History of Divisions - Official War History of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin by R.B. Pixley

Second. The insignia of the Second Division,Regular Army, is an Indian head in the center of a star on a shield, the colors varyingaccording to the unit. No particular meaning is attached to this insignia. It isa device painted by a driver on the side of his truck and chosen as the divisionmark. The marine brigade was attached to this division. Division Headquarters arrivedin France, October 26, 1917. The Second Division was active in the Verdun and Toul-Troyonsectors, northwest of Chateau-Thierry. It was in almost continuous heavy fightingfrom May 13 to July 9; Soissons sector, Marne counter-offensive, Marbache sectorand St. Mihiel drive, Blanc Mont sector, Champagne advance and the Argonne-Meuseoffensive. It captured 228 officers, 11,738 men, 343 pieces of artillery and 1,350guns; advanced 38 miles. It had 24,429 casualties and led all American divisionswith 664 members awarded Distinguished Service Crosses.

Third. The Third Division, Regular Army,has as its insignia three white stripes placed diagonally on the square of royalblue. This division was closely associated with the 28th (Iron) Division, the formerNational Guard of Pennsylvania, in the operations in the Soissons-Rheims pocket.It included the 76th Field Artillery, nearly two-thirds of whose members came fromPhiladelphia. The three white stripes represent not only the divisional number butalso the three major operations in which it was engaged, the Marne, the St. Mihieland the Argonne-Meuse. Divisional Headquarters arrived in France, April 4, 1918.The blue field is a symbol of those who died, the division having 16,356 casualties.This total includes, of course, killed, wounded and missing. It captured 31 officers,2,209 men, 51 pieces of artillery and 1,501 machine guns. It advanced 26 miles andhad 233 of its members honored with Distinguished Service Crosses.

Fourth. The insignia of the Fourth Division,Regular Army, consists of four green leaves of ivy placed on a diamond of olive drab,the leaves representing the number of the division. Variations of the insignia alsoshow the Roman numeral IV in the center, also an ivy leaf on each point of the numeral4. Headquarters of this division arrived in France May 17, 1918. Its activities includedthe Marne counter-offensive, the vicinity of Noroy and Hautesvesnes, the Vesle sector,St. Mihiel sector in reserve and the Argonne-Meuse offensive. The division captured12 officers, 2,684 men, 44 pieces of artillery and 31 machine guns. Its total front-lineadvance was 24 1/2 kilometers, about 15 miles. It had 12,948 casualties.

Fifth. The Red Diamond is the insignia ofthe Fifth Division, Regular Army. It has no special significance. The ace of diamondswas selected as the division's mark at the suggestion of Col. Charles A. MEALS. DivisionHeadquarters arrived in France, May 1, 1918. It fought in the Anoult sector. It waspart of Major General LIGGETT's First Corps, together with the Second Eighty-secondand Ninetieth Divisions, in the smash across the St. Mihiel salient, September 12.It took its full share of the 16,000 prisoners and 443 guns captured in this advance.Later the Fifth helped in the Argonne-Meuse offensive. It captured a total of 48officers, 2,357 men, 98 pieces of artillery and 802 machine guns. Its total advanceon front lines was 29 kilometers, about 18 miles. It suffered 8,280 casualties.

Sixth. The Sixth Division, Regular Army,has as its distinguished mark a six-pointed star of red cloth with the figure "6"in blue, super-imposed. The Sixth Division arrived in France, July 23, 1918. Itsactivities included the Argonne-Meuse offensive, where it was First Army Corps reserve.Enough of the men were in action to give the division 285 casualties.

Seventh. The insignia of the Seventh Division,Regular Army, had a rather ingenious origin. It consists of two black triangles,their apexes touching, on a red base. It was devised by making a figure "7"and then placing over it an inverted numeral "7," prolonging the diagonalbase lines so that the cross and each touches the cross stroke of the other. DivisionHeadquarters reached France August 11, 1918. The Seventh saw action in the Puvenellesector in Lorraine from October 9 to 29, and in an extension of the same sector toNovember 11, when the armistice was signed. It captured one officer, 68 men and 28machine guns and had a total of 1,546 casualties. Its total front line advance wasthree-fourths of a kilometer.

