Recreating History

4th Infantry Division

World War I

Activated: 1917.

Overseas: 5 June 1918.

Major Operations: Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne.

Days of combat: 69.

Casualties: Total-12,820 (KIA-2,160 ; WIA-10,660).

Commanders:

Maj. Gen. George H. Cameron (3 December 1917-14 August 1918)
Brig. Gen. Benjamin A. Poore (14 August-27 August 1918)
Maj. Gen. John L. Hines (27 August-11 October 1918)
Maj. Gen. George H. Cameron (11 October-22 October 1918)
Brig. Gen. Benjamin A. Poore (22 October-31 October 1918)
Maj. Gen. Mark L. Hersey (31 October11 November 1918).

Returned to U.S.: July 1919.

Inactivated: 1 August 1919.

 

World War II

Activated: 3 June 1940.

Overseas: 18 January 1944.

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

Days of Combat: 299.

Distinguished Unit Citations: 12.

Awards: MH-3 ; DSC-60 ; DSM-2 ; SS-1,283 ; LM-15; SM-22 ; BSM-6,795 ; AM-78.

Commanders:

Maj.. Gen. Walter E. Prosser (June-October 1940)
Maj. Gen. Lloyd R. Fredendall (October 1940-July 1941)
Maj. Gen. Oscar W. Griswold (August-September 1941)
Maj. Gen. Harold R. Bull (October-November 1941)
Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen (December 1941)
Maj. Gen. Fred C. Wallace (January-June 1942)
Maj. Gen. Raymond 0. Barton (July 1942-December 1944)
Maj. Gen. Harold W. Blakeley (December 1944-October 1945)
Maj. Gen. George P. Hays (November 1945-5 March 1946)
Maj. Gen. Jens A. Doe (15 July 1947-28 February 1949)
Maj. Gen. Robert T. Frederick (28 February 1949- ).

Returned to U.S.: 10 July 1945.

Inactivated: 5 March 1946.

Reactivated: 15 July 1947.

Combat Chronicle

The 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division was one of the first Allied units to hit the beaches at Normandy on D-day, 6 June 1944. Relieving the isolated 82d Airborne Division at Ste. Mere Eglise, the 4th cleared the Cotentin peninsula and took part in the capture of Cherbourg, 25 June. After taking part in the fighting near Periers, 6-12 July,, the Division broke through the left flank of the German Seventh Army, helped stem the German drive toward Avranches, and by the end of August had moved to Paris, assisting the French in the liberation of their capital. The 4th then moved into Belgium through Houffalize to attack the Siegfried Line at Schnee Eifel, 14 September, and made several penetrations. Slow progress into Germany continued in October, and by 6 November the Division reached the Hurtgen Forest, where a severe engagement took place until early December. It then shifted to Luxembourg, only to meet the German winter offensive head-on, 16 December 1944. Although its lines were dented, it managed to hold the Germans at Dickweiler and Osweiler, and, counterattacking in January across the Sauer, overran German positions in Fouhren and Vianden. Halted at the Prum in February by heavy enemy resistance, the Division finally crossed 28 February near Olzheim, and raced on across the Kyll, 7 March. After a short rest, the 4th moved across the Rhine 29 March at Worms, attacked and secured Wurzburg and by 3 April had established a bridgehead across the Main at Ochsenfurt. Speeding southeast across Bavaria, the Division had reached Miesbach on the Isar, 2 May 1945, when it was relieved and placed on occupation duty.

Assignments in the ETO

10 January 1944: First Army
14 January 1944: V Corps, First Army
2 February 1944: VII Corps
16 July 1944: VIII Corps
19 July 1944: VII Corps
1 August 1944: VII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group
22 August 1944: V Corps
8 November 1944: VII Corps
7 December 1944: VIII Corps
20 December 1944: III Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group
21 December 1944: XII Corps.
27 January 1945: VIII Corps.
10 March 1945: 12th Army Group, but attached to Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
20 March 1945: VI Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
25 March 194.5: XXI Corps.
8 April 1945: Seventh Army, 6th Army Group.
2 May 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group.
6 May 1945: III Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group.

General

Nicknames: Ivy Division; Famous Fourth. Slogan: Steadfast and loyal. Shoulder patch: Four green ivy leaves attached at the stems and opening at the four corners of a squadron on brown background. Association: National Fourth “IVY” Division Association; Box 654, Boston 2, Mass. Publications: Famous Fourth, by unit members; TI&E ; distributor, National Fourth Division Association. History of the Fourth Infantry Division, by Capt. Francis H. Fife, unit historian; Army & Navy Publishing Co., Baton Rouge 1, La.; 1947.

