004 4th Infantry Division

Nickname: Ivy Division (Famous Fourth) ……. Shoulder Patch: Green, with four ivy leaves extending from a circle N, S, E and West. The four leaves represented the numeral IV or I-Vy,……. Source: Regular Army Units…….. History: Organized: Camp Greene, N. C., 1917. Overseas: June 5. 1918 (56 casualties en route from torpedo)……. Actions: Aisne-Marne. St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns; occupation of Germany, seven months……. Training: Reactivated: June 1, 1940, Fort Benning. Other stations: Camp Gordon, Second Army; Fort Dix, N. J.; Camp Gordon Johnston (amphibious. training), and Fort Jackson, AGF; Mar.. 1942, to Dec., 1943. Overseas: Jan., 1944 (ETO). ….. Commanding Generals: Maj. Gen. Harold R. Bull, Oct – Nov., 1941; Maj. Gen. Terry de la Mesa Allen, Dec.. 1941; Maj. Gen. Fred C. Wallace, Jan.-June, 1942; Maj. Gen. Raymond O. Barton, July, 1942, to Dec., 1944; Maj. Gen. Harold W. Blakeley, Dec., 1944. to present ……. Component Units: (As of Jan., 1944): 8th (first activated 1838). 12th (first organized 1798) and 22nd first organized 1866) Infantry Regiments.; 29th, 42nd, 44th (L) and 20th (M) Self-Propelled FA Battalions. Higher Command: (combat) Third Army. Awards: Distinguished Unit Citation to 8th Infantry Regiment. for action June 6, 1944; DUG to 22nd Infantry Regiment. for action July 26 to Aug. 1, 1944; and DUC to 3rd Battalion., 22nd Infantry Regiment., June 6 – 9,1944. All this service was in Normandy ……. Combat Highlights: The Ivy Division’s 8th Infantry Regiment was first on the beaches of Normandy, D-Day, June 6, 1944, It broke through the vital road center of St. Mere Eglise. In four days, the 4th pushed to Le Theil, captured Tourlaville June 25 and swept to Cherbourg. Pausing in the Periers area for the Third Army smash, the 4th went along to liberate Paris by August’s. end. Early in September, the Division fought into Belgium. A patrol of the 22nd Infantry was claimed to be first American unit to cross the Reich border (Sept. 11, 1944). The 4th in December was fighting in the Hell of Hurtgen Forest. A brief lull in Luxembourg followed, broken by the von Rundstedt offensive, Dec. 16. The 4th held firm at Dickweiler and Osweiler. The Ivy men crossed the Sauer Jan. 18, 1945, overran Fuhren and Vianden and by Jan. 21, completed capture of all objectives. By Jan. 26, the Germans were in headlong flight, the 4th pursuing. The 4th crossed the Prum river and took Prum Feb. 9. Then with the 11th Armored it crossed the Kyll at the beginning of March. A task force dashed 20 miles ahead to take Adenau and Reifferscheid. The Division piled up notable firsts, and suffered 21,550 casualties.