033 44th Infantry Division

Nickname: None recorded. Shoulder Patch: A circular patch containing two Arabic 4s, back to back. The 4s are of blue, on a field of orange and the entire patch has a blue border. The colors are those of the House of Nassau, under which the Dutch settled what is now New York and New Jersey. . Slogan; “Prepared in All Things. . Division Song: “The 44th Division Marching Song” by Lt. Albert D, Fallows. AGD. . Source of Division: National Guard units from New York and New Jersey. . Training: Activated: Sept., 1940, Port Dix, N. J, Maneuvers: Carolinas. In Jan., 1942, Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, then Port Lewis, Washington. From Feb. to April, 1944, maneuvers in Louisiana, then Camp Phillips, Kansas Left this country Sept., 1944, for ETO. . Commanding Generals: Maj. Gen. Clifford R. Powell, Sept., 1940, to Aug., 1941; Maj. Gen. James I. Muir, Aug., 1941, to Aug., 1944; Maj. Gen. Robert L. Spragins, Aug., 1944, to Jan.. 1945; Maj. Gen. William F. Dean, Jan., 1945, to present. . Component Units: As of Sept., 1944) 71st, 114th and 324th Infantry Regiments; 157th (M), 158th, 217th and 220th (L) FA Battalions Higher Command: (combat) Seventh Army. . Awards: 2nd Battalion of the 114th Infantry Regiment awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for action north of Schalbeck, France, Nov. 25, 1944. Combat Highlights: The 44th first went into the line in an area east of Luneville, France, took part in the Seventh Army drive to secure the Vosges passes. Six days after being in combat the division held back a counterattack by German forces. By mid-November the 44th had broken through the Vosges Mountains along with the 2nd French Armored Division. During this period the 2nd Battalion of the 114th Infantry Regiment held ground on a front 4000 yards, wide against a German onslaught with numerically superior tank and Infantry units. The battalion’s action probably saved the entire division from elimination as an effective fighting force. On New Year’s Day, 1945, the 44th attempted to cross the Saar River 10 miles southeast of Saarbrueken. Six attempts were made, but strong enemy counterattacks beat the crossing back. Eventually the crossing was effected and a penetration made of two miles. During the latter part of Jan., 1945, the division was holding lines below the Saar. During the following months the 44th sped on into Austria. By the end of the war it had occupied large areas of German territory and finally pulled up at Imst, Austria. The 44th Division had 203 days of combat service with the Seventh Army. During that period the Division captured a total of 44,000 prisoners.