1st Infantry Division — “Fighting First” (The Red One)

 

Shoulder Patch: Red Arabic numeral “1” on solid olive drab pentagon-shaped background. Originated in WWI when a soldier clipped a piece of red cloth in the shape of “1” from an enemy cap and pinned it to his sleeve.

 

Slogan: No mission is too difficult, no sacrifice too great. Song: The Spirit of the First Division Type: Regular Army — the U.S. Army’s oldest active division, activated June 8, 1917

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Overview First to arrive in France in WWI, first to fire on the enemy, first to suffer casualties, first to capture prisoners, first to stage a major offensive and first to enter Germany. Trained at Camp Blanding and Indiantown Gap before departing the U.S. in August 1942 for the North African and European Theaters.

 

Component Units (as of August 1942) 16th, 18th and 26th Infantry Regiments — 5th (M), 7th, 32nd and 33rd (L) FA Battalions Higher Command: First Army

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Combat History Baptism of fire at the African beachhead November 8, 1942 followed by Sicily on July 10, 1943. On D-Day the division stormed Omaha Beach — one of the strongest fortified sections of the Normandy coast — suffering 30 percent casualties in the first hour before fighting through and destroying the entire German 352nd Infantry Division. In July 1944 the 1st opened the Cotentin Peninsula to Brittany, breached the Siegfried Line on September 13, captured Aachen on October 21, fought in the Battle of the Bulge and raced through Germany with the 9th Armored at Remagen, ending the war at Karlsbad, Germany.

 

Awards Distinguished Unit Citation to the 16th and 18th Regiments and 1st Battalion. Additional awards to units within each regiment. Entire division cited at end of WWI. Many units received the Fourragere from Marshal Foch.

 

Commanding Generals Maj. Gen. Donald Cubbison through Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen, Maj. Gen. Clarence D. Huebner and Maj. Gen. Clift Andrus through the end of the war.