35th Infantry Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 35th Infantry Division


caption=35th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia
dates= 1917-1919 1935-1945 1946-1963 1984-present
country= United States of America
allegiance=
branch= Army National Guard
type= Infantry
role=
size= Division
command_structure=
garrison=Fort Leavenworth
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equipment=
equipment_label=
nickname="Santa Fe"
patron=
motto=
colors=
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march=
mascot=
battles=World War I
*Meuse-Argonne
World War II
*Normandy
*Northern France
*Rhineland
*Ardennes-Alsace
*Central Europe
Kosovo War
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
current_commander=
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
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colonel_of_the_regiment=
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notable_commanders=Maj. Gen. William H. Simpson
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=distinctive unit insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=US Infantry
previous=34th Infantry Division
next=36th Infantry DivisionThe 35th Infantry Division has been a unit of the National Guard since World War I.

It is currently headquartered at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

World War I

*Organized: August 1917 (National Guard with troops from Kansas and Missouri, after a few months as the 14th Division).
*Overseas: May 1918.
*Major operations: Meuse-Argonne.
*Casualties: Total - 7,296 (KIA - 1,018 ; WIA - 6,278).
*Commanders: Maj. Gen. William M. Wright (25 August 1917), Brig. Gen. L. G. Berry (18 September 1917), Maj. Gen. William M. Wright (10 December 1917), Brig. Gen. Nathaniel F. McClure (15 June 1918), Maj. Gen. Peter E. Traub (2 November 1918), Brig. Gen. T. B. Dugan (25 November 1918), Maj. Gen. Peter E. Traub (7 December 1918), Brig. Gen. Thomas Dugan (27 December 1918).
*Returned to U.S. and inactivated: April 1919.

Combat Chronicle

Upon arrival in France, the 35th Division was garrisoned near the front in Alsace. It received limited training from the French Army.

The Division saw combat in the Battle of Meuse-Argonne where it collapsed after five days of fighting. [Ferrel R. H., Collapse at Meuse-Argonne: The Failure of the Missouri-Kansas Division, University of Missouri Press, 2004]

During World War I, the 129th Field Artillery Regiment had, as a battery commander, Capt. Harry S Truman, later President of the United States.

World War II

*Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.
*Days of combat: 264.
*Distinguished Unit Citations: 6.
*Awards: MH-1 ; Distinguished Service Cross (United States)-44 ; Distinguished Service Medal (United States)-1 ; Silver Star-688 ; LM-10; DFC-1 ; SM-22 ; BSM-3,435 ; AM-133.
*Commanders: Maj. Gen. R. E. Truman (December 1940-October 1941), Maj. Gen. William H. Simpson (October 1941-April 1942), Maj. Gen. Maxwell Murray (May 1942-January 1943), Maj. Gen. Paul W. Baade (January 1943 to inactivation).
*Returned to U. S.: 10 September 1945.
*Inactivated: 7 December 1945.

Combat Chronicle

The Division was activated on 23 December 1940, as a National Guard Division from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. It departed for Europe on 12 May 1944.

The 35th Infantry Division arrived in England, 25 May 1944, and received further training. It landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, 5-7 July 1944, and entered combat 11 July, fighting in the Normandy hedgerows, north of St. Lo. The Division beat off 12 German counterattacks at Emelie before entering St. Lo, 18 July. After mopping up in the St. Lo area, it took part in the offensive action southwest of St. Lo, pushing the Germans across the Vire River, 2 August, and breaking out of the Cotentin Peninsula. While en route to an assembly area, the Division was "flagged off the road," to secure the Mortain-Avranches corridor and to rescue the 30th Division's "Lost Battalion," 7-13 August 1944.

Then racing across France through Orleans and Sens, the Division attacked across the Moselle, 13 September, captured Nancy, 15 September, secured Chambrey, 1 October, and drove on to the German border, taking Sarreguemines and crossing the Saar, 8 December. After crossing the Blies River, 12 December, the Division moved to Metz for rest and rehabilitation, 19 December. The 35th moved to Arlon, Belgium, 25-26 December, and took part in the fighting to relieve Bastogne, throwing off the attacks of four German divisions, taking Villers-laBonne-Eau, 10 January, after a 13-day fight and Lutrebois in a 5-day engagement. On 18 January 1945, the Division returned to Metz to resume its interrupted rest. In late January, the Division was defending the Foret de Domaniale area.

