Unsourced material may be challenged and removed january 20 learn how and when. The insignia was redesignated for the 157th artillery regiment of the colorado national guard on 23 march 1961 and then. The 45th infantry division was formed in 1924 from national guard units in the southwestern united states. 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. 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. Felix sparks and wwiis forgotten 45th infantry division. Inducted into federal service 16september 1940 at home stations. Product description militarybest is proud to offer this 45th infantry division patch.
Us army 45th infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with. The thunderbird division adopted this native american symbol in 1939 to replace the previous symbol. The 45th infantry division participated in its fourth amphibious assault landing during operation dragoon on 15 august 1944, at st. The unit is responsible for training selected united states army reserve and national guard units. Our military patches make an excellent addition to your collection or a great gift. Army was a major formation of the oklahoma army national guard from 1920 to 1968.
Our 45th division patch is a regulation, full color, embroidered military patch. 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. Dec 10, 2014 45th division patch posted in army and usaaf. The unit was activated using the assets of the 5th brigade, 87th division. The current division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. World war ii history of the 157th infantry regiment, reproduction from the original 1946 publication, 192 pages, by members of the 157th. 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. The core infantry regiments were the 157th, 179th and the 180th infantry regiments.
Media in category 45th infantry division united states the following 124 files are in this category, out of 124 total. 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 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. The 45th infantry division in world war ii oklahoma historical society.
I dont have much hope for the 4 swastica style but the other one looks good to me. For history of the thunderbirds please visit our website at. The 45th infantry division held a contest to assist in selection of the new insignia and many designs were submitted. The 45th infantry division was formed in 1924 from national guard units in the. 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. 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. The division insignia is a golden thunderbird on a red square. Patchthunderbird insignia tshirtblack, thunderbird,long sleeve tshirtblack,thunderbird, short sleeved 100% cotton scarf pink 157th infantry. Film and photos of the 45th infantry division during world war ii in benevento, italy 1943 and dachau, munich and nuremberg, germany 1945. Division insignia of the united states army wikipedia. Mines booby traps identification guide cd 2 80 pages pdf. The 45th infantry division traces its roots to the 1800s.
Us army military insignia,us army patches,shoulder sleeve. 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. Photo of liberated inmate hangs in museum of 45th infantry division. Feb 17, 2014 authentic 1930s era us army uniform patch for the 45th infantry division oklahoma national guard. Deal on infantry division hat patch that is coordinated agreeable to you from ebay.
The brigade is a subordinate unit of first army division east. The casualties suffered by a typical american infantry regiment serving in world war ii were horrendous. Us army military insignia and patches, flashes, unit crests, rank chevrons and collar insignia. Felix sparks, commander of the 3rd battalion, 157th infantry regiment, 45th division of the us seventh army, the first unit to arrive at the. 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. 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. An original wwii pinback dui for the 157th infantry regiment in very good condition. Headquartered mostly in oklahoma city, the guardsmen fought in both world war ii and the korean war.
The 45th infantry division traces its roots back to 1890 when the oklahoma territorial militia was formed. Movement overseas commenced on 6 july 1918 and was completed by 3 august 1918. Long after dark 2nd battalion launched its attacked to retake hill 388. This patch in not in patch king catalog or supplement it is listed j. Who we are want to volunteer schedule of events venturing crew.
In 1940, the thunderbird division was reactivated and deployed in late june 1943 to north africa. 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. History main page organization campaigns and battles medal of honor citations. I do not refurbish, clean, or restore vintage items. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources.
The patch is in unused condition and has never been sewn onto a uniform. The 45th infantry division the holocaust encyclopedia. Congressional medal of honor 45th infantry division. The fighting forty fifth, the combat report of an infantry division. 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. 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.
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. The 45th infantry division of the united states army was a major formation of the oklahoma army national guard from 1920 to 1968. Please see photos, od border is thin on some sides. 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. Sparkss act of bravery was not the end of the battle. Us army, 45th infantry division, class a thunderbird patch.