Eighth. This division is known as the PathfinderDivision, and has for its insignia a black Indian head in a yellow double circle.

Tenth. The Tenth Division, Regular Army,has for its insignia an "X" in a single yellow circle on a square of blue.

Eleventh. The Eleventh Division is knownas the La Fayette Division and has for its insignia a head of La Fayette, in blue,on a disc of red.

Twelfth. This division is known as the PlymouthDivision, and has for its insignia two triangles, two stars and the number "12,"in red, set within a diamond, in blue and yellow.

Thirteenth. The Thirteenth Division, RegularArmy, adopted as its insignia a black circle within which is a black cat, a red horseshoeand the number "13" in red.

Fourteenth. The Fourteenth is known as theWolverine Division composed mostly of Michigan troops, and has the word "Wolverine"in white, with a wolverine's head on a shield of green.

Eighteenth. The Eighteenth Division, madeup of men from the far southwest, is known as the Cactus Division and its insigniais in cactus green, a cactus bearing the number "18" and the words, "NoliMetangere," being within a circle.

Nineteenth. The Nineteenth Division is calledthe Twilight Division and has for its insignia a black square upon which is a reddisc upon which is a black, white-cornered triangle bearing the letter "G"in white.

Twenty-Sixth. A monogram of the letters "YD"of dark blue cloth, mounted on a diamond of khaki cloth, is the insignia of the "YankeeDivision" - the Twenty-sixth Division, composed of New England National Guard.Division Headquarters arrived in France, December 5, 1917. The Twenty-sixth wentinto action in the Chemain-des-Dames sector and later its activities included theLa Reine and Bocqu sector, northwest of Chateau-Thierry, the Marne counter-offensive,Rupt and Troyon sectors. The Twenty-sixth was part of the Fifth Corps that pushedin the west side of the St. Mihiel salient. Later it helped to rout the Germans outof the Argonne. It captured 61 officers and 3,087 men, 16 pieces of artillery and132 machine guns. It had 8,955 casualties and had 239 members honored with DistinguishedService Crosses. Its total front line advance was 37 kilometers, about 23 miles.

Twenty-seventh. The insignia of the Twenty-seventhDivision, formerly the National Guard of New York, is one of the most novel and representativeof all. It is a circle of black, with red border, with the letters N. Y. D., (NewYork Division) worked into a red monogram. Around this monogram are the seven starsof the constellation Orion, in honor of Major General John F. O'RYAN, who was theonly National Guard officer of his rank to go to France. Division Headquarters reachedFrance, May 10, 1918. Its activities included the East Poperinghe lines in Belgium;Dickebusch sector in Belgium; Hindenburg line operations; St. Souplet sector, thebattle for Jonc de Mer bridge and the St. Maurice River. It captured 65 officersand 2,292 men and made a total frontal advance of seven miles. It had 7,940 casualties;1,972 of its men sleep "where poppies bloom." Distinguished Service Crosseswere awarded to 139.

Twenty-eighth. The men wearing the red keystonecome from the Keystone State. The Twenty-eighth (Iron) Division is made up of NationalGuard of Pennsylvania, and the keystone indicates the origin more clearly than anyof the other insignia. Division Headquarters arrived in France, May 18, 1918, andthe division took a position southeast of Chateau-Thierry sector as reserve of theFourth Corps, with battle operations from July 15 to 18 and July 28 to 30. It wasin continuous heavy fighting from August 7 to September 8. It also took part in theArgonne-Meuse offensive, as well as in the Thiaucourt sector. It captured 10 officersand 911 men, 16 pieces of artillery and 63 machine guns. Its total front-line advancewas ten kilometers, about six miles. It lost 12,252 men in killed, wounded and missing,including all reports up to March 8, 1919. Up to March 1 Distinguished Service Crosseswere awarded to 58 of its members.

Twenty-ninth. The Blue and Gray Division,the Twenty-ninth, was composed of National Guards of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland,District of Columbia and Virginia. In this division were united sons of the Northand South, fighting shoulder to shoulder, against the common enemy, hence the nameBlue and Gray Division. Its mark is the Korean symbol of good luck, a circle bisectedby two half circles, reversed and joined. One half of the circle is of blue and theother of gray cloth. The Division Headquarters arrived in France, June 27, 1918.Its activities included the center sector of Haute Alsace and the Grand Montagnesector, north of Verdun. This division captured 2,187 officers and men, 21 piecesof artillery and 250 machine guns. It made a total front-line advance four and one-halfmiles. Its casualties amounted to 5,972. Of its members 150 were honored with theDistinguished Service Cross.

