World War I

Activated: September 1917 (National Guard division from Pennsylvania).

Major Operations: MeuseArgonne, Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne, Ypres-Lys (FA).

Casualties: Total-14,139 (KIA-2,165 ; WIA-11,974).

Commanders:

Maj. Gen. C. M. Clement (17 July 1917)
Brig. Gen. W. G. Price, Jr. (18 September 1917)
Brig. Gen. F. W. Stilwell (28 October 1917)
Maj. Gen. C. M. Clement (4 December 1917)
Brig. Gen. F. W. Stilwell (11 December 1917)
Maj. Gen. C. H. Muir (15 December 1917)
Brig. Gen. F. H. Albright (23 October 1918)
Maj. Gen. William H. Hay (25 October 1918).

Inactivated: Spring 1919.

World War II

Activated: 17 February 1941.

Overseas: 8 October 1943.

Campaigns: Normandy, North France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe.

Days of combat: 196.

Awards: MH-1 ; DSC-29 ; DSM-1; SS-435; LM-27; SM-21 ; BSM-2,312 ; AM-100.

Commanders:

Maj. Gen. Edward Martin (February-December 1941)
Maj. Gen. J. Garsche Ord (January-May 1942)
Maj. Gen. Omar N. Bradley (June 1942-January 1943)
Maj. Gen. Lloyd D. Brown (January 1943-July 1944)
Maj. Gen. Norman D. Cota (August 1944 to inactivation).

Returned to U.S.: 2 August 1945.

Inactivated: 13 December 1945. (See National Guard.)

Combat Chronicle

The 28th Infantry Division after training in England, landed in Normandy, France, 22 July 1944, and entered the hedgerow struggle north and west of St. Lo. Inching their way forward against desperate opposition, the men of the 28th took Percy, 1 August, and Gathemo, 10 August. On the 12th, Brigadier General Wharton was killed a few hours after assuming command. The Division began to roll north and east, 20 August, meeting light resistance except at Le Neubourg, 24 August, and Elbeuf on the 25th. After parading through Paris, 29 August, it continued its sustained drive through France and Luxembourg to the German border, assembling near Binsfeld, 11 September: It began hammering at the Siegfried Line, 12 September, destroying pillboxes and other fortifications, moved north to Elsenborn, 1 October, then returned on the 6th for patrols and rotation of troops. The 28th smashed into the Hurtgen Forest, 2 November 1944, and in the savage seesaw battle which followed, Vossenack and Schmidt changed hands several times. On 19 November, the Division moved south to hold a 25-mile sector along the Our River in Luxembourg. The Von Rundstedt offensive broke loose, 16 December, along the entire Division front. The 28th fought in place using all available personnel and threw off the enemy timetable before withdrawing to Neufchateau, 22 December, for reorganization. The Division moved to a defensive position along the Meuse River from Givet to Verdun, 2 January 1945, then to a patrol of the Vosges Mountains, 17 February. From 1 to 5 February, it participated in the reduction of the Colmar Pocket, headed for the Rhine and crossed the Rhine-Rhone Canal, 6 February. After an attack toward the Ahr River, 6 March, the 28th engaged in training, rehabilitation, and holding defensive positions. Beginning 7 April it performed occupation duties at Julich and Kaiserlautern until it left France.

Assignments in the ETO

22 October 1943: V Corps, First Army.
14 April 1944: XX Corps, Third Army.
24 April 1944: Third Army, but attached to First Army.
26 July 1944: XIX Corps.
30 July 1944: XIX Corps, First Army.
1 August 1944: XIX Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
28 August 1944: V Corps.
19 November 1944: VIII Corps.
20 December 1944: VIII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
5 January 1945: VIII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to Oise Section, Communications Zone, for supply.
6 January 1945: VIII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
8 January 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group.
9 January 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group.
16 January 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
20 January 1945: French II Corps.
28 January 1945: XXI Corps.
14 February 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
19 February 1945: 12th Army Group.
21 February 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
16 March 1945: VIII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.
22 March 1945: V Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group.
28 March 1945: III Corps.
7 April 1945: First Army, 12th Army Group.
10 April 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group.
13 April 1945: XXII Corps.
26 April 1945: XXIII Corps.

General

Nickname: Keystone Division; Slogan: Fire and Movement. Shoulder patch: A red keystone. Association: 28th Division Society, 3017 North Fourth Street, Harrisburg, Pa., Mr. William A. Miller, director. Publications: Historical and Pictorial Review of the 28th Infantry Division in World War II; by Mr. Paul M. Kienzle, unit historian; Albert Love Enterprises, Atlanta 2, Ga.; 1947. 28th Roll On; by unit members; TI&E, ETOUSA ; distributor, Brig. Gen. R. M. Bail, Office of The Adjutant General, Harrisburg, Pa. ; 1945.