS () between the villages of Sankt Georgen an der Gusen and Langestein in the Reichsgau Ostmark (currently Perg District, Upper Austria). Primarily populated by Polish priso ...
in conjunction with the 11th Armored Division, liberating it from German forces. There, it discovered that the Germans had used forced labor to carve out an elaborate tunnel system with underground aircraft production facilities. SS officers at the camp allegedly planned to demolish the tunnels with the prisoners inside, but the movement of the 26th Infantry and 11th Armored Divisions prevented this.
Casualties
*Total battle casualties: 10,701[Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch
Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953)]
*Killed in action: 1,850
*Wounded in action: 7,886
*Missing in action: 159
*Prisoner of war: 806
Post-war
The 26th Infantry Division received one Distinguished Unit Citation (3rd Battalion, 101st Infantry Regiment, 18–21 November 1944; WD GO 109, 1945). Soldiers were awarded two Medals of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. Th ...
, 38 Distinguished Service Crosses, seven Legions of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
, 927 Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
s, 42 Soldier's Medal
The Soldier's Medal is an individual decoration of the United States Army. It was introduced as Section 11 of the Air Corps Act, passed by the Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926., Appendix 5, p. 126. The Army' Soldier's Medal is equiv ...
s, 5,331 Bronze Star Medal
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 ...
s, and 98 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 ...
s. The division returned to the United States and inactivated at Camp Myles Standish
Camp Myles Standish was a U.S. Army camp located in Taunton, Massachusetts during World War II. It was the main staging area for the Boston Port of Embarkation, with about a million U.S. and Allied soldiers passing through the camp on their way ...
, Massachusetts on 21 December 1945.
Cold War
The division was reactivated on 11 April 1947 in Boston. It remained as the major command of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, but its command took control of units from other states following consolidation of the Army National Guard. The division remained as an active reserve component of the Army National Guard, but it was not selected for any deployments to cold war contingencies. In 1956 the division received its distinctive unit insignia
A distinctive unit insignia (DUI) is a metallic Heraldry, heraldic badge or device worn by soldiers in the United States Army. The DUI design is derived from the coat of arms authorized for a unit. DUIs may also be called "distinctive insignia" (D ...
.
The division was reorganized in accordance with the 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. ...
organization, probably in 1959. The five infantry battle groups of the division were the 1st Battle Group, 101st Infantry, 1 Btl Gp-104th Inf, 1 Btl Gp-181st Inf, 1st Battle Group, 182nd Infantry, and 1st Battle Group, 220th Infantry. The 104th Infantry Regiment was reorganized on 1 May 1959 under the Combat Arms Regimental System as the 1st Battle Group, 104th Infantry.
In 1963, the division was reorganized under the Reorganization Objective Army Division
The history of the United States Army began in 1775. From its formation, the United States Army has been the primary land based part of the United States Armed Forces. The Army's main responsibility has been in fighting land battles and military ...
plan. Its regimental commands were inactivated in favor of brigades. The 101st Infantry Regiment became the 1st Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, headquartered in Dorchester, Massachusetts. The 104th Infantry Regiment became the 3rd Brigade, 26th Infantry Division, headquartered in Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
, Massachusetts. Among the division's units in 1965 were the 1-101 infantry, 1–104, 2–104, 1–181, 1–182, 1-220 Infantry, and 1-101 FA. The division was organized as a light infantry
Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...
division, and at the same time, the 26th Aviation Battalion was established to provide air support. In 1967 the 43rd Infantry Division of the Connecticut Army National Guard
The Connecticut Military Department is a state agency of the government of Connecticut. Its primary components are the
Connecticut Army National Guard, the Connecticut Air National Guard, and four companies of the state militia. The Military Depa ...
was consolidated into the 43rd Brigade, 26th Division, and put under the command of the 26th Infantry Division.[McGrath, p. 192.]
In 1987, the 26th Aviation Battalion was dissolved and the 126th Aviation Regiment arose in its place. The 126th Aviation Regiment's battalions formed the basis of the new divisional 26th Aviation Brigade. In 1988, the 3rd Brigade comprised the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 104th Infantry Regiment and the 1st Battalions of the 181st and 182nd Infantry Regiments.
On 1 April 1988, the division was relocated to Camp Edwards
Camp Edwards is a United States military training installation which is located in western Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Originally the Massachusetts Military Reservation (which was another name for it until 2013) acquired in Se ...
, Massachusetts. The division headquarters was consolidated with 1st Brigade, 26th Infantry Division. In its place, the 86th Infantry Brigade was assigned to the division as a round-out unit.