Thirtieth. The Thirtieth or Old Hickory Divisionhas an insignia that is highly symbolical, but more of a national figure than a locality.This division was made up of the national Guards of the Carolinas and Tennessee.Its mark is a monogram in blue of the letters "O" and "H" standingfor "Old Hickory," the nickname of Andrew Jackson. The cross bar of the"H" contains the triple "XXX," the Roman numerals for thirty,the number of the division. The whole is on a maroon background. Division Headquartersreached France, May 24, 1918, and the division was on the front in the canal sectorsouth of Ypres, Belgium; the Guoy-Nauroy sector, with battle operations; the Beaurevoirsector, with battle operations; also the Le Cateau sector, with battle operations.It captured 98 officers, 3,750 men, 81 pieces of artillery and 426 machine guns.It advanced about 18 miles and suffered 6,893 casualties and had 133 DistinguishedService Crosses awarded.

Thirty-first. The Thirty-first Division isknown as the Dixie Division and was composed of southern troops. Its insignia isa shield, one-half red, with a reversed "D" in white, and one-half bluewith a letter "D" in white.

Thirty-second. The Thirty-second Divisionboasts that it "shot through every line the Germans put before it." Itsemblem, a flying red arrow with a bar across the middle, carries its point in servingas a sharp reminder of what it did. The French soldiers called this division LesTerribles, (The Terribles). The Thirty-second was made up of the National Guardsof Michigan and Wisconsin. Its headquarters arrived in France, February 20, 1918.It was active on the Alsace front, the Fismes front, the Soissons front. It foughtin the battle of Juvigny, the Argonne-Meuse offensive, at Dun-sur-Meuse and wentwith the Army of Occupation. It captured 40 officers and 2,113 men, 21 pieces ofartillery and 190 machine guns. It made a total front-line advance of 36 kilometers,about 22 miles. It suffered 14,268 casualties, and 134 of its members were honoredwith Distinguished Service Crosses.

Thirty-third. A yellow cross on a black circleis the emblem of the Prairie Division, the Thirty-third. The cross had long beenused to mark government equipment and is said to have had a terrifying effect uponthe Philippine natives during the campaigns there. When this division, made up ofIllinois and West Virginia National Guards, assembled its equipment at its Texastraining camp, yellow is said to have been the only paint to be had in the stateto mark the equipment. This led to the adoption of this mark as the divisional insignia.Its headquarters reached France, May 24, 1918. It fought in the Amiens sector withthe Australians, and 19 of its men received decorations from King George for helpingthe "Anzacs" capture Hamel, though uninvited. It captured 65 officers,3,922 men, 95 big guns and 414 machine guns. It advanced 36 kilometers, about 22miles, suffered 7,860 casualties and had the Distinguished Service Cross conferredon 76 of its members.

Thirty-fourth. The Thirty-fourth or SandstormDivision trained at Camp Cody, N.N., where desert sandstorms were frequent. As itsemblem it chose the outlines of a Mexican olla or water bottle, and the skull ofa steer, often found bleaching on the desert. The numerals 34 and the divisionalnickname are often included, although this is optional. The colors vary accordingto the unit. This division was originally made up of the National Guards of Iowa,Minnesota, Nebraska and North Dakota and included a good many Indians. Later it wasfilled out with selected men from New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona. While waitingat Camp Dix, N.J., before embarking for overseas it was filled to strength by theaddition of many eastern men. Several hundred of its men died during the influenzaepidemic at Dix. Arriving in France, it was made a replacement division and had nobattle operations as a division, although many of its men fought with other divisionson all parts of the front.

