4th Infantry Division — “Ivy Division” (Famous Fourth)

 

Shoulder Patch: Green with four ivy leaves extending from a circle, representing the Roman numeral IV.

 

Overview Organized in 1917 at Camp Greene, North Carolina. Reactivated in 1942 and trained at Camp Gordon, Fort Dix, Camp Gordon Johnston, and Fort Jackson before deployment to Europe.

 

Combat History The 4th Infantry Division’s 8th Infantry Regiment was the first American unit to land on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Breaking through vital road centers at Sainte-Mère-Église, the division captured Tourlaville in four days and swept to Cherbourg. Pushing through the Periers area in the Third Army smash, the 4th liberated Paris by August’s end and fought into Belgium before crossing the Reich border on September 11, 1944.

In December the division fought in the Hell of Hurtgen Forest, holding firm at Diekirch during the Von Rundstedt offensive. By January 21, 1945 the division completed capture of all objectives. The 4th crossed the Prum River, took Prum on February 9, crossed the Kyll with the 5th Armored, and dashed 20 miles ahead to take Adenau and Reifferscheid. The Division suffered 21,550 casualties.

 

Commanding Generals Maj. Gen. Harold R. Bull through Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen, followed by Maj. Gen. Fred C. Wallace, Maj. Gen. Raymond O. Barton, and Maj. Gen. Harold W. Blakeley through the end of the war.

 

Component Units (as of January 1944) 8th, 12th and 22nd Infantry Regiments — 29th, 42nd, 44th (L) and 20th (M) Self-Propelled FA Battalions