Inactivation
Prior to the end of the Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
, the Army reactivated the 29th Infantry Division in 1985. The end of the Cold War led to the Army reorganizing its forces and further consolidating them. As a result, the Army decided to downsize the 26th Infantry Division into a brigade, and put it under the command of the 29th Infantry Division. On 1 September 1993, the division was inactivated, and the 26th Infantry Brigade designated in its place, based in Springfield. The 3d and 43rd brigades, 26th Infantry Division were inactivated, and the 86th Infantry Brigade was put under the command of the 42nd Infantry Division. On 1 October 1995, the division was formally designated the 26th Brigade, 29th Infantry Division. In 2004, the 26th Brigade transitioned into the 26th (Yankee) Brigade Combat Team. Reassigned to the 42d Infantry Division in 2005, in 2006 it was relieved from assignment to the 42d and reorganized and redesignated as the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
The 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade ("Yankee") is a combat support brigade of the United States Army. Its headquarters is maintained by the Massachusetts Army National Guard. It draws its lineage from the Headquarters Company 26th Infantry D ...
.
Honors
The division received six campaign streamer
Campaign streamers are decorations attached to military flags to recognize particular achievements or events of a military unit or service. Attached to the headpiece of the assigned flag, the streamer often is an inscribed ribbon with the n ...
s in World War I and four campaign streamers in World War II, for a total of 10 campaign streamers in its operational lifetime.
Campaign streamers
Commanders
Legacy
The beltway
A ring road (also known as circular road, beltline, beltway, circumferential (high)way, loop, bypass or orbital) is a road or a series of connected roads encircling a town, city, or country. The most common purpose of a ring road is to assist i ...
around the city of Boston, Massachusetts Route 128
Route 128, known as the Yankee Division Highway, is a state highway in the U.S. state of Massachusetts maintained by the Highway Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Spanning , it is one of two beltways (the othe ...
, is nicknamed the "Yankee Division Highway" in honor of the 26th Infantry Division. For its contribution in liberating the Gusen concentration camp, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) is the United States' official memorial to the Holocaust. Adjacent to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the USHMM provides for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust hi ...
continually flies the division's colors at its entrance and for high-profile memorial ceremonies, honoring it as one of 35 US divisions to have assisted in the liberation of German concentration camps.
Notable members of the division include Walter Krueger
Walter Krueger (26 January 1881 – 20 August 1967) was an American soldier and general officer in the first half of the 20th century. He commanded the Sixth United States Army in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. He rose fro ...
, Edward Lawrence Logan
Edward Lawrence Logan (January 20, 1875 – July 6, 1939) was an American lawyer, judge, military officer, and politician. While still a student, Logan enlisted in the Massachusetts 9th infantry during the Spanish–American War. Upon returnin ...
, J. Laurence Moffitt, the last surviving veteran of the Yankee Division from World War I, and Sergeant Stubby
Sergeant Stubby (1916 – March 16, 1926) was a dog and the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment (United States) and was assigned to the 26th (Yankee) Division in World War I. He served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles o ...
, a dog that served with the division in combat in World War I. PFC Michael J. Perkins
Private First Class Michael J. Perkins (1899 – October 28, 1918) was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during World War I.
Biography
Perkins was born in South Boston, Massachusetts ...
, a resident of South Boston and a member of the division was awarded the Medal of Honor in France in World War I. PFC George Dilboy
George Dilboy (Americanized transliteration of Greek name, Georgios Dilvois: Γεώργιος Διλβόης), (February 5, 1896 – July 18, 1918), Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company H, 103rd Infantry Regiment (United States), 26th Division ...
of Company H, 103d Infantry was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions against a German machine-gun emplacement in which he was mortally wounded near the Bouresches
Bouresches () is a commune in the department of Aisne in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Aisne department
The following is a list of the 799 Communes of France, communes in the French Departments ...
railroad station on 18 July 1918. Additionally, two members of the division received the Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
in World War II, Ruben Rivers
Ruben Rivers (1921 – November 19, 1944) was a United States Army Staff Sergeant#United States, staff sergeant who was killed in action while serving as a tank, tank company platoon sergeant during World War II. In 1997, he was awarded the Meda ...
, and Alfred L. Wilson. Architecture student Victor Lundy
Victor Alfred Lundy (born February 1, 1923) is an American architect. An exemplar of modernist architecture, he was one of the leaders of the Sarasota School of Architecture. His Warm Mineral Springs Motel, outside Warm Mineral Springs, Florid ...
was transferred into the 26th in 1944; he produced sketches documenting people, places and scenes that open a window into life in the division between May and November 1944. Lundy donated the surviving sketches to the Library of Congress in 2009, and the collection is accessible online.
References
Sources
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External links
26th Infantry Division "Yankee Division" World War II Historical Re-enactment Group
26th Yankee Division Veterans Association
26th Yankee Division Band
{{DEFAULTSORT:026
026th Infantry Division, U.S.
Infantry Division, U.S. 026th
United States Army divisions of World War I
Divisions of the United States Army National Guard
Military units and formations established in 1917
Military units and formations in Massachusetts
Military units and formations in Maine
Military units and formations in New Hampshire
Military units and formations in Rhode Island
Military units and formations in Vermont
Military units and formations in Connecticut
Military in Connecticut
Infantry divisions of the United States Army in World War II
Connecticut National Guard
Military units and formations disestablished in 1993
1917 establishments in Massachusetts