Thirty-fifth. The National Guards of Missouriand Kansas made up the Thirty-fifth Division. Its chosen emblem is the Santa Fe crosswithin two circles of varying colors, the outer one divided into four arcs. The designis historical and local, the old Santa Fe trail starting westward near the presentMissouri-Kansas line. Division Headquarters arrived in France, May 11, 1918. Thedivision got into the fighting in the north end of the Weserling sector in the Vosges,with Garibaldi sector, the Gererdmer subsector, Argonne-Meuse offensive and the Somme-Dieusector. It captured 13 officers and 768 men, 24 pieces of artillery and 85 machineguns. The total front-line advance was 12 1/2 kilometers, about eight miles. TheThirty-fifth had 7,745 casualties reported.

Thirty-sixth. The National Guards of Texasand Oklahoma formed the Thirty-sixth Division, often called the "Lone Star"Division on account of the majority being Texans. Its divisional insignia is a cobalt-bluearrowhead, upon which is placed the letter "T," the whole being on a khakicircle. The arrowhead signifies Oklahoma, not so many years since a part of IndianTerritory, while the "T," of course, stands for Texas. The division trainedat Fort Worth and its headquarters arrived in France, July 31, 1918. It fought inthe Blanc Mont sector, north of Semme-py, in the French Champagne offensive. It captured18 officers and 531 men, 9 pieces of artillery and 294 machine guns. Its total advanceon the front line was a distance of about 13 miles. It had 2,397 casualties.

Thirty-seventh. A red circle with a whiteborder designates the Buckeye Division, the Thirty-seventh, composed of NationalGuard of the Buckeye State, Ohio. This design is adopted from the State flag of Ohio.Division Headquarters arrived in France, June 23, 1918. Its activities included theBaccarat sector, the Argonne-Meuse offensive; Pennes, in the St. Mihiel sector; Lysand the Escaut River in Flanders and the Syngem sector in Belgium. It captured 26officers and 1,469 men, 26 pieces of artillery and 263 machine guns. Its total advanceon the front line was a distance of about 13 miles. It had 2,397 casualties.

Thirty-eighth. The emblem of the CycloneDivision, the Thirty-eighth, is a shield of which the right half is blue and theleft half red. Upon this shield are superimposed the letters "C" and "Y"in white, the "Y" being placed over the lower part of the "C."The division was made up of the National Guardsmen from Indiana and Kentucky. DivisionHeadquarters arrived in France, October 19, 1918. Overseas it became a replacementdivision, but many of the men of its units fought in the front lines when drawn toreplace casualties in the combat divisions.

Thirty-ninth. The red, white and black bull's-eyetarget is the distinguishing mark of the Bull's-eye Division, the Thirty-ninth, composedof troops from Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. The division went to France underMajor General Henry E. HODGES, Jr., and became a depot division being stationed atSt. Florent until the end of November, 1918.

Fortieth. This is known as the Sunshine Division,coming from the southwest. It is made up of the National Guardsmen of California,Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. Its emblem is a blazing sun of gold cloth ona blue ground. This represents the noonday sun in a blue sky. Division Headquartersarrived in France, August 20, 1918. This division also became a replacement divisionand sent many of its men to the front to fight with other combat divisions. DivisionHeadquarters were stationed at Revigny and St. Dizier at the close of the war.

Forty-first. From the direction of the settingsun comes the Sunset Division, from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming. The Forty-firstDivision Headquarters arrived in France, January 1, 1918. It was fitted out witha good many eastern men. It was one of the first divisions to come home, and someof its main units were demobilized at Camp Dix, N.J. The insignia is a setting sunin gold on a red background over a navy blue stripe, representing the sun settingover the blue waters of the Pacific. The design was originated by a Red Cross nurseattached to Camp Hospital 26, at St. Aignan-Noyers.

Forty-second. Probably the most famous divisionin France, was the Forty-second or Rainbow Division. It was made up of National Guardunits from twenty-six different states and the District of Columbia. The first ofthe National Guard divisions to go to France, it made a gallant record in many actions.The insignia consists of a parti-colored quadrant, suggesting part of a rainbow.Division Headquarters arrived in France, November 1, 1917. Its activities includedDombasle-Luneville-St. Clement-Baccarat sector; Souain and Esperance sector; holdingthe German push east of Rheims; Tugny and Beuvardes in the Marne-Vesle drive; Anzauville,Essey and Bois de Pannes in the St. Mihiel salient; south of St. Georges-Landres-et-St.Georges-Cote de Chatillon, in the Argonne-Meuse drive; Autruche, Grandes, Armoisesand Maisoncelle, south of Sedan. It captured 14 officers, 1,303 men, 25 big gunsand 495 machine guns. Its total advance was 34 miles. It suffered 12,252 casualtiesand was awarded 205 Distinguished Service Crosses.

