The 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized)—also known as the Victory Division—was an infantry division of the United States Army with base of operations at Fort Riley, Kansas originally organized out of the old Hawaiian Division. Image File history File links 24_Infantry_Division_SSI.png‎ // [edit] Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The United States National Guard is a component of the United States Army (the Army National Guard) and the United States Air Force (the Air National Guard). ... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... Fort Riley is a census-designated place and United States Army post, in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River. ... Image File history File links 24_Infantry_Division_DUI.png‎ // [edit] Distinctive Unit Insignia. ... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... The United States Army is the largest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... Fort Riley is a census-designated place and United States Army post, in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

History

Lineage

• Constituted 1 February 1921 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, Hawaiian Division
• Activated 1 March 1921 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
• Reorganized and redesignated 1 October 1941 as Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division
• Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1960 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 24th Infantry Division
• Inactivated 15 April 1970 at Fort Riley, Kansas
• Activated 21 September 1975 at Fort Stewart, Georgia
• Inactivated 15 February 1996 at Fort Stewart, Georgia
• Activated 17 October 1999 at Fort Riley, Kansas
• Inactivated 1 August 2006 at Fort Riley, Kansas

Schofield Barracks is a United States Army installation (and census-designated place or CDP) located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. ... Fort Riley is a census-designated place and United States Army post, in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River. ... Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily located in Liberty County, Georgia, but also occupying significant portions of Bryan County, Georgia. ...

Narrative

The 24th Infantry Division has its origins in Hawaii. It was first activated under the peacetime Square Division Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) on 25 February 1921 as the Hawaiian Division. It, the Philippine Division, and the Americal Division were the last three US Army divisions to be named rather than numbered. The division retained this TO&E until 1941, when it was reorganized under a Triangular Division TO&E, and part of its former organization became the core of the new 25th Infantry Division. Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... // Constituted 1 February 1921 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, Hawaiian Division Activated 1 March 1921 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii Inactivated 1 October 1941 at Schofield Barracks This division was named rather than numbered as was done for the Philippine & Panama Divisions. ... The Philippine Division was the core of the US Armys Philippine Department. ... Americal Division Shoulder Patch The Americal Division of the United States Army was formed in May 1942 on the island of New Caledonia. ... In American military history, the 25th Infantry Division (nicknamed Tropic Lightening) is a large military unit associated with operations in the Asia-Pacific region. ...

World War II

• Subordinate Units:
  • 19th Infantry Regiment
  • 21st Infantry Regiment
  • 299th Infantry Regiment
  • 298th Infantry Regiment
  • 34th Infantry Regiment
  • 13th Field Artillery Battalion
  • 52nd Field Artillery Battalion
  • 63rd Field Artillery Battalion
  • 11th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
  • 24th Signal Company
  • 724th Ordnance Company
  • 24th Quartermaster Company
  • 24th Reconnaisance Troop
  • 3rd Engineer Battalion
  • 24th Medical Battalion
  • 24th Counter Intelligence Detachment

The 24th Infantry Division was among the first to see combat in World War II and among the last to stop fighting. The Division was on Oahu, with Headquarters at Schofield Barracks, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, and suffered minor casualties. Charged with the defense of northern Oahu, it built an elaborate system of coastal defenses. In May 1943 it was alerted for movement to Australia and by 19 September 1943 had completed the move to Camp Caves, near Rockhampton, on the eastern coast of Australia. Schofield Barracks is a United States Army installation (and census-designated place or CDP) located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. ... This article is about the harbor in Hawaii. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rockhampton, sometimes abbreviated to Rocky, is a city in Central Queensland, Australia, located inland from the Capricorn Coast on the Bruce Highway, approximately north of Queenslands capital city, Brisbane. ...

