The 45th infantry division was a national guard unit that was comprised of elements from colorado, new mexico, arizona and oklahoma. The core infantry regiments were the 157th, 179th and the 180th infantry regiments. This website is only in its very early stages, aiming to give a full spectrum of data on world war ii fighting units, including details on organization, commanders, and literature. The regiment fought with the 45th infantry division please reach out with any and all questions we do combine shipping just let us know if you are buying multiple items thank you for looking db 2018 1128142298. Other patches bearing the swastika symbol are to be found in collections, where often they are identified as variants of the sleeve patch of the 45 th. The 45th infantry division traces its roots back to 1890 when the oklahoma territorial militia was formed. Jun 25, 2014 45th infantry division patches posted in army and usaaf. Dec 05, 2017 and thats that the 45th infantry division, nicknamed the thunderbird division because they had a shoulder patch, a beautiful soft felt thunderbird patch on their shoulders. Mines booby traps identification guide cd 2 80 pages pdf.
Sparkss act of bravery was not the end of the battle. Patchthunderbird insignia tshirtblack, thunderbird,long sleeve tshirtblack,thunderbird, short sleeved 100% cotton scarf pink 157th infantry. Armed forces by maintaining and promoting americas overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials. Movement overseas commenced on 6 july 1918 and was completed by 3 august 1918. The current division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. In 1940, the thunderbird division was reactivated and deployed in late june 1943 to north africa. H company, 157th infantry regiment interview of murray levine g company, 157th infantry regiment the story of ray h. I have scanned at 300 dpi the after action report of the 157th infantry regiment for the sicilian campaign. The division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square.
For example, by the end of january, 1945, the 47 th infantry regiment which fought in france and germany had lost well over 100% of their strength to battle casualties, where men were either killed, wounded, missing, or taken as prisoner of war. The 45th infantry division was instead based around the 157th, 179th, and 180th infantry regiments. Big mike lapointe is a companion piece to the 45th infantry division figure posted last year. Object shoulder sleeve insignia of the 2nd infantry division, united states army, nicknamed the indian head division, due to the design of their black badge with a cartoonlike head of a native american on a white star. Who we are want to volunteer schedule of events venturing crew. The brigade is a subordinate unit of first army division east. Felix sparks, 45th division, 3rd battalion, 157th regiment, quoted in the rock of anzio by flint whitlock. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. In may 1943, troops stationed at camp patrick henry in virginia witnessed one of the strangest spectacles in american military historya campfire war dance put on by soldiers about to embark for overseas.
Deal on infantry division hat patch that is coordinated agreeable to you from ebay. Headquartered mostly in oklahoma city, the guardsmen fought in both world war ii and the korean war. Army, army national guard, army reserve units, and sold in the army post exchanges. For history of the thunderbirds please visit our website at. Relieved 10may 1946 from assignment to the 45th infantry division. Media in category 45th infantry division united states the following 124 files are in this category, out of 124 total. The following month, the division landed in sicily, where it engaged axis troops in combat. Our military patches make an excellent addition to your collection or a great gift. The 45th was activated as a national guard division in 1924 in arizona, colorado, new mexico and oklahoma. Us army military insignia and patches, flashes, unit crests, rank chevrons and collar insignia. The regiment fought with the 45th infantry division please reach out with any and all questions we do combine shipping just let us know if you are buying multiple items thank you for looking db 2018. The division adopted the thunderbird shoulder patch in 1939 after the rise of the nazi party in germany which used the swastika, a symbol that bore a resemblance to the original divisional patch. Photo of liberated inmate hangs in museum of 45th infantry division.
The 157th infantry brigade is an activereserve component acrc unit based at camp atterbury, indiana. Free sending on certain infantry division hat patch. The 45th infantry division in world war ii oklahoma history center education department this icon was on the left arm shoulder patch of every soldiers uniform in the 45th infantry division. They look out at the sea, absorb the sun, lean up against a bulkhead to write letters, read books or even practice on harmonicas, guitars or musical sweet potatoes. The 45th infantry division was formed in 1924 from national guard units in the southwestern united states. Our 45th division patch is a regulation, full color, embroidered military patch. Patchthunderbird insignia tshirtblack, thunderbird,long sleeve tshirt black,thunderbird, short sleeved 100% cotton scarf pink 157th infantry. Most collectors are aware of the fact that, from the 1920s to the late 1930s, the shoulder patch of the 45 th infantry division was a yellow swastika on a red square. This picture was taken from the bridge of one of the six ships transporting members of the 45th infantry division overseas, looking down on the forward part of the ship. Please see photos, od border is thin on some sides. It was again an infantry regiment of the 45th infantry division during and after world war ii. He was commission as an officer and became a first lieutenant in company g, 2nd battalion, 157th infantry regiment, 45th infantry division. Dec 10, 2014 45th division patch posted in army and usaaf. An original wwii pinback dui for the 157th infantry regiment in very good condition.
Find 45th infantry division, military gifts and more at. The contest was overseen by a board of officers who eventually determined the thunderbird would become the new insignia of the 45th infantry division. Us army military insignia,us army patches,shoulder sleeve. With this completed, all of the aars july 1943 thru may 1945 of all three infantry regiments of the 45th infantry division are now available as pdfs. Redesignated 16 november 1921 as the 157th infantry, an element of the 45th division.
