In World War II, the 9th Infantry Division was among the first U.S. combat units to engage in offensive ground operations during World War II. (The others were the 32nd and the 41st in the Pacific on New Guinea, Carlson's Raiders on Makin Island, the 1st Marine and the Americal on the Guadalcanal, and, alongside the 9th in North Africa, were the 3rd Infantry and the 2nd Armored Divisions.) The 9th saw its first combat on 8 November 1942, when its elements landed at Algiers, Safi, and Port Lyautey, with the taking of Safi by the 3rd Battalion of the 47th Infantry Regiment standing as the first liberation of a city from Axis control in World War II. With the collapse of French resistance on 11 November 1942, the division patrolled the Spanish Moroccan border. The 9th returned to Tunisia in February and engaged in small defensive actions and patrol activity. On 28 March 1943 it launched an attack in southern Tunisia and fought its way north into Bizerte, 7 May. In August the 9th landed at Palermo, Sicily, and took part in the capture of Randazzo and Messina. After returning to England for further training, the division hit Utah Beach on 10 June 1944 (D plus 4), cut off the Cotentin Peninsula, drove on to Cherbourg and penetrated the port's heavy defenses. After a brief rest in July, the division took part in the St. Lo break-through and in August helped close the Falaise Gap. Turning east, the 9th crossed the Marne, 28 August, swept through Saarlautern, and in November and December held defensive positions from Monschau to Losheim. Moving north to Bergrath, Germany, it launched an attack toward the Roer, 10 December, taking Echtz and Schlich. From mid-December through January 1945, the division held defensive positions from Kalterherberg to Elsenborn. On 30 January the division jumped off from Monschau in a drive across the Roer and to the Rhine, crossing at Remagen, 7 March. After breaking out of the Remagen bridgehead, the 9th assisted in the sealing and clearing of the Ruhr Pocket, then moved 150 miles (240 km) east to Nordhausen and attacked in the Harz Mountains, 14–20 April. On 21 April the Division relieved the 3d Armored Division along the Mulde River, near Dessau, and held that line until VE-day.
 

World War II Troop List

Campaigns:
  • Algeria-French Morocco
  • Tunisia
  • Sicily
  • Normandy
  • Northern France
  • Ardennes
  • Rhineland
  • Central Europe

Maneuver Regiments:

  • 39th Infantry
  • 47th Infantry  
  • 60th Infantry
  • 9th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
  • 15th Engineer Combat Battalion
  • 9th Medical Battalion
  • 9th Division Artillery
  • 26th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm Howitzer)
  • 60th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm Howitzer)
  • 84th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm Howitzer)
  • 34th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm Howitzer)
  • Special Troops
  • 709th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
  • 9th Quartermaster Company
  • 9th Signal Company
  • Military Police
  • Platoon Headquarters Company
  • Band

Attachments:

