28th Infantry Division Symbol

The 28th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army formed in 1917 in World War I. It continues its service today as the 28th Infantry Division (Mechanized), part of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Image File history File links 28th Infantry Division Patch File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... US Army Seal HHC, US Army Distinctive Unit Insignia The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Combatants Entente Powers Central Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties > 5 million military deaths > 3 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War I, also known as the First World War and (before 1939) the Great War, the War of the Nations, War to End All Wars was a world...

It is nicknamed the "Keystone Division", as it was formed from units of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard; Pennsylvania is known as the "Keystone State". It was also nicknamed the "Bloody Bucket" division by German forces in WWII, after its red insignia. Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 33rd 119,283 km² 255 km 455 km 2. ... Seal of the National Guard Bureau Seal of the Army National Guard Seal of the Air National Guard // Background The United States National Guard is a significant component of the United States armed forces military reserve. ...

World War I

• Activated: September 1917 (National Guard division from Pennsylvania).
• Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne, 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.

Norman Daniel Dutch Cota (May 30, 1893, Chelsea, Massachusetts - October 4, 1971) was an American General during World War II. Omaha Beach Brigadier General Cota was assistant Division commander of the US 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach during the Battle of Normandy. ...

Organization

• 109th, 110th and 112th Infantry Regiments
• 107th, 108th, 109th and 229th Field Artillery Battalions
• 103rd Engineer Combat Battalion

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. Bunker on the Siegfried line The original Siegfried line was a line of defensive forts and tank defenses built by Germany along their border with France in 1916-1917 during World War I. However, in English, Siegfried line more commonly refers to the similar World War II defensive line, built...

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. Located near Alsace in Eastern France, the Colmar Pocket was the site of a ten-day battle during the Second World War that saw four divisions of the French Army and an entire Corps from the U.S. Army overwhelm German resistance. ...

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.

Post WWII Service

The 28th Infantry Division has continued to serve the nation as part of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

After being deactivated as part of the Army in December 1945, it was reorganised in 1946 and returned to the Pennsylvania National Guard; following the outbreak of the Korean War, it was recalled to active duty and sent to bolster NATO forces in Germany. In 1954, it returned to the National Guard. The Korean War, from June 25, 1950 to cease-fire on July 27, 1953 (the war has not ended officially), was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ...

The Division was not mobilised during the Vietnam War, although in 1965 it was selected as one of three divisions in the Army Selective Reserve Force. Nor was it mobilised in force for Operation Desert Storm in 1991; however, the 121st Transportation Company, one of its constituent units, served in Saudi Arabia and volunteers from the Division were deployed overseas, some in the Middle East. Combatants Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) United States of America South Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand the Philippines Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) Commanders Strength ~1,200,000 (1968) ~420,000 (1968) Casualties South Vietnamese dead: 1,250,000+ US dead: 58,226 US... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

In 1996, after the signing of the Dayton Agreement, some units of the divisional artillery were called up to serve as peacekeeping forces in Bosnia; elements of the 28th served in Bosnia as peacekeepers for several years following this. In 2002, the 28th Division took command of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Bosnia as part of SFOR 12. The division was the first reserve component division headquarters to take on this role in Bosnia. The Dayton Agreement or Dayton Accords is the name given to the agreement at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, to end the war in the former Yugoslavia that had gone on for the previous three years, in particular the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the war... Bosnia and Herzegovina (officially Bosna i Hercegovina, shortened to BiH, also in English variously written Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bosnia-Hercegovina) is a mountainous country in the western Balkans. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Pocket badge of the SFOR The Stabilisation Force (SFOR) was a NATO-led multinational force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. ...

In 2003, the 28th Division again lead the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo as part of KFOR 5A for a 6 month rotation. The 28th was the first reserve component division headquarters to take on this role in Kosovo. Later in 2005, elements of the 28th Division would again return to Kosovo as part of KFOR 6B, the first year long rotation by U.S. troops to the region. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kosovo (Serbian: Косово и Метохија / Kosovo i Metohija, Albanian: Kosovë / Kosova) is a province of Serbia. ... Pocket badge of the KFOR The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing and maintaining security in Kosovo. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pocket badge of the KFOR The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing and maintaining security in Kosovo. ...

