Ordered into active military service at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, the division, commanded by Major General John E. Sloan, arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco on 15 December 1943, and moved to Magenta, Algeria, on 28 December for intensive training. Sector of Haute-Alsace. Fighting continued through 14 May, when the 1st Battalion moved on the town from the right and the 3d Battalion pushed upwards. Headquarters at Lagney. After being inspected by the Fifth Army commander on 5 May, the 88th Division, six days later, drove north to take Spigno, Mount Civita, Itri, Fondi, and Roccagorga, reached Anzio, 29 May, and pursued the enemy into Rome, being the first unit of the Fifth Army into the city on 4 June, two days before the Normandy landings, after a stiff engagement on the outskirts of the city. All told there were 6,815 cases of influenza and By the end of World War II the 88th Infantry fought its way to the northernmost extreme of Italy. (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 4 ))); The 88th Division, a National Army Division, was Upon arrival in Naples, the 88th became the first draftee division to enter a combat zone in World War II. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. 2nd Div . var a=new Image(); a.src=img; return a; Even residents of cities and towns near Camp Gruber held the new outfit in high esteem. First Entered combat: Advance party on night of 34 January 1944 in support of, First Organization Committed to Line: 2nd Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment plus attachments, Began post war POW Command: 7 June 1945. From 26 October 1944 to 12 January 1945, the 88th entered a period of defensive patrolling in the Mount Grande-Mount Cerrere sector and the Mount Fano area. in cases the average weight pulled per man being 250 pounds. All files are The confident, heavily armed Germans were waiting. This time they geared up to cross rivers, as the upcoming assault crossing of the Arno was not going to be easy. WORLD WAR I. 1st Division. Hertzman, Stanley A. MSG Band Thanksgiving Menu and Company D roster, 29 November 1917; 1918 Thanksgiving Greetings, Headquarters Company; 1918 Christmas Greetings, Headquarters The war in Italy had ended. River, effective November 14, 1918, and which was to strike the German line between METZ Our focus is towards preserving Family and Historical knowledge. Army Engineers in WW1. The Blue Devils proved that with rigorous training, teamwork, competent leadership, and fierce determination, an all-draftee division was more than capable of fighting well against a well-trained, well-equipped, and battle-hardened enemy. It was during this battle that the 3d Battalion, 351st Infantry, earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. To many, the 88th was still just a number. The achievements of the 88th Division have been The remainder of the 88th Division embarked as follows: The remainder of the 351st Infantry sailed aboard the "Saxon" and the "Scotian", arriving at Liverpool August 28th, then proceeded on to Cherborg. September 14, 1918, the Division moved by rail to Orders came in to hold and dig in where they were. All civilian areas were heavily mined and booby trapped, including houses and streets. MNHS Call Number: Digital Finding Aid Casualty Lists and Related Materials, 1918-1920 6th 11th 60th 61st. Still, on 4 June, the Eternal City fell to the Allies. Army Corps (with headquarters at Remiremont) for administrative purposes. 109th 110th . On 1 February 1944, the rest of the 88th Division began their trip to Italy. Yet they still trudged on, determined to make it to Rome. Unit citations: Third Battalion, 351st Infantry Regiment (action vicinity Laiatico; 913 July 1944). The 88th Division is composed of the following organizations: The main units of that comprise the 88th Division: 337th Machine Gun Battalion, 175th Infantry, 349th Infantry, 350th Infantry, 338th Machine Gun Battalion, and various units of the 313th. Shoulder patch: A blue (for Infantry) quatrefoil, formed by two Arabic numeral "8s". As the debate continued, Allied commanders in Italy decided to go forward with their original plans to break out of the Anzio beachhead and smash the Gustav Line. 76th Division. On September 23, 1918, advanced elements of the Training largely took place at Camp Dodge, Iowa. being used to the maximum in the Argonne (Irive. The 351st, however, did not fare as well as its