  • Antiaircraft Artillery
  • 376th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 13 June 1944 – 16 June 1944
  • 376th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 16 June 1944 – 26 May 1945
  • Battery B, 486th AAA Bn (SP) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
  • Battery A, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
  • Battery A, 129th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 14 July 1944 – 18 July 1944
  • Battery C, 557th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 10 September 1944 – 8 October 1944
  • Battery B, 438th AAA AW Bn (Mbl) 20 September 1944 – 4 October 1944
  • 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 20 December 1944 – 24 December 1944
  • 2 btrys, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 24 December 1944 – 3 January 1945
  • 2d Plat, Battery C, 226th AAA SL Bn 8 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
  • Armored
  • 746th Tk Bn (- Co A) 13 June 1944 – 28 June 1944
  • Hq, 6th Armd Go 15 June 1944 – 16 June 1944
  • 746th Tk Bn 28 June 1944 – 10 July 1945
  • CC A (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
  • …32d Armd Regt (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
  • …3d Bn, 36th Armd Inf (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
  • …83d Armd Rcn Bn (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
  • …Cos A & C, 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
  • …Co A, 703d TD Bn (SP) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
  • …Btry D, 413th AAA Gun Bn (Mbl) 10 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
  • Co C, 745th Tk Bn 17 August – 18 August 1944
  • Task Force King, CC B (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
  • …1st Bn, 33d Armd Regt (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
  • …Co F, 36th Armd Inf (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
  • …3d Plat, Rcn Co, 3d Armd Inf (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
  • …2d Plat, Co B, 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
  • …2d Plat, Co B, 703d TD Bn (SP) 5 September 1944 – 6 September 1944
  • Co H, 32d Armd Regt (3d Armd Div) 13 October 1944 – 17 October 1944
  • CC B (9th Armd Div) 3 March 1945 – 5 March 1945
  • CC A (7th Armd Div) 7 March 1945 – 8 March 1945
  • CC R (7th Armd Div) 8 March 1945
  • CC B (9th Armd Div) 9 March 1945 – 12 March 1945
  • CC A (7th Armd Div) 4 April 1945 – 6 April 1945
  • Co B, 17th Tk Bn (7th Armd Div) 6 April 1945 – 8 April 1945
  • CC A (3d Armd Div) 24 April 1945 – 25 April 1945
  • CC R (3d Armd Div) 24 April 1945 – 25 April 1945
  • Cavalry
  • 4th Cav Gp 20 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
  • 113th Cav Gp 10 July 1944
  • 24th Cav Rcn Sq 10 July 1944 – 17 July 1944
  • 4th Cav Gp 21 August 1944 – 23 August 1944
  • 4th Cav Rcn Sq 7 December 1944 – 13 December 1944
  • …1 plat, Co C, 297th Engr C Bn 7 December 1944 – 13 December 1944
  • …1 plat, Co C, 635th TD Bn (T) 7 December 1944 – 13 December 1944
  • 38th Cav Rcn Sq (- Tr A) 20 December 1944 – 27 January 1945
  • …Tr A, 38th Cav Rcn Sq 8 January 1945 – 27 January 1945
  • …Tr A, 102d Cav Rcn Sq 25 January 1945 – 27 January 1945
  • …Co A, 47th Armd Inf Bn (5th Armd Div) 20 December 1944 – 27 January 1945
  • …Co A, 10th Tk Bn (5th Armd Div) 20 December 1944 – 25 January 1945
  • …Co A, 47th AT Bn 20 December 1944 – 20 January 1945
  • …1 plat, Co A, 12th Engr C Bn 20 December 1944 – 4 January 1945
  • …Co C, 893d TD Bn (SP) 20 December 1944 – 27 January 1945
  • 1st Plat, 99th Rcn Tr (99th Div) 22 December 1944 – 14 January 1945
  • 3d Plat, 99th Rcn Tr (99th Div) 22 December 1944 – 25 January 1945
  • 2d Plat, 99th Rcn Tr (99th Div) 22 December 1944 – 26 January 1945
  • 1st Plat, 99th Rcn Tr (99th Div) 25 January 1945 – 26 January 1945
  • 32d Cav Rcn Sq (- 2 plats of Tr C) 27 March 1945 – 31 March 1945
  • 32d Cav Rcn Sq 5 April 1945 – 9 April 1945
  • …Co F, 18th Cav Rcn Sq 7 April 1945 – 9 April 1945
  • 4th Cav Gp 17 April 1945 – 22 April 1945
  • Chemical
  • 87th Cml Bn (- 1 co) 16 June 1944 – 19 June 1944
  • Co A, 87th Cml Bn 28 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
  • Co B, 87th Cml Bn 28 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
  • Cos C & D, 87th Cml Bn 20 July 1944 – 25 October 1944
  • Co C, 87th Cml Bn 10 December 1944 – 18 December 1944
  • Co A, 87th Cml Bn 27 January 1945 – 3 February 1945
  • Co B, 87th Cml Bn 27 January 1945 – 16 February 1945
  • 2 plats, Co C, 90th Cml Bn 18 February 1945 – 31 March 1945
  • 1 plat, Co C, 90th Cml Bn 22 February 1945 – 31 March 1945
  • Co B, 90th Cml Bn 16 March 1945 – 12 April 1945
  • Co C, 90th Cml Bn 3 April 1945 – 12 April 1945
  • Engineer
  • Co A, 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
  • Co D, 23d Armd Engr Bn (3d Armd Div) 11 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
  • 297th Engr C Bn 24 September 1944 – 29 September 1944
  • 1 co, 298th Engr C Bn 26 September 1944 – 29 September 1944
  • Co A, 294th Engr C Bn 26 September 1944 – 29 September 1944
  • 298th Engr C Bn 29 September 1944 – 30 September 1944
  • 298th Engr C Bn 1 October 1944 – 19 October 1944
  • 294th Engr C Bn 19 October 1944 – 25 October 1944
  • Field Artillery