Seventy-seventh. Made up mainly of selectedmen from New York City and the southeastern part of New York state, the Seventy-seventhis known as the Metropolitan Division. It has for its insignia a golden facsimileof the Statue of Liberty against a blue sky. The division trained at Camp Upton andDivision headquarters arrived in France, April 13, 1918. It was active in the Baccaratsector, the Fismes-Bazoches sector on the Vesle front; La Harazee-Feur de Paris,A Fille Morte lines, the Champigneulles line and also the Aire-Meuse line in theArgonne-Meuse offensive. The famous "lost battalion" of the 308th Infantrywas a part of this division. It captured 13 officers and 737 men, 44 pieces of artilleryand 323 machine guns. Its casualties amounted to 9,423. Distinguished Service Crosseswere awarded to 146 of its members.

Seventy-eighth. The Lightning Division, theSeventy-eighth, was trained at Camp Dix, N.J. Its shoulder insignia is a crimsonsemi-circle with streaks of lightning shooting down from the top. A variation showsit as a wide streak shooting from the upper right hand to the lower left. This divisionwas made up of selected men from northern and western New York state, New Jerseyand Delaware. This was a front-line combat division and fought in the Limey sector,St. Mihiel front, Grand Pre-St. Junin sector. In the Argonne-Meuse advance the Lightningfought next to the French on the west end of the American sector. The Seventy-eighthcaptured 9 officers, 392 men, 4 or more pieces of artillery and 43 or more machineguns. Its total front-line advance was 21 kilometers, or about 13 miles. The reportsto March 8 showed 8,133 casualties. Ninety-five of its members received DistinguishedService Crosses.

Seventy-ninth. The Liberty or Seventy-ninthDivision was made up of men from eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Districtof Columbia and trained at Camp Meade. It adopted the name of Liberty Division, withthe Liberty Bell as its symbol, but this was changed to a Lorraine cross in whiteon a blue shield. The connection of the emblem with this division is not quite clear.This cross dates from the fifteenth century, being adopted by the House of Anjouas a sign of victory after the defeat of Charles the Bold. Headquarters arrived inFrance, July 15, 1918. It saw heavy fighting, and in the Argonne-Meuse offensivetook Montfaucon, known as the "German Gibraltar." It was active in theGrand Montagne sector and the heights east of the Meuse river. Beginning September26, it was in action almost continuously. It captured 1 officer, 391 men, 32 bigguns, 275 machine guns; advanced a total of 12 miles; had 3,223 casualties, and received80 Distinguished Service Crosses.

Eightieth. The Eightieth Division of theNational Army is known as the Blue Ridge Division, the men being from Pennsylvania,Virginia and West Virginia. Its insignia shows three blue hills, representing theBlue Ridge Mountains, on a shield of olive drab, all outlined in white. DivisionHeadquarters arrived in France, May 30, 1918. Its activities included Avelup Woods,Arras, St. Mihiel salient and Bethincourt sector and the Nantillois sector in theArgonne-Meuse offensive. It captured 103 officers and 1,710 men, 88 pieces of artilleryand 641 machine guns. Its total front-line advance was 37 kilometers, about 23 miles.It had 5,133 casualties and the honor of the Distinguished Service Cross conferredon 42 of its members.

Eighty-first. This division was composedof selected men from the Carolinas, Florida and Porto(sic) Rico. It was blessed withofficers who were keen on divisional spirit and particularly strong on a snappy salute.They are credited with originating the system of division insignia, choosing as theirown emblem the wild cat or "bobcat," the fighting demon of the Carolinasand Tennessee mountains, in a fighting pose. The cat is in varying colors, accordingto the different service. This organization landed in France, beginning August 16,1918, with its insignia prominently displayed. This and their precise salute attractedwide attention. The Wildcat Division saw action east of St. Die and Raon l'Etapesector in the Vosges; Somme-Dieu sector and Benzee-en-Woevre. Its total front-lineadvance was about three miles. It had 1,062 casualties and 19 members honored withDistinguished Service Crosses.