After a period of intensive training, the Division moved to Goodenough Island, 31 January 1944, to stage for Operation Reckless (landings at Hollandia, in Netherlands New Guinea). The 24th landed on 22 April 1944, and seized the important Hollandia Airdrome despite torrential rains and marshy terrain. Shortly after the Hollandia landing, the 34th Infantry Regiment moved to Biak, 18 June, to reinforce the 41st Infantry Division, and captured Sorido and Borokoe airdromes before returning to the Division on Hollandia in July. Goodenough Island is an island belonging to Papua New Guinea. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Operation Reckless and Operation Persecution, April 21-April 27, 1944, also known as the invasion of Hollandia, the Hollandia landings and the Battle of Hollandia, were Allied amphibious landings which commenced the Western New Guinea campaign. ... Jayapura is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. ... Dutch New Guinea was a common name of western New Guinea while it was a colonial possession of the Netherlands. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Fishing boats lined up at Kota Biak, Indonesia Biak is a small island located in Cenderawasih Bay near the northern coast of Papua, an Indonesian province, and is just northwest of New Guinea. ... is the 169th day of the year (170th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 41st Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. A National Guard unit, it was reorgnized in 1965 as a separate infantry brigade; the 41st Brigade Combat Team is headquartered in Tigard, Oregon and is currently assigned to the...

After occupation duty in the Hollandia area, the 24th Division landed on Red Beach on Leyte, 20 October 1944, as part of the X Corps, Sixth Army, and driving up Leyte Valley advanced to Jaro and took Breakneck Ridge, 12 November 1944, in heavy fighting. Combatants United States, Australia and Philippines Japan Commanders Douglas MacArthur Walter Krueger Franklin C. Sibert John R. Hodge Ruperto C. Kangleon Tomoyuki Yamashita Sosaku Suzuki Shiro Makino Strength 200,000 U.S. troops 3,189 Filipino guerrillas 55,000 Japanese troops Casualties 3,500 killed 12,000 wounded 49,000... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... X Corps was a unit of the United States Army that took part in the invasion of Leyte under Sixth Army during 1944. ... Shoulder sleeve insignia of the U.S. Sixth Army. ... Jaro is a 4th class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. ... Breakneck Ridge is a mountain along the Hudson River between Beacon and Cold Spring, New York, along the boundary between Dutchess and Putnam counties. ... is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

While mopping up continued on Leyte, the 19th RCT moved to Mindoro Island as part of the Western Visayan Task Force, landing in the San Jose area, 15 December 1944. Airfields and a PT base were secured for operations on Luzon. Divisional elements effected a landing on Marinduque Island. Other elements supported the 11th Airborne Division drive from Nasugbu to Manila. Mindoro is the fourth-largest island in the Philippines. ... San Jose is a 1st class municipality in the province of Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. ... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Map of the Philippines showing the island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. ... Shoulder sleeve patch of the 11th Airborne Division. ... Nasugbu is a 1st class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. ... Nickname: Map of Metro Manila showing the location of Manila Coordinates: 14°35 N 121° E Country Philippines Region National Capital Region Districts 1st to 6th districts of Manila Barangays 897 Incorporated (city) June 10, 1574 Government  - Mayor Alfredo S. Lim (GO)  - Vice Mayor Isko Moreno (independent) Area  - City 38. ...

The 34th RCT, landing at San Antonio, Luzon, 29 January 1945, ran into a furious battle on Zig Zag Pass and suffered heavy casualties. On 16 February 1945 the 3d Bn of the 34th Infantry took part in the amphibious landing on Corregidor and fought Japanese under a hot sun on the well-defended Rock. After numerous mopping up actions in March, the Division landed on Mindanao, 17 April 1945, cut across the island to Digos, 27 April, stormed into Davao, 3 May, and cleared Libby airdrome, 13 May. Although the campaign closed officially on 30 June, the Division continued to mop up Japanese resistance during July and August 1945. Patrolling continued after the official surrender of Japan. On 15 October 1945, the Division left Mindanao for Japan. January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Corregidor and the entrance to Manila Bay Corregidor in 1941 Corregidor is an island in the entrance of the Philippines Manila Bay. ... Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. ... is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Digos City is a 3rd class city in the province of Davao del Sur, Philippines. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Davao refers to several places in Mindanao in the Philippines. ... is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Korean War

When the North Koreans attacked South Korea in June 1950, elements of the 24th Infantry Division, primarily from the 21st Infantry Regiment, were the first army troops to arrive in Korea and the first to fight under the United Nations' banner.

Task Force Smith went into battle on July 4, 1950, ordered to fight a delaying action against overwhelming odds. Comprised of roughly 400 men, the unit was misinformed about its objective and under-trained for this sudden action. The men were poorly equipped with castoffs from WWII, including C-rations, and their weapons were, in many cases, non-functioning or without proper ammunition. Of particular importance was their lack of heavy weaponry with which to stop the Soviet-built tanks streaming across the border in the hands of well-trained North Korean soldiers. The results were tragic.