The contest was overseen by a board of officers who eventually determined the thunderbird would become the new insignia of the 45th infantry division. The thunderbird is a symbol of the southwestern indians. The 45th division in wwii the thunderbirds home facebook. He was commission as an officer and became a first lieutenant in company g, 2nd battalion, 157th infantry regiment, 45th infantry division. The 157th infantry brigade is an activereserve component acrc unit based at camp atterbury, indiana. K company, 157th infantry regiment letters home from john w. In 1985, the united states holocaust memorial museum and the us armys center of. Us army 2nd infantry division shoulder sleeve patch with a native american caricature on white star. Infantry division 119th infantry division th infantry division 5th airborne division 141st infantry division 157th infantry division.
Army, army national guard, army reserve units, and sold in the army post exchanges. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the british army, formed just prior to the start of the second world war. Patchthunderbird insignia tshirtblack, thunderbird,long sleeve tshirt black,thunderbird, short sleeved 100% cotton scarf pink 157th infantry. This patch is made from the highest quality materials by the same manufacturer that supplies posts and exchanges across the u. The 45th infantry division was a national guard unit that was comprised of elements from colorado, new mexico, arizona and oklahoma. Dedicated to presenting and preserving the history of the 45th division in wwii. Hutton was drafted into the army on october 30, 1943, and was placed in the 157th infantry regiments 45th infantry division. They trace their lineage from frontier militias that operated in the southwestern united states throughout the late 1800s.
Big mike lapointe is a companion piece to the 45th infantry division figure posted last year. 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. The following month, the division landed in sicily, where it engaged axis troops in combat. 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. Relieved 10may 1946 from assignment to the 45th infantry division. A round variant of the first type of 45th division ssi. Items feature the 45th infantry division s well known thunderbird patch, as well as regiment and battalion crests. It was again an infantry regiment of the 45th infantry division during and after world war ii. Field corps insignia of the united states army and division insignia of the united states army. Hutton grew up in jersey and moved to miami, florida, sometime before 1940. The thunderbird is a symbol of the southwestern indians meaning sacred bearer of unlimited happiness. Felix sparks, 45th division, 3rd battalion, 157th regiment, quoted in the rock of anzio by flint whitlock. H company, 157th infantry regiment interview of murray levine g company, 157th infantry regiment the story of ray h. Free sending on certain infantry division hat patch.
Armed forces by maintaining and promoting americas overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials. This patch would be a great gift idea and a wonderful addition to your patch collection. 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. Show your military pride with the finest quality military patches, pins and gifts from all branches of the military. 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. The 157th field artillery regiment first colorado is a united states army regimental system. Us army 45th infantry division patch oklahoma national. 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 best quality custom infantry division hat patch at the best low cost. 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. This is the early, preww2 design depicting a yellow native american swastika on a red background.
The 45th infantry division was instead based around the 157th, 179th, and 180th infantry regiments. The symbol for the 45th infantry is an american indian thunderbird, so people call the 45th the thunderbird division as well. Redesignated 16 november 1921 as the 157th infantry, an element of the 45th division. The new insignia featured the thunderbird, another native american symbol, and was approved in 1939. I have scanned at 300 dpi the after action report of the 157th infantry regiment for the sicilian campaign. Introduction to the wwiira and 45th infantry division. This native american symbol became the divisions insignia in 1939.
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. Primary units included the 157th infantry brigade, consisting of the 3th infantry regiment, 314th infantry regiment, and 311th machine gun battalion. The 45th infantry division was an infantry division of the united states army, part of the. This 157th infantry brigade 3 military patch is made by the same company that supplies patches to the united states armed forces. Medal of honor citations awarded to 9 members of the 45th infantry division and 1 from the 191st tank battalion 2 to be added. 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. He enlisted in the army on may 7, 1942 after graduating from williams college. I, 157th infantry burlington, colorado, whose unit wore the round variant in 1920s.
1027 1050 408 74 96 706 1083 854 546 974 810 1416 1068 269 1342 490 1248 1255 336 18 1331 1344 610 70 828 91 718 721 17 884 399 539 998 203 996 1311