Moving to the Netherlands to hold a defensive line along the Roer, 22 February, the Division attacked across the Roer, 23 February, pierced the Siegfried Line, reached the Rhine at Wesel, 10 March, and crossed, 25-26 March. It smashed across the Herne Canal and reached the Ruhr River early in April, when it was ordered to move to the Elbe, 12 April. Making the 295-mile dash in 2 days, the 35th mopped up in the vicinity of Colbitz and Angern, until 26 April 1945, when it moved to Hanover for occupational and mopping-up duty, continuing occupation beyond VE-day. The Division left Southampton, England, 5 September, and arrived in New York City, 10 September 1945.

Assignments in the European Theater of Operations

*5 May 1944: XV Corps, Third Army.
*8 July 1944: Third Army, but attached to the XIX Corps of First Army.
*27 July 1944: V Corps.
*1 August 1944: Third Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to the V Corps of First Army.
*5 August 1944: Third Army, 12th Army Group.
*6 August 1944: XX Corps
*9 August 1944: Third Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to the VII Corps of First Army.
*13 August 1944: XII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
*23 December 1944: Third Army, 12th Army Group.
*24 December 1944: XX Corps.
*26 December 1944: III Corps.
*18 January 1945: XX Corps.
*23 January 1945: XV Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
*30 January 1945: XVI Corps, Ninth Army, attached to the British 21st Army Group, 12th Army Group.
*4 April 1945: XVI Corps, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group.
*13 April 1945: XIX Corps, for operations, and the XIII Corps for administration.
*16 April 1945: XIII Corps.

During World War II, the 320th Infantry Regiment had, as an operations officer (S-3), Maj. Orval Faubus, later Governor of Arkansas.

Post War

After several activations and reactivations in the immediate postwar years, the 35th Infantry Division (Mechanized) was reactivated on August 25, 1984 from the 67th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) of Nebraska, the 69th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) of Kansas, and the 149th Armored Brigade from Kentucky. It continues in service today.

Bosnia

The 35th Infantry Division Headquarters Commanded Task Force Eagle of Multi-National Division North in Bosnia as part of SFOR-13 (Stabilization Force) with the NATO peacekeeping mandate under the Dayton Peace Accords. The Headquarters were located at Eagle Base in the town of Tuzla. Brigadier General James R. Mason was the commander. He later went on to command the 35th Infantry Division. The Division received the Army Superior Unit Award for its service in Bosnia. The 35th Division was notable for its smooth coordination of Inter-Brigade Operations. Division Liaison Officers served in the towns of Mostar, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Zenica and Doboj.

Current Structure

35th Infantry Division consists of the following elements:

* Division Special Troops Battalion
* 33rd (Infantry) Brigade Combat Team, (IL NG)
** 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
** 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment (RSTA)
** 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment
** 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment
** 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment
** 634th Brigade Support Battalion
* 45th (Infantry) Brigade Combat Team (OK NG)
** 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion
** 1st Squadron, 279th Cavalry Regiment (RSTA)
** 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment
** 1st Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment
** 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment
** 700th Brigade Support Battalion
* 48th (Infantry) Brigade Combat Team, (GA NG)
** 48th Brigade Special Troops Battalion
** 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment (RSTA)
** 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment
** 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment
** 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment
** 148th Brigade Support Battalion
* Combat Aviation Brigade, 35th Infantry Division (MO NG)
** Headquarters and Headquarters Company
** 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment (S&S) (NE NG)
** 1st Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (Attack) (MO NG)
** 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment (General Support), (UT NG)
** 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment (Assault) (KS NG)
** 935th Aviation Support Battalion

attached units

* 142nd Fires Brigade (AR NG)
* 287th Sustainment Brigade (KS NG)
* 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MO NG)
* 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

In Popular Culture

In the 1970 WWII-era film "Kelly's Heroes" (starring Clint Eastwood), the American soldiers portrayed in the film are primarily from the 35th Infantry Division.

References

*"The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States" U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/cc/cc.htm CMH] .
*'UNIT DESIGNATIONS IN THE ARMY MODULAR FORCE' http://www.cascom.army.mil/odct/Documents/AUSA_Briefing_26_Sep_05.ppt

External links

* [http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/35thinfantry/index.html Attack! The Story of the 35th Infantry Division]
* [http://www.35thinfdivassoc.com The 35th Infantry Division In Europe During WWII]
* [http://www.137thinfantry.org/ 35th Infantry Division, 137th Infantry Regiment]
* http://www.kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral/Library/2006%20Annual%20Report/Annual%20Report%202006%20with%20map.pdf
* http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Avn/376AviationRegiment.htm