  • Btrys A, B, C (- 1 plat each), 915th FA Bn (90th Div) (105 mm How) 15 June 1944 – 17 July 1944
  • 957th FA Bn (155 mm How) 16 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
  • 172d FA Bn (4.5" Gun) 19 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
  • Hq, 188th FA Gp 19 June 1944 – 17 July 1944
  • Btry C, 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 28 June 1944 – 1 July 1944
  • 54th Armd FA Bn (3d Armd Div) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
  • 196th FA Bn (105 mm How) 9 July 1944 – 28 July 1944
  • 690th FA Bn (105 mm How) 14 July 1944 – 28 July 1944
  • 987th FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 2 August 1944 – 6 August 1944
  • 183d FA Bn (155 mm How) 6 August 1944 – 11 August 1944
  • Btry A, 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 6 August 1944 – 20 August 1944
  • 951st FA Bn (155 mm How) 6 August 1944 – 20 August 1944
  • 18th FA Bn (105 mm How) 20 August 1944 – 24 August 1944
  • 951st FA Bn (155 mm How) 23 August 1944 – 25 August 1944
  • Btry A, 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 26 August 1944 – 31 August 1944
  • Btry A, 951st FA Bn (155 mm How) 1 September 1944 – 5 September 1944
  • Btry A, 13th FA Obsn Bn 1 September 1944 – 17 September 1944
  • 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 5 September 1944 – 17 September 1944
  • Hq & Hq Btry, 188th FA Gp 7 September 1944 – 18 September 1944
  • Btry B, 991st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 13 September 1944
  • 188th FA Bn (155 mm How) 19 September 1944 – 1 October 1944
  • Btry C, 195th FA Bn (8" How) 28 September 1944 – 23 October 1944
  • Hq & Hq Btry, 188th FA Gp 28 September 1944 – 23 October 1944
  • 172d FA Bn (4.5" Gun) 28 September 1944 – 23 October 1944
  • 981st FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 29 September 1944 – 23 October 1944
  • 1 plat, Btry A, 987th FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 7 December 1944 – 10 December 1944
  • 186th FA Bn (155 mm How) 20 December 1944 – 26 January 1945
  • 196th FA Bn (105 mm How) 20 December 1944 – 8 February 1945
  • Btry B, 987th FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 27 January 1945 – 14 February 1945
  • 76th FA Bn (105 mm How) 12 February 1945 – 17 February 1945
  • 955th FA Bn (155 mm How) 13 February 1945 – 17 February 1945
  • 400th Armd FA Bn 19 February 1945 – 28 February 1945
  • 987th FA Bn (- Btrys A & C) (155 mm Gun) 19 February 1945 – 8 March 1945
  • 254th FA Bn (155 mm How) 19 February 1945 – 31 March 1945
  • 1 plat, 987th FA Bn (155 mm Gun) 24 March 1945 – 31 March 1945
  • 489th Armd FA Bn (7th Armd Div) (105 mm How) 3 April 1945 – 6 April 1945
  • 809th FA Bn (155 mm How) 4 April 1945 – 7 April 1945
  • 965th FA Bn (155 mm How) 7 April 1945 – 10 April 1945
  • 183d FA Bn (155 mm How) 24 April 1945 – 29 April 1945
  • Infantry
  • 359th Inf (90th Div) 15 June 1944 – 17 June 1944
  • 1st Bn, 359th Inf (90th Div) 20 June 1944 – 21 June 1944
  • 330th CT (83d Div) 14 July 1944 – 17 July 1944
  • …Co B, 308th Engr C Bn (83d Div) 14 July 1944 – 17 July 1944
  • …2 plats, Co A, 802d TD Bn (T) 14 July 1944 – 17 July 1944
  • 8th CT (4th Div) 10 August 1944 – 11 August 1944
  • …29th FA Bn (4th Div) (105 mm How) 10 August 1944 – 11 August 1944
  • …Co B, 87th Cml Bn 10 August 1944 – 11 August 1944
  • Prov Ranger Gp 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
  • …Hq, Prov Ranger Gp 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
  • …2d Ranger Inf Bn 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
  • …5th Ranger Inf Bn 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
  • …18th FA Bn (105 mm How) 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
  • …196th FA Bn (105 mm How) 13 August 1944 – 14 August 1944
  • 1st Bn, 36th Armd Inf (3d Armd Div) 13 October 1944 – 17 October 1944
  • 395th Inf (99th Div) 9 November 1944 – 13 November 1944
  • 393d Inf (99th Div) 10 November 1944 – 14 November 1944
  • 394th Inf (99th Div) 10 November 1944 – 14 November 1944
  • 329th CT (83d Div) 13 December 1944
  • 3d Bn, 395th Inf (99th Div) 20 December 1944 – 31 January 1945
  • 2d Bn, 395th Inf (99th Div) 24 December 1944 – 5 January 1945
  • 2d Ranger Inf Bn 6 February 1945 – 8 February 1945
  • 309th Inf (78th Div) 8 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
  • 1st Bn, 311th Inf (78th Div) 10 February 1945 – 12 February 1945
  • 2d Bn, 23d Inf (2d Div) 12 February 1945
  • 310th CT (- 1st Bn) (78th Div) 10 March 1945 – 14 March 1945
  • 394th Inf (99th Div) 11 March 1945
  • 395th Inf (99th Div) 11 March 1945 – 12 March 1945
  • 52d Armd Inf Bn (9th Armd Div) 16 March 1945 – 18 March 1945
  • 2d Bn, 413th Inf (104th Div) 15 April 1945 – 16 April 1945
  • Tank Destroyer
  • 607th TD Bn (T) (- 2 cos) 19 June 1944 – 20 June 1944
  • 899th TD Bn (SP) (- 2 cos) 19 June 1944 – 20 June 1944
  • 899th TD Bn (SP) 20 June 1944 – 24 July 1944
  • Co A, 703d TD Bn (SP) 1 July 1944 – 31 July 1944
  • Co C, 703d TD Bn (SP) 11 July 1944 – 16 July 1944
  • 629th TD Bn (SP) 16 August 1944 – 25 August 1944
  • Co A, 612th TD Bn (SP) 20 December 1944 – 29 December 1944
  • Co A, 801st TD Bn (SP) 29 December 1944 – 3 February 1945
  • Co C, 644th TD Bn (SP) 3 January 1945 – 27 January 1945
  • Co A, 814th TD Bn (SP) 6 April 1945 – 9 April 1945