counterpart. if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav6n=MSFPpreload("_derived/battles.htm_cmp_expeditn110_hbtn.gif"); MSFPnav6h=MSFPpreload("_derived/battles.htm_cmp_expeditn110_hbtn_a.gif"); } Meuse-Argonne front, made possible during the days immediately preceding the armistice the camp kettles and watercans. The Germans were trying to keep the Allies as far south as possible as possible to avoid having them get anywhere close to Germany itself. transferred in large measure to Camps Cody, Bowie, Doniphan, Pike, Travis and Gordon, Semur, Cote dOr, France, less the 163d Artillery Brigade, which was sent to the artillery Major General PLUMMER was directed to organize the 88th as follows: Division Headquarters Headquarters Troop 337th Machine Gun Battalion, Maj. Wm. The divisional insignia is two figures "8" in blue, crossed at right angles. It was a drastic change in climate for most, and a more drastic change in lifestyle. Document files are converted to the Although overshadowed by the Normandy invasion two days later, the capture of Rome was a significant victory for the Allies and a welcome event for the Romans. 349th Infantry Regiment - 88th Infantry Division Blue Devils - MtMestas.com World War II Research Website the Mt.Mestas Memorial Monument, PFC Felix B. Mestas, Jr., and the Invasion of Italy and Trieste (TRUST) periods of World War II between 1942-1954. Malnutrition and disease were rampant, and corpses lay unburied. Manage Settings The 349th Infantry came behind the 350th and 351st and led the divisions advance across the Ausonia Valley. Continue with Recommended Cookies. They found themselves completing obstacle courses, going on night compass marches, dealing with gas mask drills, and learning how to fire rifles and other small arms. For some reason, the men thought they were overrated and going nowhere. During World War II, the Germans thought the 88th was an elite stormtrooper Division. very important phase of the Metz coup. With the advent of mustard gas, speedy German tanks, and the machine gun, war was Click on (ZipFile) to download zip file of all files in that section. Organiazation and training at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and the trip to France, Arrival in France, training, and life in the trenches, The period after the Armistice, which includes training, athletics, entertainment, the trip home and demobilization, Complete roster of all officers and men who served with the Division in France, Large photographs of the higher ranking officers, Biography of Major-General William Weigel, U.S. Army, Arrival in France - Training and Life in the Trenches, Two Years of American Accomplishment Since War Was Declared, Rosters of All Companies within the 88th Division, Large number of photographs of Camp Dodge and various towns and cities within France, Biography of Major-General William Weigel, U S A, Two Years of American Accomplishment since War Was Declared. The units were losing men faster than they could be replaced, but orders remained unchanged: the 88th Division was to keep going. Group, About constantly on the alert, held in the south many German planes, considerable artillery, and His replacement was his deputy, BG Paul Kendall. Laiatico fell on the 11th, Villamagna on the 13th, and the Arno River was crossed on the 20th although the enemy resisted bitterly. All text in English. administrative purposes. On 31 May, the 88th gave Bolanzo over to the Allied Italian troops, but since tensions were so high between the Italians and the Germans, the 349th Infantry stayed to prevent trouble. The 3rd Division (later re-designated as the 3rd Infantry division on August 1, 1942) was organized at Camp Greene, North Carolina, November 21, 1917. Sports several divisions which had remained in this sector of the German line for a long time. newly drafted men from these original states, together with men from Missouri and After continuing across the Tiber to Bassanelio the 88th retired for rest and training, 11 June. The division, which initially had nine infantry regiments grouped into three brigades was squared or reorganized into a more simplified four-regiment structure within two brigades. They did little more there than heavy patrolling and maintaining defensive positions, and were once again pulled out of line for further rehabilitation. Our funding helps to acquire and conserve Army historical art and artifacts, support Army history educational programs, research, and publication of historical materials on the American Soldier, and provide support and counsel to private and governmental organizations committed to the same goals. // -->