Field corps insignia of the united states army and division insignia of the united states army. Congressional medal of honor 45th infantry division. Items feature the 45th infantry division s well known thunderbird patch, as well as regiment and battalion crests. They trace their lineage from frontier militias that operated in the southwestern united states throughout the late 1800s. The patch is in unused condition and has never been sewn onto a uniform. The german army, reeling from the battle of normandy, in which it had suffered a major defeat, pulled back after a short fight, part of an overall german withdrawal to the east following the landings. I dont have much hope for the 4 swastica style but the other one looks good to me.
Dedicated to presenting and preserving the history of the 45th division in wwii. In march 1939, after the reemergence of germany as a significant military power and its occupation of czechoslovakia, the british army increased the number of divisions in the territorial army ta by duplicating existing units. Us army 45th infantry division patch oklahoma national. Hutton grew up in jersey and moved to miami, florida, sometime before 1940. The insignia was redesignated for the 157th artillery regiment of the colorado national guard on 23 march 1961 and then. World war ii history of the 157th infantry regiment, reproduction from the original 1946 publication, 192 pages, by members of the 157th. The 44th infantry division was a division of the united states army national guard from october 1920 to november 1945, when it was inactivated after federal service during world war ii. This patch is made from the highest quality materials by the same manufacturer that supplies posts and exchanges across the u. The spanish colors, red and gold, indicate that the four states colorado, oklahoma, new mexico, and arizona represented by national guard units in the division were settled by the. Division insignia of the united states army wikipedia. May 02, 2011 personal comments page 2 45th infantry division information us army korean war project almost three thousand units pages are available at the korean war project.
Us army, 45th infantry division, class a thunderbird patch. The 45th division in wwii the thunderbirds home facebook. Hutton was drafted into the army on october 30, 1943, and was placed in the 157th infantry regiments 45th infantry division. The unit was activated using the assets of the 5th brigade, 87th division. The 157th field artillery regiment first colorado is a united states army regimental system. Felix sparks and wwiis forgotten 45th infantry division. Introduction to the wwiira and 45th infantry division. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed january 20 learn how and when. The 45th infantry division held a contest to assist in selection of the new insignia and many designs were submitted. I do not refurbish, clean, or restore vintage items. The 45th infantry division in world war ii oklahoma historical society.
This is my portrayal of a platoon sergeant of the 1st battalion, 157th infantry regiment, 45th infantry division, march 1945 during the intense fighting in aschaffenburg, germany. This is the early, preww2 design depicting a yellow native american swastika on a red background. The thunderbird is a symbol of the southwestern indians meaning sacred bearer of unlimited happiness. Felix sparks, commander of the 3rd battalion, 157th infantry regiment, 45th division of the us seventh army, the first unit to arrive at the. Product description militarybest is proud to offer this 45th infantry division patch. K company, 157th infantry regiment letters home from john w. It shows 60 waffenss soldiers on the ground, some wounded, some playing dead, and 17 dead, according to flint whitlock, historian for the 45th thunderbird division, who got this information from lt.
A round variant of the first type of 45th division ssi. This native american symbol became the divisions insignia in 1939. The 45th infantry division participated in its fourth amphibious assault landing during operation dragoon on 15 august 1944, at st. The fighting forty fifth, the combat report of an infantry division. Wwii us army 157th infantry regiment pinback dui 45th. Film and photos of the 45th infantry division during world war ii in benevento, italy 1943 and dachau, munich and nuremberg, germany 1945. The unit is responsible for training selected united states army reserve and national guard units.
Us army 45th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with. A battalion of the 179th infantry, another regiment of the 45th division, was committed to the fight but also unable to break the german deadlock around the surrounded 157th troops. So i think, a sole combat division is around 14,000, 15,000 guys, round about 7000, 8000 will actually see combat. Mitnick, a 27 yearold jewish american, served as a captain in the 65th infantry division, european theater and in the chemical warfare service, 91st chemical mortar battalion, 45th infantry division. The 45th infantry division was formed in 1924 from national guard units in the. Army was a major formation of the oklahoma army national guard from 1920 to 1968. Feb 17, 2014 authentic 1930s era us army uniform patch for the 45th infantry division oklahoma national guard. Survivors of the 157th infantry regiment, 45th division, gather for a group portrait after the end of a oneweek siege in bundenthal, germany that resulted in brutal fighting against attacking german forces, 24 december 1944. Inducted into federal service 16september 1940 at home stations. The thunderbird division adopted this native american symbol in 1939 to replace the previous symbol. The casualties suffered by a typical american infantry regiment serving in world war ii were horrendous. History main page organization campaigns and battles medal of honor citations. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the british army, formed just prior to the start of the second world war.
Us army 2nd infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with a native american caricature on white star. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the. Long after dark 2nd battalion launched its attacked to retake hill 388. The 45th infantry division the holocaust encyclopedia. This patch in not in patch king catalog or supplement it is listed j. Infantry division 119th infantry division th infantry division 5th airborne division 141st infantry division 157th infantry division.
I, 157th infantry burlington, colorado, whose unit wore the round variant in 1920s. He enlisted in the army on may 7, 1942 after graduating from williams college. In 1985, the united states holocaust memorial museum and the us armys center of. The thunderbird is a symbol of the southwestern indians. Show your military pride with the finest quality military patches, pins and gifts from all branches of the military.
A second 44th infantry division existed in the illinois army national guard from 1946 until october 1954, when that division was disbanded after federal service during the korean war. That division had more native americans among its ranks. Primary units included the 157th infantry brigade, consisting of the 3th infantry regiment, 314th infantry regiment, and 311th machine gun battalion. The new insignia featured the thunderbird, another native american symbol, and was approved in 1939. The 45th infantry division of the united states army was a major formation of the oklahoma army national guard from 1920 to 1968.
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