4th US Infantry Division "Ivy"


Divisional troops

Infantry

 

8th Infantry Regiment 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
12th Infantry Regiment 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
22nd Infantry Regiment 00.00.0000-00.00.0000

Other troops

4th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized) 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
4th Quartermaster Company 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
4th Engineer Combat Battalion 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
4th Medical Battalion 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
4th Signal Company 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
704th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
Band 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
Headquarters Company 00.00.0000-00.00.0000
Military Police Platoon 00.00.0000-00.00.0000


Cavalry
 
4th Cavalry Group 16.06.1944-17.06.1944
F Company, 24th Cavalry Recon. Sqaudron 16.06.1944-29.06.1944
4th Cavalry Recon. Squadron 11.07.1944-15.07.1944 & 29.07.1944-31.07.1944 & 13.08.1944-14.08.1944
38th Cavalry Recon. Squadron 23.08.1944-25.08.1944 & 17.09.1944-27.09.1944
102nd Cavalry Group 23.08.1944-25.08.1944 & 05.09.1944-06.09.1944 & 10.09.1944-17.09.1944
B Troop, 102nd Cavalry Group 07.10.1944-15.10.1944
24th Cavalry Recon. Squadron 15.11.1944-05.12.1944
A & C Troops, 89th Cavalry Recon. Squadron, 9th Armored Division 07.12.1944-13.12.1944
5th Recon. Troop, 5th Infantry Division 21.12.1944-24.12.1944
101st Cavalry Group 31.03.1945-07.04.1945
101st Cavalry Recon. Squadron 31.03.1945-07.04.1945
116th Cavalry Recon. Squadron 31.03.1945-07.04.1945

Infantry
 
359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division (less 2nd Battalion) 01.06.1944-11.06.1944
39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division 11.06.1944-15.06.1944
26th CT, 1st Infantry Division 29.07.1944-30.07.1944
36th Armored Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division (less 3rd Battalion) 30.07.1944-05.08.1944
83rd Armored Recon. Battalion, 3rd Armored Division 30.07.1944-05.08.1944
2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division 01.08.1944-25.08.1944
39th CT, 9th Infantry Division 07.08.1944-09.08.1944
2nd Platoon, 9th Recon. Troop, 9th Infantry Division 07.08.1944-09.08.1944
2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion 11.08.1944-13.08.1944
5th Ranger Infantry Battalion 11.08.1944-13.08.1944
99th Infantry Battalion 11.08.1944-13.08.1944
330th CT, 83rd Infantry Division 03.12.1944-07.12.1944
329th CT, 83rd Infantry Division 07.12.1944-10.12.1944
C Company, 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division 07.12.1944-10.12.1944
10th CT, 5th Infantry Division 21.12.1944-23.12.1944
347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division 14.01.1945-16.01.1945
346th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division 14.01.1945-16.01.1945
319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division 25.01.1945-26.01.1945
318th CT, 80th Infantry Division (less 1st Battalion) 26.01.1945-25.02.1945
3rd Battalion, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division 26.01.1945-25.02.1945
324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division 09.04.1945-18.04.1945
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division 02.05.1945-03.05.1945



Detachments

4th Divisional Artillery 90th Infantry Division 29.06.1944-05.07.1944
22nd CT 2nd Armored Division 19.07.1944-02.08.1944
44th FA Battalion 2nd Armored Division 19.07.1944-02.08.1944
1 Platoon, C Company, 4th Engineers (C) Battalion 2nd Armored Division 19.07.1944-02.08.1944
4th Recon. Troop Task Force Welborn 07.08.1944
12th CT 30th Infantry Division 07.08.1944-13.08.1944
42nd FA Battalion 30th Infantry Division 07.08.1944-13.08.1944
4th Engineers Combat Battalion Task Force Welborn 07.08.1944-23.08.1944
8th CT 9th Infantry Division 10.08.1944-11.08.1944
29th FA Battalion 9th Infantry Division 10.08.1944-11.08.1944
3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment 2nd Armored Division 11.08.1944-14.08.1944
A Company, 12th Infantry Regiment V Corps 13.10.1944-22.10.1944 & 25.10.1944-07.11.1944
4th Recon. Troop V Corps 25.10.1944-05.11.1944
12th CT 28th Infantry Division 07.11.1944-10.11.1944
42nd FA Battalion 28th Infantry Division 07.11.1944-10.11.1944
1 Platoon, B Company, 4th Engineers (C) Battalion 28th Infantry Division 07.11.1944-10.11.1944
22nd Infantry Regiment 83rd Infantry Division 03.12.1944-07.12.1944
8th CT 83rd Infantry Division 07.12.1944-12.12.1944
29th FA Battalion 83rd Infantry Division 07.12.1944-12.12.1944
A Company, 4th Engineers (C) Battalion 83rd Infantry Division 07.12.1944-12.12.1944
12th Infantry Regiment 87th Infantry Division 09.01.1945-18.01.1945
3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment 5th Infantry Division 15.01.1945-17.01.1945
1st & 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment 12th Armored Division 21.03.1945-02.04.1945


 

Sources & links: US Army Center of Military History