During the "Global War on Terror" following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the US the Keystone Division has provided troops for Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle and - most significantly - several thousand troops for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq in July 2005. The attack on the South Tower, which was seen on live television by many people across the world. ... Official Picture Poster for Operation Enduring Freedom by the DoD Combatants United States, United Kingdom, France, other nations, Mujahdeen fighters of Afgahnistan Taliban government of Afgahnistan Commanders U.S. commander Taliban military leaders Strength Casualties Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is the military response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on... Operation Noble Eagle is the US military operational designator refers to the militarys efforts in the War on Terrorism that were carried out on US soil. ... For other uses of the term, see Iraq war (disambiguation) The 2003 invasion of Iraq (also called the 2nd or 3rd Persian Gulf War) began on March 20, 2003, when forces belonging primarily to the United States and the United Kingdom invaded Iraq arguably without the explicit backing of the... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Operation Iraqi Freedom

In January 2005, approximately 4,000 soldiers from 23 states were mobilized to Camp Shelby, MS for a 6 month train-up in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. These soldiers consist of approximately 10 battalions under the command of Col. John Gronski, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 28th Infantry Division. The soldiers participated in combat-oriented training as well as acquiring much needed equipment for the Operation Iraqi Freedom mission.

In May 2005, 2nd Brigade soldiers trained at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA to prepare for their upcoming mission in Iraq due to start in July 2005.

In late June and early July 2005 2nd Brigade soldiers began deploying to the Al-Anbar Province and are under the command of the 2nd Marine Division. This marks the first time since World War II that the 28th Infantry Division patch will be worn as a right shoulder Combat Unit Patch.

2nd Brigade — OIF Composition

Headquarters Company 2nd Brigade — 28th Infantry Division (Pennsylvania National Guard)

1 — 109th Infantry Regiment (Pennsylvania National Guard)

1 — 110th Infantry Regiment (Pennsylvania National Guard)

2 — 222nd Field Artillery Regiment (Utah National Guard)

1 — 172nd Armor Regiment (Vermont National Guard)

1 — 167th Cavalry Regiment (Nebraska National Guard)

228th Forward Support Battalion (Pennsylvania National Guard)

A Company — 138th Signal Battalion (Indiana National Guard)

231st Military Intelligence (Kentucky National Guard)

876th Engineers (Indiana National Guard)

28th Infantry Division — Military Police Company (Pennsylvania Army National Guard)

2 — 69 Armor (3rd Infantry Division, Ft. Benning, GA)

Current Composition

As an Infantry Division (Mechanised), the 28th is comprised of two infantry brigades and one armoured brigade, plus supporting elements.

2d Brigade (Iron Brigade)

1st Battalion — 103d Armor Regiment

1st Battalion — 110th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized)

1st Battalion — 112th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized)

128th Forward Support Battalion

55th Brigade

1st Battalion — 109th Infantry Regiment

2d Battalion — 103d Armor Regiment

3d Battalion — 103d Armor Regiment

1st Battalion — 109th Field Artillery Regiment

337th Engineer Battalion

56th Brigade - "Independence Brigade"

1st Battalion — 111th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized)

2d Battalion — 112th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized)

1st Battalion — 150th Armor Regiment

228th Forward Support Battalion

Aviation Brigade

1st Battalion — 104th Aviation

2d Battalion — 104th Aviation

1st Squadron — 104th Cavalry Regiment

Divisional Artillery

1st Battalion — 108th Field Artillery Regiment

1st Battalion — 107th Field Artillery Regiment

28th Engineer Brigade

103d Engineer Battalion

876th Engineer Battalion

1st Battalion — 213th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

Heraldry

• Nickname: Keystone Division
• Slogan: Fire and Movement
• Shoulder patch: A red keystone (aka "Bloody Bucket")

28th Infantry Division Insignia

Image File history File links 28th Infantry Division Crest File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

References

• The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950 reproduced at CMH.

• 2nd Brigade Website