Assignments in the MTO

  • previous: II Corps
  • May 1943: I Armored Corps

Assignments in the ETO

  • 20 November 1943: First Army
  • 25 November 1943: VII Corps
  • 1 August 1944: VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
  • 26 October 1944: V Corps
  • 6 December 1944: VII Corps
  • 18 December 1944: V Corps
  • 20 December 1944: Attached, with the entire First Army, to the British 21st Army Group
  • 18 January 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
  • 17 February 1945: III Corps
  • 31 March 1945: VII Corps
  • 4 April 1945: III Corps
  • 14 April 1945: VII Corps

Summary

  • Activated: 1 August 1940
  • Overseas: 11 December 1942 (Three organic combat teams participated in North African landings 8 November 1942)
  • Campaigns: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, North France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe
  • Days of combat: 304
  • Distinguished Unit Citations: 24
  • Inactivated: 15 January 1947
  • Reactivated: 15 July 1947 at Fort Dix, New Jersey
  • Inactivated: 31 January 1962 at Fort Carson, Colorado
  • Redesignated 1 February 1966 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas
  • Inactivated 25 September 1969 in Hawaii
  • Activated: 21 April 1972 at Fort Lewis, Washington
  • Inactivated: 15 December 1991 at Fort Lewis, Washington

Commanders:

  • Col . Charles B. Elliott (August 1940),
  • Brig. Gen. Francis W. Honeycutt (September 1940),
  • Maj. Gen. Jacob L. Devers (October 1940 – July 1941),
  • Maj. Gen. Rene E. DeR. Hoyle (August 1941 – July 1942),
  • Maj. Gen. Manton S. Eddy (August 1942 – August 1944),
  • Maj. Gen. Louis A. Craig (August 1944 – May 1945),
  • Brig. Gen. Jesse A. Ladd (May 1945 – February 1946),
  • Maj. Gen. Horace L. McBride (March 1946 to inactivation),
  • Maj. Gen. William W. Eagles (15 July 1947 – 26 April 1948),
  • Maj. Gen. Arthur A. White (27 April 1948 – )

Awards:

  • Medal of Honor 4
  • Distinguished Service Cross 86
  • Legion of Merit 6
  • Silver Star 1,789
  • Soldier's Medal 55
  • Bronze Star 5,518
  • Distinguished Flying Cross 1
  • Air Medal 124
Prisoners of War Taken:
  • Total: 130,000
Casualties:
  • Killed 4,581
  • Wounded 16,961
  • Missing 750
  • Captured 868
  • Battle Casualties 22,292
  • Non-Battle Casualties 15,233
  • Total Casualties 33,864
  • Percent of T/O Strength 240.4