However, the delaying action permitted the United Nations to build up its forces near Pusan, and the division was later awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions. The United Nations Command (Korea) is the unified command structure for the multinational military forces supporting the Republic of Korea (South Korea or ROK) during and after the Korean War. ... Please see Presidential Unit Citation for other versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 (the date of the Attack on...

Fighting with the 24th Division in the early months were the 19th, 21st, and 34th Infantry Regiments. The 29th Regimental Combat Team was also attached to the 24th in the early months.

By late August 1950, only 184 of the 34th Regiment's original 1,898 men remained standing. The regiment was dissolved and was replaced by the 5th Infantry Regiment/5th Regimental Combat Team (5th RCT). 34th Regiment survivors were added to the ranks of the 19th and 21st regiments in an effort to bring them up to strength.

Over the next nineteen months the division fought in seven campaigns and was twice decorated by the Republic of Korea. Among its most deadly battles was the "big fall push" of 1951. The 24th Division, along with the 2nd and 6th ROK (Republic of Korea) Divisions, fought the last major Allied offensive of the Korean War -- Operation Nomad-Polar --launched 13 October 51. It ended 22 October when the city of Kumsong, which was a major supply hub for the Chinese Communists, was destroyed.

American casualties were extremely high, averaging 175 per day. By battle's end, the Allied divisions had driven the Chinese 10 miles northward from their heavily fortified winter quarters, capturing a deep subterranean command post on Hill 770 in the process.

In late January 1952 the "Victory Division" returned to Japan where it served as part of the Far East reserve. In July 1953 the division went back to Korea to restore order in prisoner of war camps. The following year the division returned to Japan, where it served until February 1955. At that time the 24th deployed to Korea for another tour of duty.

Major General William F Dean, the 24th's commanding general, was reported missing in action on July 21, 1950. Unbeknownst to American officials, he was captured and spent the duration of the war in a prison camp. On February 16, 1951, General Dean was awarded a Medal of Honor for actions in Taejon on July 20 and 21, 1950. He was returned to US Military control on April 19, 1953.

Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. of the 19th Infantry Regiment also received the Medal of Honor -- for actions on November 5, 1950. Other 19th Regiment Medal of Honor recipients included MSG Stanley T. Adams (February 4, 1951) and SFC Nelson V. Brittin (March 7, 1951). Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. ... The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

The 21st Infantry Regiment had two MOH recipients, SFC Ray E. Duke (April 26, 1951) and PFC Mack A. Jordan (November 15, 1951). Ray E. Duke was a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. ... Mack Alvin Jordan was a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. ...

The 5th Infantry Regiment (aka 5th Regimental Combat Team or 5th RCT) was attached to the 24th Division at some point in August 1950 and served with the 24th until the division was rotated to Japan in January 1952. The 5th had two Medal of Honor recipients while with the 24th: MSG Melvin O. Handrich (August 25 and 26, 1950) and 2LT Carl H. Dodd (January 30 and 31, 1951). The 3d Engineer Combat Battalion, another 24th Division unit, also had a Medal of Honor recipient, SGT George D. Libby (July 20, 1950). George Dalton Libby was a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. ...

Vietnam War years

When the United States reduced and realigned its divisions in the Far East in 1957, the 24th left Korea, eventually replacing the 11th Airborne Division in Germany. While in Germany, in addition to its standard infantry mission, the 24th fielded airborne units for about two years. The division remained in Germany until September 1968 when it redeployed two brigades to Fort Riley, Kansas, as part of Exercise REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany). One brigade was maintained in Germany. As the Army withdrew from Vietnam and reduced its forces, the "Victory Division" was inactivated in April 1970 at Fort Riley. Fort Riley is a census-designated place and United States Army post, in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Exercise REFORGER (REturn of FORces to GERmany) was an annual exercise conducted, during the Cold War, by the United States Army. ...

