"
It is well that war is so terrible, or we should get to fond of
it" - General Robert E. LeeDETAILS
OF THE 44TH INFANTRY DIVISION
"
It is well that war is so terrible, or we should get to fond of
it" - General Robert E. Lee
44th Infantry Division Ski Patrol, Old Forge, NY 1941, demonstrating a combination stretcher/sleeping bag. (L-R) Pvt. Edward Wexler, Brooklyn, NY and Pvt. Robert Berg, Bridgetown, NY. (Photo courtesy of M/Sgt. Louis A. Sliazis, USAR, Ret.)
Renee Guernier (left) and Jacqueline de Contaoes, French nurses, shown in the uniform of the Assistance Sanitaire Automobile attached to the 44th Infantry Division, at the divisions request. They were members of a unit of whom Darlene Blanchot was the third. They took a difficult burden away from overworked medics by evacuating civilian sick and wounded away from front line areas in France, permitting medics to treat wounded soldiers. (photo courtesy of M/Sgt. Louis A. Sliazis, USAR, Ret.)
* Shoulder Patch:
-A circular patch containing two Arabic 4's, back to back. The 4's are blue in color on a field of orange with a blue background. The colors are those of the House of Nassau, under which the Dutch settled in 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.
* Source of Division:
- National Guard units from New York and New Jersey.
* Training:
- Activated September 1940 at Fort Dix, N.J. Conducted maneuvers in the Carolinas, Camp Claiborne, La., Fort Lewis Wa., and Camp Lewis Kansas. Left United States in September 1944 for European Theater of Operations. First elements entered combat on October 17, 1944. The division spent a total of 203days in combat.
* Commanding Generals:
- September 1940 - August 1941 > Major General Clifford R. Powell
- August 1941 - August 1944 > Major General James I. Muir
- August 1944 - January 1945 > Major General Robert L. Spragins
- January 1945 - unknown > Major general William F. Dean
* Component Units:
- 71st, 114th, & 324th Infantry Regiments
- 156th, 157th, 217th, & 220th Field Artillery Battalions (105mm Howitzer)
- 44th Reconnaissance Combat Battalion (Mechanized)
- 44th Military Police
- 63rd Combat Engineer Battalion
- 119th Medical Battalion
* Casualties:
- Killed in action > 1,008
- Wounded in action > 4,650
- Missing in action > 434
- Captured > 19 (This total might be much higher, I'm still researching)
- Total casualties (battle & non-battle) > 13,748
- % of T/O strength > 97.6
- POW's taken > 41,747
* Awards for combat action in Northern France, Rhineland, & Central Germany campaigns:
- Medal of Honor > 1
- Distinguished Service Crosses > 15
- Legions of Merit > 2
- Silver Stars > 260
- Soldiers Medals > 4
- Bronze Stars > 1,515
- Air Medals > 98
* Combat Highlights
The 44th first went into the line in an area east of Luneville, France, and took part in the Seventh Army drive to secure the Vosges passes. Six days after being in combat the division held back a counter-attack 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 armor and infantry units. The battalion's action probably saved the entire division from elimination as an effective fighting force.
On New Years Day, 1945, the 44th attempted to cross the Saar River 10 miles southeast of Saarbrucken. Six attempts were made, but strong enemy counter-attacks beat the crossing back. Eventually the crossing was effected and a penetration made of two miles. By the end of the war it had occupied large areas of German territory and finally pulled up at Imst, Austria.
Copyright 2002 by Timothy E. Blaise
