88th Infantry Division

 

Nickname: Blue Devil Division. (Sometimes called “Clover Leaf Division.”) . Shoulder Patch: The patch is blue and in the form of two Arabic numeral “88s” which are crossed so as to make a four-leaf clover. .. Song: “88th Division March,” words and music by CWO Robert L. Bierly. A Division toast, “Here’s to the 88th.” by Lt. Col. G. L. Walker, is filed with a copy of the song in the Office of Technical Information. . History: Organized Camp Dodge, Ia., Sept., 1917, from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois troops. Training overseas with French Seventh Army, Hericourt, Sept., 1918. Action: Haute – Alsace Sector. Returned U. S. June 1, 1919. .. Training: Reactivated Camp Gruber, Okla., July 15, 1942, and trained there with Third Army. Louisiana maneuvers with Third Army June 28, 1943 to Aug. 23, 1943. Later training Port Sam Houston with Third Army. Departed overseas Nov. 3, 1943 (NA). Trained in Africa Dec. and Jan., 1943-44. . Commanding Generals: Maj. Gen. John E. Sloan, July, 1942 to Sept., 1944; Maj. Gen. Paul W. Kendall, Sept., 1944 to July, 1945; Brig. Gen. James C. Fry, July, 1945, to present. . Component Units: (As of Nov. 3, 1943): 349th, 350th and 351st Infantry Regiments; 337th, 338th, 913th (L), and 339th (M) FA Battalions. Higher command: Fifth Army. . Awards: Distinguished Unit Citation given to 2nd Battalion, 350th Infantry for action Sept. 27 to Oct. 3, 1944 (Italy); and DUC to 3rd Battalion, 351st Infantry for action Aug. 9-13, 1944 (Italy); French Croix de Guerre with palm to Division July 2, 1944. . Combat Highlights: The 88th’s brilliant action was in the Italian campaign. First all-selective service division committed to combat on any front, the unit piled up other notable firsts. Entered Rome, first liberated capital, June 4, 1944; first Fifth Army outfit to reach the Gothic Line: liberators of San Martino. Actions include: The Garigliano River line; the Gustav Line; liberation of Rome; capture of Mt. La Fine, Belvedere, Gesso, Mt. Acuto, Mt. Capello, Castel del Rio, Mt. Battaglia and Mt. Grande, the North Appennines Po Valley. Monterumici, Verona, Vicenza, liberation of San Martino by “bike battalion,” and final contact with the Seventh Army south of Brenner Pass. By March 5, 1945, its first combat anniversary, the Division had chalked up an offensive advance of 325 miles, captured 5750 prisoners, destroyed six German Divisions and badly mauled six others. During the Po Valley drive, the Division bagged 30,000 prisoners in 16 action-packed days.

 

Showing all 5 results