Role in the Middle East

In September 1975 the 24th Infantry Division was reactivated at Fort Stewart, Georgia, as part of the program to build a sixteen-division force. Because the Regular Army could not field a full division at Fort Stewart, the 24th had the 48th Infantry Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, assigned to it as a round-out unit. Targeted for a NATO role, the division was reorganized as a mechanized division in 1979. When the United Nations decided to halt aggression in Kuwait in 1990, the 24th, which was part of the Rapid Deployment Force was one of the first units deployed to Southwest Asia. Some controversy errupted when the Division's round-out unit, the 48th Infantry Brigade, was found to be unprepared for deployment. The brigade was replaced once the Division was in Saudi Arabia with the regular Army 197th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized). Serving in the Defense of Saudi Arabia and Liberation and Defense of Kuwait campaigns, the division under then Major General Barry McCaffrey helped to arrest the Iraqi war machine. Returning to the United States in the spring of 1991, the 24th was reorganized with all its elements in the Regular Army, two brigades at Fort Stewart and one brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia. In the fall of 1994 Iraq again menaced the Kuwaiti border, and two brigades from the division returned to Southwest Asia. As part of the Army's reduction to a ten-division force, the 24th Infantry Division was inactivated on 15 February 1996, and reflagged to become the 3rd Infantry Division. Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily located in Liberty County, Georgia, but also occupying significant portions of Bryan County, Georgia. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... In 1977, a presidential directive called for a mobile force capable of responding to worldwide contingencies but to be established without diverting forces from NATO or Korea. ... Gen. ... Fort Benning is a United States Army base, located southwest of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama It is part of the Columbus, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. ... is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States Army 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized). ...

A Division in Name Only

On 5 June 1999, the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) was once again activated, this time at Fort Riley, Kansas, but with no subordinate units. From 1999 to 2006 the "Victory Division" consisted of an active component headquarters and three National Guard enhanced separate brigades: 30th Heavy Separate Brigade at Clinton, North Carolina, 218th Heavy Separate Brigade at Columbia, South Carolina, and the 48th Separate Infantry Brigade in Macon, Georgia. The division headquarters was to be responsible for the Guard brigades should they be called to active duty in war time. However, this never occured, with each of the brigades deployed to Iraq individually. The Division's most recent operations included preparing Fort Riley for the return of the 1st Infantry Division, previously stationed in Germany. June 5 is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Fort Riley is a census-designated place and United States Army post, in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Clinton is a city located in Sampson County, North Carolina. ... Nickname: Coordinates: , Government  - Mayor Bob Coble, (D) Area  - City 346. ... Macon is a city located in central Georgia. ... The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army —nicknamed “The Big Red One” after its shoulder patch—is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army. ...

The 24th Infantry Division (Mech) inactivated on August 1, 2006 at Fort Riley. This, of course, was really only the active component headquarters and did not affect the National Guard brigades that were to be assigned to it in war time.

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

• World War II:

1. Central Pacific;
2. New Guinea (with arrowhead);
3. Leyte (with arrowhead);
4. Luzon;
5. Southern Philippines (with arrowhead)

• Korean War:

1. UN Defensive;
2. UN Offensive;
3. CCF Intervention;
4. First UN Counteroffensive;
5. CCF Spring Offensive;
6. UN Summer-Fall Offensive;
7. Second Korean Winter;
8. Korea, Summer 1953

• Southwest Asia:

1. Defense of Saudi Arabia;
2. Liberation and Defense of Kuwait

Decorations

1. Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for DEFENSE OF KOREA
2. Army Superior Unit Award for 1994
3. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945
4. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for PYONGTAEK
5. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1952-1953

Please see Presidential Unit Citation for other versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 (the date of the Attack on... The Superior Unit Award is a decoration of the United States Army which is awarded in peacetime to any unit of the Army which displays outstanding meritorious performance of a difficult and challenging mission carried out under extraordinary circumstances. ... Philippine P.U.C. The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation is a decoration of the Republic of the Philippines which has been awarded to certain units of the United States military for actions both during and subsequent to the Second World War. ... Korean P.U.C. The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is issued by the government of South Korea to both Korean military and foreign units. ...

See also

• Formations of the United States Army

This is a list of historical units of the United States Army. ...

External links

• 24th Infantry Division Home Page - official site.
• 24th Infantry Division Association
• The 24th Infantry Division in Europe
• GlobalSecurity.org: 24th Infantry Division